3 h. ago China sanctions Japanese lawmaker Seki Hei, accusing him of spreading falsehoods

Beijing has sanctioned a conservative, opposition Japanese lawmaker, saying that he spread falsehoods on issues involving Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, undermining Chinese sovereignty. In a rare move, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions on Monday morning against Seki Hei – known in China as Shi Ping – a 63-year-old China-born political commentator who was elected to the House of Councillors this year on the Japan Innovation Party’s ticket. According to the ministry’s...

Politics

3 h. ago China sanctions Japanese lawmaker Seki Hei, accusing him of spreading fallacies

Beijing has sanctioned a conservative, opposition Japanese lawmaker, saying that he spread falsehoods on issues involving Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong, undermining Chinese sovereignty. In a rare move, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions on Monday morning against Seki Hei – known in China as Shi Ping – a 63-year-old China-born political commentator who was elected to the House of Councillors this year on the Japan Innovation Party’s ticket. According to the ministry’s...

Politics

20 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T8 typhoon signal as storm Tapah closes in

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory is set to issue the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday as tropical cyclone Tapah is expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. With Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – expected to...

Events

20 h. ago Storm Tapah: Hong Kong issues T8 typhoon signal; Airport Express extends service

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with tropical cyclone Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. With Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – expected to skirt...

Events

20 h. ago Hong Kong T8 signal to remain in force on Monday morning; classes suspended

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with tropical cyclone Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – is expected to skirt...

Politics

20 h. ago Storm Tapah: Hong Kong axes 100 flights, suspends classes as T8 remains in force

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with tropical cyclone Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – is expected to skirt...

Events

20 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T3 warning signal at 1.10pm as storm Tapah moves away

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with tropical cyclone Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – is expected to skirt...

Events

20 h. ago Tapah: Hong Kong to issue T3 at 1.10pm; plane skids onto grass while landing

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with tropical cyclone Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning. Tapah – the Malay word for a type of giant freshwater catfish – is expected to skirt...

Politics

20 h. ago Storm Tapah: Hong Kong issues T3; HK Express plane skids onto grass

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 3 typhoon signal at 1.10pm on Monday, more than 13 hours after raising the No 8 warning at 9.20pm the previous day, as Severe Tropical Storm Tapah made landfall and moved away from the city. As Tapah – the Malay word for a type...

Events

20 h. ago Hongkongers return to work as public services resume after 13

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the No 3 typhoon signal at 1.10pm on Monday, more than 13 hours after raising the No 8 warning at 9.20pm the previous day, as Severe Tropical Storm Tapah made landfall and moved away from the city. As Tapah – the Malay word for a type...

Politics

29 h. ago Ferry services suspended as T3 remains in force in Hong Kong for rest of Sunday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Some after-school classes and ferry services have been suspended in Hong Kong after the Observatory issued the No 3 typhoon signal, which it said would remain in force for the rest of Sunday. The forecaster issued the No 3 signal at 2.40am on Sunday, as Tropical Storm...

Politics

29 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T8 signal on Sunday night as Tropical Cyclone Tapah approaches

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong will issue a No 8 typhoon warning signal between 9pm and midnight on Sunday, as Tropical Cyclone Tapah approaches closest to the city the next morning, the Observatory said. The storm is expected to pass within 200km (124 miles) southwest of the city on...

Politics

29 h. ago T8 signal to be issued at 9.20pm as Hong Kong cancels all school classes on Monday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong will issue a No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, as Tropical Cyclone Tapah is expected to make landfall over western Guangdong the following morning, the Observatory said, with all schools suspending classes on Monday. “Tapah is expected to skirt within...

Politics

29 h. ago T8 signal issued at 9.20pm as Hong Kong cancels all school classes on Monday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong issued the No 8 typhoon signal at 9.20pm on Sunday, with Tropical Storm Tapah expected to make landfall over western Guangdong on Monday morning, the Observatory said, triggering the suspension of school classes and disrupting the start of the work week for...

Politics

52 h. ago Hong Kong to assess need for No 3 typhoon warning signal on Sunday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will assess the need to issue the No 3 typhoon warning signal on Sunday, expecting a tropical depression to intensify and enter within 200km (125 miles) of the city next week. The Hong Kong Observatory raised the No 1 signal at 10.20pm...

Events

52 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T3 typhoon warning signal between midnight and 3am

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue the No 3 typhoon warning signal between midnight on Saturday and 3am on Sunday, with strong winds expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta and enter within 200km (125 miles) of the city next week. A tropical...

Events

52 h. ago Hong Kong to issue T3 typhoon warning signal at 2.40am on Sunday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster will issue the No 3 typhoon warning signal at 2.40am on Sunday, with strong winds expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta and enter within 200km (125 miles) of the city next week. A tropical cyclone over the northern...

Events

52 h. ago Hong Kong issues T3 typhoon warning signal at 2.40am on Sunday

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Hong Kong readers now get 50% off their first year of subscription until September 21, 2025. Hong Kong’s weather forecaster issued the No 3 typhoon warning signal at 2.40am on Sunday, with strong winds expected to affect the vicinity of the Pearl River Delta and enter within 200km (125 miles) of the city on Monday. A tropical cyclone over the northern part of...

Events

3 d. ago Hong Kong Observatory could issue T1 warning on Friday night

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. New users who download our updated app get a seven-day free trial. The Hong Kong Observatory has said it may issue the typhoon standby signal No 1 on Friday night at the earliest, as the forecaster warned of unstable weather from Sunday onwards. An area of low pressure near Luzon, which is currently about 800km (497 miles) away from Hong Kong, is expected to...

Events

4 d. ago Hong Kong authorities look into complaints over new shoes procured for lifeguards

Hong Kong authorities are looking into complaints about new government-supplied shoes after a lifeguard union received more than 100 reports of discomfort or foot injuries, becoming the second procurement issue to be raised in recent weeks. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Life Guard’s Union earlier revealed that the Leisure and Cultural Services Department had previously switched from shoes provided by global sportswear company Mizuno to a new, lesser-known brand called “JWS”, despite its...

Politics