The crowds were assembled, the flags were being waved, and the nationalism was fervent — Shanghai was ready for the torch relay. We'd got up nice and early, aiming for People's Square but, due to the volume of people, only making it as far as the corner of Tibet Road (yeah, we know). After waiting in the strong early morning sun for a couple of hours, the chants of "中国加油!“ ("Come on China!") got louder......

That's right, lots of road closures, stronger than average nationalistic fervour, and even more tat being sold on the streets than normal can only mean one thing: the moment we've all been waiting for is here! The international leg of the relay might have been less than harmonious, and it might be three days later than originally expected (following an understandable postponement for this week's official mourning period), but tomorrow [Friday] will see the Olympic......

The good people of KFC have been handing out national pride along with their popcorn Chicken lately: "众志成城 加油，中国" translates (very) roughly as "Everybody join together! Come on China!" Available at a KFC 15 metres away from wherever you're at. Meanwhile, several hundred residents in Nanjing protested outside a McDonald's outlet for daring to advertise with a bright red leaflet on the May 19 edition of Modern Express News 《现代快报》. The furore eventually led......

Following their somewhat bizarre picture last month of Obama and a "dapper" donkey, the latest person to grace Baidu's homepage gives a slightly clearer message. The picture is of "Wheelchair Angel" (as she's been dubbed in some sections of the press) Jin Jing clutching the Olympic Torch to her chest, a position she adopted when pro-Tibetan protestors tried to snatch the flame from her in Paris last month. Clicking on the picture takes you through......

You've probably been on the edge of your seat waiting for the latest Olympic torch relay news so here it is. The beleagured sacred flame is making its way through Hong Kong today at the start of its tour of China following a few, shall we say, hiccups during the international relay. Despite the rain, the torch route has been mostly been lined with supporters throughout, many hoping to catch a glimpse of the flame......

By Benjamin Cohen There's no need to wrestle with paraplegics to get your hands on a 2008 Olympic torch. Someone on Ebay is now listing a classic edition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch, and it's apparently made from the same construction steel that is used to build the new Olympic Stadium (aka the bird's nest). A crystal base accompanies the torch and there's also a map that shows the torch's journey around the world......

UPDATE, 20:21: The flame has just been extinguished for a second time amid protests in Paris. Following an earlier disturbance along the banks of the Seine, the flame had been extinguished by officials and put aboard a bus to avoid further protests. The torch was then re-lit and the relay restarted but the procession was again halted and officials once again extinguished the flame and boarded a bus. More to follow shortly... UPDATE, 19:17:......

A protestor is wrestled to the ground after attempting to extinguish the Olympic flame in London. Photo from Andrew Gill Unsurprisingly, given recent events, there have been huge problems with the London leg of the Olympic torch relay in the UK today. Despite the Metropolitan Police launching a huge operation to try and safeguard the flame's path The Guardian reports that there has been a string of major disruptions to the relay:A Free Tibet......