Trump 2.0 has a Cabinet and executive branch of different positions and eclectic personalitiesTHE future of holidays has been revealed with incredible mountain beaches, zero airport queues and tech-free trips by 2054. For the first, picture man-made beaches at alpine lakes and fresh, cool mountain air. Travel Counsellors, a Manchester-based travel company and futurologist Tom Cheesewright predict that typically hot destinations will be replaced with cooler ones. Along with an end to airport queues as we know them - no more snaking lines or cumbersome security checks. With multi-spectrum sensors and biometric scanning, your face, heart rate, and even breathing rates can be analysed on the go. But this is where advanced tech remains, as the holiday of the 2050s will focus on stepping away from technology to embrace human connections. read more in travel trends A typical hotel visit might entail a written signature instead of tapping a screen upon check-in. Plus, no TV in your room, just books, along with candles for lighting and real keys over electronic key cards. Other top trends revealed by Cheesewright included supersonic airlines and electric jets, longer holidays , and travelling to space. Supersonic airlines could provide long-haul travellers with unparalleled speed and convenience. Most read in News Travel By using sustainable aviation fuel, journeys will also be more environmentally friendly and quieter. Short-haul flights could also be transformed by electric jets. As battery technology improves, capacity is expected to double every five to seven years. With this, new, compact airports could be developed in city centres. Cheesewright also believes the traditional two-week holiday will be replaced by a six-week trip filled with meaningful experiences as people make more of their leisure time. He said: “We’ll bend our careers around our desire to travel, working away, or taking short sabbaticals to gain new experiences. “With companies increasingly battling for the best talent and recognising the shift to more creative work driven by the adoption of AI, employers will be keen to support such endeavours. "And they will accept that a few weeks away is the price to pay for recharging the mental batteries of their most valuable staff.” The last trend is truly out of this world - Space Travel. Since the 1960s, the cost of putting something into orbit has decreased massively - from £100,000 per kilogram to as little as £10. He explained: "Not only will it be cheaper to put satellites and structures into space, but it will also be cheaper to carry humans too." Of course, space travel may require some G-force training, but the whole process - from take-off to touch-down recovery - could be a multi-week trip. Speaking about the findings, Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors, commented: “It’s exciting to envision the future of travel and the ways these advancements could transform our experiences. "While technology plays a strong role in creating seamless, cutting-edge ways to discover the world, people’s desire to make the most of their leisure time, along with the need for authentic human connection, remains just as essential - both in the holiday experiences themselves and in the personal touch that travel professionals provide. READ MORE SUN STORIES “Holidays are a chance to create lasting memories, explore new locations and step outside our comfort zones. "At Travel Counsellors, we’re dedicated to making these moments possible in our focus to deliver truly bespoke services, driven by our commitment to care and innovation.”
After days of tireless searching, Sarah's efforts finally paid off when she stumbled upon her grandmother, weak and exhausted but miraculously alive. The elderly woman's survival in the wilderness for five days was nothing short of a miracle, and it was thanks to her granddaughter's unwavering determination and the healing power of nature that she had managed to endure such a harrowing ordeal.Title: Trump Calls for the Expulsion of Millions of Illegal Immigrants
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A team that previously boycotted at least one match against the San Jose State women’s volleyball program will again be faced with the , this time in the with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. Five schools in the regular season against San Jose State, which carried a No. 2 seed into the conference tournament in Las Vegas. Among those schools: No. 3 Utah State and No. 6 Boise State, who will face off Wednesday with the winner scheduled to play the Spartans in the semifinals on Friday. Wyoming, Nevada and Southern Utah — which is not a Mountain West member — also canceled regular-season matches, all without explicitly saying why they were forfeiting. Nevada players cited fairness in women’s sports as a reason to boycott their match, while political figures from Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and Nevada suggested the cancellations center around protecting women’s sports. In a lawsuit , plaintiffs cited unspecified reports asserting there was a transgender player on the San Jose State volleyball team, even naming her. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity and through school officials has declined an interview request. A judge on Monday made by nine current conference players to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on grounds that she is transgender. That Tuesday by an appeals court. “The team looks forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition on Friday,” San Jose State said in a statement issued after the appeals court decision. “The university maintains an unwavering commitment to the participation, safety and privacy of all students at San Jose State and ensuring they are able to compete in an inclusive, fair and respectful environment.” Boise State did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. “Utah State is reviewing the court’s order,” Doug Hoffman, Aggies associate athletic director for communications, said in an email. “Right now, our women’s volleyball program is focused on the game this Wednesday, and we’ll be cheering them on.” San Jose State, which had a first-round bye, would be sent directly to the conference title game if Utah State or Boise State were to forfeit again. If the Spartans make the title game, it’s likely the opponent would not forfeit. They would face top-seeded Colorado State, No. 4 Fresno State or No. 5 San Diego State — all teams that played the Spartans this season. The conference champion receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. ___ AP college sports: Mark Anderson, The Associated PressIn the midst of this turmoil, one thing is clear: Frenkie de Jong's future at Barcelona is far from certain. As the conflict between the midfielder and the club intensifies, all eyes are on how the situation will unfold in the coming weeks and months. Will De Jong's resolute stance pay off, or will he ultimately be forced to make a difficult decision about his future at Barcelona? Only time will tell.
Esposito, 26, has been in fine form for Napoli this season, scoring 12 goals in 25 appearances across all competitions. His performances have caught the eye of Inter Milan scouts, who see him as a potential solution to their attacking woes.The Prime Minister's declaration comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with ongoing conflicts in Syria and threats posed by Iranian presence in the area. Netanyahu argues that maintaining control over the Golan Heights is essential for Israel's security, as it provides a vital buffer zone against potential threats from hostile forces.
Despite the adversity he faced, Xiao Ming remained determined to prove his critics wrong and make a comeback. He dedicated himself to training harder, seeking guidance from coaches and mentors, and working on improving his skills. Slowly but surely, Xiao began to regain his confidence and form, showing glimpses of his former self on the court.Top 10 Data Platforms and Tools for 2025
Titans are their own worst enemy as they fail again to string together winsAs the tension reached a fever pitch, Zhang Anda seized his opportunity and produced a decisive break, stringing together a series of flawless pots to put himself in prime position to secure the frame and the match. With the crowd holding their breath and the outcome hanging in the balance, Zhang Anda showed why he is considered one of the rising stars in the world of snooker.JD Airlines Joins International Air Transport Association, Expands Routes to South Korea and Multiple Southeast Asian CountriesIn a brazen and unprecedented move, the Israeli military launched a series of airstrikes targeting and destroying all Syrian air defense bases across the country. The strikes, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, left a trail of destruction and raised tensions in the already volatile region.
The NBA and NHL field more pairs of brothers, but no league outshines the when it comes to superstar siblings. From the Mannings to the Kelces to the McCaffreys and beyond, there is a long and ever-growing list of family surnames that have become gold standards in the , both on the field and off. The success on the gridiron is easy to follow. It makes sense that and T.J. Watt have both earned Defensive Player of the Year awards — they share the same genetics. The same could be said for Super Bowl champions and or and . But many of the famous brother tandems are also superstars without their cleats — whether they’re cracking jokes on a podcast or entertaining audiences in a television studio or selling soup in a big-budget ad campaign. T.J. and , along with former fullback and third brother Derek, have been all over television screens this month in a “Home Alone” inspired commercial for Dick’s Sporting Goods. and reinvented the “Monday Night Football” broadcast with their laid-back “ManningCast,” while and leveraged their “New Heights” podcast into a $100 million distribution deal this year. Baseball has had its share of marquee siblings in the past, but not even the DiMaggio clan of the mid-20th century or the Ripkens of the 1990s had the kind of stranglehold on audiences today’s football-playing brothers have. “The thing that’s unavoidable at the crux of it all is their personalities,” said , a sports management professor at George Washington University. “People succeed if they have some sort of funny point to them or this natural connection. These brothers have that.” American audiences are increasingly drawn to the league’s brothers as the continues to cement itself as the country’s dominant cultural force. The genetic component of brotherly success is obvious. If one child in a family has the genes to become a top-tier athlete, it only makes sense that their sibling would reap the same benefits. It doesn’t hurt that athletic fathers often foster those traits in their children — especially their sons. Before they became Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks, and grew up around locker rooms, while their father, Archie, played for the New Orleans Saints in the 1970s and ’80s. Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey and San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had a similar up-close and personal look at what a life meant — their father, Ed, caught passes from Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway as a member of the Denver Broncos in the 1990s. Christian McCaffrey hit the league first, winning an Offensive Player of the Year award while his younger brother finished his collegiate career at Rice. “I looked up to my older brother so much. It was cool not just to follow in their footsteps but to bond with them over it,” Luke McCaffrey said. “That brought me joy and taught me the brotherhood aspect of team sports at a young age.” No one who reaches the pinnacle of their sport will say they had an easy path, but there are benefits to following in familial footsteps. “Everybody battles through different things in their life. Having people who have gone through a similar thing shows you the sort of recipe for that,” Luke McCaffrey said. “How to overcome things, how to trust the process, how to enjoy playing the game.” The McCaffreys and Mannings have the added benefit of an network to support them. The fathers became wealthy in the league and had the know-how and financial ability that a typical parent might not be able to offer. In other industries, they might be derided as “nepo babies,” individuals who succeed in the same field as their parents by leveraging those professional connections. “Having a father who’s been an player is a huge inside track because you know what coaches are looking for,” said. “People will look at your kid and you can afford — because you have the money — the best training.” Even players who don’t have fathers stand to gain from a competitive upbringing. wide receivers Amon-Ra and Equanimeous St. Brown learned to love the off-field work from their father, former Mr. Universe John Brown. “His biggest impact was teaching us the discipline that it takes to make it to the professional level, the dedication that it takes and the mindset you need to have,” said New Orleans Saints receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, the oldest of three brothers. But a football-focused family offers more than just a genetic advantage. Having a training partner to hold them accountable while growing up is invaluable, siblings say. Working alongside someone with the same background and the same goals makes it easier to get in the gym, study film and devote extra time on the practice field. “We could both train together. We have the same routine, same schedule,” Equanimeous St. Brown said. “Just like in bodybuilding, they have a gym partner they go with to push one another.” For former defensive backs Jason and Devin McCourty, the dream started early — as did the preparation. During their Pop Warner days, the pair would wake up early on Saturday mornings to go over plays, throw the pigskin around and fantasize about what could be. The competitive nature that eventually carried them to the manifested in ways that didn’t always appear helpful to outsiders. “Me and him would be in full-blown arguments in offseason workouts in the summer where we didn’t think the other one was working hard enough; we’d be yelling and screaming,” said. “Our coach would often tell us to shut up in the huddle because we’d be arguing with each other if the other guy scored on us.” Those arguing teammates eventually won a Super Bowl together as members of the New England Patriots in 2019. They were just getting started. Childhood experiences transcend individual sports, but the superstars are parlaying their on-field success and familial bonds into media opportunities that their counterparts in the MLB, NBA and NHL rarely match. The NBA’s Ball family — featuring father LaVar and brothers Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo — have made the biggest push with their own six-season reality show, “Ball in the Family,” and the “Big Baller Brand” shoe line, but their national relevance has faded over time. The reality show, which aired on Facebook Watch, last aired in 2020. LaMelo Ball moved away from his family brand by signing a $100 million deal with Puma before the 2020 NBA draft. Meanwhile, the family ties seem to bloom perennially. Years removed from their playing careers, the brothers parlayed a combined four Super Bowls into a handful of shows at ESPN with their own production company — Omaha Productions. Add a regular rotation of commercials from Toyota and Allstate, and the pair are a staple of broadcasts every Sunday. The Kelces are hot on their heels, though. Their podcast, aided by younger brother ’ highly publicized relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, has become unavoidable in circles on social media. Jason Kelce sprinted into retirement this year with a slew of his own commercials and an upcoming late-night show on ESPN. “It enhances the joy and the love that you have for the game because it makes it bigger than the sport,” Luke McCaffrey said of these brotherly enterprises. “The other aspect is that it makes it easier from a marketing standpoint; you have two different audiences that can form into one.” The McCourtys have known for years that they had that joyful connection. When they were both members of the New England Patriots living in the same neighborhood in 2018, they capitalized on that natural rapport to start the “Double Coverage” podcast. “It just started to kind of happen. We were always doing things in that arena,” said, noting their own local radio and TV productions. “It just made so much sense to do it and go for it.” The idea was a hit, paving the way for the duo to transition to broadcasting careers after they hung up their cleats. is an analyst for ESPN and calls games for CBS Sports, while Devin McCourty works the pregame, halftime and postgame shows for NBC’s Sunday night offerings. The pair will work together on Netflix’s Christmas Day broadcasts on Wednesday. “It’s been incredible,” said. “I just think the bond that we have and the ability to be honest with each other, it resonates with people.” The Kelces joined the podcasting world four years after the McCourtys, quickly becoming one of the most listened-to sports shows on platforms such as Spotify. The St. Browns started their own show two months later, and while they haven’t matched the rousing success of “New Heights,” their show has still found an audience and produced a handful of viral clips. “The opportunity to become popular and to get into media is very low,” said, especially when players become staple members of a given team. “That stability allows you to build up a strong fan base and recognition within a team community.” The most successful programs, she said, will feature top players. Coincidentally, the age of the podcast coincided with the age of uber-talented brothers in the . In the four major North American sports, there is only one pair of brothers in a Hall of Fame — MLB’s Paul and Lloyd Waner. The could shatter that mark in the next decade. The brothers look like shoo-ins for the Hall of Fame in Canton, as do the Kelces. has already received his gold jacket and is a semifinalist for the 2025 class. On-field excellence is good for business, according to . “For Devin and myself, kind of being captains on our teams, starters throughout our careers and then being on the same team brought a lot of notoriety to us,” he said, noting that the name recognition translated into off-field opportunities. The podcasts are also benefiting from the same concept that made the Mannings’ alternate broadcast on “Monday Night Football” a hit: people love the laid-back nature of two brothers shooting the breeze. “I think it’s just the brotherly banter, the s—- talking. We’re kind of funny sometimes, so people like that,” Equanimeous St. Brown said. “The more you know somebody, the more real the conversation is. And I’ve known my brother my whole life.” The business angle of these multimedia projects isn’t rocket science. The is a juggernaut controlling TV ratings with an iron fist with an ever-expanding schedule. The Christmas Day slate features the league’s third and fourth Wednesday games since 1948. It’s all supply and demand — according to — and the demand for content is still growing. With brothers from different teams, the podcasts double their fanbases. Fans who cheer on and the Kansas City Chiefs can embrace the same content as those who cheered on Jason Kelce when he played with the Philadelphia Eagles. It also doesn’t hurt that in today’s media landscape, there are more niche opportunities than ever before. Sports fans used to frequent the same sources for their news and highlights — ESPN, the major cable networks or newspapers. Now, there are a seemingly infinite number of podcasts, blogs and social media analysts who are each carving out their own niche followings. “There’s a lot more inventory that allows a lot more opportunities to become known,” said. “Everybody’s social media channels are the first step. Then people support you in a podcast. Then you go on to other things.” The impact goes beyond that, though. More than 80% of Americans have at least one sibling: a sister who they grew up tackling in the backyard or a brother they watched sports with. “You can relate. Being a kid and playing alongside your brother and imagining, ’Hey, I want to do that,’” said. “Or even as a parent, when you’re seeing how the Kelces get along. They can be different personalities, but when they come together, you see the uniqueness and specialness of that bond.” That bond is front of mind for many fans during the holiday season. Whether their own sibling bonds are as close as the McCourtys or Mannings, millions of Americans will reflect when they see brothers on Christmas Day. “People want to be close to their siblings,” said. “You either have that relationship or you want that relationship.” Copyright © 2024 The Washington Times, LLC. .The surge in second-hand housing transactions in Beijing has significant implications for both buyers and sellers in the property market. For buyers, the uptick in transaction volume offers a wider selection of housing options and greater bargaining power in negotiations. With more properties entering the market, buyers have the opportunity to explore different neighborhoods, property types, and price ranges to find the best fit for their needs and budget. However, buyers should also exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence to ensure the legitimacy and quality of the properties they are considering.
NoneNoneMany people were surprised to learn that knives could be brought onto trains as long as they fell within the specified length limit. Some argued that allowing any knives at all could pose a safety risk, while others defended the decision, citing practicality and convenience for passengers who may need small knives for various purposes.
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