Article 23, enacted last week, gives Hong Kong authorities greater powers to crush dissent. The Hong Kong government has slammed several international media outlets for their coverage of the new law.

After disappointing a legion of fans in Hong Kong with a no-show on the pitch at the weekend, Lionel Messi left open the possibility of playing in Inter Miami's friendly in Tokyo, saying he left "much better" than he did a few days ago.

The Hong Kong government wants to pass new laws this year, building on the national security law imposed by Beijing, which came into effect in 2020.

The city's leading critic of the Chinese Communist Party faces national security charges that could carry a life sentence. Jimmy Lai founded the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily in Hong Kong.

The three students pleaded guilty to charges of planning to place explosives in public buildings. They had been accused of a "conspiracy to commit terrorism" under the controversial National Security Law.

The trial of Hong Kong's most well-known political prisoner has kicked off. Experts noted signs of concern from Beijing with its legal moves closely monitored worldwide.

Nearly all opposition and pro-democracy candidates have been barred from running in local elections after a Beijing-backed "national security" crackdown and turnout is expected to be low.

The 11th Gay Games officially got underway in Hong Kong on Saturday, kicking off a week of inclusive sporting competition across two continents, with half the events taking place in the Mexican city of Guadalajara.

Many parts of Hong Kong saw flooding on Monday as Typhoon Koinu brought torrential rains during the night, forcing authorities to issue the highest level of alert for six hours. It was the second time in a month the city's authorities had sent out a "black" rain warning — the highest in Hong Kong.

After leaving a trail of destruction in Taiwan, the typhoon is expected to make landfall on the Chinese mainland later Friday.

Hong Kong has sounded the alarm with its highest-level rainstorm warning. Rescue operations have begun in several districts and schools remained shut.

Officials said Soaloa could be the strongest typhoon to make landfall in the region encompassing Hong Kong and other major cities since the founding of the current Chinese state.