"High-Stakes Trial: Global Attention on Hong Kong's Jimmy Lai"

Diplomatic pressure is mounting over the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, a prominent critic of China's Communist Party leadership, in Hong Kong. Lai, the founder of the now-closed pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, is facing collusion with foreign forces charges under the China-imposed national security law, which could result in a life sentence. The trial has become a test for Hong Kong's judicial independence and freedoms, with diplomats from various countries attending. The UK and US governments have called for Lai's immediate release, stating that the trial is politically motivated. Lai's lawyer is seeking to limit the timeframe of the sedition conspiracy charge, while the prosecution argues that Lai's alleged criminal enterprise should be considered as a whole. The trial is expected to last 80 days.