Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old British and Hong Kong citizen and founder of the Daily Apple, is on trial for "colluding with foreign forces", in a show of power from Beijing that marks the death of freedom in the territory.
Markets have been spooked by the prospect of the severe Shanghai lockdown – now in its fourth week – being extended to Beijing as one district in the city is sealed off following a few dozen positive Covid tests.
Authorities in Shanghai have started fencing off areas were residents are suspected of having Covid and fears that similar measures will shortly be taken in Beijing have prompted panic buying.
