Latest news with #SCMP
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Chinese man lived with spoon in body for months, mistaking it for a drunken dream
A 29-year-old Chinese man was shocked to learn that he had a 15cm-long coffee spoon lodged inside his body for nearly six months, following a boozy holiday in Thailand. As reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the man, identified only as Yan, had dismissed the incident as a dream until a recent medical check-up in Shanghai revealed the truth. Doctors in China found a 15cm spoon in a man's gut, months after he drunkenly swallowed it in Thailand.(Shutterstock) (Also read: Chinese man finds toothbrush in intestine 52 years after swallowing it as a child) In June, Yan visited Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai complaining of stomach discomfort and suspecting he might have swallowed plastic while eating takeaway. However, doctors conducting an endoscopy were startled to find not plastic, but a ceramic coffee spoon wedged in his duodenum—the upper part of the small intestine. Its placement was highly precarious; any sudden movement could have torn the intestinal wall, potentially causing severe bleeding or inflammation. According to hospital staff, it was a miracle the object hadn't caused serious damage during those months. Reconstructing a forgotten night It was only after the discovery that Yan recalled an unusual moment from his Thailand trip back in January. He remembered being intoxicated in his hotel room and attempting to induce vomiting using a spoon. He recounted that the spoon 'was pulled from my hand by a force in my throat and disappeared inside.' Following that, he blacked out due to heavy drinking. The next morning, he dismissed the memory as part of an alcohol-induced dream and attributed the lingering discomfort to the aftereffects of vomiting. Surgery and a stroke of luck Despite unknowingly carrying the spoon inside him, Yan returned to Shanghai and resumed his daily routine, including workouts, with no major symptoms. It wasn't until the endoscopic investigation that the forgotten souvenir from his trip was uncovered. Doctors initially struggled to retrieve the spoon due to its smooth surface and dangerous positioning. Dr Zhou Hongping, head of the hospital's endoscopy centre, led the intricate procedure. After a failed first attempt using snare forceps, the team employed two different forceps to manoeuvre the spoon back into the stomach before finally removing it. The entire surgery lasted 90 minutes. (Also read: 'Spy mosquito': China reveals terrifying mosquito-sized drone for 'special missions') A fortunate outcome Following a successful extraction on June 18, Yan was discharged in good health. Reflecting on the ordeal, he expressed immense relief and said he was thankful that the object had been discovered purely by chance.
Mint
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Viral video: Japanese princess travels economy, falls asleep in flight; social media calls her ‘porcelain doll'
Princess Kako of Japan has gone viral after a video showed her sleeping on an economy flight during her visit to Brazil. The 30-year-old royal, niece of Emperor Naruhito, was on an 11-day tour across eight cities. Princess Kako visited four places in one day, which left her visibly tired. In the video, she is seen resting against the window soon after sitting down. People online praised her for being simple and hardworking. Some admired her humble choice to fly economy while others felt private videos like this should not be shared. 'Videos like this should not be shared. Princess Kako is a hardworking and humble role model. We should protect her, not expose her,' the South China Morning Post quoted a user as saying. 'She looked like a porcelain doll. It is completely understandable to feel tired with such a packed schedule,' SCMP quoted another user as saying. Princess Kako of Japan became more active in public life after her sister, Princess Mako, moved to New York. She left the royal family in 2021 to marry her college love. Princess Kako's younger brother is next in line to the throne as women are still not allowed to rule in Japan. The princess is known for winning hearts with her modesty and dedication. During a recent trip, the Japanese princess wore porcelain earrings made using traditional methods. Soon after, sales of those earrings rose 50 times in just a few days. Her fashion choice gained huge praise online. One person wrote, 'Her outfits are never boring. Princess Kako truly shows the charming, lively and stylish side of royalty." Known for her beauty, grace and honesty, Princess Kako now travels abroad alone to represent the royal family. She once said she handled all duties with sincerity though she admitted to having a short temper. A former figure skater and a district champion in 2007, Princess Kako later studied performing arts and psychology at the University of Leeds in the UK. Fluent in sign language, she also supports charity work. Princess Kako has become a fashion icon in Japan, often wearing colourful and bold outfits instead of the royal family's usual simple clothes. Her camellia-printed dress in Brazil gained over 5 lakh likes online. A blue top she wore in Greece went viral. It was sold out in Japan within two days, boosting the brand's popularity.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Indian Express
China hotel's red panda wake-up call service suspended over safety concerns
A five-star hotel in southwestern China has been ordered to suspend a viral red panda morning call service after safety and animal welfare concerns drew public and official scrutiny, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The Lehe Ledu Liangjiang Hotel in Chongqing had allowed red pandas to enter guest rooms as part of a premium wildlife-themed experience. The animals were seen climbing onto beds and desks, with guests allowed to feed and pet them briefly under staff supervision. Rooms offering this interaction were priced between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan (approximately US$280 to US$420) per night and proved especially popular among families with children. The hotel employed four red pandas, including one adult—around two years old—for the wake-up service. The pandas were reportedly fully vaccinated, and caretakers accompanied them during guest interactions. A post shared by anywherechina (@anywhere_china) The service gained widespread attention after guests shared videos of the red panda roaming freely inside hotel rooms. Following a wave of online criticism, authorities intervened. On June 17, a representative from the Chongqing Forestry Department confirmed that the service had been ordered to halt and that an investigation was underway, according to SCMP. Under Chinese wildlife protection law, red pandas—classified as a Class II protected species—cannot be sold, purchased or used without specific licensing, though certain public institutions may showcase protected animals for educational purposes. Yang Zhaoxia, associate professor at Beijing Forestry University, told Beijing News Radio that red pandas, while generally mild in nature, are sensitive and easily startled by human contact. 'It is crucial to maintain a safe distance between the animals and human spectators,' Yang said. The incident also brought attention to safety concerns. In February, a guest at a wildlife-themed hotel in Jiangsu province reported her husband was bitten on the lap by a red panda while playing with it. A hotel staff member reportedly said they usually advise guests not to engage too closely with the animals. (With inputs from SCMP)
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
PostMag wins 2 SOPA 2025 awards for culture reporting and design
PostMag was recognised with two honours at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) 2025 Awards for Editorial Excellence in a ceremony last night at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hong Kong. The SOPA Awards, widely regarded as the region's most prestigious journalism accolades, celebrate outstanding editorial work across the Asia-Pacific. In the Excellence in Magazine Design category, PostMag received the top honour. 'An elegant, 'quiet' design which allows the wonderful photography to drive the visual interest of the magazine and to do the work of drawing the reader into the content,' the judges wrote in their comments . 'The typographical choices for this revamp very much follow current editorial design styles, contemporising this well-known title.' From left: Cat Nelson, editor of PostMag; Lee Williamson, executive director of SCMP's specialist publications; and Naomi Chan, lead designer of PostMag, with the awards after the prize-giving ceremony. Photo: SOPA SOPA also acknowledged PostMag with an Honourable Mention for Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting (Regional/Local) for the feature ' Academic bars: craft beer meets intellectual discourse in Shanghai's Bunker, sparking a trend across China ' by Vincent Chow. 'The writing captured the essence of a unique cultural phenomenon that blends casual socialising with academic engagement. Structurally, the piece effectively balances personal narratives with broader societal trends,' read the judges' comments. 'By situating the story within the context of increasing public life controls in China, the article adds depth and relevance, highlighting a grassroots movement fostering open dialogue and community connection.' Cat Nelson (left), editor of PostMag, receiving the SOPA 2025 Honourable Mention for Excellence in Arts and Culture Reporting (Regional) award. Photo: SOPA Earlier this year, PostMag also received recognition at the 2025 Créateurs Design Awards, where Charmaine Chan's ' Metabolism in Motion ' won for Excellence in Creative Journalism. Formerly known as Post Magazine, South China Morning Post's weekly Sunday magazine has been distributed with the Sunday Morning Post since 1989. The title was revitalised and rebranded as PostMag in September 2024. Each issue aims to offer fresh cultural perspectives shaped by a strong visual identity and original reporting from across the region. Advertisement
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Care for some pig-intestine coffee? China cafe's unusual brew goes viral, Lifestyle News
Would you try coffee flavoured with... pig's intestines? A cup of java by the name of "pig's intestines coffee" might turn the stomachs of most people, but it has recently gone viral on the internet, becoming the signature crowd-puller at one cafe in China. According to Chinese publication Cover News, the outrageous-sounding drink is from a coffee shop named Scent of Li Bai, located in Jiangyou, Sichuan. For some context, the city happens to be the birthplace of famed Tang dynasty poet Li Bai. The region is also well known for its braised pork intestines, which is said to be delicate yet rich in flavour. So we guess what went through the cafe owner's mind was — why not meld the two flavours? "Red-braised pork intestine is a popular cuisine in Jiangyou," shop owner Zhang Yu Chi was quoted as saying, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). He added: "I thought of combining it with coffee to promote both my shop as well as this delicious food of our city." Yu Chi told Cover News that he'd first introduced the drink last year, but the response was tepid as many found the combination of flavours too bizarre and were afraid to try. However, things soon changed after a video posted by a Chinese netizen introducing the unusual brew went viral earlier this month. Yu Chi shared that he hopes the quirky concoction, which has since gone through three iterations, will serve to educate tourists of Jiangyou's food and culture. Photos of the drink show a tall glass half filled with milk and topped with a layer of coffee. A cocktail skewer of the offal placed across the rim adds the finishing touch. According to Cover News, a key component of the drink comprises 6g of liquid from the braised pig's intestines, mixed in with the coffee. Yu Chi shared that the overall flavour is salty-sweet, likening it to "salty cheese". The drink is priced at 32 yuan (S$5.70) and customers have a choice between beginner-level, mid and high. The higher the level, the stronger the taste of the intestines, reported SCMP. Yu Chi also told Cover News that since the drink went viral, shop sales have quadrupled, with 80 per cent of customers ordering it. [[nid:712376]] candicecai@
