■UNITED STATES
Glove fetches US$190,000
Bidders from around the world bought up Michael Jackson memorabilia worth nearly US$1 million at an auction on the anniversary of his death, including US$190,000 for the Swarovski-crystal-studded glove he wore on his 1984 Victory Tour. The bidding that began on Friday on more than 200 items was “unlike anything we’ve ever experienced,” said Darren Julien of Julien’s Auctions, which ran the auction at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas. Some items, like the glove, brought 10 times more than their estimated value, he said. “It just shows you Michael Jackson is the most sought after and most collectible celebrity of all time. It was just phenomenal,” Julien told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “People flew in from Asia, Russia, all over. Now that he’s gone, we now realize the true legend we lost,” Julien said. He predicted the sales would easily top US$1 million by the time the auction wrapped up yesterday.
■GEORGIA
Stalin statue torn down
Authorities have torn down another monument to Soviet dictator and native son Josef Stalin. The monument in the town of Tkibuli was taken down two days after authorities tore down a bigger and more famous monument to Stalin in his hometown of Gori. Both statues were brought down in the middle of the night in an apparent bid to avoid protests and media attention. The government says the younger generation favors the dismantling of Stalin’s monuments.
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