Jimmy Lai Sedition Case: Hong Kong Court to Deliver Verdict on February 9

• Hong Kong's court will deliver its verdict on media figure Jimmy Lai on February 9 in a sedition case under intense global scrutiny.
• Lai, 78, former head of Apple Daily, faces severe penalties after convictions tied to alleged plots against Beijing's authority.
• He was found guilty in December on two key accusations: collusion with external powers and stirring sedition through print.
• Western powers criticize the case as a clampdown on free speech, while local leaders defend it as essential justice.
• The sentencing could significantly impact Hong Kong's global standing and its balance between commerce and control.