In a decision that has drawn international condemnation, a Hong Kong court sentenced 78-year-old media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison today, February 9, 2026. Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law, as well as separate sedition charges. 

The sentencing marks the culmination of a high-profile trial seen globally as a litmus test for Hong Kong's judicial independence and press freedom. Despite holding a British passport and receiving support from various Western governments, the court ruled that Lai's actions posed a significant threat to national security. Pro-democracy advocates have hailed Lai as a hero of free speech, while authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing maintain that the ruling upholds the rule of law.