| Musical Icon's items Auctioned Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:18 PM PDT | A lock of Elvis Presley's hair or Whitney Houston's passport were just two of the hundreds of items up for grabs in the Music Icons and Sports Legends Auction held at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. A highlight from the auction was a collection of 43 Houston items, including several dresses, which are expected to sell well above their $2000 starting price. Other legends represented are Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse and John Lennon. And in an Olympic year, an item that should attract a lot of interest, is the torch from the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, signed by boxing great, Muhammad Ali. Elvis Presley's crypt was recently pulled off the auction block after fans requested that the item be kept at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis in memory of the great singer. The Music Icons and Sports Legends Auction took place in Beverly Hills and online on June 23 and 24. | Views: 2 0 ratings | | Time: 00:57 | More in News & Politics |
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| Morsy, Egypt's First Freely Elected President Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:44 PM PDT | Celebrations outside the Muslim Brotherhood offices in Egypt as Mohamed Morsy is elected president in the countries first free election. Similar scenes in Suez City as Morsy defeats former general Ahmed Shafik by nearly 900000 votes. While the country's Muslim Brotherhood rejoices in Morsy's victory Shafik supporters in Jordan bemoan his loss. One Egyptian national hopes Morsy will keep the country moderate. Abdullah Shami, Egyptian National "I would like to have seen Ahmed Shafik win, but since Mohamed Morsy won, I would tell him you have been handed responsibility of leading Egypt. Egypt is now a moderate country with its Muslims and Christians. After four years, you hand us one moderate country for its Muslims and Christians without discrimination and do not put Egypt in many wars." As the sun comes down over Tahrir Square, the center of the revolutions that saw the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak last year, the celebrations go into the night. | Views: 1 0 ratings | | Time: 01:08 | More in News & Politics |
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| Bus Crash in Africa 19 Dead Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:08 PM PDT | At least 19 people are dead after a bus veered off a bridge and into a stream in South Africa on Monday Police said the driver may have lost control of the vehicle - traveling on a highway near the small town of Meyerton - south of Johannesburg. Police Captain Shado Mashobane. "Police found that the bus lost control, of which we don't know how and what caused it. It drove over the safety rail of this bridge and into the stream." The bus fell about 30 feet off the bridge before becoming submerged in water. More than 50 passengers and a rescue worker were injured in the accident. | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 00:34 | More in News & Politics |
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| Hong Kong's CY Leung Faces Investigation Calls Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:33 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Pressure is mounting on Hong Kong's incoming Chief Executive over revelations that his homes contain illegal structures -- despite his earlier claims there were none. CY Leung is expected to be sworn in on July 1st as Hong Kong's next leader but some lawmakers are pushing for a no-confidence vote before he takes office. Leung's critics say his failure to acknowledge the illegal structures -- given that he was a property surveyor -- hurts his credibility. Leung has taken full responsibility for the structures and apologized, but that hasn't stopped calls on Hong Kong's legislative council to investigate. [Helena Wong Pik-wan, Democratic Party Central Committee Member]: "I really want [Legislative Council president] Tsang Yok-sing and the Independent Commission Against Corruption to start investigating immediately. As the leader of the Commission, if CY Leung does not act properly, the public will highly question whether he can really lead the Commission and Hong Kong." Hong Kong's Labor Party wants to move an emergency motion of no-confidence against Leung over the matter. Other Parties say they are also considering the move. The illegal structures debacle is jus the latest controversy to embroil CY Leung. During his election campaign in March, his opponents alleged that he has ties to the Communist Party and is an underground Communist Party member. Leung denies <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 01:45 | More in News & Politics |
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| Samsung Galaxy SIII Launches in South Korea Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:22 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Samsung Electronics says this will be its best-selling smartphone ever, with 10 million of them in customers' hands by July. Samsung also dismissed concerns tight supplies of the new Galaxy SIII model and the weak global economy would pressure its earnings. Launching the SIII in South Korea Monday, mobile head JK Shin says he expects a strong second quarter earnings number at his unit. [Shin Jong-Kyun, President of IT at Samsung]: "The overall market condition was challenging due to euro zone issues and tight supply of components ... but (our) second-quarter results will be better than the first quarter." Profit from Samsung's mobile division nearly tripled in the January to March quarter to $3.6 billion, accounting for 73 percent of group operating profit. But shares of Asia's most valuable technology firm tumbled to a four-and-a-half month low Monday (June 25), after more analysts downgraded estimates for Samsung's second-quarter earnings. Some are predicting sales of the latest Galaxy model have triggered a steeper than expected drop-off in sales of earlier products. Others cite persistent price weakness in Samsung's core chip business. Samsung sold nearly 45 million smartphones in the first quarter, giving it 30.6 percent market share compared to Apple's 24 percent. And the firm will be hoping customers like Lee Jae-hon will continue to give it the edge over <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 01:36 | More in News & Politics |
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| Zoo Visitors Make Special Dumplings for Pandas on Dragon Boat Festival Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:16 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Two giant pandas in Nanshan Zoo, Yantai City, were fed a special treat the day before the Dragon Boat Festival. The food had been prepared by visitors to the zoo. Two giant pandas enjoyed zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, a traditional food for the Duanwu Festival, at a zoo in Shandong Province on Friday. The Nanshan Zoo of Yantai City invited visitors to make special zongzi packed with diced carrots, apples and shredded steamed corn bread. [Wang Ziting, Visitor to Nanshan Zoo]: "We came to the zoo today to see pandas. The zongzi we made today is different from what we normally eat as its fillings are different. It is packed with fruits and steamed corn bread. It was a lot of fun to do this." Visitors fed the giant pandas the special dumplings the day before Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month every year. | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 00:53 | More in News & Politics |
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| "Free China" Film Screened at European Parliament, Well Received Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:13 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me A preview screening for the award-winning documentary "Free China: The Courage to Believe" was held at the European Parliament on Wednesday night. It's only been 2 months since the film started debuting at film festivals, but it has already won three international awards. The organizer of Wednesday's screening stresses the film is timely and important because it exposes the widespread ongoing human rights violations in China. [Tunne Kelam, Member of European Parliament]: "This film will be a very important channel to our awareness of how our brothers and sisters in different countries, in some of the biggest countries of the world are forced to live their lives and how it is possible to stand up for human dignity and their beliefs in all conditions." The film follows the story of two practitioners of the Falun Gong meditation discipline, who along with tens of millions of other Falun Gong adherents have been persecuted for their beliefs in China. As they manage to escape to the free world they speak out for those who are left behind and still languishing in Chinese prisons and labor camps. [Tunne Kelam, Member of European Parliament]: "And such stories, you can't avoid them, you can't just forget them if you watch such a film. Therefore I think it's going to be a guiding principle: we need to have trade but we need at the same time to balance it with our support <b>...</b> | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 03:25 | More in News & Politics |
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| Police Strike in Bolivia Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:09 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Rebel police in Bolivia invaded the downtown square in front of the presidential palace in La Paz on Sunday (June 24), accusing their leaders of betraying them by signing a deal on pay and conditions with the government earlier in the day. As part of the deal signed on Sunday, the government agreed that the wages of the country's roughly 35000 police officers should be brought into line with other public-sector employees with a minimum monthly wage of nearly $300. It also includes improvement pension benefits. Bolivia's left-wing President Evo Morales, accused political rivals of being behind the uprising but said he would not deploy troops in order to avoid a repeat of a police protest in 2003 that was quashed by the military, causing dozens of deaths. Morales often blames social protests on political rivals bent on destabilizing the natural gas-exporting South American country, which has a history of coups and violent social conflicts. | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 00:59 | More in News & Politics |
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| South Korea Commemorates the Korean War Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:02 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me 62 years ago, North and South Korea began a war that's technically, still going on. Korean soldiers commemorated the start of the Korean war on Monday with an amphibious landing operation. 3400 troops took part in the drill. In Seoul, a memorial service was held for veterans. One veteran had mixed feelings about the event. [Thomas Bezouska, War Veteran From the United States]: "But I still feel bad that North and South Korea are separated. I would not want to be separated with my family. So that's what I feel about. It's a great day to be here but it's happy but somewhat sad." Three million soldiers and civilians were killed during the three year war. Five million became refugees. Although the war ended with a truce in 1953, there was no peace treaty drawn up. | Views: 0 0 ratings | | Time: 00:49 | More in News & Politics |
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| Star Studded Music Awards in Taiwan Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:48 PM PDT | Taiwanese alternative rock band Mayday won big at the 23rd Golden Melody Awards, picking up a total of six awards on the night. Held at the Taipei Arena on Saturday. Mayday swept away the competition winning awards for Best Chinese-language Album, Best Group Band, Best Album Producer, Best Album Composer, Best Lyrics Composer, and Best Song. Mayday group member "For Mayday, this means very different. From the beginning when we were making our own album, we made it all by ourselves. From music recording, composing, producing, song writing, it's all made by ourselves. So it's very meaningful for Mayday to receive the Best Album Awards and the Best Album Producer Awards, Singaporean singer and composer Tanya Tsai, made it a hat trick of wins for the Best Female Singer Award having now won this category for the third time. Tanya Tsai, Singer "I think this album made me learn how to love. It's very difficult to record this album, there are many emotions that needed me to counter and by using the music to fix it. Most important of all, it made me believe the strength in love. That's why I need to make this album, an album with positive thinking, and to spread the love to everyone," The surprise winner on the night was Luantan Ascent who upstaged Jay Chou and Hong Kong's Eason Chan to take home the prestigious Best Male Singer Award. Luantan, Musician "The last time I received the award was 12 years ago, that was when the band received the award. I can't believe it's been 12 <b>...</b> | Views: 1 0 ratings | | Time: 02:33 | More in Nonprofits & Activism |
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| Ugliest Dog Contest Posted: 25 Jun 2012 11:58 AM PDT | They may be lacking in the looks department, but these pooches aren't letting that get in the way of their dreams of winning a beauty pageant. The 24th Annual World's Ugliest Dog contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday (June 22) gathered 29 aesthetically challenged canines from several corners of the globe. Among those competing for the "worst in show" title this year were dogs like Handsome Hector, Creature, Rue, Icky, Spam-O-Rama, and Mouse. But after all is said and done, there can only be one winner, and this year it's the United Kingdom challenger Mugly. Mugly, a Chinese Crested dog, first stood above the rest in the pedigree class competition, and then went on to take the dog's top prize. Bev Nicholson,Owner "I am excited. I'm overwhelmed. I'm so proud to be able to be taking this back to the UK," "He is the most amazing dog. He's kind and he's patient and he's a really sweet, sensitive dog," Affectionately dubbed the "UK's ugliest dog" by British media in 2005, the 8-year-old Mugly celebrated his win like any male going through a mid-life crisis -- by going for a ride in a luxurious limousine. In addition to the fame of being known the world's ugliest dog, Mugly will also receive $1000 (USD) in prize money, a photo shoot, VIP hotel stays, and a year's supply of the doggie treats. | Views: 4 0 ratings | | Time: 01:35 | More in Nonprofits & Activism |
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| China pumps Iran's oil harder as sanction shutdown looms Posted: 22 Jun 2012 08:41 AM PDT | A day after Hillary Clinton declared that China appeared to be curbing its oil imports from Iran, new figures show that those imports are actually at record highs this year. Beijing imported almost 524000 barrels per day, a 35% jump from the previous month. The rise comes even as the US has asked countries to cut oil imports from Iran and threatened to impose sanctions against financial institutions doing business with Iran's energy sector. READ MORE: on.rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Watch RT LIVE on our website rt.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: 9288 239 ratings | | Time: 06:15 | More in News & Politics |
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| Video of China's first manned space docking - Shenzhou-9 spacecraft Posted: 18 Jun 2012 03:38 AM PDT | A Shenzhou-9 spacecraft with three people on board has successfully carried out an automatic space docking mission on Monday. The Chinese are now a step closer to creating a national manned space station. READ MORE on.rt.com Subscribe to RT! www.youtube.com Watch RT LIVE on our website rt.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: 15706 199 ratings | | Time: 00:45 | More in News & Politics |
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| Zhao Ziyang Advisor Talks About Zhao's Later Years Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:54 PM PDT | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Former CCP General Secretary Zhao Ziyang was put under house arrest until he died after he opposed the armed suppression of June 4 students. Yao Jianfu, former researcher of Department of Studies of Rural Policies, visited Zhao Ziyang twice in 2004. He got to know Zhao's inner world in his later years. Yao Jianfu spoke to our NTD reporter. Zhao had realized that China had to give up one-party dictatorship and implement a multi-party parliament. In his later years, Zhao reflected on the nature of the primary stage of socialism, and the legality of CCP rule. Zhao says in the recording The Secret Journal of Zhao Ziyang that if a nation wants to achieve modernization, it should not only have a market economy and develop modern civilization. It must also have the system of parliamentary democracy. Otherwise, that nation can't be a real modern legal society. Yao was an unofficial advisor to Zhao Ziyang and Zhao's political secretary Bao Tong. Through the interactions with Zhao in Zhao's later years, Yao noticed the changes of Zhao's inner world. Yao told NTD that at the end of Zhao's life, Zhao had already abandoned his "four insistences". He didn't insist on the CCP leadership anymore. Instead, he thought about the future of China from the perspective of society as a whole. In 2012 in Hong Kong, Yao Jianfu published a book called the Revelation of Hu and Zhao's New Politic. It was written by Hu Jiwei <b>...</b> | Views: 27 0 ratings | | Time: 03:16 | More in News & Politics |
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| Skyscrapers Herald China's Economic Crash Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:52 PM PDT | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Nowadays, Skyscrapers above 500 meter height have become commonplace in China. However, cities' competitiveness to build higher and higher skyscrapers continued. The 606-meter-high Wuhan Greenland Centre is expected to be increased by 30 meters to become China's tallest building. Recently Changsha city, Hunan announced building the world's tallest skyscraper;50 floors more than Burj Khalifa, Dubai. People worried that skyscraper fever would lead to more safety risks. Experts said that China's skyscrapers craze may indicate an economic crash. More than 200 skyscrapers are now under construction in China. Nanjing Zifeng Tower reached 450 meters height, Guangzhou East Tower will be at 530 meters. Wuhan Greenland Centre will be at 606 meters and Shenzhen Ping An Finance Center is expected to be at 660 meters. Reports said that China would get a new skyscraper every five days for the next three years. Research found that in five years time, China will have 800 skyscrapers. Equivalent to four times the total number of skyscrapers in the US. About 80% of new buildings will be built on underdeveloped areas in China. Greenland Group revealed that property businessmen don't want to do landmark buildings, but the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) does. Gong Shengli, China financial independent commentator said: "China is engaged in image projects in cities and provinces. Speeded up building of Skyscrapers is due to <b>...</b> | Views: 6 0 ratings | | Time: 03:43 | More in News & Politics |
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| Beijing Municipal Party Congress Further Delayed Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:48 PM PDT | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com The Beijing Municipal Party Congress (BMPC) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was finally put off until late June. Commentators say, the main reason behind it may be the intense competition for the candidate for the dual role of Politburo member and Beijing Party chief. Negotiation of the CCP's factional interests and power cannot be finished until Bo Xilai's case is over. It is estimated that the CCP's top-level personnel assignment can only be finalized at the last minute. The CCP's official media reported at the end of 2011 that the BMPC would open this May. Until late May, there is no official confirmation on this news. Afterwards, People.com.cn revealed that the BMPC will be put off until this June. On June 21, the 11th Session of the 10th Beijing Municipal Standing Committee decided that the BMPC will be held from June 29 to July 3 this year. The delay of the BMPC, held on the site of the CCP's top authorities, has aroused widespread concern. Commentators say that the postponing is linked to the Party's senior personnel appointment. Such as the successor of Liu Qi, doubling as the current Party Secretary of Beijing and the CCP's Politburo member. Hu Ping (Chief Editor, Beijing Spring magazine): "Based on past practice, the BMPC was always held last, after all other regional Party congresses had concluded. This is due to the impact of Beijing (as a capital). It is unusual of this session for <b>...</b> | Views: 4 0 ratings | | Time: 03:51 | More in News & Politics |
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| Netizens Support Aung San Suu Kyi for China's Democracy Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:55 PM PDT | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Myanmar's democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi is visiting Europe. She not only drew European media's attention, but also the interest of netizens in China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) supported Myanmar military regime for a long time. However its media reports rarely covered Suu Kyi's visit. However, on Twitter and microblogging, Suu Kyi's photos and speeches made during her visit to Europe were widespread. Mainlanders show support of Suu Kyi's democracy ideas. Writer Fu Guoyong in China called Suu Kyi "Asia's most beautiful lady". Fu tweeted: "After 21 years, Suu Kyi has finally stood in Oslo. She calmly, peacefully spoke to the world. She stands above the dark power, meaning Myanmar people are higher than the dark controller; civilization overtakes the brutal killing." Some netizens took the chance to comment on China's democratic future. Netizen Zhang Xiaolin posted, Myanmar is in transition from dictatorship to democracy, setting a remarkable example of how to ease the pressure of China's maintaining "stability". Song Zuying Changed the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) Song Lyrics? Recently, in Sina microblog, a post about "Song Zuying changing song lyrics of the CCP in a Sydney concert." The post was circulated by netizens, then appeared in search engine Baidu, arousing discussion. On June 24th, Tang Gula, a well-known volunteer worker of the Sichuan earthquake posted on Sina microblog: Song <b>...</b> | Views: 4 0 ratings | | Time: 02:10 | More in News & Politics |
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| Anti-Corruption Show on Eve of 18th National Congress Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:45 PM PDT | On the eve of the Communist China's 18th National Congress, Wang Yang, a significant figure of the Communist Youth League faction, launched an anti-corruption campaign in Guangdong and sacked hundreds of officials. This anti-corruption campaign is reportedly hitting Shandong, Shanxi, and Hunan as well. Hu and Wen are believed to have initiated this movement to secure power during the 18th National Congress. Analysts comment that corruption is ingrained in the CCP and it's the best for Hu and Wen to abandon the CCP quickly if people's welfare is truly concerned. In February, Guangdong Province initiated the so-called "Combat 3 crimes and construct 2 systems" to fight against corruption. More than 300 officials were detained and interrogated just in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, including Guangdong Department of Finance deputy director Wei Jinfeng and former director of Guangdong Development Research Center, Xie Pengfei. As of June 8, Guangdong Province has concluded investigation of 677 cases of commercial bribery. Concurrently, a total of 2046 cases are being investigated, involving more than 800 million yuan of bribery, 1072 party cadres and government staff, of which 28 are cadres at the department level and 123 are cadres of division level. Taiwan media reported a similar anti-corruption movement in Shandong, Shanxi, and Hunan. Since the end of 2011, there have been 367 cases of disciplinary violations involving 540 officials. 294 were found guilty in Shanxi Province. 231 <b>...</b> | Views: 25 0 ratings | | Time: 04:16 | More in News & Politics |
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| Zhang Dejiang: Manage Your Spouse Posted: 24 Jun 2012 08:41 PM PDT | Follow us on TWITTER: twitter.com Like us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com Zhang Dejing was selected as the Secretary of Chongqing Municipal Committee a while ago. Recently, Zhang asked all Chongqing Municipal Committee members to take better control of themselves and their spouses. Overseas analysts pointed out that Zhang's words disclosed the nature of Bo Xilai's case as defined by CCP senior authorities. It's also disclosed that the CCP one-party autocracy is the breeding ground of its officials' corruption and murdering people with it's power. Without disintegrating the CCP, it would take forever to solve the issues of ordinary people's rights and interests being abused. Recently Zhang Dejiang claimed that all Chongqing Municipal Committee members should take better control of themselves and their spouses. In the meantime, it was said that Gu Kailai already pleaded guilty to money laundering and murder. Gu was the wife of Bo Xilai, former Secretary of the CCP Chongqing Municipal Committee. NTD Commentator Dr. Jason Ma: "Bo Xilai's issue is definitely not only about his wife's killing a person. However, in order to maintain 'face' and so-called internal unity, Bo's issue has been defined as an isolated criminal case. In fact, the CCP regime system is already rotten to the core, and Gu Kailai is nothing but a scapegoat." Liu Yinquan is the host of "Chinese Social Democratic Party Central Committee". He thinks that Bo Xilai's case involves political route divergence <b>...</b> | Views: 21 0 ratings | | Time: 03:27 | More in News & Politics |
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