Entertainment
In a first, wheelchair user flies into space
A person who uses a wheelchair blasted off into space for the first time Saturday, taking a brief ride on a Blue Origin flight.
The space company owned by American multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos launched its New Shepard suborbital mission at 8:15 am (1415 GMT) from its site in Texas.
Michaela Benthaus, a German aerospace and mechatronics engineer at the European Space Agency, was among the passengers to cross the Karman line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, during the approximately 10-minute flight.
Benthaus suffered a spinal cord injury after a mountain biking accident and now uses a wheelchair.
“After my accident, and I really, really figured out how inaccessible our world still is” for people with disabilities, she said in a video released by the company.
“If we want to be an inclusive society, we should be inclusive in every part, and not only in the parts we like to be,” Benthaus added.
The small, fully automated rocket took off vertically, and the capsule carrying the tourists then detached in flight before gently descending back to the Texas desert, slowed by parachutes.
It was the 16th crewed flight for Blue Origin, which has for years offered space tourism flights — the price isn’t public — using its New Shepard rocket.
Dozens of people have traveled to space with Blue Origin, including the pop singer Katy Perry and William Shatner, who played Star Trek’s legendary Captain Kirk.
These high-profile guests are aimed at maintaining public interest in the flights at a time when private space companies are vying for pre-eminence.
Virgin Galactic offers a similar suborbital flight experience.
But Blue Origin also has ambitions to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the orbital flight market.
This year the Bezos company successfully carried out two uncrewed orbital flights using its massive New Glenn rocket, which is significantly more powerful than New Shepard.
Entertainment
Children hope for perks as David Beckham awarded knighthood
Sir David shared an interesting conversation with his children when he was awarded knighthood by King Charles.
The president and co-owner of Inter Miami CF, Sir David Beckham, 50, shares sons Brooklyn, 27 – from whom he is estranged – Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 21, and daughter Harper, 14, with his wife, Victoria, 51.
David Beckham, one of Britain’s most celebrated soccer players, was knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle in November, in recognition of his decades-long contribution to sport and charitable causes.
The 50-year-old former England soccer captain received the honour at the royal residence, more than 20 years after he was awarded a separate royal honour recognising his contribution to football.
Notably his impact on football over a twenty year period and subsequent ambassadorial role with UNICEF.
Now, David has revealed that his kids hoped they would also benefit from his knighthood.
Speaking on talkSPORT Drive with Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on Friday, David said his children asked if they would get ‘any more privileges’ when he became a Sir.
Asked about what changed in his life after he was knighted, David said: ‘The only thing that changed was my notepaper that I send out to people, thank you letters. That’s the only thing that really changed.
‘My kids turn around to me and said, “Dad, do we get any privileges like, any more?” I know that’s what I said to them.
‘I was like, “well, apart from the ones that you’ve already got, absolutely not”.’
He added: ‘It was one of the best… probably the best day of my life, you know, other than obviously when my kids were born and when I got married.’
Entertainment
King Charles health update leaves Prince William worried: ‘upsetting’
Prince William appears to be growing worried for his cancer-stricken father King Charles after the latest health update causes major concerns in the Palace.
The Prince of Wales, who has been receiving more significant duties from the Palace, is fully aware of his royal in the family but he also deeply cares for his father.
King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales for Nigeria’s State Banquet last week, and William had expressed his concerns about the monarch’s health at the time.
However, he was quickly shut down by Camilla. According to an insider cited by Closer, William “did not feel Charles was well enough” for the engagements.
“William wants his father to slow down and take a proper step back,” the source said. However, every time William had brough it up, there’s a sense that Camilla “is encouraging Charles to continue his duty, especially at a time the family is receiving so much criticism”.
The heir to the throne believes that his father will improve if he is allowed to take proper rest.
“It’s very upsetting for him because he can see how quickly his father Charles is deteriorating and he feels totally helpless to do anything about it,” the source noted, adding that Camilla “blocks him at every turn”.
Meanwhile, King Charles is “incredibly proud” and he wants to continue as long as he possibly can. Even though William admires the trait in his father but he believes there has to be a line.
Entertainment
Zayn Malik shares personal video message on ‘Mind of Mine’ 10th anniversary
Zayn Malik is celebrating 10 years of his debut solo album Mind of Mine with a heartfelt message.
Earlier this week, the former One Direction star took to his Instagram Stories to post a short video of himself sharing the milestone with his supporters.
Clad in a black leather jacket the Dusk Till Dawn hitmaker expressed his gratitude for all the love all this time.
“Zayn here,” he began in the brief clip. “It’s been exactly 10 years since the release of Mind of Mind, so I thought I’d just do a little video just to say thank you so much for all the support.”
“Love you guys,” the Die For Me singer continued. “It means the world.”
He wrapped up the personal video message, joking, “hopefully I don’t look too old,” flashed a bright smile and waved at his admirers.
For the unversed, Zayn, now 32, released Mind of Mine, his debut solo studio album on March 25, 2016.
It came out exactly one year after his departure from the boy band, consisting of Liam Payne (late), Harry Styles, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson.
The lead single, Pillowtalk, debuted at number one in both the UK and US, making Zayn the first British male artist to achieve this with a debut single.
He dropped Like I Would as the second official single, which leaned more toward an uptempo, dance-pop sound.
A collaboration, titled Wrong, with American singer Kehlani served as the final single from the album.
Moreover, a notable track is Intermission: Flower, a Sufi devotional sung in Urdu, reflecting Zayn’s British-Pakistani heritage.
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