42 m. 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

17 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...

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17 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...

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17 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

17 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...

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17 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

26 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

26 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

26 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

26 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

49 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

49 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...

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49 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

49 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

2 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...

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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

5 d. ago Hong Kong official urges ‘heightened alertness’ among staff after water scandal

Hong Kong’s logistics chief has issued a set of guidelines to senior civil servants, urging them to “heighten their alertness” and conduct due diligence to prevent potential fraudulent acts by tenderers and contractors, following a recent drinking water procurement scandal. “In light of the recent incident on procurement of bottled drinking water for which fraud elements involving the contractor are revealed, it is of utmost importance for bureaus and departments to step up efforts to prevent...

Politics

8 d. ago Filipino with health issue dies after passing out on Hong Kong Disneyland ride

A 53-year-old Filipino tourist with a pre-existing medical condition has died after falling into a coma while on a ride at Hong Kong Disneyland, with initial investigations showing no safety issues with the attraction. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort said on Saturday that the guest lost consciousness on the Frozen Ever After attraction at around 10am the previous day and was certified dead at 11.30am after being sent to hospital. It was later confirmed that the deceased was a man from the...

Events

9 d. ago Hong Kong to cancel T1 typhoon alert at 6.10pm, issue strong monsoon signal

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 will cancel the No 1 typhoon warning at 6.10pm on Friday and issue the strong monsoon signal shortly afterwards. The weather forecaster said on Friday that a tropical depression over the central and northern parts of the South China Sea was...

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9 d. ago Hong Kong cancels T1 typhoon alert, issues strong monsoon signal

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 cancelled the No 1 typhoon warning at 6.10pm on Friday and issued the strong monsoon signal shortly afterwards. The weather forecaster said that a tropical depression over the central and northern parts of the South China Sea was gradually...

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