Neil Armstrong signature triples in value after his death

A postcard signed by the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong, has sold for $2,384, more than three times its pre-sale estimate, signifying a "hot market" since the American astronaut died last week. The undated postcard of Vero Beach, Florida, addressed "To Steven" and signed by Armstrong, had an estimated value of $700 before the auction. It was one of thousands that the Apollo 11 astronaut signed for fans and collectors for many years after his historic trip to the moon in July 1969.

World's oldest person celebrates being 'sweet 116'

They didn't even try to get the requisite number of candles on Besse Cooper's birthday cake.

Cooper, the world's oldest person according to the Guinness World Records, chose to use numbers instead of actual candles when she recently celebrated her 116th birthday. Guinness claims Cooper is one of only eight people who have reached 116.

Cooper has a two-part secret to achieving 116 years of life. "I mind my own business," she says, "and I don't eat junk food."

Cooper is a widow (her husband passed away in 1963) with four children, 12 grandchildren and "many more" great-grandchildren.

Spike Lee brings the story of MJ's Bad to big screen

Spike Lee's film about the making of Michael Jackson's 1987 album Bad may border on hagiography at times, but live footage and the singer's attention to detail when at the peak of his powers are a reminder of why he remains the "King of Pop". The two-hour documentary called Bad 25, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival late last month, is a familiar mix of talking heads - choreographers, producers and stars - and film of concerts, rehearsals and music videos.

'No, he can't read my poker face (She got me like nobody)'

In a restaurant down an alley in one of Tokyo's best-known red-light districts, four massive female robots wink and wave as they lumber to the beat of traditional Japanese drums and a Lady Gaga dance tune. It's show time at the "Robot Restaurant", a new and high-tech take on the city's decades-old cabaret scene that puts a friendly, if unusual, face on the robot technology in which Japan is a world leader.

French officials red-faced as palace floor plans stolen

Highly confidential floor plans of the French presidential Elysee Palace, the interior ministry and the Paris police headquarters have been stolen from a car in Paris, in an embarrassing security lapse.

The plans on a USB drive and discs had been given to a building contractor hired to install fiber-optic cabling for video surveillance in the sensitive sites.

Thieves made off with the plans after the contractor left them in his vehicle while picking up a friend at a train station.

Despite their sensitive nature, none of the blueprints were encrypted, making them easy to read or copy by any user.

Will.i.am song blasts to Mars for otherworldly debut

NASA's Curiosity rover is making global headlines as it travels uncharted territory on Mars, and it ventured into new realms back on Earth last week when it premiered a new Will.i.am song. The Black Eyed Peas rapper's tune Reach for the Stars was broadcast live from the surface of Mars, via Curiosity, to a news conference at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

Reuters

(China Daily 09/09/2012 page4)