Ceredigion County Council proposes changes to Off-Street Parking Places Order
Saquon Barkley becomes ninth running back to rush for 2,000 yards in a season
HALIFAX — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating after sparks and flames shot from under the wing of a plane that landed hard in Halifax. Nikki Valentine, a Halifax woman who was on the plane, said passengers felt a "massive rumble" upon landing at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport Saturday night. "The cabin tilted, we saw sparks and then flames and then smoke started getting sucked into the cabin," she told The Canadian Press in a direct message over social media. Airport spokesperson Tiffany Chase said Saturday an Air Canada Express flight operated by the regional carrier PAL Airlines, arriving from St. John’s, N.L., experienced an incident upon landing at approximately 9:30 p.m. Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick said late Saturday that the plane experienced a "suspected landing gear issue" after arrival and was unable to reach the terminal. Fitzpatrick said the crew and 73 passengers were off-loaded by bus and nobody on board was injured. A Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson said on Saturday that some minor injuries were reported, but clarified Sunday that in fact no one was injured. Valentine said she is "especially thankful the pilot was able to get ahold of the situation very fast." The incident temporarily halted flight activity at the airport. As of Sunday afternoon, Valentine and other passengers were still without the bags they were instructed to leave on the plane. Valentine said she contacted Air Canada, who told her that it could be up to three more days before their bags are returned as the investigation into the incident continues. "A lot of people have things like house keys or wallets they needed and couldn't get," she said. "It's all proper procedure, and I'd rather the inconvenience (of missing bags) than if anything bad had happened, of course, but it's still tough." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
10. Green Valley GroupPhotos: World’s biggest marine battery powers Brittany Ferries’ Saint Malo
It has been 21 years since the Concorde supersonic passenger transport last flew in November 2003. Although the Concorde is not the direct focus of this article, its operation as a supersonic transport is instructive in an experimental research project undertaken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), with industry partner, Lockheed-Martin. The aircraft's maiden flight is now penciled in for early 2025. NASA's project is called the Quiet SuperSonic Technology Flight Demonstrator. NASA contracted with Lockheed-Martin's Skunk Works in Palmdale, CA., to design and make the X-59 QueSST demonstration aircraft. In theory, its odd shape is aerodynamically designed to reduce the sonic boom to a soft thump. As for the role of NASA's two F-15s in X-59 testing, they are the project's chase planes and instrumented data collection platforms. The aircraft will test new technologies to reduce the sonic boom to a dull thud and gather data to support eventual supersonic flights over land. Introduction One of the many challenges British Airways and Air France dealt with in operating the Concorde in supersonic flight was the sonic boom resulting from breaking the sound barrier. When the Concorde commenced passenger service in 1976, noise pollution was becoming a hot topic. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already published regulations stipulating noise abatement requirements at several congested airports with increasing urban density in the surrounding area. The FAA ultimately restricted Supersonic flight in the National Airspace System (NAS) in 1973; certain controlled military airspaces were exempt. To many members of the public, the supersonic Concorde represented the ultimate in noise pollution. There was no surprise when the FAA declined to issue a waiver lifting the supersonic restriction for the Concorde's flight over land. The result was: British Airways would fly from London-Heathrow (LHR) and Air France's hub was Charles de Gaulle Airport. Both airlines were permitted landing rights at Washington-Dulles Airport and John F. Kennedy Airport. Many years later, the FAA permitted both airlines to fly sub-sonic to Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport (DFW). Even though the Concorde still had to fly subsonic over land, the benefit of a non-stop flight to/from a central airport like DFW, removed the lost time making a connecting flight at IAD or JFK. The Concorde's supersonic passenger service has been gone for more than two decades, but the public still has a desire to seek the benefits of supersonic travel in the United States. The Concorde took three hours to fly from New York City to London, instead of the usual seven hours. Flying a non-stop conventional flight from Boston-Logan (BOS) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about six hours. Flying the same route at Mach 2 (1,325 mph) and 60,000 ft, the flight time is two hours and 45 minutes. Thousands of travelers in the U.S. would readily spend the extra money to fly coast-to-coast at 1,325 mph. NASA flew the Tupolev Tu-144's final flights as a testbed to develop the next generation of supersonic passenger aircraft. The Supersonic "Problem" As much as there is an existing demand for supersonic passenger service, regardless of the cost, there are just as many people who think it will never happen due to numerous perceived non-starters. Interestingly, the majority of negative comments come from folks who are unlikely to be aeronautical engineers. Here is a sample comment from a naysayer who was the first one to pop up in my browser. On Reddit, a user's handle, " Delphius 1 ," said: "Realistically, even with reduced noise supersonic technology, likely not, not for decades to reach the same volume to premium payout as subsonic transportation. Flights over general populations are the real problem here, until supersonic travel over them is accepted, it won't happen." At the time the Concorde discontinued its service 21 years ago, and up to the present day, Delphius 1's comments are not inaccurate. The idea of transcontinental supersonic flight could easily remain in stasis for another 20 years without any research and development (R&D) into mitigating sonic boom noise pollution. But this would be ignoring the fact that technological advances have solved many problems that were more vexing than mitigating supersonic noise pollution. The supersonic aircraft was not as beloved as many people think. NASA's X-59 QueSST Flight Demonstrator The FAA poses numerous restrictions on the use of the National Airspace System (NAS). Two longstanding NAS restrictions are supersonic flight and drone operations. In the past 10 years, there have been significant modifications to FAA regulations to accommodate drone operations. This did not happen without major strides in drone technology. Similarly, NASA, the FAA, and air carriers recognize that advancements in aviation technology have been moving along steadily and that flying supersonic in the NAS is likely achievable with some focused R&D. Industry technologists understand that the near-term solution is reducing the supersonic noise signature of aircraft destined to have a supersonic flight envelope. Over 50 charter trips were offered via Concorde, connecting passengers to unique destinations worldwide. If NASA and its partners want to solve the supersonic-over-land conundrum, a limited amount of R&D could be done by simulation and a wind tunnel. Since the Concorde is no longer able to provide high-speed and high-altitude research flights, NASA recognized they needed a testbed aircraft capable of sustained Mach 2 flight at 60,000 ft. The Lockheed-Martin X-59 is the intended demonstrator aircraft for studying the mitigation of sonic boom noise pollution. The X-59 will undergo its own flight testing before any sonic boom research. The first flight is scheduled for mid-2025. Next steps for the X-59 Project The X-59 QueSST is the R&D test aircraft; but how would the project engineers study the sonic boom from the ground, 11 miles (60,000 ft) away? The only answer is to install the necessary test equipment in another Mach 2 aircraft. They needed a supersonic chase plane. When casting about for a supersonic chase plane capable of flying higher than 60,000 ft, it quickly came down to only one aircraft, a two-seat Boeing F-15D Eagle. The F-15's service ceiling is 65,000 ft., but not in sustained flight at Mach 2. With a maximum fuel load and no external stores, the F-15 can fly 15 minutes at 60,000 ft and Mach 2 before the pilot has to break off for refueling. With proper flight test planning, NASA will conduct sonic boom testing in 15-minute sessions. NASA had one more problem to address: a deficient life support system aboard the F-15 chase planes. NASA's concern was the hypoxia risk for F-15 aircrew members. The Air Force's Handbook of Aerospace and Operational Physiology, 2nd Edition, defines hypoxia as: A state of oxygen deficiency in the blood, cells, or tissues sufficient to cause an impairment of function. More simply, hypoxia means "reduced oxygen" or "not enough oxygen." Since the brain is particularly vulnerable to oxygen deprivation, a reduced level of mental function while flying can result in an airborne mishap. The problem with hypoxia is that it usually occurs gradually. Pilots are trained to recognize the onset of hypoxia, including, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, and tunnel vision. % of Oxygen Blood Saturation Effects of Hypoxia (low blood oxygenation) 93% or higher No ill effects 93% to 80% Low light (Night Visual Sensitivity) 80% to 72% Impaired recent memory and difficulty with simple math 72% to 59% Altered judgment & impaired physical coordination 59% to 46% Unconsciousness in Hours 46% to 21% Unconsciousness in Minutes 21% to Zero Unconsciousness in Seconds F-15s typically fly with their cockpit pressurized to 8,000 ft MSL. Above 8,000 ft., it is standard procedure for the crew to wear their oxygen masks to mitigate the possibility of becoming unconscious due to rapid depressurization. If the F-15 depressurizes below 40,000 ft., the standard life support system will aid the aircrew's respiration by providing "Positive Pressure Breathing" (PPB). When depressurization occurs above 40,000 ft, the PPB function begins to struggle to push enough oxygen to avoid hypoxia. Brian Griffin, deputy operations leader for NASA's Low Boom Flight Demonstrator Project said: "Pretend you're breathing through an inflated balloon. If you don't control it [Positive Pressure Breathing], the air in the balloon will rush back into your lungs. And to exhale you have push harder than the balloon is pushing back at you." Griffin's colleague, Ben Cacanindin, the X-59 aircraft operations engineer, described the application of PPB at 60,000 ft as " like sucking on a leaf blower! " To cope with a possible F-15 cockpit depressurization while flying chase at 60,000 ft. NASA decided to upgrade the life support system to provide an even higher PPB oxygen flow. Rather than investing the time and expense to design a new life support system, the project team decided to adapt the system currently aboard the F-22 fighter jet. The F-22 had its own pilot hypoxia problem, too, but it was resolved in 2012. All F-22s were subsequently retrofitted. Adapting the more robust life support system to the F-15 took quite a bit of work to figure out how to install the added system components. Subsequent flight testing of the F-15 chase plane demonstrated that it is prepared for its role in low boom testing whenever the X-59 QueSST is ready. Provided the X-59's flight testing shows the plane is safe to fly, sonic boom testing will commence in 2026.Yolk Farm in Harrogate was described as “the place to come for fresh eggs” by the publisher, while visitors have said they always receive “yummy food and great service every time” at the restaurant on site. Commenting on its guide, The Times wrote: “What do you think of when it comes to British farm shops? Besides homemade pies, freshly-picked veg and family-run butcher counters and creameries, many have delis, smokehouses and cosy cafés attached. “Some fancier farms have their own microbreweries or private swimming lakes to make the journey even more worth it. “So, here’s where to head with your basket (or reusable tote bag) — empty stomachs recommended.” You can see all of the UK’s top farm shops here . The publisher revealed: “This is the place to come for fresh eggs, where hens roam freely over a six-acre paddock shaded by fruit trees, alongside alpacas, pigs and pygmy goats. “The eggs are delicious. Buy a dozen alongside market-garden vegetables and meat. “There’s also a restaurant where they serve a menu of egg-based dishes, from chicken pancakes with smoked bacon and maple syrup (£16.95) to garden herb frittata (£9.95). “Children can head to the play barn, where there’s a sand pit and egg-collecting stations.” On Tripadvisor , Yolk Farm has a current rating of 3.5/5 from 78 reviews. This recent customer posted: “Always yummy food and great service every time! Fab place to come for a day of eating, visiting the farm shop and feeding the pigs!” Someone else who enjoyed the restaurant shared: “Excellent breakfasts - I had the full English with scrambled eggs, and every part of it was very good quality ingredients perfectly cooked. My wife had Avocado & Eggs, which looked great and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Neither of us could face lunch before 4pm." Recommended reading: They added: "The farm shop is pretty good too - we were delighted to see they stocked the excellent Yorkshire Herb-fed Chickens. "The young staff in both the shop and the restaurant were extremely friendly and helpful. "You don’t always get what you pay for, but here you certainly do." Yolk Farm is located at Minskip Road, Boroughbridge, York, YO51 9HY.Ms. Li's descent into this financial nightmare began innocently enough, as she initially succumbed to the temptation of high rebates offered by online lending platforms for purchasing products on e-commerce sites. Entranced by the promise of quick and easy money, she started borrowing substantial amounts of money to fund her shopping sprees, convinced that the rebates would cover her expenses and turn a profit in the process. However, unbeknownst to her, the entire scheme was an elaborate ruse orchestrated by scammers preying on vulnerable individuals like herself.
It was no different for Jimmy Carter in the early 1970s. It took meeting several presidential candidates and then encouragement from an esteemed elder statesman before the young governor, who had never met a president himself, saw himself as something bigger. He announced his White House bid on December 12 1974, amid fallout from the Vietnam War and the resignation of Richard Nixon. Then he leveraged his unknown, and politically untainted, status to become the 39th president. That whirlwind path has been a model, explicit and otherwise, for would-be contenders ever since. “Jimmy Carter’s example absolutely created a 50-year window of people saying, ‘Why not me?’” said Steve Schale, who worked on President Barack Obama’s campaigns and is a long-time supporter of President Joe Biden. Mr Carter’s journey to high office began in Plains, Georgia where he received end-of-life care decades after serving as president. David Axelrod, who helped to engineer Mr Obama’s four-year ascent from state senator to the Oval Office, said Mr Carter’s model is about more than how his grassroots strategy turned the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary into his springboard. “There was a moral stain on the country, and this was a guy of deep faith,” Mr Axelrod said. “He seemed like a fresh start, and I think he understood that he could offer something different that might be able to meet the moment.” Donna Brazile, who managed Democrat Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign, got her start on Mr Carter’s two national campaigns. “In 1976, it was just Jimmy Carter’s time,” she said. Of course, the seeds of his presidential run sprouted even before Mr Nixon won a second term and certainly before his resignation in August 1974. In Mr Carter’s telling, he did not run for governor in 1966, he lost, or in 1970 thinking about Washington. Even when he announced his presidential bid, neither he nor those closest to him were completely confident. “President of what?” his mother, Lillian, replied when he told her his plans. But soon after he became governor in 1971, Mr Carter’s team envisioned him as a national player. They were encouraged in part by the May 31 Time magazine cover depicting Mr Carter alongside the headline “Dixie Whistles a Different Tune”. Inside, a flattering profile framed Mr Carter as a model “New South” governor. In October 1971, Carter ally Dr Peter Bourne, an Atlanta physician who would become US drug tsar, sent his politician friend an unsolicited memo outlining how he could be elected president. On October 17, a wider circle of advisers sat with Mr Carter at the Governor’s Mansion to discuss it. Mr Carter, then 47, wore blue jeans and a T-shirt, according to biographer Jonathan Alter. The team, including Mr Carter’s wife Rosalynn, who died aged 96 in November 2023, began considering the idea seriously. “We never used the word ‘president’,” Mr Carter recalled upon his 90th birthday, “but just referred to national office”. Mr Carter invited high-profile Democrats and Washington players who were running or considering running in 1972, to one-on-one meetings at the mansion. He jumped at the chance to lead the Democratic National Committee’s national campaign that year. The position allowed him to travel the country helping candidates up and down the ballot. Along the way, he was among the Southern governors who angled to be George McGovern’s running mate. Mr Alter said Mr Carter was never seriously considered. Still, Mr Carter got to know, among others, former vice president Hubert Humphrey and senators Henry Jackson of Washington, Eugene McCarthy of Maine and Mr McGovern of South Dakota, the eventual nominee who lost a landslide to Mr Nixon. Mr Carter later explained he had previously defined the nation’s highest office by its occupants immortalised by monuments. “For the first time,” Mr Carter told The New York Times, “I started comparing my own experiences and knowledge of government with the candidates, not against ‘the presidency’ and not against Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. It made it a whole lot easier”. Adviser Hamilton Jordan crafted a detailed campaign plan calling for matching Mr Carter’s outsider, good-government credentials to voters’ general disillusionment, even before Watergate. But the team still spoke and wrote in code, as if the “higher office” were not obvious. It was reported during his campaign that Mr Carter told family members around Christmas 1972 that he would run in 1976. Mr Carter later wrote in a memoir that a visit from former secretary of state Dean Rusk in early 1973 affirmed his leanings. During another private confab in Atlanta, Mr Rusk told Mr Carter plainly: “Governor, I think you should run for president in 1976.” That, Mr Carter wrote, “removed our remaining doubts.” Mr Schale said the process is not always so involved. “These are intensely competitive people already,” he said of governors, senators and others in high office. “If you’re wired in that capacity, it’s hard to step away from it.” “Jimmy Carter showed us that you can go from a no-name to president in the span of 18 or 24 months,” said Jared Leopold, a top aide in Washington governor Jay Inslee’s unsuccessful bid for Democrats’ 2020 nomination. “For people deciding whether to get in, it’s a real inspiration,” Mr Leopold continued, “and that’s a real success of American democracy”.The legal repercussions for the perpetrator have been swift and decisive. In the first instance of the trial, the former cashier was sentenced to six years in prison for the embezzlement of company funds. This sentence sends a strong message that financial misconduct will not be tolerated and that those who breach the trust of their employers will face serious consequences under the law.
Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. — NFL (@NFL) However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨🍳 — NFL (@NFL) The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the victory! — NFL (@NFL) Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.
Former Manchester United star Owen Hargreaves has described Arsenal’s youngster Ethan Nwaneri has really special. Nwaneri opened his Premier League goals account after netting Arsenal’s third goal in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The 17-year-old had also scored in the Carabao Cup this season. Speaking after Nwaneri’s impressive showing against Forest, Hargreaves believes he has a big role to play for the Gunners this season. “Brilliant player. That’s what Ethan is good at, on the half-turn, receiving the ball from anywhere,” the former Bayern Munich midfielder was qouted on Arsenal News Central. “Great weighted pass and gets himself into a great spot. Look at that. 17. He passes it into the goal, he doesn’t smash it. “Great cut back from Raheem Sterling. But this young man is really special. He’s going to be a feature for this Arsenal team for a very long time.” Meanwhile, Arsenal returned to Winning ways after failing to win any of their last four games in all competitions.