Gayle King Completes 1st Trip to Space
It may have been her most memorable kiss ever. Gayle King happily kissed the ground upon her return to Earth after flying to the cusp of space aboard a Blue Origin flight.
King was among the six members of Blue Origin's first all-female crew, which lifted off from Texas on Monday morning. The CBS Morning co-host's fellow crew members included Katy Perry, Lauren Sánchez, Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen, and Kerianne Flynn.
King was joined in Texas by her family, her best friend Oprah Winfrey, and her CBS Mornings co-hosts, Nate Burleson and Vlad Duthiers, who anchored special coverage of the historic mission.
The flight lasted approximately 12 minutes and took passengers to the edge of outer space, where they experienced weightlessness for a few moments.
Speaking to Charrisa Thompson afterwards, King described her experience in space, saying: 'It's oddly quiet when you get up there. It is really quiet and peaceful, and you look down at the planet and think, 'That's where we come from?''
King's brief trip to space inspired no small amount of introspection. She called on Earth dwellers to 'to do better, be better,' adding: 'It's so nasty and so vitriolic nowadays.'
'I'll never, ever, ever forget it,' she told Thompson of her experience.
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New York Post
10 hours ago
- New York Post
King Charles ‘livid' as royal family's cherished Christmas tradition faces cancellation: expert
King Charles is said to be 'livid' that he won't exactly get Christmas cheer this year. The Sun recently reported there is a potential shortage of pheasants at the monarch's Sandringham Estate, which could affect the chances of a full shooting calendar this winter. Advertisement It is known as one of the monarch's favorite pastimes during the holiday season. 'King Charles III is livid, frustrated and disappointed, reflecting both his deep personal attachment to the cherished family tradition and his broader commitment to his royal heritage,' British royal expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. 'He's also annoyed that the mishap reflects rather poorly on the management of Sandringham, which he inherited from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II,' she explained. 'The shoot gathers his extended royal family and guests, reinforcing bonds while upholding a long-standing aristocratic tradition. 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It seems the family will have to bond, enjoy and celebrate over another hobby, or possibly clay pigeon shoots are the way forward.' 'King Charles may have felt a fleeting healthy upset, but in light of recent times, with the slimmed-down monarchy, cancer battles and more… the monarchy has found their typical ways changing as they are forced to be flexible,' she shared. 6 King Charles III was recently pictured taking a stroll at the Sandringham Estate. Bav Media / The Sun reported that a long-serving gamekeeper, who is responsible for managing the bird population on the estate, is said to have been let go in a recent staff shake-up, resulting in the shortage. Advertisement 'It was a total cock-up,' a source claimed to the outlet. 'No birds, no bang, just red faces. The king wasn't having it.' According to Chard, while the king may be let down, he isn't opposed to change. The monarch is said to be adjusting to a new routine as he continues his weekly cancer treatments and remains devoted to full-time royal duties. 6 King Charles III and Queen Camilla with Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2024. UK Press via Getty Images 'He pushes for change on occasion,' said Chard. 'He broke royal tradition with his last Christmas speech, recorded at the Fitzrovia Chapel, rather than a royal residence. It was there that he chose to reflect on the deeper things that connect us all — community, health, inclusivity and love.' Chard also pointed out that the shortage may prompt the king to review the shooting tradition, which has come under fire from animal rights groups. Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner is hopeful the change of plans will allow the king to prioritize one thing — making amends with his younger son, Prince Harry. 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'This may be feathers flying in a different way than a grouse shoot, but if they really believe in the Christian principles, they would try, in my view. It is what Britain expects.' People magazine reported that Charles supports traditional practices and opposes importing birds from elsewhere for the customary rural pastime. However, the outlet reported that maintaining game birds in the area has been 'challenging.' 6 Britain's King Charles III greeted families of service personnel during a visit to the regiments headquarters in Lark Hill, Wiltshire. via REUTERS Advertisement People also reported that the king's grandson, Prince George, was taken on his first grouse-hunting expedition at Balmoral, the royal family's Scottish estate. Royal author Tom Quinn claimed in his new book, 'Yes Ma'am — The Secret Life of Royal Servants,' that Kate Middleton isn't allowing her three young children, including George, 11, to participate in 'blooding.' This longtime ritual calls for members of the royal family to smear blood on their faces from their first kill during fox or stag hunting. Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. In his 2023 book 'Gilded Youth,' Quinn claimed that William also wanted his family to get with the times. Advertisement ''William is struggling with the traditional pastimes of the royal family as they become ever more unpopular with the public,' he wrote. 6 Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, previously reported that Princess Diana wasn't a fan of game shooting. Getty Images 'William loves shooting — a love he shares with his father — but he is also conscious that the tide is now moving against what many people now refer to as blood sports (the royals prefer to refer to them as field sports). But are they suitable for George, Charlotte and Louis?' Quinn also wrote that while William, 42, was 'keen' to get the children into shooting, he also noted that 'few' expected Kate to 'allow' her children to take part in the blooding tradition. Advertisement Harry previously detailed his experience with the tradition in his memoir, 'Spare.' The 40-year-old recalled how his hunting guide, Sandy, pressed his face into the belly wound of a stag he shot during a blooding ritual on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. 'He placed a hand gently behind my neck and… pushed my head inside the carcass,' the Duke of Sussex wrote, as quoted by the New York Post. 'I tried to pull away, but Sandy pushed me deeper,' the prince wrote. 'I was shocked by his insane strength. And by the infernal smell. My breakfast jumped up from my stomach. After a minute, I couldn't smell anything, because I couldn't breathe. My nose and mouth were full of blood, guts and a deep, upsetting warmth.' Harry wrote that he 'felt swelling pride' that he had 'been good to that stag' by killing it with a single shot so it wouldn't feel pain. He said it was a 'show of respect for the slain' and 'an act of communion by the slayer.' The outlet noted that the book's revelations prompted animal rights organization PETA to condemn the father of two for his graphic descriptions. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, previously reported that Princess Diana wasn't a fan of game shooting, which has been one of the royal family's favorite activities for centuries. Seward claimed that the late Princess of Wales didn't even like her sons being photographed holding guns. Seward claimed Diana reportedly told William and Harry, 'Remember, there's always someone in a high-rise flat who doesn't want to see you shoot a Bambi,' as quoted by the U.K.'s Express. Still, the boys loved hunting, and Diana used to jokingly call them her 'Killer Wales.' Ken Wharfe, Diana's former royal protection officer, also claimed that Diana was disgusted by hunting. 'The royal shooting obsession was something Princess Diana found repugnant,' Wharfe said, as quoted by the outlet. 'Requiring little or no skill, royal pheasant shoots are a pre-planned carnage of wildlife, bred specifically for slaughter.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Jeff Bezos's wedding could be ruined by protesters
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Luxury suites in the finest hotels have been booked for the likes of Bill Gates, Orlando Bloom, Oprah Winfrey, Eva Longoria and Leonardo DiCaprio. With a slogan that plays on Bezos's ownership of Blue Origin, his space rocket venture – 'No space for oligarchs, no space for Bezos' – protesters will march along canal banks and through piazzas during the wedding celebrations, carrying banners and letting off coloured smoke flares. Venice, the protestors argue, should not be put up for sale to the world's third-richest man, who has an estimated worth of $225 billion (£166 billion). The 'dignity' of Venice needs to be defended. 'The whole of Venice, all the people who live here, need to do something to protest against Bezos,' Alice Bazzoli, an activist from the 'No space for Bezos' campaign, told The Telegraph. 'It's not about him personally, it's about the consequences that the wedding will have for the city.' On stone bridges and the walls of alleyways across the city's historic centre, there are posters depicting the American billionaire's head superimposed on a rocket blasting into space and the words 'Bezos wedding in Venice? No way!' Protesters say that a mega-wedding attended by the 'ultra-rich one per cent' is the last thing that Venice needs, insisting that it will disrupt daily life for ordinary Venetians and will bring them little benefit. The wedding will also entail the cordoning off of public areas and the blanket booking of water taxis. No official wedding programme has been disclosed, but locals have a hunch that the nuptials may be held on the island of San Giorgio, which lies at the mouth of the Grand Canal opposite the stone-carved splendour of St Mark's Square. A tiny islet, it boasts historic churches, cloisters and libraries. 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He said there will only be around 200 guests and that Venice has experience of handling much larger events, such as the Art and Architecture Biennale exhibitions. Bezos and his staff have 'categorically' not booked large numbers of gondolas and water taxis. The mayor told The Telegraph that he was 'grateful' that Bezos had chosen Venice as the venue for his wedding. 'Anyone who loves Venice is always welcome,' he said, adding that there will be significant economic benefits because the event will 'reinforce the role of Venice as a place of encounters and hospitality'. The priority will be to 'ensure that the city functions normally, for everyone, without any inconvenience for anybody,' he said. But claims of lavish economic dividends are sharply disputed by critics. 'I don't think Kim Kardashian will be sitting down at a local trattoria to eat spaghetti. They'll have private chefs instead,' said Ms Bazzoli. Giovanni Andrea Martini, an opposition member of the city council, said: 'It's absolutely false. It won't bring any benefit to ordinary Venetians. It is just going to cause inconvenience.' Hosting the wedding is 'an extreme case of the Disneyfication of Venice,' he said. But now that it is a done deal, Mr Martini wants Mr Bezos to make a donation to the city – not towards sprucing up ancient monuments or artworks but towards restoring the estimated 1,000 council houses and flats that lie empty and abandoned, fuelling the accommodation crisis. Mr Martini said the official estimate of 48,000 inhabitants is wrong, saying around 18,000 of those are second homeowners who have residency but do not live in the city full-time. The true population could therefore be as low as 30,000. Speaking from his office in Venice's town hall, he said the real number of annual visitors could be as high as 30 million – much greater than the 20 million figure that is often cited. 'This is the proportion we are dealing with – 30 million tourists visiting a city of 30,000 inhabitants.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Trump's Threat to Kill SpaceX Presents One Hidden Safety Concern
Because of a political fallout, tech mogul and SpaceX owner Elon Musk has now attracted the verbal ire of President Trump. While sparring over social media, the President suggested that he could and would cancel Musk's government contracts relative to SpaceX. Briefly, this led Musk to claim that SpaceX would "decommission" the crucial Dragon spacecraft, but later reversed his position, saying, "Ok, we won't decommission Dragon." This is the very same type of vessel which recently led to the rescue of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams who were stranded on the International Space Station for much longer than originally planned. And it's the fate of the International Space Station that is actually the number one reason why an utterly defunded SpaceX might be a very dangerous thing. In 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract valued at $843 million. The purpose? To deorbit the International Space Station by the end of the decade. Basically, the ISS is not designed to stay in orbit forever, and before it is replaced by something more permanent, it will have to be safely moved to a low Earth orbit. This means that SpaceX is currently tasked by the U.S. government to build the United States Deorbit Vehicle (USDV). "Selecting a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle for the International Space Station will help NASA and its international partners ensure a safe and responsible transition in low Earth orbit at the end of station operations," Ken Bowersox said in a NASA statement last a hypothetical world in which Trump decides to rescind all government contracts for SpaceX, that would presumably include killing the all-important job of SpaceX building the USDV. And if SpaceX doesn't build the USDV, who will help mitigate the very real fallout of a large space station? Again, hypothetically, there are other organizations that have spacecraft, but as the stranding of Wilmore and Williams recently demonstrated, SpaceX has proven to be the most reliable way for the U.S. to get people in and out of space. In fact, the whole reason that Wilmore and Williams were stranded was because the Boeing Starliner — a rival aerospace venture to SpaceX — was unable to complete a return trip because of safety concerns. Concurrent with all of this, Blue Origin's New Glenn craft isn't even close to being ready. Notably, Blue Origin's other craft, the New Shepard, isn't designed to go far enough into space to be useful to the ISS. One might wonder if SpaceX really needs the money. And it's possible the company doesn't. As Musk pointed out on June 3, the entirety of what NASA pays to SpaceX ($1.1 billion) is dwarfed by SpaceX's current revenue ($15.5 billion). Basically, SpaceX's Starlink services are making plenty of money for the company, so if Trump rescinded even just that contract valued at roughly $800 million, it wouldn't come close to putting SpaceX out of business. Legally, Trump might be able to try and sever ties between SpaceX and the U.S. government, specifically, NASA. But practically speaking, this seems very unlikely long-term. Right now, SpaceX is the best bet for creating a safe deorbit for the ISS. And, if any more astronauts get stranded — from any country — it seems like Musk's Dragons are still the most reliable space Threat to Kill SpaceX Presents One Hidden Safety Concern first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 6, 2025
