Hong Kong Sentences Dozens of Pro-Democracy Leaders in Landmark Security Trial

In a historic national security trial, Hong Kong has sentenced 45 prominent pro-democracy activists, including figures like Joshua Wong, on charges of subversion. The trial is part of Beijing's broader crackdown on dissent following the 2019 protests, with many of the defendants already having spent years in jail. The charges, which can carry life imprisonment, have drawn international criticism, particularly from the U.S., which has called for the activists' release. This trial marks a significant moment in Hong Kong's political landscape, as the city continues to grapple with the erosion of its freedoms under China's tightening control.