Chinese rights activist denies public disorder charges in chaotic all-night trial

Yang Maodong forced into lengthy hearing without food as Beijing government broadens its crackdown on dissent A leading Chinese rights activist who organised rallies for media freedom pleaded not guilty to charges of disturbing public order in an all-night trial in which the judge rejected his requests for food, a lawyer said. The case against Yang Maodong, 48, comes amid a broadening crackdown on dissent. In January, a Beijing court sentenced legal activist Xu Zhiyong to four years in prison fo...