| New Chinese Regime Actions Involve Media Working Against Corruption. Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:43 PM PST | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com After Xi Jinping, the new General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), took power, he strongly expressed the need to work against corruption, which included dealing with "tigers or flies". While commentators considered who those "tigers and flies" were, the CCP adopted another unusual method, turning journalists into undercover investigators for the CCP. According to report on the Duowei News website, some Mainland media agencies have received orders from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCFDI). They have been ordered to expose financial corruption using inside stories. Journalists of State-run Xinhua News Agency have pioneered an anti-corruption campaign to help the CCFDI. The report quoted sources in Beijing, saying that mainland financial media, including the leading "Finance" magazine, have joined this anti-corruption campaign. They will report undercover on behalf of the CCFDI to pioneer anti-corruption. However, reporters in Mainland China are suppressed from revealing corruption. Now reporters are asked to act as official spies, which raises the question of what will happen to them in the future. Gao Zhisheng: Number One Candidate for Defending Freedom According to a recent report by Radio Free Asia (RFA), US Congressman Tom Lantos from the Human Rights Commission made decision to name Gao Zhisheng as "the number one candidate for defending freedom". Currently, Gao <b>...</b> | Views: 1 0 ratings | | Time: 02:50 | More in News & Politics |
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| Xi Jinping Vows to Fight "Tigers", People Wonder "Who are They?" Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:40 PM PST | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Chinese people think the CCP hasn't done enough to fight corruption, the fight has been on the level of "kill the flies, but don't fight the tigers". Xi Jinping, the CCP General Secretary has vowed in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's meeting recently that he will crack down both flies and tigers. Who are the tigers in Xi Jinping's words? People from different fields are playing a guessing game. CCP mouthpiece Xinhua Net reported on January 22 that when Xi Jinping was talking about anti-corruption in the CCDI meeting, he emphasized fighting both "tiger" and "fly". He asked no matter who is involved, the CCDI should pursue the Investigation to the end with zero tolerance. But the report didn't say which kinds of officials are meant by "tigers." Then who are the tigers in Xi Jinping's words? People from different fields have different understandings. Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po reported that Mao Shaohui, the director of anti-corruption in the government's building research center of Renmin University of China, has said that in the following period, the two big "tigers" the CCP will crack down on are corruption in the financial sector and corrupt officials at ministerial level. Some overseas media have broken the news that the CCP's anti-corruption action will start from officials in the finance industry after Chinese New Year. Names of those to be targeted in this crackdown are already <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 03:44 | More in News & Politics |
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| Chinese Regimes Anti-Corruption Campaign: Announces Spot-Checks of Officials' Property Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:38 PM PST | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com After Xi Jinping became the new Secretary General of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he emphasized several times that the CCP will cease to exist if the issue of corruption is not solved. In a recent meeting of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), Xi vowed to put "power within a cage of regulations", to "fight both tigers and flies". He also said this year will see the execution of a rule that leaders will have to declare personal properties. They will also launch random spot-checks on officials. Commentators analyzed that the CCP authorities were forced to undergo reform, but "use corrupt officials as the target of anti-corruption." These so-called "spot-checks" may be used to attack political opponents. However, people still won't know how corrupt CCP officials are. On January 21 and 22, the CCP 18th CCDI organized it's second plenary meeting. In it, they discussed the deployment the anti-corruption actions in 2013. In this meeting, Xi Jinping asked to place "power within a cage of regulations". He also asked for the strengthening of anti-corruption legislation, and to spot-check officials' personal property. Why did Xi Jinping ask for spot-checks of CCP officials, but not an overall system to stop corruption? Zhao Yuanming, an expert on Chinese law and current affairs, commented. Zhao analyzed that the CCP official in charge of purging corruption is himself corrupt. This is <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 04:21 | More in News & Politics |
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| High Water Swamps Venice as Carnival Season Nears Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:34 PM PST | Organizers of the Venice carnival awoke to a flooded Lagoon City on Thursday, when a high water level washed over canal walls and flooded Saint Mark's Square. Full Story: Organizers of the Venice carnival awoke to a flooded Lagoon City on Thursday, when a high water level washed over canal walls and flooded Saint Mark's Square. Tourists were forced, once again, to walk along raised wooden walkways, wheeling their luggage in order not to get their feet wet. Cafe chairs sat sadly in a piazza turned into a lake. The out of season high water level caught everyone off their guard. Local preparations have been hampered as Venice prepares for hundreds-of-thousands of visitors to arrive, to take part in carnival festivities. The celebrations begin on Saturday and run through to February. | Views: 3 0 ratings | | Time: 00:48 | More in News & Politics |
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| Spain Hits Record High Unemployment Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:27 PM PST | Spain ended 2012 with record level unemployment figures and the forecast for 2013 isn't much better. Full Story: Spain's government said on Thursday that the country has hit a record high unemployment level, a sign that the prolonged recession is still hitting hard. According to figures released by the National Statistics Institute, the unemployment rate rose to 26 percent for the fourth quarter of 2012, or just under 6 million people. That's up from 25 percent in the previous quarter and more than double the EU average. It's also the highest level seen by the country since measurements of unemployment began in the 1970s. Put in place in an attempt to corral one of the euro zone's largest deficits, spending cuts and tax hikes have fueled general malaise in the public. Combined with a recession that started back in 2011, the hopes of finding a job seem bleak in Spain. The country's youth are particularly desperate. [Raul Sanchez, Unemployed]: "The prospects that we have for 2013? Well, if 2012 was a bad year, you can imagine the prospects that Spaniards have, nothing. At the end we all will have to leave just like our parents did, to emigrate. We don't have any other solution and even less for young people like us." Joblessness among those under the age of 25 was at 60 percent in the fourth quarter. And combined with the economy shrinking at its fastest pace since the recession hit and expectations that it will continue for most of this year, prospects for this year are <b>...</b> | Views: 35 4 ratings | | Time: 01:29 | More in News & Politics |
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| French Woman Thrilled After Release From Mexican Jail Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:19 PM PST | French former prisoner Florence Cassez lands on French, thrilled to be back home after being released from a 60-year jail term in Mexico. Full story: French former prisoner Florence Cassez says she's thrilled to be back in France. She was released from a 60-year jail term in Mexico for alleged kidnapping less than a day beforehand. [Florence Cassez, Released Alleged Kidnapper]: "I think that the plane has landed but I still haven't landed. I'm still in the sky. And very happy." Cassez told a packed news conference at the VIP terminal at Paris airport on Thursday that she had not believed she would be freed by Mexico's Supreme Court. Late on Wednesday the court ruled that her original trial had been tainted. During a long news conference, she spoke of her dwindling hopes at ever being released, as her case worked its way through Mexico's judicial system for seven long years. [Florence Cassez, Released Alleged Kidnapper]: "In 2008, on the eve of the first sentence, I had packed my bags. I was sure of myself. I was coming out. Definitely coming out. It was a mistake and I was coming out. From then, it is true that on the following occasions, I believed in it, but a bit less. This time, I just didn't believe in it at all," Cassez said former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's interest in her case saved her life. [Florence Cassez, Released Alleged Kidnapper]: "I remember when Nicolas Sarkozy got involved in my case, it was a critical moment. He saved my life. I was going <b>...</b> | Views: 2 0 ratings | | Time: 02:12 | More in News & Politics |
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| Chimps Wrap Up in Blankets During Cold Snap Posted: 24 Jan 2013 02:12 PM PST | Chimps at the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary in Caehopkin, near Swansea, Wales, are wrapping up in blankets and drinking hot tea to keep warm as a cold snap sweeps through the UK. Full story: As the cold snap continues to sweep across much of the UK, humans aren't the only ones trying to stay warm. Apes at the Wales Ape and Monkey Sanctuary in Caehopkin have been sticking indoors, wrapping themselves with blankets and hot tea. In the wild, many of these animals would normally be basking in the heat of rainforests, but here, by Swansea, the unusual cold spell has them shivering. One particular chimp won't go outside in the cold without her blanket. Her keeper explains that it's because she's lived in a house for her early years. [Jan Garen, Zookeeper]: "She lived in a house for about 29 years when she was a youngster, so it's just what she's been used to. And she enjoys having a blanket, it doesn't do her any harm so if she wants one to keep warm she can have one." Luckily, for her, this cold spell is expected to end today. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntdtv.org Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 362 16 ratings | | Time: 00:53 | More in Pets & Animals |
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| First Court For Women Opens in India Posted: 24 Jan 2013 01:34 PM PST | Sexual violence against women in India takes centre stage, as new court opens to deal exclusively with offenses against women. Full Story: Crimes against women are a hot topic in India right now, and on Wednesday a new court was opened in West Bengal state that will deal exclusively with offenses against women. The court is the first of its kind in India. All of the judges will be female, as will other staff. [Mousami Chakraborty, Lawyer]: "It is for the protection of women, and will also help in punishing the culprits without delay." India has been shaken by the highly publicized gang rape of a student in New Delhi last month. The atrocity helped lift the veil on sexual violence against women in India, where a rape case is reported around every 20 minutes. Media coverage of such crimes has intensified following the Delhi attack. Gender rights activists say violence against women is widespread in India, and includes rape, dowry murders, acid attacks, honor killings, child marriages and human trafficking. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 2 2 ratings | | Time: 00:59 | More in News & Politics |
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| Sex Abuse Victims Demand Justice Posted: 24 Jan 2013 12:24 PM PST | Sex abuse victims demand justice from Catholic Church. Full Story: Victims want more than an apology from the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles for attempting to cover up cases of sexual abuse. On Tuesday, victims demanded that former Cardinal Roger Mahony and other high-ranking officials be publicly admonished for trying to cover-up clergy molestation. This is in response to internal church documents that were released on January 21 as part of a pending civil lawsuit against the archdiocese. According to the documents, Mahony and Thomas J. Curry -- Mahony's chief adviser on sex abuse issues had been covering this up for a while. The documents said they discussed ways to prevent law enforcement from learning about the sexual abuse. These cases date back to 1986 and 1987, more than a decade before the abuses became public knowledge. [Manuel Vega, Victim] "To feel the hands of the priest on my neck, to feel his breath on the back of my neck, to hear him talk to me, to feel his body against me, to feel him violate me - you have to put yourself into that moment to understand what the Catholic Church is protecting. This is what Cardinal Mahony, this is what Bishop Curry, this is what vicars of clergy, nuns, attorneys; this is what they all got together and spoke about and in secret made these deals to protect these priests." In confidential letters, Curry proposed strategies to prevent police from investigating three priests who had admitted to church officials that they <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 02:42 | More in News & Politics |
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| Pussy Riot in Prison Interview Posted: 24 Jan 2013 10:45 AM PST | Jailed Pussy Riot members give interviews from prison Full Story: Members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot speak to media for the first time since they were jailed. Two band members are serving a two year sentence for a singing a song against President Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral. The pair were convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred. One band member said the entire incident was twisted by Russian state media. [Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Jailed Pussy Riot Member]: "They (Russian media) did not show the song in full, they did not say that it was called 'Virgin Mary, throw Putin out!'. They presented our gesture as militant atheism. Naturally such interpretation is an extremely painful one for me because I feel scared when I'm called a militant atheist." Neither band member say they regret their actions, though. At least one of the women, who both have small children, has been denied an appeal for a deferred sentence so she could take care of her child. The women are serving their sentences at separate facilities and complain of pitiless conditions of forced labor. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 01:07 | More in News & Politics |
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| Women to Fight on the Frontlines Posted: 24 Jan 2013 08:08 AM PST | US Department of Defense ends a ban on women serving on front-line combat roles. Full Story: The US Department of Defense makes an historic decision to lift the military's ban on women serving in frontline combat roles. The ban, put in place in 1994, prevented women from serving in infantry, armor or special operation units whose job was to engage in front line combat. The move knocks down another societal barrier after the controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was repealed in 2011 allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Women have made up about 2 percent of the casualties from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan where there are few clearly defined front lines. Officials at the Pentagon will make the repeal official later Thursday. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 18 2 ratings | | Time: 00:46 | More in News & Politics |
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| Miracle Baby Survives Horrific Car Crash Posted: 24 Jan 2013 07:45 AM PST | This video has gone viral in Russia as a baby girl miraculously survives an horrific road accident. Full Story: Life is precious and every child is a miracle of creation. Here a family car slides horribly out of control on a murkey Russian road. The vehicle slams backwards into an oncoming truck and a few objects are thrown out of the rear of the car. One of the objects - a one year old baby girl Amazingly, she avoids being crushed by the truck hurtling past her. Dad then rushes out of the car and rescues the infant before the next heavy duty truck thunders by. It was a close escape, and one this family will remember for the rest of their lives. Mum then exits the vehicle and gathers the remaining belongings - baby's blanket, and a handbag. It is reported that the child survived the ordeal. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 204 9 ratings | | Time: 00:48 | More in Autos & Vehicles |
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| French Chemical Leak Wafting into UK Posted: 23 Jan 2013 01:05 PM PST | A leaky chemical plant in France is stinking up southern England. Full Story: Something stinks in southern England. And it's coming from France. "It just smelled like dirt to me, dirty, greasy smell, sort of sweaty." "Smelly trainers, yeah, it could be, yeah." ".. my housemate thought it smelled like fish, it just didn't smell very nice, it was really like, mwah." The culprit... a chemical factory in France that sprung a leak sending a noxious, but harmless, cloud of gas into southern England. At first residents didn't know what it was. [Martin Adams, Kent Fire and Rescue Area Manager]: "It is actually a substance called mercaptan which is a stenching agent that is put into gas, normal domestic gas supplies that you receive in your home, to indicate that there may be a gas leak of some kind, so you can actually smell the gas." The French plant makes industrial lubricants and paint and said work is underway to contain the fumes, although the process could take hours or even days to complete. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 81 5 ratings | | Time: 01:04 | More in News & Politics |
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| CCTV: Massive sewer explosion blows up road in China Posted: 24 Jan 2013 01:07 AM PST | A sewer explosion tore through an 80-meter road section in downtown Beihai of south China's Guangxi Zhuang region on Wednesday, resulting in zero casualties. The underground sewer tunnel contains natural gas pipelines and high-voltage cables. Initial data showed that waste pipelines and a cable junction in the sewer were destroyed. The natural gas pipelines remain undamaged, although the local gas company shut down the gas supply in the areas around the accident site. RT LIVE rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com Follow us on Twitter twitter.com Follow us on Google+ plus.google.com RT (Russia Today) is a global news network broadcasting from Moscow and Washington studios. RT is the first news channel to break the 500 million YouTube views benchmark. | Views: 1024 120 ratings | | Time: 00:47 | More in News & Politics |
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| Intersec 2013 Security Trade Fair in Dubai Posted: 24 Jan 2013 12:55 AM PST | Dubai hosts Intersec 2013 Full Story: Dubai has just hosted Intersec 2013 -- a regional trade event in the security, safety and protection industries. [Khalid Al-Khatib, CEO, Naffco]: "This is our 15th participation in Intersect. This is actually the best Intersect coming up. Intersect is becoming one of the biggest exhibition in the world in fire and safety products. It's excellent to meet with all people around us from Africa, Asia and Middle East where we show our latest development and products coming up like the track which is behind me." Four categories of trade exhibitors were showcased at what is one of the Middle East's major security trade events. These are commercial and information security, fire and rescue, safety and health, and homeland security and policing. [Mathew Batarse, Product Manager, Astrophysics security screening machines]: "The machine is able to give the operator the advantage of instantly recognizing threats; detecting objects through what's called kenotic depth perception." The Intersec 2013 event in Dubai brought together 990 exhibitors from 54 countries. NTD News, Dubai For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 1 1 ratings | | Time: 01:17 | More in Science & Technology |
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| World Future Energy Summit, Abu Dhabi Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:40 PM PST | Abu Dhabi hosts the World Future Energy Summit 2013 Full Story: Abu Dhabi has just played host to the World Future Energy Summit 2013. [Rex Reksnis, Advertising Director, EMEA]: "I think in terms of the Middle East region this is the number one exhibition for us." The sixth annual event brings together global leaders in renewable energy, clean technology and sustainability. [Rex Reksnis, Advertising Director, EMEA]: "We meet the people we want to interview, we meet the people, the business leaders first of all from the Middle East, from Europe and also from the United States." Organizers and participants alike hope the event can help shape the future policy, technology and business applications of renewable energy. [Rex Reksnis, Advertising Director, EMEA]: "The Middle East I think is a perfect ground for future energy even though there is plenty of oil and gas here so some may say that there is really no need to do any changes to the existing situation but I think it is a business decision. It will make sense to make money in the Middle East on the solar. Why not? It is another revenue stream, it is introducing new technology, it is creating novelty not only for the region but I think for the technology that can be exported somewhere else." The summit lasted for three days and was attended by about 30000 delegates. It included keynotes by French President Francois Hollande and Argentina's President Christina Fernandez. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntd.tv Follow us <b>...</b> | Views: 72 7 ratings | | Time: 01:31 | More in Science & Technology |
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| Australian Court Drops Charges Against Goat Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:28 PM PST | Australian court drops charges against goat for eating flowers. Full story: On Wednesday, an Australian court dropped charges brought against a flower-eating goat. The goat belonged to comedian James Dezarnaulds, better known as Jimbo Bazoobi. Gary the goat was spotted in August of last year, chewing on flowers outside of the Museum of Contemporary Art. His owner received a fine of nearly $500 dollars. The Sydney Court Magistrate said there is no evidence that the comedian had intentionally vandalized the property through his goat. Speaking after the court ruling, the comedian thanked his lawyers. [James Dezarnaulds, Goat Owner]: "I want to thank McGirr lawyers for helping me out. I just met these guys walking Gary a couple of weeks ago and we got off and I just think Gary the goat has taught the Rock's cops a valuable lesson today and that's 'don't bite off more than you can chew." His lawyer Paul McGirr said the fine should never have been issued. [Paul McGirr, Lawyer of Goat Owner]: "Think about the waste of taxpayers money being spent on prosecuting a person because a goat's eating some grass or some vegetation. I've always been an advocate that all police should be out doing the real police work at a category one station. I'd like to also know what other police who are working hard would think about their colleague actually writing a ticket for someone who's goat is feeding on some vegetation." Local media reported the comedian had bought Gary the goat for a case of <b>...</b> | Views: 3 3 ratings | | Time: 01:23 | More in News & Politics |
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| Shakira Gives Birth to Baby Boy Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:49 PM PST | Shakira and FC Barcelona footballer Gerard Pique have their first child, a boy, named Milan. Full Story: Pop-star Shakira gave birth to her first child, a baby boy in Barcelona on Tuesday (January 22). The birth was announced on the Colombian singer's website. Shakira and her boyfriend, Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique named the baby boy Milan (pronounced MEE-lahn). "Milan means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious, and in Sanskrit, unification," the star said on her website. The couple joked in a statement that, "Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of Football Club Barcelona at birth." Pique is a defender for Spanish La Liga runner-up Football Club Barcelona. In an online baby shower last week the couple asked fans to donate gifts such as mosquito nets and vaccines to help needy children. Shakira is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Shakira fist met Pique in 2010, but only confirmed that they had been in a relationship in March 2011. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntdtv.org Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 1 8 ratings | | Time: 01:02 | More in Entertainment |
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| Human Colonies In Space? Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:16 PM PST | Deep Space mining company discusses human colonies in space. Full story: Space - the final frontier... Futuristic visions of human colonies in space took a step closer to reality at this recent conference in Santa Monica, organized by private company Deep Space Industries. Lets take a look at their introductory video: [Introductory Video] Although long term plans may be for human colonies in space, the short term goal is a space mining company. The plan is to tap nearby asteroids for hydrogen, oxygen, iron and nickel. Company chairman Rick Tumlinson talks about a new "space economy": [Rick Tumlinson, Deep Space Industries, Chairman]: "One of the things we are going to be doing is creating an economy in space. We are going to be creating wealth and mining resources that we believe in the long run will help life on earth. At first, what we are going to be about is using those resources to expand and enhance what we are going to do in space." The inaugural mission is targeted for 2015, when Deep Space Industries hope to send a small spacecraft called "Firefly" on a six-month expedition to survey an as-yet-unidentified asteroid. The cost of the Firefly mission would be about 20 million dollars, half of which is expected to come from government and research institute contracts, and half from corporate advertising, sponsorships and other marketing ventures. For more news and videos visit ☛ ntdtv.org Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me | Views: 0 21 ratings | | Time: 01:58 | More in Science & Technology |
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| Israeli 2013 Elections Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:02 PM PST | Netanyahu's party lose seats as center-left Yesh Atid party gains ground. Full story: More than 3.6 million Israeli citizens, or two thirds of all eligible voters, hit the polls on Tuesday. The parliamentary elections pit candidates from 34 parties against each other, vying for just 120 seats. The system is proportional representation, and since the creation of the Israeli state almost 65 years ago, no single party has gained an absolute majority. Although final results will not be announced until next week because of complications with the army vote, 99% of the polls are already published. There were two big surprises. The first concerns the party of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called Likud-Bieteinu. Likud-Bieteinu is a well established alliance of two parties, Likud, and the Israel Beiteinu. Between them they received just 31 seats, contrasting with 42 seats at the previous election. Despite this, Likud-Beiteinu remains the biggest party, with Netanyahu most likely to stay on as Prime Minister. But in order to form a coalition government that can effectively rule Israel, Netanyahu will probably have to look outside his usual allies of smaller rightwing and religious parties, and reach out to some of the center-left parties. The other big surprise was the success of new party Yesh Atid, which became the second largest party with 19 seats. Yesh Atid was formed by the well known journalist and television personality Yair Lapid, and focusses on middle-class <b>...</b> | Views: 0 7 ratings | | Time: 02:16 | More in News & Politics |
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