Lai Jailed 20 Years; SAG-AFTRA Talks Begin

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison on February 9, 2026, after being found guilty of violating China's national security law, according to NPR. The 78-year-old activist and publisher received the sentence from a Hong Kong court.

The sentencing comes after Lai was found guilty late last year, as reported by NPR. The details of the charges and the specific actions that led to the conviction were not immediately available in the provided sources.

In other news, SAG-AFTRA began negotiations with major studios on Monday, February 9, 2026, aiming to improve terms related to AI and streaming residuals, which were secured during the 2023 strike, according to Variety. The union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are observing a media blackout during the talks to avoid public negotiations.

Also on February 9, 2026, The E.W. Scripps Co. reached a deal to sell Court TV to Law&Crime, the true-crime and legal content network owned by Jellysmack, according to Variety. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the pact values Court TV at less than $125 million.

Meanwhile, immigration courts were fast-tracking hearings for Somali asylum claims, according to NPR. Lawyers in at least three states, including Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska, received notices moving up hearings for their clients to later this month and next month. Some of these hearings were initially scheduled to take place by 2028.

In an interview with Variety, Delroy Lindo reflected on his Oscar nomination for his role in Ryan Coogler's "Sinners." Lindo discussed his long-awaited moment of recognition, saying, "The work still stands."