| SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch Successful Posted: 22 May 2012 02:53 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me [NASA Launch Announcer]: "T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, and launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, as NASA turns to the private sector to resupply the International Space Station." The first commercial flight to dock with the International Space Station is on its way after a successful launch at 3:44:38 on Tuesday morning. Ushering in the next stage of privatized space flight, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Now in orbit, the SpaceX Dragon capsule will make its way towards the ISS, bringing with it a half-ton of non-essential supplies. The capsule itself is reusable and can carry up to seven passengers, though this flight is unmanned. The launch was originally planned for 4:55 am EDT this past Saturday. It was cancelled at the last second after computers detected a higher-than-allowed pressure reading. Seconds after the engine began firing they were automatically shut down. After being inspected, engineers discovered a faulty engine check valve. Nine Merlin 1C engines power the Falcon 9 vehicle, which is able to lift 23000 pounds into Low Earth Orbit. An additional Merlin engine provides the thrust to bring the Dragon capsule to the ISS, which is a low earth orbit station. The Dragon will orbit earth for a few days while performing a series of system tests. It's expected to dock with the ISS on Friday. With its <b>...</b> | Views: 115 4 ratings | | Time: 02:08 | More in News & Politics |
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| Penguins Find New Home Posted: 22 May 2012 02:42 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me Four penguins, rescued from South America last year, have finally found their new home in Long Beach, California. The Magellanic Penguins will live in the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat at the Aquarium of the Pacific. The birds were stranded on a beach by Rio de Janerio, Brazil - well north of their natural habitat. When found, the four penguins were near-starvation. [Jeff Gacade, Aquarium of the Pacific Mammalogist]: "Probably what ended up happening was they were following food source up that far north, the food sources appeared and they were stranded and they didn't know where to go." Magellanic Penguins are a threatened species, partially due to climate change and declining fish populations. The penguins will join nine others at the habitat, which simulates their species' native rocky beach. Visitors will be able to see the birds from both above and below the water level. The June Keyes Penguin Habitat opened last Thursday, May 17. | Views: 3 1 ratings | | Time: 01:04 | More in Pets & Animals |
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| David Beckham is Awarded For His Contributions Posted: 22 May 2012 02:32 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me Britain's iconic football player, David Beckham was awarded at the 27th annual Sports Spectacular gala in Los Angeles on Sunday, May 20th. He was honored not only for his athletic status, but also for his effort to combat genetic birth defects. In the audience were Beckham's wife Victoria, and their three sons. Beckham calmly received his award. [David Beckham, Britain's iconic football player]: "I kick a football around. Some guys throw a ball around, some guys hit a ball some guys bounce a ball. But it's nothing compared to what you guys do. The amount of money that you've raised over many years is truly incredible and for that you should be congratulated." In previous years, the Cedars-Sinai Medical Genetics Institute fundraiser raised more than $21 million. | Views: 3 0 ratings | | Time: 00:56 | More in Travel & Events |
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| Black Eyed Peas Singer becomes the 109th Olympic Torch Bearer Posted: 22 May 2012 02:19 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me Will.i.am joined the Olympic torch relay on Monday, in Taunton UK. He's now the 109th Olympic torch bearer, and he tweeted about his experience while he walked the relay. Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am joined the Olympic torch relay across the UK on Monday (May 21). Carrying the Olympic flame through Taunton, Somerset, to the delight of onlookers. Will.i.am became the 109th torchbearer, and made the most of the opportunity. During the walk Will.i.am tweeted about the experience with one hand while holding the torch in the other. He even performed a brief moonwalk in honor of Michael Jackson. Afterwards he spoke of how happy he was to take part, and his personal connection to the Olympics. [Will.i.am, Black Eyed Peas Singer]: "That was like, a surreal moment. You know I remember in 1984, the Olympics in Los Angeles, and me being a little Will, watching it on TV, wishing I could be at the Olympic Games, and I had that flashback when they handed me the torch to run through Taunton, so it's like a blessed moment, and a surreal moment, and a I-can't-believe-it moment all at the same time." The Olympic torch is currently on a 70-day tour of the UK, before arriving back in London for the start of the Games. | Views: 13 0 ratings | | Time: 01:23 | More in Sports |
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| Man Survives Plunge into Niagara Falls Posted: 22 May 2012 01:54 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me On Monday, a 40 year old man survived after a 174-foot plunge over Niagara's Horseshoe Falls. The man, unnamed, is the third person to live through such an attempt. However, he received life-threatening injuries. Witnesses claim they saw the man purposely climbing over the 20-feet wall and jumping into the water. About 675000 gallons of water passes the Horseshoe Fall per second. He was flown by air ambulance to a Hamilton, Ontario hospital. | Views: 9 0 ratings | | Time: 00:35 | More in News & Politics |
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| Pentagon Report: China Leads World in Economic and Cyber Spying Posted: 21 May 2012 11:51 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me The United States Defense Department has released its annual report on China-related security issues. The report ranks China as the top source of economic and cyber espionage in the world. Here's more. Released on May 18, the US Defense Department report "Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China" notes that Chinese military spending is increasing exponentially—despite remaining significantly behind that of the United States. China's official data release of March this year showed that the 2012 military budget will reach 670 billion RMB (USD $106 billion), an 11.2% increase over 2011. This continues a two decades-long trend, in which has seen double-digit jumps in military spending nearly every year. However Pentagon officials estimate that actual military spending is far higher than reported figures, a view shared by most independent analysts. One area in which China's achievements are without equal is in the realm of cyber and economic espionage activities, where China's Communist Party-controlled spy apparatus leads the world. The Pentagon report cites China as the likely chief source of such operations worldwide, many of which are used as, quote, a "tool to collect strategic intelligence." Among the targets of cyber operations listed by the report are a number of private enterprises. The apparently China-based intelligence <b>...</b> | Views: 81 7 ratings | | Time: 02:07 | More in News & Politics |
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| China's Wanda Group Gets AMC Entertainment in US$3.1 Billion Deal Posted: 22 May 2012 01:01 AM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Wanda Group, one of China's biggest theatre owners, has agreed to pay $2.6 billion US dollars for AMC Entertainment—the second largest movie theatre owners in North American. The merger creates the biggest cinema operator in the world. The deal will boost Chinese influence on Hollywood. One of China's biggest theater owners—the Wanda Group—has settled for a $2.6 billion deal for AMC Entertainment. The merger creates the world's largest cinema consortium. Wanda Group president, Wang Jianlin said Monday he hopes to turn Wanda into a major global player in the movie industry. [Wang Jianlin, Wanda Group President]: "Wanda Group maps out a ten-year strategic plan, which is to ... become the world's top-level transnational enterprise...Today's signing ceremony symbolizes that Wanda Group has made a concrete step forward towards the goal." Wang aims to acquire 20 percent of the global movie market share by 2020. He has plans on mergers and acquisitions with other US and European cinema owners. AMC Entertainment shareholders' representative, Eliot Merrill said it's a win-win deal. [Eliot Merrill, AMC Entertainment Shareholders Representative]: "I am confident, with Wanda's expertise and leadership AMC will continue to innovate in the movie exhibition industry. The collaboration between Wanda and AMC which combine[d] will be the largest movie exhibitor in the world <b>...</b> | Views: 69 4 ratings | | Time: 02:00 | More in News & Politics |
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| China Focus: What Chen's Case Means for Broader Rights Issues Posted: 22 May 2012 01:01 AM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me Blind Chinese legal activist Chen Guangcheng landed in the US on Saturday—a major breakthrough in a four-week affair that has made headlines in every major media around the world. But what will Chen's case mean for broader human rights issues in China? And what is the key rights issue—that goes far beyond Cheng's case—that China's leaders are concerned about? | Views: 31 2 ratings | | Time: 10:57 | More in News & Politics |
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| North Korea 'frees' captured Chinese fishermen, boats Posted: 21 May 2012 11:47 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me China is having a hard time keeping disputes over surrounding territorial waters in check. Tension between the Philippines and other Southeast Asian neighbors in the South China Sea threatens to undermine trade and leaves vast natural resources under disputed control. But then someone in North Korea, China's closest ally, made an unexpected move. Here's the story. Earlier this month 29 Chinese fishermen and three boats were captured in the Yellow Sea and were held in North Korea. Now, North Korean officials have released all 29 sailors and their boats back into Chinese hands, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency. As of when this story broke, there is no clear indication whether kidnappers or North Korean authorities were behind the sailors capture. According to a counselor at the Chinese embassy in Pyongyang, the sailors are in good health and were treated well. One of the boat owners told Beijing News that a ransom of 1.2-million yuan (about $189000) was issued for the return of the men and their boats. It was eventually lowered to 900000 yuan (or $142000). Reports from Xinhua did not say whether or not the payment was made. The Yellow Sea separates China from the Korean peninsula. It's rich in marine life and has seen a growing number of incidents between China and both Koreas. According to one of the fishermen, they had been in territorial Chinese waters <b>...</b> | Views: 52 4 ratings | | Time: 01:15 | More in News & Politics |
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| Old Beatles Photo Takes New Direction at Auction Posted: 21 May 2012 11:48 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me A rare photograph offers a different picture of the Beatles from their 1969 Abbey Road album. It's expected to fetch over $31 thousand dollars at auction. A rare photograph showing the Beatles walking across the Abbey Road pedestrian crossing could fetch up to 31500 USD, a London auction house said on Monday. This one is a collector's item with a difference: the version that was printed on the 1969 Abbey Road album shows the band walking from the photographer's left to right. In the version up for sale by Bloomsbury auctions John Lennon, wearing a white suit and shoes, leads the group from right to left. On the album, Paul McCartney is walking barefooted, but in this shot he is wearing chunky sandals. [Sarah Wheeler, Photography Expert, Bloomsbury Auctions]: "I think one of the reasons why this photograph has had so much attention is because it is an outtake from the original cover. The Beatles are walking towards Abbey Road studios rather than away from Abbey Road studios, Paul McCartney is wearing sandals rather than being barefoot, which he is in the original cover, so for Beatles fans I think that's going to be interesting." The fact McCartney was without any shoes or socks on the album cover prompted a string of bizarre conspiracy theories among some fans who believe that McCartney actually died in the sixties and had been replaced by a body double. They <b>...</b> | Views: 27 1 ratings | | Time: 02:52 | More in News & Politics |
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| Annular Solar Eclipse Across Southeast China Posted: 21 May 2012 11:45 PM PDT | For more news and videos visit ☛ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ☛ http Add us on Facebook ☛ on.fb.me A phenomenon known as the "Ring of Fire." The Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth creating a ring shaped, or annular, solar eclipse. The annular eclipse was observable across regions of Southeast China on Monday May 21st—including Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian and Zhejiang. It lasted 4 minutes 33 seconds and was observable over the coast of Fujian province at 6am. The last "Ring of Fire" eclipse happened in China in January 2010, but Chinese will have to wait another eight years for the next one. | Views: 40 4 ratings | | Time: 00:38 | More in News & Politics |
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| China Focus: Rep. Chris Smith, Reggie Littlejohn on Forced Abortions Posted: 21 May 2012 08:57 AM PDT | For more news and videos visit ➡ english.ntdtv.com Follow us on Twitter ➡ http & twitter.com Add us on Facebook ➡ on.fb.me US Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Women's Rights Without Frontiers President Reggie Littlejohn sit down with NTD host Kean Wong on this episode of China Focus. In the wake of forced abortions activist Chen Guangcheng's arrival in the US on May 19, they discuss the larger issue of China's one-child policy and its implications on Chinese society. | Views: 65 8 ratings | | Time: 15:02 | More in News & Politics |
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