"One of the reasons why the US Embassy is becoming increasingly active is because they have a group of followers in China. These followers are interacting with the US Embassy online, and are helping them communicate through some traditional media. This is a normal manifestation as Chinese society diversifies. We should not see all of these as 'conspiracies' by the US Embassy, because very often, these are China's internal problems." more ›

Via ITN: A Chinese policeman has a lucky escape in Huangshan city after a car without a license plate tries to make a getaway, trapping him on the bonnet. more ›

"Mao Zedong initiated the Cultural Revolution, but if this had not resonated with the people, he would not have succeeded. If somebody tried to start the Cultural Revolution in the United States, this would not have resonated with the people. From this, you can see that the people at that time also bore some of the responsibility. These people still exist today, and this is China's true danger. Some say that Mao had good intentions, but if that were so, he should have reflected on the episode after the incident. But not only did he not feel any remorse, he went on to launch a counterattack [against critics]." more ›

"This is not the first report of violence directed at U.S. citizens in the nightclubs outside of Workers' Stadium. In September 2010, another employee of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was assaulted inside a different nightclub at the north end of Workers' Stadium in another unprovoked incident. Private U.S. citizens have also reported being victims of crime in the nearby area." more ›

"Our investigation of downtown's districts, and based on reports from all of Wuhan's large industrial enterprises, have determined that that there has not been any explosion, sewage release, leakage of any poisoning gas, or any other type of urgent environmental accident from large industrial enterprises. Nor is there burning of crops in the new city area. News spread online of a chlorine leak from Qingshan or a boiler explosion at Wuhan Iron and Steel Plant are rumors." more ›

Via CNN: A young man who staged a driving stunt on an overpass in Chongqing has aroused public indignation. more ›

22-year-old golfer Feng Shanshan meets the press after becoming the first Chinese golfer to win a major title. She fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 on Sunday to capture the LPGA Championship by two strokes. Now the world no. 10, Feng has been playing golf since she was ten. more ›

Shanghai-based journalist Lara Farrar lives next to the dissident Feng Zhenghu (冯正虎), now under house arrest in Wujiaochang, Yangpu district, a stone's throw away from Fudan University. She tells us about life in the neighbourhood: more ›

Shortly after gaining the acquaintance of Chinese actress Li Bingbing at the recent Cannes Film Festival, a very excited (and apparently smitten) Brett Ratner, director of Rush Hour and The Family Man and producer of Prison Break took to where else but Sina Weibo to continue flirting with her. He uploaded the above picture of them taken at the festival, but mistakenly identified her as a rival actress with a similar name (!!!). In a comment accompanying the picture, Ratner blurted, "I want Fan Bingbing to be in one of my films or at least marry me?" more ›

Via Al Jazeera: "Western powers have stepped up its sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme. As a result, Tehran's been forced to expand trade agreements with traditional backers, such as export powerhouse China. The massive influx of inexpensive Chinese imports, however, is causing problems for local economies." more ›

In the wake of the mysterious death of Tiananmen dissident Li Wangyang just two days after the 23rd anniversary of the crackdown of the 1989 student protests, Chinese activists and dissidents have rushed to make online declarations that they would not be committing suicide anytime soon. more ›

A controversial photo of graduates from Guangzhou has been making the rounds on the internet. Graduates from Jinan University are shown holding a banner which reads, "Jinan University advertisement class, you have fucked my youth." Behind the banner each student is holding up cards with their wishes on it. Most of the wishes are normal, such as wishing for a wealthy wife while some are more twisted like wishing for rape. more ›

A few links to start off your day: Dongshigu surveillance ends, Terry Gou does a Warren Buffett, LV falls out of favour more ›