Society
Super Typhoon Ragasa: Daily life and extraordinary measures in Zhuhai before the storm
- 2025-09-24
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: ZHENG XinyiEdited by: AU YEUNG Jim
- 2025-09-24
ZHUHAI, China -- Zhuhai residents rushed to markets to buy daily necessities and food supplies on Monday, following the super typhoon warning issued by the China Meteorological Administration as Typhoon Ragasa approaches. The China Meteorological Administration announced that Ragasa has developed into the strongest typhoon in the world this year. Multiple regions in Guangdong have issued notices for the suspension of classes, work, production, transportation, and business operations. “Before coming here, we heard that a typhoon was approaching. We had experienced typhoons before when we were in Ningbo, and thought it would pass quickly,” said Lu Jingxi, 28, a full-time housewife. “This is the first time I have brought my family to Zhuhai for a trip, and I don’t want to have any regrets,” said Lu. “It wasn’t until we saw the official announcements, posts shared by friends on social media, and received notices from the hotel about lockdown management that we realised how serious this typhoon was,” Lu said. “We still wanted to take my family for a walk along the seaside within a safe area, to enjoy the breeze and spend some time together,” Lu added. “Before, the typhoon didn’t make me feel worried because the sky was clear and sunny,” said Carla Duisebay, 20, an exchange student from Kazakhstan. “Before coming to China, I had never experienced a typhoon.” “The campus supermarket and several nearby stores have run out of fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, and even instant noodles and bread. Seeing this emergency situation was really shocking to me,” Duisebay said. “I will try to open the window a little to feel the typhoon—it’s a special experience for me,” Duisebay added. Zhuhai Municipal Bureau of Commerce initiated a city-wide essential goods supply monitoring mechanism, carrying out dynamic tracking of circulation in key supermarkets, wholesale markets, and slaughterhouses …
Super Typhoon Ragasa: Travellers stuck in airport after flight suspension
- 2025-09-24
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、AU YEUNG JimEdited by: LI Sin Tung
- 2025-09-24
Hundreds of travellers remained stranded at Hong Kong International Airport from 6pm on Tuesday due to flight cancellations, after the Observatory issued the T8 warning signal for the approaching Super Typhoon Ragasa. All flights scheduled to depart after 6pm on Tuesday have been cancelled, as well as most flights scheduled to fly out after 5pm. Air France flight AF8404 to Amsterdam, originally scheduled to depart from Hong Kong at 10:45pm, was moved forward to board passengers at 4pm. Travellers are stuck at the airport as they await updates from their airlines, while take-offs and landings remain suspended until resumption from Thursday 6am, according to the Airport Authority. Jonas Humann, a traveller from Germany whose flight was originally scheduled for Tuesday evening, said he was confused about where to get information regarding the typhoon. Humann said he will be sleeping on a bench for the night, at the airport, as he could not find a staff member who could offer him help. “Qatar Airways isn’t paying for a hotel, and there are no meal vouchers or anything either, the hotels nearby are very pricey,” said Humann. Upon enquiries, the Qatar Airways customer service hotline said they are not responsible for handling any arrangements online, while there were no staff present at the Qatar help desk in Hong Kong International Airport on Tuesday at 7pm. A couple from Papua New Guinea, Vanessa and Ronald, said they are satisfied with the clear instructions given by the Hong Kong government. “We do appreciate the timely announcements that they have been given, and it's good to see that they're not trying to just create a mass panic,” said Vanessa. The customer service counter of the airport distributed small pillows to stranded travellers, and restaurants will operate normally throughout the 36 hours of flight suspension. Flight …
Typhoon Ragasa: Preparation of supplies before storm approaches
- 2025-09-23
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: AO Wei Ying Vinci、MA Tsz Chiu OscarEdited by: NG Natasha Goa Sheng
- 2025-09-23
Residents in Hong Kong rushed to markets to purchase food and supplies on Monday and Tuesday, before the arrival of Super Typhoon Ragasa. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the T8 signal at 2:20pm on Tuesday, after a pre-T8 announcement on Monday when the T1 and T3 signals were hoisted. Markets were packed with people wanting to stock up food and supplies in advance before stores close. Products including bread, vegetables and fresh meat ran out of stock in many stores. As of 8:45pm on Tuesday, the Observatory estimated that Ragasa will be closest to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning. Higher signals will be considered for issuance from 11pm on Tuesday to 3am the following day. Our reporters visited markets and supermarkets in Kowloon, Sha Tin and Tai Po to capture how locals prepare for the storm.
What Sparked Indonesia’s Violent Protests and What It Means for Democracy
- 2025-09-19
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: KURNIAWAN Trista VaniaEdited by: LAI Uen Ling
- 2025-09-19
Thousands of protesters swarmed the streets of Jakarta on Aug. 25, outraged by Parliament’s approval of a new monthly housing allowance that is ten times the minimum monthly wage in Indonesia. Within a week, what began as questions over economic imbalances turned into violent protests in 20 major cities against police brutality, demands for the protection of vulnerable communities, and worries about the future of Indonesia’s democracy. From Aug. 25 to 31, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation reported more than 3,000 people were arrested and 10 were killed. Despite a government response, people are still unsatisfied and fighting for democracy. The Underlying Cause Tito Ambyo, an Indonesian journalist and journalism lecturer at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, said the political and economic frustrations have been growing since people expected reformation after the violent protests in 1998. In May 1998, a riot broke out due to economic inequality, corruption, and the authoritarian rule of President Suharto. It escalated to the targeting and attacks of Chinese Indonesians and the destruction of public property. “After the 1998 riots and our president stepped down, we won. But the next leaders were disappointment after disappointment,” he said. In 2012, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s cabinet faced corruption allegations, with his ministers, including the Chairman of the House of Representatives, indicted by the Corruption Eradication Commission. Ex-President Joko Widodo’s government passed a job creation law aimed at easing work regulations and encouraging investment in 2020. However, it sparked public protests because the bill was seen as weakening workers’ rights and opportunities. He described the Indonesian elites in the government as “careless” and “callous” with their actions. Protesters took to the streets on Aug. 25 after the House of Representatives announced the members of parliament would receive a monthly housing allowance of 50 million rupiah (HK$23,676). …
Policy Address 2025: Government provides sufficient focus on the needs of subdivided communities amid continued poverty concerns
- 2025-09-19
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: Chun Hei LUK、Wing Chi HOEdited by: CHAN Wing Yiu
- 2025-09-19
As the Chief Executive prepares to unveil the 2025 Policy Address, poverty reduction is in the spotlight, especially regarding Hong Kong’s subdivided flats. Concern for Grassroots' Livelihood Alliance emphasizes that the government has given little attention to the specific needs and wants of subdivided flat users. Our reporter Gigi Ho explores how proposed initiatives aim to support vulnerable communities. This address could be crucial in the fight against poverty, emphasizing the urgent need for effective policies to uplift marginalized citizens and improve their quality of life. (Sept 17, 2025) Reported By: Gigi Ho Wing-chi, Anson Luk Chun-hei Edited By: Yoyo Chan Wing-yiu
Policy Address 2025: Pundits criticised industry mismatch despite the city’s Top Talent Scheme has contributed HK$34 billion to local economy
- 2025-09-17
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: FENG Zhenpeng、Li YinhengEdited by: LIU Yutong
- 2025-09-17
Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu defended the controversial top talent scheme in his latest policy address but observers urged the government to address the talent mismatch by bringing in more high-tech elites. The Top Talent Pass Scheme generated around HK$34 billion a year for the local economy, accounting for approximately 1.2% of economic growth, said Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, in the policy address on Wednesday. This is the first time the Hong Kong government has quantified the scheme’s economic contribution to the city in light of mounting criticism against the scheme being abused. Former chief executive Leung Chun-ying criticised last month that most applicants did not settle in Hong Kong, but returned to the mainland with their families after obtaining Hong Kong identity cards. When delivering the 2025 Policy Address, Lee said Hong Kong attracted over 230, 000 talents to work and live in the city under a number of new talent talent admission policies, including the TTPS. About 14,000 of TTPS applicants, or 54%, had their visas renewed. “Of them, 95% receive a monthly income higher than the local median income of about $20,000, and 50% earn a monthly income nearly double that amount. This reflects a strong demand for TTPS talents and the market's willingness to offer higher salaries to attract them,” Lee said most of the admitted talents to Hong Kong are relatively young, with 70% being under 40 years old, which helps to address the challenge of the aging population. However, observers did not see a picture-perfect reality. Lawmaker Wendy Hong Wen said Hong Kong lacks high-end tech talents but the TTPS is mainly bringing in talents from the finance sector. “To address the mismatch between the talent supply and industry demand, the government should adopt a demand-driven approach by enabling companies to directly search for …
Brisbane’s West End celebrates Kurilpa Derby with parade and festivities
- 2025-09-17
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: CHAU Wing YauEdited by: CHAN Wing Yiu
- 2025-09-17
BRISBANE, Australia — The 2025 Kurilpa Derby took place on 14 September, continuing an 18-year tradition in the West End suburb in Brisbane, Australia. The word “Kurilpa” means “home of the water rat”, showing the West End suburb’s history as a natural habitat for water rats and a place where First Nations people once lived. The West End Community Association organises the parade annually in recognition of Indigenous heritage and celebrates the community’s spirit. Participants decorated their wheels in various creative styles and dressed up for the parade. A series of activities following the Kurilpa Derby parade, including a doggy fashion parade, Samba performance and live music. Follow the link below to watch the full reel: https://youtube.com/shorts/vOYWsjYb81Q?si=i10rLg1kZpImBD-d
Nepali people protest and pay tribute at Copenhagen’s City Hall and Nepal Embassy
- 2025-09-13
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LEUNG Chi NgaiEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-09-13
Flowers, candles, and handwritten cardboard signs sat on the stairs of a public square in the city centre of Copenhagen to commemorate more than 50 Nepali protesters who died protesting against the government in Nepal on Monday and Tuesday. Hundreds of Nepalis living in Copenhagen gathered at the City Hall Square on Tuesday evening, said Jyotindra Thapa Ais, 29, a Nepali living in Copenhagen who attended the gathering. On Wednesday morning, 23 Nepalis gathered again outside the Nepal Embassy to protest Nepal government policies, youth unemployment and a lack of opportunities and to pay tribute to the dead protesters. The protest, which started against a social media ban in Nepal, has escalated into a deadly conflict involving tens of thousands of mostly young people taking to the streets of Kathmandu. More than 50 Nepali protesters, mainly students and young people, have died from clashes with security forces and police, according to the BBC. The Nepali Supreme Court, parliament and other major government buildings were set on fire. Houses that belong to government officials were raided by demonstrators. The dissent has created a power vacuum in the Nepali government, as the prime minister, ministers and high-ranking members of political parties resigned. Bel Gurung, 50, from Nepal who lives in Copenhagen, said he initiated the two events in Copenhagen on Tuesday morning, after hearing requests from Nepalis in Copenhagen to raise their voices. “No corruption, no violence, no injustice” were the key messages Gurung and other protesters spread, he said. “When you speak a voice, the true voice, it doesn't matter how loud or how small it was. That spread all over the world to the right people, to the right country,” he said. Jyotindra said: “Today was just for the death of the students, and we were not focusing on other …
Music, beer, and sweat: Copenhagen metro turns into a dancefloor for locals
- 2025-09-10
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: LEUNG Chi NgaiEdited by: AO Wei Ying Vinci
- 2025-09-10
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Hundreds of revelers danced to electronic music with beer in an hours-long metro party in Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen on Sept. 7. The rave took place in a running metro train circulating the Copenhagen City Circle Line from 8:30pm to 11pm, with people joining or leaving at any station. Four music artists played live techno music, with big speakers installed in each car. Some party-goers brought beer along with them on the train. Metro staff regulated the flow of passengers at the gates to prevent overcrowding. Augustinas, 20, from Lithuania, said he has a broad interest in different music genres and is a fan of Peachlyfe, one of the DJs at the event. “I just want to have a great time. I want to dance. I want to listen to some good stuff,” he said before entering the metro party. The metro party is one of the events of the 2025 Strøm Festival, an annual festival since 2006 that promotes electronic music to both Danes and international audiences. Around one-fifth of Nordic listeners chose “dance & electronic” as their favourite music genres, according to a 2020 study by YouGov, an international market research and data analytics firm. “We often present electronic music in unconventional settings: urban spaces, nature and other unexpected places where audiences do not typically expect to encounter electronic music,” said a spokesperson for the non-profit Strøm, which organizes the festival, in an email interview. Theo Pallesen, 21, a Danish local resident, found himself passing through one extra station due to the crowds. “I was at the right station and tried to squeeze off and suddenly the door shut and then I was stuck just right in the middle of the party, where people were jumping, sweating and drinking alcohol,” he said.
Hong Kong’s first hot air balloons festival deflates as balloon rides cancelled
- 2025-09-06
- Society
- The Young Reporter
- By: SIU Tsz Hang、CHENG Tsz Sen SeanEdited by: LAI Uen Ling
- 2025-09-06
The opening of Hong Kong’s first hot air balloon festival was marked by disappointment as the planned balloon ride was cancelled. Scheduled from September 4 to 7, the festival initially promised “Tethered Ride Experience” allows guests to enjoy views on hot air balloons. The government said it declined to issue the permit for the experience due to safety concerns. Follow the link below to watch the full reel: https://youtube.com/shorts/DAos7mQwVMI?si=pSBmlk8bXAsWvRC1