Hong Kong Court Convicts Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Under Security Law

A Hong Kong court has found prominent pro-democracy activist and media mogul Jimmy Lai guilty on two charges. The 78-year-old was convicted of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and of publishing seditious material. Lai was the founder of the *Apple Daily* newspaper. His tabloid was a vocal critic of China's Beijing government until authorities forced it to close in 2021. The high-profile trial has drawn international criticism. Observers say it undermines judicial independence in Hong Kong and represents a severe crackdown on press freedom. The verdict comes under a national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020.