John Woo, Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement

Asian and Hollywood director and producer John Woo, an innovator of the contemporary language of cinema, has been awarded the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement of the 67th Venice International Film Festival which will be held in Venice Lido, September 1-11, 2010.

The decision was made by the Board of Directors of the Biennale di Venezia, chaired by Paolo Baratta, at the recommendation of the Director of the Festival, Marco Müller.

The acknowledgment recognizes a filmmaker who in recent decades, with his revolutionary conception of staging and editing, has renewed action movies to the core, introducing an extreme stylization (close

Modern Family, Mad Men big winners at Emmy Awards

Source: China.org.cn - China news

China, Japan agree to enhance dialogue on climate change, energy-saving

China and Japan pledged on Saturday to enhance dialogue and exchanges on climate change, energy conservation and environmental protection.

The two countries, meeting in Beijing, agreed to make a combined effort to implement the Joint Statement on Climate Change between China and Japan, said Zhang Ping, chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), during the third China-Japan high-level economic dialogue.

The two sides will conduct pragmatic cooperation in the areas of clean development mechanisms, energy-savings, energy efficiency improvement, new energy, renewable energy, clean coal technology, methane recovery and utilization, carbon capture and storage, adaptation to climate change and

Paintings celebrate India-China friendship

More than 100 traditional Chinese paintings of Indian people, landscapes, life and culture by Chinese artists are on exhibit at Gehua Museum of Art in Beijing.

India-China Friendship Painting Exhibition. [China.org.cn]

 

The "India-China Friendship Painting Exhibition" is part of the ongoing Festival of India in China 2010, a celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and India.

"The two countries have been interacting culturally for more than 2,000 years," said S. Jaishankar, the Indian ambassador to China. "It is encouraging that eminent artists in China have taken the initiative to express their sentiments about our relationship through

Paintings celebrate India-China friendship

More than 100 traditional Chinese paintings of Indian people, landscapes, life and culture by Chinese artists are on exhibit at Gehua Museum of Art in Beijing.

India-China Friendship Painting Exhibition. [China.org.cn]

 

The "India-China Friendship Painting Exhibition" is part of the ongoing Festival of India in China 2010, a celebration of 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and India.

"The two countries have been interacting culturally for more than 2,000 years," said S. Jaishankar, the Indian ambassador to China. "It is encouraging that eminent artists in China have taken the initiative to express their sentiments about our relationship through

China's terracotta warriors exhibited in Stockholm's secret caverns

Swedes will soon be able to see China's terracotta warriors and other valuable relics in the equally spectacular setting of Stockholm's secret caverns.

The warriors are the centrepiece of an exhibition that opens in two days' time in the Rock Heavens, a network of caverns originally built for the Swedish military.

"The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities has for many years had a vision, idea and wish to do a large exhibition from ancient China, an exhibition with both Qin's warriors and the story of the first emperor, but also the consolidation and unification of China during the early Han Dynasty.

Lindsay Lohan released early from rehab

Troubled Hollywood star Lindsay Lohan was reportedly released from a rehabilitation center on Tuesday after serving about 23 days of a 90-day court-ordered commitment, according to various online reports.

The 24-year-old actress was whisked through a back door of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and into a waiting limousine, avoiding a waiting crowd of media and paparazzi gathered outside the hospital, the celebrity news website RadarOnline reported.

The news of the actress's early release was swirling around and she was widely believed to be set free on Wednesday as she had a court hearing scheduled to discuss the possibility of

Crazy weather to continue through 2010

The country will likely experience abnormally low temperatures and freezes this winter, warned a senior official with the China Meteorological Administration.

The country might face the La Nina in the second half of the year, which could cause abundant rainfall in autumn, and little rainfall and low temperatures in winter, Jiao Meiyan, deputy director of China Meteorological Administration (CMA), said on Sunday in an interview with Xinhua News Agency.

La Nina refers to a large pool of unusually cold water in the equatorial Pacific that develops every few years and influences global weather. It is the climatic opposite of El

Yalu River water level drops below warning level

China's flood control authorities said Sunday water levels on the Yalu River in northeast China at the border with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had dropped below their warning levels.

An aerial photo shows houses are inundated in flood waters in Dandong, northeast China's Liaoning province on August 22, 2010.

By 9:10 p.m. Saturday, the water level at a station in Dandong City had risen 2.35 meters above the warning level, the second highest level since records began being kept in 1934, the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters (SFDH) said.

By 4 p.m. Sunday, the downpours

HBO eclipses ABC at Creative Arts Emmy Awards

American premium cable television network HBO dominated the Creative Arts Emmy Awards held at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles Saturday evening, taking home 17 awards while ABC trailed with 15.

Ten-part television World War II miniseries "The Pacific" by HBO won seven awards including Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

"Disney Prep & Landing," ABC's first television special produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios got four and the major production company's "Modern Family," NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and HBO's "The 25th Anniversary Rock And Roll Hall of Fame Concert" each harvested three awards.

AMC's "Mad Men"

Chinese performers show intangible culture heritage at UN

Two Chinese calligraphers were displaying the art of writing Chinese characters on separate pieces of paper while a Chinese girl was playing a dulcimer, the traditional Chinese musical instrument, to paint a picture of flowers that are falling at night.

Four Chinese children, including two girls, were playing the Chinese music "Toast Song" on the same piano simultaneously. They were well coordinated and the music proceeded in good harmony.

These were the scenes of the Chinese music and dance performance on Friday night at the UN Headquarters in New York in observing the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

John Woo's martial arts epic to hit screens

Director John Woo, actors Wang Xueqi, Shawn Yue, Leon Dai, Guo Xiaodong and Li Zonghan attend the press conference in Beijing on August 19, 2010, promoting the latest film "Reign of Assassins." [Photo: CRIENGLISH] 

John Woo's new multi-million dollar martial arts film "Reign of Assassins" set up its official website on Thursday, August 19, and released posters of the twelve leading roles.

Director John Woo, actors Wang Xueqi, Shawn Yue, Leon Dai, Guo Xiaodong and Li Zonghan attended the press conference in Beijing. At the conference, director Woo said he would like to be Jing Ke, a famous assassin

798 Art Zone: Where angelic babies meet plastic dinosaurs

Source: China.org.cn - China news

Rio 2016 Games looks to learn experience from Youth Olympics

Carlos Nuzman, President of the organising committee for the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, seemed prepared to embrace sport innovations introduced at the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

"I have a progressive stance," Nuzman told Youth Olympic news service on Wednesday.

"I am for attracting youngsters to the Olympic Games. And nothing is better to do that than modernizing the Games itself, creating alternative events."

Nuzman also showed his interest to some new sports format at Youth Olympics.

"The three-on-three basketball introduced in Singapore is fantastic, and I'm in favour of its adoption at the Olympic Games," he

Renowned writer of Effendi dies

Kuang Jinbi, the author of the famous Chinese fable The Magic Ox and Other Tales of the Effendi died from cancer in Zhuhai City at 2:30 a.m. on August 15.

Renowned writer of Effendi Kuang Jinbi dies

 

Kuang was born in Doumen County, Zhuhai City in 1939. Since his first published work in 1958, he had engaged in writing for several years and created a large quantity of praised literary works for young readers, among them, the fable The Magic Ox and other tales of the Effendi, enjoyed great popularity with children.

Kuang combined the aesthetics of Chinese

Fans pay tribute for Elvis' 33rd death anniversary

Source: China.org.cn - China news

U.S. jazz singer Abbey Lincoln dies at 80

Abbey Lincoln, the U.S. jazz singer, songwriter, actress and activist, died Saturday at her Manhattan home in New York city at age 80.

Lincoln died of natural causes Saturday morning in the New York neighborhood of Manhattan, local TV quoted her friend and film maker Carol Friendman as saying, adding that she had been in poor health conditions for the past years.

Lincoln started her singing career in 1956 with her first album "Affair...a Story of a Girl in Love", and continued her career for six decades with more than 20 recorded albums.

She married jazz musician Max Roach and

World's biggest trumpet festival opens in Guca, Serbia

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HK teen wins top environmental prize in UN

Source: China.org.cn - China news

Gerrard saves England to overcome Hungary

 England's Steven Gerrard receives a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch during their international friendly soccer match against Hungary at Wembley Stadium in London August 11, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

England captain Steven Gerrard scored twice in the second half on Wednesday, leading the Lions to a 2-1 victory over Hungary in a friendly held at Wembley.

England, failing to convert their possession into goal during the first half, suffered for Phil Jagielka's own goal 17 minutes after the interval. But Liverpool captain Gerrard filled the gap seven minutes later with a powerful long-range shot, then pushed England ahead by

Mentougou lures hiking lovers

Source: China.org.cn - China news

Int'l Aesthetics Congress embraces cultural diversity

Source: China.org.cn - China news

'Aftershock' sets Chinese box office record

Source: China.org.cn - China news

Emma Thompson receives star on Walk of Fame

British actress, comedienne and screenwriter Emma Thompson has become the latest addition to the landmark Hollywood Walk of Fame, receiving the 2,416th star in a ceremony held on Friday.

} {title=Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (L) and British actor Hugh Laurie (R) pose with British actress Emma Thompson who was honored for her motion picture career with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in Hollywood, California August 6, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters]}] Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal (L) and British actor Hugh Laurie (R) pose with British actress Emma Thompson who was honored for her motion picture career with a star on the Hollywood

Aftershock box office success

Source: China.org.cn - China news

Singapore gears up for Youth Olympic Games

Singapore is ready to host a successful 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and hopes it will leave a unique legacy while providing valuable experiences for young athletes from around the world.

This year's YOG, which takes place from Aug 14-26, is the inaugural event and will feature 3,600 athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 from more than 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). They will compete in 184 events in 26 sports.

The second YOG will be held in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in 2014.

The opening ceremony in Singapore is expected to boast fireworks, elaborate costumes and stunning performances.

Noted Dutch photographer exhibition at 798

Galerie Paris-Beijing in 798 Art District is currently hosting an exhibition of works by celebrated Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf.

The large selection includes his photography series "Rain," "Hope," "Grief," Hotel" and "Laboral Escena, Spain," and demonstrates people's emotional world, mostly focusing on the feeling of loneliness.

Well known for his usage of studio lighting, Olaf created the pictures with bright colors and vivid details. All the models look cold and distant, and even when multiple people are in one photo, there is little eye contact between them.

Olaf, who was born in 1959, has lived and worked in Amsterdam since

Record rainfall hit China's NE border river basins

Source: China.org.cn - China news

More heavy rain to worsen flooding in NE China

More downpours are forecast to pelt floods-hit Jilin Province in northeast China in the next three days, where extreme weather has left 100 people dead or missing.

The provincial meteorological station said the new round of downpours would start Tuesday night and peter out Thursday.

Tonghua City, where workers are rushing to repair flood-damaged water pipelines, would be among the worst-hit, adding more pressure on the flood disaster-relief work, said Zhu Qiwen, deputy head of the provincial weather bureau.

No deadline has been given as to when the pipelines will be fixed to resume the flow of tap water to

Extreme weather kills 6,000 trees in NE China city

Horticultural officials in a northeast China city have launched a campaign to save thousands of trees at risk of dying from the effects of a long and severe winter.

About 6,000 trees -- mostly ornamental poplars and willows -- have already died in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, after a spate of late snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures, said Lu Qingru, deputy director of the Municipal Quarantine Station for Garden Animals and Plants, Monday.

The winter weather was the worst in a decade and the situation for many trees was "very grim," said Lu.

"The last time trees died in such

Mainland, HK ink tourist deal

The Chinese mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region have signed five deals on tourism industry administration.

The two sides signed the papers at a meeting attended by Shao Qiwei, head of the National Tourism Administration, and Rita Lau, Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.

The two sides agreed to boost communication and cooperation between the administrative organs.

The meeting was held after conflicts between mainland tourists and tour guides in Hong Kong, in which some mainland tourists complained about "forced shopping."

Companies offering cheap tour packages sometimes hike profits by taking tourists to shops which return

Chinese 'Glastonbury' music festival opens in north China

An outdoor music festival known as China's "Glastonbury" and expected to attract more than 200,000 people, kicked off Friday in the fields of Zhangbei County in north China's Hebei Province.

} {title=An outdoor music festival known as China's 'Glastonbury' and expected to attract more than 200,000 people, kicked off Friday in the fields of Zhangbei County in north China's Hebei Province.[Gong Zhihong/Xinhua]}] An outdoor music festival known as China's "Glastonbury" and expected to attract more than 200,000 people, kicked off Friday in the fields of Zhangbei County in north China's Hebei Province. [Gong Zhihong/Xinhua]

The three-day InMusic Festival, which spreads out