Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies: South China Morning Post

Driver who rammed into US consulate in Shanghai 'mentally confused', say police

The car that rammed into the consulate on Thursday night. The police guard suffered mouth, face and chest injuries.

UPDATE

Wife of man arrested says he has hallucinations and believes somebody is trying to kill him. A police guard was injured in Thursday night's attack

Friday, 13 February, 2015, 10:29am 2 comments

Jackie Chan’s son released from jail after serving time for drugs offence

Jaycee Chan, with his head covered, leaving the detention just after midnight. Photo: CCTV

Jaycee Chan, the son of movie star Jackie Chan, was released from jail just after midnight last night after serving six months for drug offences, mainland media reported.

13 Feb 2015 - 10:08am 2 comments

China’s top anti-graft body vows to step up fight against corruption in state-owned enterprises

Chief graft-buster Wang Qishan said this year's first round of disciplinary inspections would focus on 26 centrally run businesses. All are on the Fortune Global 500 list. Photo: Xinhua

The mainland's top anti-graft body has vowed to step up its fight against corruption in China's state-owned enterprises.

13 Feb 2015 - 9:22am More on Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign

‘Two-child policy’ a must for China, says family planning official

Two boys pictured at a furniture store in Beijing. The number of couples applying to have two children in China has been lower than expected. Photo: AFP

The mainland should further relax its one-child policy and all couples should have two babies if the nation is to solve problems including its ageing population, according to a provincial family planning official.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:12am 3 comments

Hong Kong luxury car owners arrested in Shenzhen in China's 'biggest street-racing case'

The fast cars, owned by 13 Hong Kong permanent residents, were used for racing on the Shenzhen-Guangzhou highway. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Shenzhen authorities have slapped 13 Hong Kong luxury car owners with suspended jail sentences for speeding at up to 275km/h in what was described as the mainland’s “biggest street-racing case ever”.

13 Feb 2015 - 9:28am 12 comments

Efforts to improve China’s love-hate relationship with US yet to meet great expectations

Xi and Obama walk together at the Zhongnanhai leaders compound in Beijing before a private dinner in November. Photo: AP

ANALYSIS

It has been touted as the most important relationship in the world right now, but managing the intricate ties between China and the United States has been a hit-and-miss process.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:04am 3 commentsMore on Xi Jinping

Strict crowd limits set for Beijing Lunar New Year celebrations in wake of Shanghai crush

Two square metres should be provided for each person attending a street party, rules state.

13 Feb 2015 - 9:17am 2 comments

China to expand soft power push through overseas cultural centres

China's overseas cultural centres host exhibitions and teach Chinese music, dance, fine arts, language, martial arts and cuisine. Photo: Xinhua

China plans to spend 360 million yuan (HK$454 million) on expanding its overseas cultural centres this year - nearly double last year's amount - amid government efforts to bolster its soft power abroad.

13 Feb 2015 - 8:16am

China's self-defeating crackdown on 'Western values'

If Yuan Guiren had his way, China's universities would look more like their North Korean counterparts. Photo: Reuters

The news from the mainland these days is mostly depressing, owing to the government's escalating crackdown on its critics.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:37am 6 comments

How premier’s brother rose to the top of one of China’s most profitable industries

Li Keming has left his position at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration. Photo: SCMP

After more than three decades in one of China's most profitable industries, Li Keming, the brother of Premier Li Keqiang, has finally left his role as the deputy director of the powerful state tobacco monopoly.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:11am 1 comment

China ‘not ready to win wars’ despite PLA modernisation, says US report

The People's Liberation Army is incapable of winning wars even though it has spent heavily on modernisation over the past two decades, according to a report commissioned by a US congressional committee.

13 Feb 2015 - 9:20am 42 comments

Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou demands speedy reform after inmates commit suicide in prison siege

Taiwanese leader says hostage-taking incident by inmates exposed loopholes in prison system.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:07am

Chinese relatives of missing MH370 victims protest outside carrier’s office

12 Feb 2015 - 10:12pm 1 comment

‘Nut rage’ Korean Air Lines heiress handed jail term by Seoul court

13 Feb 2015 - 2:44am 9 comments

Ceasefire agreed for eastern Ukraine after marathon peace talks in Minsk

12 Feb 2015 - 7:51pm 1 comment

The great China getaway: World’s largest human migration begins as Chinese flock home for Lunar New Year

12 Feb 2015 - 5:48pm

China to open Singapore and Brussels cultural centres in 360 million yuan expansion plan

12 Feb 2015 - 2:55pm

The numbers game: mathematicians and NSA

13 Feb 2015 - 3:39am

HKU law professors hit back against pro-Beijing press ‘political interference’ attacks

13 Feb 2015 - 11:50am 37 comments

Baidu shares drop after disappointing profit

12 Feb 2015 - 8:59am

Whistleblower complaints seen by China regulators as clues in treasure hunt, reports finds

13 Feb 2015 - 1:06am 1 comment

Six prisoners commit suicide after shoot-out in Taiwan prison seige

12 Feb 2015 - 6:49pm 8 comments

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Chinese demand for new tastes driving increase in food and drink imports

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13 FEB 2015

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Leader

Hong Kong's arts hub needs the support of all stakeholders

13 Feb 2015 - 7:13am 4 comments

Bitcoin deal that cost investors HK$3 billion a cautionary tale

13 Feb 2015 - 7:13am

Today's Poll

The suspended jail terms and fines for Hong Kong motorists racing in Shenzhen are:

Hong Kong luxury car owners arrested in Shenzhen in China's 'biggest street-racing case'

Total number of votes recorded: 178

Opinion

ALEX LO

Folly for Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying to meddle in university affairs

13 Feb 2015 - 7:13am 1 comment

HOWARD WINN

CLSA's Mike Mayo goes full circle on his opinion of Citi

12 Feb 2015 - 11:50pm

ALBERT CHENG

No excuses for Hong Kong officials' slow response to flu outbreak and parallel trading

12 Feb 2015 - 6:57pm 3 comments

NICHOLAS SPIRO

The mystery of negative bond yields

12 Feb 2015 - 11:42am

Insight

Hong Kong's democrats are right to reject farcical political reform

Pro-democracy legislators make their point during the chief executive's policy address last month. Photo: AFP

STEPHEN VINES

It is becoming increasingly obvious that, despite avid protestations to the contrary, the Chinese and Hong Kong governments really do not mind if the proposed constitutional reforms are blocked in the legislature.

13 Feb 2015 - 1:18pm

Blogs

THE GRIFFIN

A walk down memory lane: historical pictures of Hong Kong racing

ANDREW HAWKINS13 Feb 2015 - 12:43pm

AS I SEE IT

Movie review: Still Alice (and Julianne Moore’s near-certain Oscar win)

JASON Y NG11 Feb 2015 - 4:27pm

Focus

The numbers game: mathematicians and NSA

SCIENCE MAGAZINE

Snowden's revelations unsettled many mathematicians - but not enough to sever ties with NSA.

13 Feb 2015 - 3:39am

Harry's View

13 Feb 2015

Hong Kong

VALENTINE'S DAY

Romantic Hongkongers are ‘world’s biggest Valentine’s Day spenders’

NEW

If you think that bunch of roses for February 14 is on the pricey side, then you are in the minority as Hong Kong’s romantics have been found to be the world’s biggest Valentine’s Day spenders.

13 Feb 2015 - 12:39pm 1 comment

COURTS

Embattled broadcaster ATV hit with HK$380,000 fine over unpaid salaries

Cash-strapped Asia Television was dealt another financial blow this morning after it was slapped with a HK$380,000 fine at Sha Tin court.

13 Feb 2015 - 1:22pm 2 commentsMore on Asia Television Limited

POLITICS

Former HKU law dean Johannes Chan calls for review of government’s universities role

13 Feb 2015 3 comments

MORE HONG KONG NEWS

China

Driver who rammed into US consulate in Shanghai 'mentally confused', say police

UPDATE

Wife of man arrested says he has hallucinations and believes somebody is trying to kill him. A police guard was injured in Thursday night's attack

13 Feb 2015 - 10:29am 2 comments

CHINA ENVIRONMENT

China produces about a third of plastic waste polluting the world's oceans, says report

China is responsible for nearly a third of the plastic polluting the world’s oceans, according to a new report.

The nation produces an average of about 2.4 million tonnes of plastic waste in the seas each year, just under 30 per cent of the global total, the study said

13 Feb 2015 - 11:42am

DIPOLMACY

Xi Jinping to make first state visit to Pakistan

13 Feb 2015

MORE CHINA NEWS

Asia

A prison bus carrying the Korean Air heiress arrives at court in Seoul yesterday prior to her sentencing to one year in prison for aviation safety violations. Photo: AFP

SOUTH KOREA

‘Nut rage’ Korean Air Lines heiress handed jail term by Seoul court

UPDATE

A South Korean court sentenced the daughter of Korean Air Lines’ chairman to one year in prison after finding her guilty over an on-board incident in New York concerning the way she was served nuts in first class.

13 Feb 2015 - 2:44am 9 comments

NORTH KOREA

'Let's turn into a country of mushrooms': Kim Jong-un unveils 310 new political slogans for North Korea

North Korea unveiled a list of 310 new political slogans covering every conceivable topic, from the glories of the ruling Kim dynasty and mushroom cultivation to the importance of dependable wives and playing "offensive" sports.

13 Feb 2015 - 7:19am 1 commentMore on North Korea

INDIA

Plan for temple to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scrapped

13 Feb 2015

MORE ASIA NEWS

World

GREECE

China's Li Keqiang calls on Greece to protect Chinese investments

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged Greece’s new leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to protect Chinese investments and backing for a key port project, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

13 Feb 2015 - 1:30pm

ISLAMIC MILITANCY

Islamic State magazine publishes ‘interview’ with fugitive widow of French attacker

The Islamic State group published what it described as an interview with the fugitive widow of the French gunman who attacked a kosher supermarket and a police officer in Paris last month, claiming for the first time that she was among extremist fighters.

13 Feb 2015 - 10:56am

URKAINE

Ceasefire agreed for eastern Ukraine after marathon peace talks in Minsk

12 Feb 2015 1 comment

MORE WORLD NEWS

China Insider

The 18-year-old college student visits the two sanitary workers whose lives he saved by pulling them out of a sewer and giving them CPR. Photo: Rednet.cn

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Chinese teen saves lives of two workers trapped in sewer

12 Feb 2015

Police officers carry a man out of a Beijing hospital where he has been staying for more than three years. The man claimed doctors had injured his left leg during an operation in 2011 and refused to leave. Photo: Reuters

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Man hauled out of hospital after overstaying his welcome...by three years

12 Feb 2015

A woman driver who ran into a 5-million-yuan Rolls Royce Ghost faces a repair bill of 100,000 yuan. Photo: SCMP Pictures

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Woman driver faces 100,000 bill for dinging $5m Rolls Royce

10 Feb 2015 1 comment

A panda looks out of his cage at Beijing zoo. A fourth panda has died of canine distemper at a wildlife breeding centre in Shaanxi. Photo: EPA

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Fourth panda dies of canine distemper in Shaanxi

6 Feb 2015

The owner spent years cutting and polishing a 53-tonne bloodstone boulder to its present size. Photo: SCMP Pictures

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: 18-tonne gem goes on display in Guangxi

5 Feb 2015

Beijing commuters head home in the evening rush hour. Photo: Simon Song

TRANSPORTATION

Beijing subway to increase train frequencies, but still lags behind Hong Kong MTR

5 Feb 2015

A venomous redback spider has been found by Customs officers in Guangdong among a container of iron frames from Australia. Photo: SCMP Pictures

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Aussie redback spider stowaway found at Guangdong port

4 Feb 2015

An eight-year-old boy has been living at a primary school in Henan after he was abandoned by his father in August. Photo: SCMP Pictures

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Abandoned boy, 8, stranded at school

3 Feb 2015

A person uses a Xiaomi handset to take a photo of a yuan bill. Some tech industry watchers are waiting to see if the Chinese telecoms firm will produce 'the next big thing'. Photo: Simon Song

INNOVATION

‘A beggar is not begging, he’s crowd-funding!' Viral business ‘advice’ sparks debate on Chinese innovation

3 Feb 2015

A man in Yiwu who drank two litres of liquor at a business dinner suffered a gastric perforation and lapsed into a coma. Photo: Bloomberg

AROUND THE NATION

Around the nation: Man drinks himself into coma at business dinner

3 Feb 2015

A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces P-1 submarine-hunting aircraft is seen in this undated photo handed out by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Photo: Reuters

SOUTH CHINA SEA

Top Chinese scholar blasts US for ‘fanning discord’ in South China Sea with Japan air patrol proposal

3 Feb 2015 6 comments

Two homeless men in Hefei, which saw snow at the weekend, asked a local shelter to buy them rail tickets to tropical Hainan to spend the winter. Photo: Xinhua

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: Phone scammer took millions from rural elderly over five years

2 Feb 2015

Three people died when a bus crashed on the way from Guangzhou to Leizhou. Photo: SCMP Pictures

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: three dead, 10 injured in Guangzhou bus crash

31 Jan 2015

The endangered South China tiger cub, which is now feeding normally at a zoo in Jiangxi province after a breeder was found to have repeatedly hit the cub. Photo: Chinanews.com

CHINA DIGEST

Around the nation: endangered South China tiger cub nursed back to health after abuse at zoo

30 Jan 2015 1 comment

Business

GAMING

Melco Crown quarterly profit plunges 58pc

Melco Crown Entertainment’s net profit plunged 58 per cent to US$92.9 million in the fourth quarter of last year, underscoring the rising pressure on Macau casino operators as gaming revenues slide.

13 Feb 2015 - 10:54amMore on Macau

CORRUPTION

2 JPMorgan executives connected to princeling probe set to leave

Two senior executives at JPMorgan Chase who are connected to an investigation into its hiring practices in Asia will exit the bank, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

13 Feb 2015 - 10:04am 1 comment

MARKETS

DOUG YOUNG

Lenovo watches Super Bowl, Weibo chastises WeChat

9 Feb 2015 - 1:33pm 1 comment

MORE BUSINESS NEWS

Property

Greenland Hong Kong chairman Chen Jun earlier told the South China Morning Post that the company targeted annual sales of 50 billion yuan by 2018. Photo: Jonathan Wong

INTERNET

Greenland to diversify into internet finance

Greenland Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-listed unit of the mainland’s largest developer by sales, announced it would diversify into internet finance this year, hoping to capitalise on the cyber world to offer financial services to cash-strapped mainland developers.

11 Feb 2015 - 6:11amMore on China Property

STRATEGY

Golden Wheel Tiandi on a roll with metro projects

For Golden Wheel Tiandi Holdings, the strategy of developing properties close to metro stations on the mainland has paid off in a market downturn.

11 Feb 2015 - 5:57amMore on China Property

CITY PLANNING

Designing the heart of Qianhai

11 Feb 2015

MORE PROPERTY NEWS

Lifestyle

ARTS & CULTURE

Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan in a scene from Fifty Shades of Grey.

Film review: Fifty Shades of Grey - don't take your Valentine

The film adaptation of the first volume of British author E. L. James' erotic romance trilogy is definitely not a date movie. Dakota Johnson's performance is believable but some of the dialogue is dire.

13 Feb 2015 - 12:44pm

Could you design an online game in 48 hours? These Hongkongers did

13 Feb 2015

Shaun the Sheep Movie: secrets from the set

12 Feb 2015

FOOD & WINE

A Chinese wine producer's booth at last year's Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong, which drew the world's top vintners. Photo: AFP

Bordeaux takes a hit as Chinese drinkers look to Burgundy and the New World

Last week Guillaume Deglise, CEO of wine trade show organiser Vinexpo, was in Hong Kong to announce plans for this year's event in Bordeaux, and also to share some facts and figures from a new report on the global wine and spirits business.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:25am

Macau's love of speciality coffee set to rival that of Hong Kong

13 Feb 2015

Home Cooking with Susan Jung: How to make XO Sauce

12 Feb 2015 3 comments

TECHNOLOGY

EasyVan founder Chow Shing-yuk (left) with driver Ray Liu. Photo: May Tse

Smartphone apps shake up Hong Kong transport and delivery services

Ray Liu started working as a van driver to transport goods nine months ago.

13 Feb 2015 - 6:01amMore on LIFE

Six out of 10 top dating apps on Android making a date with hackers

13 Feb 2015

Wong Tai Sin Temple launches app and opens all night for worshippers on Lunar New Year's Eve

13 Feb 2015

FASHION

The Solo Royal Edition 2 Headphones (HK$1,798) from Beats by Dr Dre combines great sound quality with a new colour palette, including a satin-finish blush rose version. Available at Apple Store, IFC Mall, Central, tel: 3972 1500

13 Lunar New Year accessories you'll need to paint Hong Kong red

13 Feb 2015

Dolce & Gabbana's menswear couture collection is for the audacious dresser

13 Feb 2015

BOOKS

Book review: Frog - Mo Yan dramatises trauma of one-child policy in China

9 Feb 2015

The Songbook remains the same: Americana writ large

7 Feb 2015

HEALTH

Eating less and moving more isn't enough to help the obese, experts say. Photo: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Diet and exercise alone can't lead to sustained weight loss, say experts

12 Feb 2015

Going against the (whole)grain: how high-fat 'keto diet' boosted one Hongkonger's health

11 Feb 2015

BEAUTY

Seven stunning lipsticks for your Valentine's Day date

11 Feb 2015

How to stay looking young: top tips from a cosmetic doctor

9 Feb 2015 1 comment

FAMILY & EDUCATION

TLC and TCM: Hong Kong mum juggles family and Chinese medicine practice

11 Feb 2015

Schools without Wi-fi, kids without computers in Hong Kong's digital divide

10 Feb 2015 1 comment

INTERIORS & LIVING

Seoul's Bukchon district is famous for its traditional courtyard homes, where stone, wood and clay are the only construction materials used. Photo: Joonhwan Yoon

Seoul preserves its personality in traditional urban architecture

11 Feb 2015

Bedbugs: scientists are close to winning the war

9 Feb 2015 2 comments

Magazines

Style: February 2015
FEBRUARY 2015

Taste for love
48 Hours: February 5
5 FEB 2015

Louis Koo poised for a golden Lunar New Year at the box office

Sport

Samir Nasri's comments are likely to fire up Chelsea. Photo: AFP

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea ‘not special at all’, scoffs Manchester City’s Samir Nasri

Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri has taken a swipe at title rivals Chelsea by claiming the Premier League leaders are nothing special.

13 Feb 2015 - 10:33amMore on English Premier League 2014/15

ATHLETICS

Hong Kong ultra-runners to race 50km through streets of Central ... well, street to be exact

Runners will pound out an ultramarathon through the streets of Central next month ... well, street to be exact: participants have to go up and down a 1km-long section of Lung Wo Road 25 times for the 50km race.

13 Feb 2015 - 9:31am

Jockey Club takes a punt on rising star rider Damian Lane

12 Feb 2015

MORE SPORT NEWS

Magazines

FILM

Shaun the Sheep Movie: secrets from the set

On a visit to the studios of Aardman Animations, James Mottram talks to the creators of its latest big-screen offering.

12 Feb 2015 - 1:16pm

LUNAR NEW YEAR

Where to find the best Lunar New Year puddings

Lunar New Year's pudding is an age-old tradition. Today's chefs offer fresh and modern twists on the classics, infusing them with flavours from across the globe.

12 Feb 2015 - 3:30pm

MUSIC