The middle class

Rejoice! Middle-class Hongkongers are richer than was previously thought. Thanks to Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah, we now know a salary of HK$300,000 is not too much to be considered middle class. Apparently all that is required is a love of coffee and French cinema. Tsang's claim to be middle class overshadowed the details of his budget, which included slightly reduced tax rebates and waivers on property rates.

Beppe Grillo

The comedian-turned-politician showed he was no joke in Italy's general election. Grillo, who denies he is the leader of the populist, anti-government Five Star Movement despite being its public face, saw his party win 25.5 per cent of the vote, just behind Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing coalition and the centre-left grouping of Pier Luigi Bersani. He now finds himself the powerbroker in Rome.

Ang Lee

The Taiwanese filmmaker was the first Asian director to win Best Director at the Oscars, and added a second such gong in Sunday's ceremony in Hollywood. Lee's Life of Pi received government support in the Taiwanese city of Taichung and won praise for its special effects. He previously won for gay cowboy hit Brokeback Mountain in 2005.