Latest news with #Dragon
Pink Villa
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
South Newsmakers of the Week: Akhil Akkineni and Zainab Ravdjee's wedding date, Kamal Haasan's Kannada row and more
The South cinema industry saw several buzzing updates this week, with multiple announcements making waves. As we head into the weekend, here are a few highlights that stood out most to the audience. 1. Akhil Akkineni and Zainab Ravdjee's wedding date Akhil Akkineni and his fiancée, Zainab Ravdjee, are all set to tie the knot after making their relationship official in November 2024. The wedding is reportedly scheduled for June 6, 2025. According to multiple reports, the Lenin actor will get married in a grand ceremony at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad—the same venue where his brother Naga Chaitanya's wedding with Sobhita Dhulipala took place. There is also speculation about an additional celebration being planned in Rajasthan. Recently, Akhil's parents, veteran actors Nagarjuna Akkineni and Amala Akkineni, officially invited Telangana CM Revanth Reddy to the wedding. 2. Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel's NTRNeel to step away from Dragon title In an exclusive update from Pinkvilla, it was reported that Jr NTR and Prashanth Neel's upcoming film, tentatively titled NTRNeel, may drop the potential title Dragon. A source revealed, 'The issue arises because Dragon is already a registered title for a Tamil film releasing in 2025, which prevents the production team from officially locking it. Additionally, the Tamil Dragon was dubbed in Telugu, raising concerns over legal complications and possible fan confusion in the Telugu-speaking market.' While Dragon remains a working title for now, the makers are expected to announce the final title soon. 3. Kamal Haasan's Kannada language row Kamal Haasan recently made headlines after commenting that the Kannada language was born out of Tamil during the Thug Life audio launch event. His remarks sparked debate among netizens, leading the Karnataka Film Chamber to demand a ban on his films unless he issues an apology. However, the veteran actor has refrained from apologizing, stating he will only do so if he believes he has done something wrong.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- Science
- New York Post
Astronauts who spent nine months on the International Space Station wondered if they'd ever return to Earth
At the very start of what was supposed to be a weeklong space mission, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore had to wonder if they'd ever make it back to the Earth's surface. As Williams and Wilmore approached the International Space Station last year, the thrusters on their Boeing Starliner capsule gave out, leaving the spacecraft unable to move forward. 3 Astronauts Suni Williams, left, and Butch Wilmore have spent the last two months readjusting to gravity. AP Advertisement When they realized they might not be able to dock on the ISS, a frightening — and as it turned out, prophetic — thought entered their minds. 'If we weren't able to dock, would we be able to make it back [to Earth]?,' Wilmore told the BBC. 'We didn't know.' Safely docking, Wilmore said, was imperative to their survival and eventual return to terra firma. Advertisement The pair's fears proved correct, as equipment failures resulted in Williams and Wilmore spending 285 days stranded in space. After the craft was docked, Wilmore and Williams both considered the possibility they might never see Earth again. 3 The pair spent 10 months more than they should have when their spacecraft's thrusters failed. Getty Images 'It definitely went through our minds,' Wilmore said. Advertisement The astronauts dared not discuss the prospect, though. Instead, their training kicked in. 'You sort of read each other's mind and know where we're going with all the failures,' Williams told the outlet. 'These were not expected. At the same time, you know, we're like, 'What do we have? What can we do?'' Wilmore and Williams spent nine months on the ISS after the capsule failed, waiting for a flight home that would eventually come via SpaceX's Dragon craft. Both returned to the Earth's surface in March. Advertisement They told the BBC they were never truly stranded on the ISS, as spacecraft attached to the space station could have been used to get them back in an emergency. 'We knew nobody was going to just let us down,' Williams explained. 'We knew everybody had our back and was looking out for us.' 3 The astronauts have been working with NASA and Boeing to fix the failed spacecraft. dimazel – The two have been readjusting to gravity for the last two months. They have also been working with NASA and Boeing to address the issues that caused their spacecraft to go kaput.
NDTV
a day ago
- Science
- NDTV
How To Eat Rice In Space: Astronaut's Rundown To NDTV
New Delhi: As India prepares to send its second astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 Crew Dragon, the insights of veteran astronaut Thomas Pesquet offer invaluable perspective. Group Captain Shukla will be part of a crew that will include Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary for the June 8 Axiom Mission 4. Mr Pesquet, who has flown to space twice and spent over a year aboard the ISS, shared his experiences and advice for Captain Shukla in an exclusive interview with NDTV. "Well, first, going into space on a rocket is very impressive, obviously. It's a sensory experience," Mr Pesquet said. "Just getting on the elevator to get on top of the rocket, you get an appreciation of the size of those machines. You only see them from a distance, but when you see them from up close, they're as tall as several different buildings, like put on top of one another. And then you get on top, you look down, you see the cars that brought you. They're very, very small." Mr Pesquet, a veteran European Space Agency (ESA) described the moments leading up to launch as calm and quiet, with final checks and fuelling of the rockets. "Then you hear the countdown and you blast into space. Almost nine minutes of acceleration, very dynamic, and then it stops. You're weightless, you're floating around the Earth. It becomes so smooth. It's like you're floating in a cloud, like in your dreams." Acknowledging the inherent risks, Mr Pesquet emphasised the controlled nature of space travel. "You have a lot of speed, a lot of altitude, a lot of chemical energy with all that propellant. So yeah, it is risky, but it's controlled. You know, all the engineers at different space agencies make sure that it's very safe." Having flown both the Soyuz and Falcon 9 systems, Mr Pesquet noted the differences. "First of all, same principles, right? Space is the same. The physics is the same. Escape velocity remains the same. I'd say the Soyuz is from earlier times, and the Falcon is more modern. So you've got digital screens, it's very sleek, and Soyuz is more from the 70s. But actually, I like Soyuz a lot as well, because the reliability is very, very high. They have many different systems, many different backups, and it's not as comfortable as the Dragon. It's smaller, it's more cramped, but it feels good to fly both." Mr Pesquet shared his preference for the Dragon due to its roominess, especially given his height. "Honestly, for my knees, because I'm a little bit tall. And having my knees folded in the Soyuz was very painful, because you're strapped really tightly in your seat for a long time before launch and after launch. So I think the Dragon was roomier." Docking at the ISS is a precise operation, Mr Pesquet explained. "You have to be very, very precise. Those are vehicles that are flying at 28,000 kilometres per hour, roughly. And you have to control their relative velocity in a very, very tight manner so that you don't impact one with the other. From the crew's perspective, you've been launched, you see the emptiness, the vastness of space, and then you see your targets, you're getting close, and then you realise how big and huge the space station is. It's really magical. It's like a castle in the sky." Entering the ISS after docking is a momentous occasion. "It actually takes a lot of time once you've docked to do the second mechanical link. First of all, it's just a small docking, then you have to equalise the pressure. You wait for the temperatures as well to settle. It takes a lot of time to do all the checks, sometimes 45 minutes, an hour, or an hour and a half, and then you can finally open the hatch. You hear your colleagues, they're knocking on the other side of the hatch. That's how you communicate. Knock, knock, knock, and then you answer. And eventually you open and you enter a new world." Life aboard the ISS is a unique experience, Mr Pesquet noted. "Life in weightlessness is not hugely complicated, but it's different. You have to relearn how to do simple things like sleeping, doing your hygiene or eating. Everything floats, right? Everything is in free fall. That's weightlessness. And so you cannot put anything on the table. It would float again. You cannot put your spoon on the table. It would float away. So everything comes with Velcro. And sometimes we even put tape on the table so that it sticks." Eating in space requires adaptation, he said. "All the food is in cans or in pouches or dehydrated foods. And then you prepare your food like you would a meal. You're asking your crew members what they feel like eating. Sometimes you prepare for them. Sometimes they prepare for themselves. And then you have your own spoon. Eat your food. Always hold your packet, your pouch. And if you stick it, you have to make sure it sticks. And the beginners at the beginning, it's always fun to see them eat because it's hard to control. Things like rice. I mean, imagine rice. It goes everywhere. And then, as they're trying to catch the bits of rice floating away, they send even more rice away. So sometimes there's a bit of a catastrophe. But you know, that's how you learn." Mr Pesquet described the daily routine aboard the ISS, which includes shared meals and individual portions. "We start the day at the same time. We finish the day at the same time. Usually, the lunch break can vary between everybody's different schedules. So it's more like the evening meals that we share together. But the portions are individual. The packaging is always individual, so that you can cook your own can or your own pouch. And then somebody else can choose something else to eat. So at least once a day, we make a point to be all together to cook different types of meals that we share." Hygiene in space is another area of adaptation. "There's no running water, obviously. So we use wipes, wet wipes, and dry wipes. We also have wet towels. Put a bit of soap, put some water on the towel, and then you can wash yourself. No showers, no bathtub, no spa. Very rough conditions." Mr Pesquet reassured that despite the lack of showers, astronauts remain clean. "You're actually very clean. It was one of the questions I had. I thought, hmm, you must be pretty dirty when you come back, but you're not. First of all, because there's much less dust and perspiration and things in the air, it's much more controlled. So it's a clean environment. And second, also because you're wiping yourself with wet towels and etc., works really well." Sleeping in space requires adjustment. "We've got some bunks, some crew quarters. It's like a telephone booth size. You stick your sleeping bag on the wall pretty much. But you could sleep anywhere on the space station. You could sleep on the floor. You can sleep upside down. You just need a bungee to bungee you against the wall, and then you'll be fine. It takes some getting used to because you have to really let go of all your articulations. Your head won't be resting against anything like it does on the bed." Mr Pesquet offered advice to Captain Shukla as he prepared for his mission. "Trust your training, because sometimes, you know, it's still an unexpected environment that you haven't been in. So trust your training, like you've been doing your whole life. Do the right thing. Keep calm. If things don't go the way it's expected-its space, you know, it doesn't always cooperate. Enjoy the ride. Try to make yourself some good memories. Look at the Earth, take pictures of your activities, of your crewmates, and it's going to go superfast. So be really conscious in trying to imprint those memories on your brain, because you're going to need them when you come back." Mr Pesquet also had a message for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India. "Be part of the mission. Make sure that Shukla is supported, which I think is the case by the government, by ISRO, by the entire population. It's going to be a huge wave of national pride and hopefully happiness."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jr NTR-Prashanth Neel film 'Dragon' to be renamed: Report
Picture Credit: X Jr NTR 's mega upcoming film, tentatively called 'NTRNEEL', and has been heavily rumoured to be named, 'Dragon'. Directed by Prashanth Neel , latest news reports suggest that the makers are now actively searching for a new title for the film. Why the title 'Dragon' is being dropped According to a report by Pinkvilla, the problem arises because 'Dragon' is already the title of a Tamil film released in 2025, which was also dubbed into Telugu. Since both versions are available to Telugu-speaking audiences, keeping the same title could cause confusion among fans and viewers. More importantly, the title 'Dragon' is already registered, and film industry rules prevent reusing the same title within a short period. To avoid any legal complications and maintain clear branding, the production team has decided to look for a fresh and unique name for the project. Given Jr NTR's massive fanbase in the Telugu film industry, the makers are being extra cautious. They want a title that not only stands out but also reflects the scale and grandeur of the film. With Prashanth Neel, known for his blockbuster 'KGF' series and 'Salaar', at the helm, expectations are sky-high. The new title is expected to match the film's ambitious vision and the star power of Jr NTR. Title reveal expected soon It is also speculated that the reveal of the new title could happen in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Jr NTR is also busy with another major project, 'War 2', co-starring Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, 'War 2' is slated for release on August 14, 2025, and features Kiara Advani as the female lead. This pan-India spy action thriller is expected to be a major box office success. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
BCSO, THP partner to encourage and enforce safety on the Tail of the Dragon
BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) —On Thursday, law enforcement leaders from the Tennessee highway Patrol (THP) and Blount County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) announced they are partnering together to emphasize and enforce safety for drivers and motorcyclists riding on the narrow windy roadway known as the Tail of the Dragon. This comes in response to a seasonal spike in crashes, 112 on this road total the past year, due to factors like speeding, unauthorized vehicles on the roadway, as well as distracted driving. Inspector finds off temperatures, no sanitizer at Chinese restaurant in Morristown The 11-mile stretch of US 129 runs between just south of Maryville to the North Carolina state line, where last year 112 crashes were reported, including five deaths and 40 injuries. Even though this year's riding season is just getting started, there have already been 35 crashes, and first responders are feeling the impact. 'Well, we do get tired of hauling people and dead bodies off the road. It really takes a toll on myself and all the deputies that are up here working. But they get tired of seeing it we would like to be able to put an end to it, but we want people to come and have fun, have a good time, but we want them to go home safe,' explained Randy Ailey a Lieutenant with the Traffic Safety Unit. With interstate damage from last year's storms, more tractor-trailers have been rerouted onto this winding road – another factor behind the rising numbers. 'I can 100% see how people will come in here with a little bit of attitude and caught that false sense of confidence and the dragon will slip it out from under you. It's the carpet. Just whew like if you don't respect it, it will show you why,' said Zsofi Balazs a motorcyclist who rode the Tail of the Dragon for the first time on Thursday. 'She's very special' East Tennessee veteran continues to serve others With more riders comes more risk. Local business owners, like Mandy Thomas owner of Dragon City, are calling for common sense on the curves. 'There's a lot of awesome roads here and the Dragon's just becoming more and more popular. So, more and more people are coming here. But with that, if everyone followed the posted speed limits, if you can stay within the lines and stay within your skill level and not try to overdrive it, you wouldn't see the accidents that are out there right now,' explained Thomas. Both officers and community members say increased patrols could make a difference, but it starts with each rider making smart choices. 'I want people to come up and enjoy themselves but try to remember that this isn't a racetrack. This is where people live. So, keep that in mind. Remember, 'Would I want someone to drive like this in front of my house?'' added Ailey. The BSCO announced that there will be more speed cameras installed, also grants from the Tennessee Highway Safety office will allow officers to concentrate specifically on the Dragon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
