International Edition

Awestruck over lunch with a legend: a personal memory of Nelson Mandela

Ever since his release from jail, Mandela said, he had met many, many journalists. On the whole, we were a decent bunch. However, there were some bad ones among us – “and you”, he said, raising both voice and index finger, “are the worst.”

Saturday, 7 December, 2013, 9:02am 6 comments More on Nelson Mandela

Brazil start quest for sixth World Cup title against Croatia

Hosts Brazil will get the ball rolling against Croatia, holders Spain face 2010 runners-up Netherlands and US coach Juergen Klinsmann is up against compatriots Germany after soccer’s World Cup draw.

7 Dec 2013 - 11:10am

China and France to sell nuclear energy

"We agreed to jointly exploit third-party markets for nuclear energy. China hopes the two countries can find … [new] space in the markets," said Premier Li Keqiang told reporters in Beijing after his hour-long talk with visiting French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:45am

Storm Xaver leaves trail of death and chaos across northern Europe

Icy winter storms with hurricane-force winds on Friday lashed northern Europe, where the death toll rose to nine while hundreds of thousands were left without power or stranded by transport chaos.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:08am

Money man linked to Kim Jong-un's ousted uncle said to have defected

North Korea is facing what could be its most serious defection in 15 years after a man who managed funds for the ousted uncle of leader Kim Jong-un fled the country, South Korean media said yesterday.

7 Dec 2013 - 2:58am More on Kim Jong-un

Anti-graft tsar Wang Qishan a fan of TV series House of Cards, report says

An article published yesterday quoted an unnamed source as saying that Wang mentioned the drama when meeting cadres from the Communist Party's disciplinary watchdog. The source said Wang highlighted the role of the "party whip" in ensuring party discipline in the legislature.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:07am 1 comment More on Wang Qishan

Standard Chartered elite customer details on alleged hacker's laptop

Singapore's central bank has called on financial institutions to tighten up cybersecurity after a database on elite customers of Standard Chartered Bank was compromised.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:58am

Shanghai grinds to a halt as smog nears top of air pollution scale

New

Shanghai experienced one of its worst episodes of air pollution yesterday, with the air quality index reaching the "severe" level, the worst of a six-tier national rating system.

7 Dec 2013 - 4:41am 6 comments

Bureaucracy and favouritism drive China's security procurement, researchers say

New

Mainland security agencies often ignore the latest surveillance and internet monitoring technology developed by the nation’s own scientists because of excessive bureaucracy and favouritism when picking which systems to use, according to researchers involved in the selection process.

7 Dec 2013 - 2:46am 1 comment

Theft of two million online passwords prompts internet security fears

7 Dec 2013 - 3:58am

Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou faces billion-yuan lawsuit over children

7 Dec 2013 - 3:02am 4 comments

New Yellow Sea naval drills seen as warning message

7 Dec 2013 - 3:33am 1 comment

New York prosecutors accuse Russian diplomats of US$1.5m health fraud

7 Dec 2013 - 3:32am

Revealed: The heated dispute between Bo Xilai and billionaire Wang Jianlin... over football

7 Dec 2013 - 3:05am 1 comment

US jobless rate drops to five-year low

7 Dec 2013 - 3:59am

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Special Report

Watches & Wonders 2013

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Editor's Pick

Mandela's lesson of forgiveness

The world, not just Africa, is mourning the loss of its most revered leader and statesman. Nelson Mandela, who symbolised man's fight for freedom against oppression, died from complications of a chronic lung infection.

7 Dec 2013 - 4:48am 3 comments

Today's Poll

Will you continue to buy poultry as Hong Kong confirmed the second case of H7N9 bird flu in a week?

Yes: 54%
No: 46%

7 Dec 2013

Total number of votes recorded: 68

Opinion

Alex Lo

Pan-democrats living in la-la land

7 Dec 2013 - 5:01am 7 comments

Daniel Ren

Reverse mortgages give Shanghai pensioners a leg-up

7 Dec 2013 - 3:07am 1 comment

Shirley Yam

Put this IPO through the mixer and it looks like cashing in

7 Dec 2013 - 2:35am 1 comment

Tom Holland

Beijing's statistical sleight of hand

6 Dec 2013 - 9:28am 3 comments

Insight

Corruption in China may appear to get worse before it gets better

DAN HOUGH

This week saw the world's most prominent anti-corruption non-governmental organisation, the Berlin-based Transparency International, publish its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, the group's best-known attempt to measure perceived levels of corruption around the world.

7 Dec 2013 - 4:43am

Polls & Debates

7 Dec 2013

Will you continue to buy poultry as Hong Kong confirmed the second case of H7N9 bird flu in a week?

Who does the 'candid' China-US relationship benefit most?

06 Dec

Should the public be responsible for nominating candidates for the 2017 chief executive election?

05 Dec

6 Dec 2013

Who does the 'candid' China-US relationship benefit most?

Focus

South Africans celebrate Mandela's life and worry they'll forget his legacy

AGENCIES

South Africans united in mourning for Nelson Mandela, but while some celebrated his remarkable life with dance and song, others fretted that the anti-apartheid hero's death would make the nation vulnerable once again to racial and social tensions.

7 Dec 2013 - 4:05am

Harry's View

6 Dec 2013

Celebrating Hong Kong

Spirit of Hong Kong

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards winners embody spirit of the city

SAMUEL CHAN

They are 11 ordinary people who lead extraordinary lives. People who achieve against all the odds and set an example for others.

Businessman Jong Lee makes the solution suit the need

Scientist who wants to rock the world

No cause too petty for celebrity animal activist Sharon Kwok

Hong Kong’s handcarts keep the city on a roll

AFP

It’s a simple contraption – an iron frame, foldout handle and four rubber wheels – but in Hong Kong the old-fashioned handcart is what keeps the city rolling.

Taking a bite out of two worlds

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

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

Tai O: The Venice of Hong Kong is stilt standing

Kowloon City: from 'den of evil' to lush gardens

Skyscrapers of Victoria Harbour - built to display wealth and power

Hongkongers cherish shoreline memories of Victoria Harbour (video)

Videos

World Mandela, South Africa's icon of freedom and forgiveness, dies Dec 6, 2013|2:47
China 3D Animation explains how China's lunar rover works Dec 6, 2013|2:44
Offbeat Japan agency offers travel for your teddy bear Dec 6, 2013|2:11
World Afrikaners divided about Mandela's legacy Dec 6, 2013|2:28
Lifestyle Young American sings Arabic music on Arabs Got Talent Dec 6, 2013|1:26
Offbeat Arty commuting in sparkling Naples metro Dec 5, 2013|2:19
World 'He's alive!' Nigerian cook survives over 60 hours undersea In shipwreck air bubble Dec 5, 2013|1:27
Sport Golf: China searches for its own Tiger Woods Dec 5, 2013|2:05
China US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Beijing Dec 4, 2013|1:10
World Third time a charm: SpaceX launches commercial satellite Dec 4, 2013|1:22
World Guardian editor defends Snowden leaks before UK MPs Dec 4, 2013|0:34
Hong Kong Rush hour chaos: Naked man wanders at North Point Dec 3, 2013|1:20
Offbeat Japan agency offers travel for your teddy bear Dec 6, 2013|2:11
World UK's Cameron focuses on business during China visit Dec 3, 2013|0:51
Asia Police fire rubber bullets as unrest continues in Bangkok Dec 3, 2013|0:47
Hong Kong Extreme workout - the art of trail running in Hong Kong Nov 19, 2013|3:03
Hong Kong Godfather of Chinese rock, Cui Jian, asks why Hong Kong doesn't 'get' good music Dec 1, 2013|2:34
Technology Amazon unveils futuristic mini-drone delivery plan Dec 2, 2013|1:02
Environment Poaching in East Africa: urgent action needed to save elephants Dec 2, 2013|3:03
Hong Kong How an expat lives in Hong Kong…with HIV Nov 29, 2013|5:49
China Watch China's moon rover blast into space Dec 2, 2013|1:28
Hong Kong Dozens injured in Hong Kong high-speed ferry accident Nov 29, 2013|2:02
Hong Kong Extreme workout - the art of trail running in Hong Kong Nov 19, 2013|3:03
Offbeat An Instagram short film Nov 28, 2013|2:00
Lifestyle Why is Harrison Ford's son cooking in Hong Kong? Nov 28, 2013|2:24
Politics China looks to calm fears over disputed islands Nov 28, 2013|2:33
Offbeat North Korean leader Kim Jong-un takes a stroll in Hong Kong, or did he? Nov 27, 2013|2:35
Asia Crowds besiege a government building in Bangkok Nov 28, 2013|0:39
China Animation: China claims new air defense zone, U.S. says 'snap!' Nov 28, 2013|1:49
Business What's Bitcoin and how does it work? Nov 28, 2013|1:20

Hong Kong

HEALTH

Hong Kong sees second case of H7N9 bird flu in a week

New

Hong Kong's second case of the deadly H7N9 flu virus inside a week was confirmed last night. An 80-year-old Hong Kong man, who now lives in Shenzhen, was in a stable condition in Princess Margaret Hospital's isolation unit.

7 Dec 2013 - 8:55am More on H7N9 avian flu

GOVERNANCE

Law Reform Commission urges charity register for more transparency

Hong Kong's 7,500 charities should have to join a government register, with the details open to the public, a six-year review of charity and fundraising law has concluded.

7 Dec 2013 - 4:41am 2 comments

ENVIRONMENT

Phone app to provide real-time pollution levels in the neighbourhood

7 Dec 2013 3 comments

More Hong Kong news

China

SINO-US RELATIONS

US looks to manage,not end, China air rift

The United States has strenuously objected to China’s new air zone over islands managed by Japan, but experts say its best hope is to contain rather than end tensions.

7 Dec 2013 - 10:41am More on Air Defence Identification Zone

Huawei paid US government intelligence adviser

A longtime adviser to the US Director of National Intelligence has resigned after the government learned he has worked since 2010 as a paid consultant for Huawei Technologies Ltd., the Chinese technology company the US has condemned as an espionage threat.

7 Dec 2013 - 9:15am 1 comment More on Huawei

POLLUTION

Shanghai grinds to a halt as smog nears top of air pollution scale

7 Dec 2013 6 comments

More China news

Asia

North Korea frees US veteran Merrill Newman

Update

North Korea freed an 85-year-old retired American soldier on Saturday after detaining him for more than a month for crimes it said he committed during the Korean War six decades ago.

The veteran, Merrill E. Newman, has arrived in China from North Korea and is likely to fly home soon.

7 Dec 2013 - 12:40pm More on North Korea

NORTH KOREA

Money man linked to Kim Jong-un's ousted uncle said to have defected

7 Dec 2013 - 2:58am More on Kim Jong-un

JAPAN

Japanese parliament enacts secrets law critics fear will muzzle media

7 Dec 2013

More Asia news

World

Military power backs US security commitments in Gulf, says US defence chief Hagel

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Saturday the United States would maintain a wide array of military forces in the Middle East to ensure security in the volatile region despite diplomatic overtures toward Iran over its nuclear program.

7 Dec 2013 - 11:44am

Nelson Mandela's struggle for freedom inspired the world

Nelson Mandela's long walk from apartheid prisoner to South African president remade a country and inspired the world.

6 Dec 2013 - 11:39pm More on Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela understood the power of sport to unite his nation

7 Dec 2013 1 comment

More World news

China Insider

YOUTUBE

Taiwan just cannot get enough of YouTube

6 Dec 2013

SPACE TECHNOLOGY

China's mission to moon inspires sale of DIY moon buggies on Taobao

6 Dec 2013

Chinese New Year

Third time lucky? Chinese railways website updated ahead of Spring Festival rush

6 Dec 2013

Morning Clicks

China news round-up: Mandela tributes pour in on Chinese microblogs, land sales surge in hubs

6 Dec 2013

CONTROVERSY

'I have a dream' - Taobao uses Martin Luther King's likeness to promote sales

6 Dec 2013

CELEBRITY

The Terminator visits the Terracotta Army

5 Dec 2013

PUBLISHING

Online fantasy writer’s book sales surpass those of print novelists

5 Dec 2013

SOCIAL MEDIA

Pop star Wang Lee-hom ‘threatens legal action’ over online rumours

5 Dec 2013

LAW

Hebei parents seek daughter two decades after she was taken by one-child policy enforcers

5 Dec 2013

Morning Clicks

China news round-up: Tibetan father self-immolates, Zhou Yongkang's son assists probe

5 Dec 2013

ART

Mario and Luigi go to China! Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. appear in Shenzhen

4 Dec 2013

ACCIDENT

Furious debate sparked after Beijing expat hits woman in motorcycle accident

4 Dec 2013 2 comments

INTERNET

US-funded Lantern program allows Chinese to dodge Great Firewall and view banned websites

5 Dec 2013 3 comments

Morning Clicks

China news round-up: Yuan becomes second-most used currency, dissident trial continues

4 Dec 2013

Business

TRADE

Trade groups call on Premier Li to bring China back to tech tariff negotiations

Leading industry associations from around the world have closed ranks to urge Premier Li Keqiang to help steer China back to negotiations on expanding the scope of products covered by the Information Technology Agreement, a global tariff-cutting scheme established in 1996.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:59am

TOURISM

Chinese tourists set to ditch Hong Kong for wider world

Hong Kong may lose its position as the top choice for outbound mainland tourists within a decade as they seek broader travel experiences, a recent report by Boston Consulting Group suggests.

7 Dec 2013 - 3:59am 2 comments

Markets

Anna Healy Fenton

Michelin Guide stars mean stress for chefs – and do diners care?

6 Dec 2013 - 4:37pm

More Business news

Property

Buyers await clearer tax policy in Britain

Legal experts and property consultants have called for a clear tax policy for international property investors in Britain after the government announced a capital gains tax on foreign property investments.

7 Dec 2013 - 2:51am

Tuen Mun sites get mixed response from developers

Developers have shown a varied response to the tender of two small residential sites in Tuen Mun. A Lands Department spokesman said the Tai Lam site received only three bids while the Siu Lam plot attracted 11 bidders.

7 Dec 2013 - 2:51am

Tax

UK to impose capital gains tax on foreigners

6 Dec 2013 4 comments

More Property news

Lifestyle

Arts & Culture

TV5MONDE app brings French-language television to Asia

With the ongoing fracas over TV licensing - and poorly produced local terrestrial television programmes - some have started searching for fresh content from overseas entertainment providers.

2 Dec 2013 - 9:16pm More on LIFE

How a pair of enthusiasts came to love the 'ding ding'

2 Dec 2013

Review: Hayley Westenra in Concert

2 Dec 2013

Food & Wine

Wine opinion: why some aromas are better left out of the bouquet

The recent isolation of certain bacteria and yeast as responsible for terroir - the evocation of a sense of place in the flavour of a wine - is another apparent triumph for the application of science to the art of winemaking.

6 Dec 2013 - 5:45am

Star chef Alain Ducasse tells cookery students to keep an open mind

6 Dec 2013

Tasmanian wild-caught abalone diver tells of the dangers of the deep

6 Dec 2013

Technology

The 'perfect matchmaking formula' for online dating has finally been discovered

A new algorithm for online dating has been developed, and is based on two variables: a user’s tastes and his or her attractiveness. Taste is determined by the type of people he or she previously contacted, while attractiveness is based on previous success rates when initiating contact.

6 Dec 2013 - 9:05pm More on The Daily Matter

Google "Doodles" give women in science and technology their dues

5 Dec 2013

Cecilia Abadie pleads not guilty in first case involving Google Glass

5 Dec 2013

Fashion

Covet: the biker look

6 Dec 2013

Pop-up markets a godsend for independent fashion labels

2 Dec 2013

Books

Book review: I am Malala, by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

1 Dec 2013

Book review: Eternal Harvest, by Karen Coates and Jerry Redfern

1 Dec 2013

Health

Peaks and Valleys

3 Dec 2013

Health bites

2 Dec 2013

Beauty

Editor's picks: Face and body oils

30 Oct 2013

Beauty buzz: Fragrances

16 Oct 2013

Family & Education

Influx of mainland students in town to sit the SAT proves a boon for retailers

6 Dec 2013

Concert gives child composers a chance to express their creativity

2 Dec 2013

Interiors & Living

Style with David Roden, December 4, 2013

4 Dec 2013 1 comment

Design firms blur boundaries between professional spaces and private lives

4 Dec 2013

Magazines

48 Hours: December 5
5 Dec 2013
Escape the holiday crush with our guide to last-minute destinations
Post Magazine: December 1
1 Dec 2013
Hong Kong’s never-ending fight against viruses
48 Hours: November 28
28 Nov 2013
48 cracking Christmas gift ideas for one and all
Post Magazine: November 24
24 Nov 2013
Oil rich yet mired in poverty, East Timor is embracing development
48 Hours: November 21
21 Nov 2013
Say hello to the Clockenflap headliners . . . and don’t miss our essential guide to the festival
Good Eating: November 2013
Winter 2013
Top chefs taste success
Post Magazine: November 17
17 Nov 2013
Mainland cartoonists spread their message to the masses online
Money: November 2013
11 Nov 2013
Inside China’s booming contemporary-art market
Post Magazine: November 10
10 Nov 2013
As the South China Morning Post turns 110, we look at the very first issue.
Style: November 2013
8 Nov 2013
De-sign of the times
Style: October 2013
4 Oct 2013
Phillip Lim on dragon tattoos and social media
Faces: October 2013
Winter 2013
Precious gems meet powerful make-up for the party season
Money: September 2013
23 Sep 2013
Stephen Hung wants to give rich mainlanders the excess they crave
Style: September 6
September 2013
Young designers stand behind 'Made in China'