Obama cancels part of Asian Pacific visit while Xi begins first as president

US President Barack Obama has scrapped scheduled visits to Malaysia and the Philippines due to the US federal government shutdown.

Updated Thursday, 3 October, 2013, 12:12am

China’s electronic cigarette inventor fights for financial rewards

The Chinese inventor who dreamed up the electronic cigarette in a nicotine-induced vision says that despite its global popularity, copycat versions and legal disputes mean he has battled to cash in on his creation.

2 Oct 2013 - 11:04pm 1 comment

Creation of Shanghai free-trade zone prompts 20pc rise in property prices

Prices of property in areas surrounding the newly established free-trade zone in Shanghai's Pudong New Area have soared by up to 20 per cent in the past two months, triggering warnings of irrational exuberance among investors.

2 Oct 2013 - 2:39pm 1 comment More on Shanghai Free-trade Zone

ADB cuts China growth forecast

Beijing should act faster to transform the mainland's economic growth pattern, boosting domestic consumption effectively and cutting its reliance on investment and exports, because growth is continuing to lag expectations, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday.

Updated 3 Oct 2013 - 12:47am 1 comment

Zhou Yongkang makes surprise public appearance amid speculation of graft probe

Former security tsar Zhou Yongkang voiced strong support for President Xi Jinping yesterday as he re-emerged on the public stage for the first time since being investigated for corruption in August.

2 Oct 2013 - 9:45am 2 comments More on Zhou Yongkang

Military parade in Seoul meant as show of force to deter Pyongyang

South Korea displayed its longest-range missile capable of striking all of North Korea, and other sophisticated weapons, at a military parade yesterday, a display of force meant to show Pyongyang that any provocation would be met with strong retaliation.

2 Oct 2013 - 10:55pm More on South Korea

Chinese ban on 'forced shopping' trips adds to costs for tourists

A new mainland law that bans "forced shopping" has prompted sharp rises in prices for outbound tours. A five-day tour to South Korea organised by the China International Travel Service a year ago cost 4,000 yuan. This year the price is more than 7,000 yuan (HK$8,800).

2 Oct 2013 - 4:03pm

Ban on forced shopping trips hits takings in Hong Kong stores

The "golden week" National Day holiday kicked off yesterday with more of a whimper than a bang in Hong Kong's stores.

Many reported sluggish sales compared with last year, possibly due to a new mainland law aimed at protecting tourists against being forced to shop.

2 Oct 2013 - 2:37am 4 comments

Anger over five tonnes of garbage left by Tiananmen Square visitors

Angry comments on the “uncivilised” behaviour of the Chinese flooded the nation’s blogosphere on Wednesday after state media revealed that five tonnes of rubbish had been left by 110,000 observers at a flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square in the nation's capital on Tuesday, China’s 64th Nati

2 Oct 2013 - 3:30pm 2 comments More on Chinese tourists

Xi Jinping visits Indonesia to boost ties

2 Oct 2013 - 9:39pm

Turkey missile deal a victory for China

2 Oct 2013 - 9:27pm 1 comment

Berlusconi drops bid to oust Italy’s government in shock U-turn

2 Oct 2013 - 11:55pm

Protests as Vietnam dissident lawyer Le Quoc Quan jailed for tax evasion

2 Oct 2013 - 7:36pm

Russia charges five Greenpeace activists with piracy

2 Oct 2013 - 5:58pm 1 comment

US government shutdown greeted with disbelief around the world

2 Oct 2013 - 7:47am

More Headlines

Today in SCMP.com

 
  • Morning 
    Patiotism, Chinese style? Five tonnes of garbage after National Day flag-raising ceremony in Beijing 
  • Morning
    Plot thickens over China's Inheritance Tax Law as scholar distances himself from reports of impending legislation 
  • Afternoon
    State media denial of reprint of Mao's 'little red book' raises more questions than answers

Coming up in SCMP

 
  • HKU drops over 20 places in past 4 years on a world's top universities' list
  • More than half of shopping mall space being built globally is in China 
  • 62.6pc of respondents to CUHK survey support property-cooling measures

Today's Poll

  • Yes: 79%
  • No: 21%
2 Oct 2013
  • Yes
  • No
Total number of votes recorded: 264

Celebrating Hong Kong

Spirit of Hong Kong

Ecologist promotes nature and its creatures

DANNY LEE

There are some photographs pinned to the back of a stand which show a small slice of Hong Kong’s natural wildlife and habitat. These snapshots on display reveal some of environmental campaigner and educator Dickson Wong Chi-chun’s happiest childhood memories.

Wong, 37, is showing me the best pictures capturing the essence of the city’s true biodiversity.

No wasters in Miss Lee’s class

Compassion knows no barriers

Cycling crusader hopes to get city moving on two wheels

Uniquely Hong Kong

When words are not enough: The dying art of professional letter writing

Hedy Bok

Professional letter writers were once a common sight on Hong Kong’s streets, but today only a few survive. In the latest episode of our Uniquely Hong Kong series, we talk to Pun Tse-ching about the dying art

How calorie-counting and supermarkets are hitting Hong Kong's rice shops where it hurts

Dim Sum: A tradition that's anything but dim

Talking to the dead: the art of making Taoist paper effigies

China

CINEMA

US$450m Warner Brothers movie-making deal eyes China

A consortium led by Australian billionaire James Packer and US director Brett Ratner has struck a massive movie-making deal with Warner Brothers, with an eye fixed firmly on Chinese movie fans.

2 Oct 2013 - 11:49pm

Asia

KOREAN PENINSULA

Hagel agrees strategy with Seoul to deal with threat from North Korea

South Korea and the United States have mapped out a new strategy to counter the growing threat of a North Korean nuclear or chemical weapons attack, their defence ministers said yesterday.

2 Oct 2013 - 11:37pm More on North Korea

Property

LEASING

TMT firms drive the Hong Kong and Beijing office rental markets

The fast-growing technology, media and communications sector is taking a significantly larger share of the total office leasing market both in Hong Kong and Beijing, according to property consultants.

2 Oct 2013 - 5:23am
REVIEWS

Review: It's My Turn

In this production, three City Contemporary Dance Company members - Bruce Wong, Lai Tak-wai and Lam Po - were joined by independent choreographer Rebecca Wong.

1 Oct 2013 - 9:15am

Review: Trey Lee Nostalgia - A National Day Celebration

1 Oct 2013

Zhang Jingchu’s film roles take her all over the world

1 Oct 2013

VIP buffalo treatment: jazz and massages produce premium mozzarella

A queue forms for rub-downs as jazz  piano tinkles out of the speakers: some of the best buffalo mozzarella in the  world starts with in-stable VIP treatment.

2 Oct 2013 - 12:14pm

Japan's luxury fruit masters grow money on trees

1 Oct 2013

Inner beauty: Fermented black beans

30 Sep 2013
TECHNOLOGY

Self-driving car and glasses that translate menus showcased at Tokyo gadget show

A car that drives itself and glasses that translate a menu as you read it are some of the glimpses of tomorrow on offer at a gadget fair near Tokyo that began on Tuesday.

2 Oct 2013 - 11:21am

Closure of Popular Science's online comment stream sparks debate

2 Oct 2013

Infertile woman gives birth in Japan after ovarian tissue implants

2 Oct 2013

Magazines

Sport

Guangzhou reach AFC Champions League final after thrashing Kashiwa 4-0

A fourth four-goal win in a row saw Guangzhou Evergrande create history last night as they became the first Chinese side in the AFC Champions League era to reach the final of the continental club championship.

Updated 3 Oct 2013 - 12:42am

Magazines

Mao 101

A remote, ramshackle Henan school is teaching its dwindling student body that only the Great Helmsman himself can save the People's Republic. Xu Donghuan meets a principal who dances to his own, old tune. Pictures by Simon Song.

1 Oct 2013 - 9:54am 2 comments
TRAVEL

Intelligent design: a ceramic renaissance in Jiangxi

Ceramic artists from all over the mainland are descending on Jingdezhen as the Jiangxi city, famed for its pottery tradition, enjoys a creative renaissance, writes Violet Law.

29 Sep 2013 - 12:48am

Beameth me up

29 Sep 2013 1 comment

More Magazines news

In Pictures

Hong Kong Weather

Current Weather

Humidity

UV

Air Pollution

Sheung Shui
Tai Po
Sha Tin
Wong Tai Sin
Kowloon City
Sham Shui Po
Hong Kong Observatory
Kwun Tong
Shau Kei Wan
Sai Kung
Tsing Yi
Tuen Mun
Chek Lap Kok
Ngong Ping
Peng Chau
Hong Kong Park
Happy Valley
Wong Chuk Hang
Stanley
Cheung Chau

In Case You Missed It

News

Chinese cartoon blogger's funny take on Western art captures imaginations

30 Sep 2013
News

The strangers: blood and fear in Xinjiang

27 Sep 2013 1 comment
News

Xi Jinping's 'criticism campaign' triggers online parody and sex jokes

28 Sep 2013 6 comments
News

Fast & Furious in China: Beijing's underground racing scene

24 Sep 2013 6 comments
News

Is a 16-year-old boy's release a victory for netizens in China’s internet crackdown?

25 Sep 2013 2 comments
News

New Chinese romantic comedy offers hope to 'leftover women'

13 Sep 2013 4 comments
News

Is anti-rumour crackdown silencing voices of online dissent at Weibo?

13 Sep 2013 2 comments
News

Betel nut chewers with oral cancer say risks of habit need publicising

7 Sep 2013 2 comments
Comment

Too many turning a blind eye towards sexual harassment

5 Sep 2013 2 comments
Comment

How much longer can the world support our way of life?

6 Sep 2013 19 comments