1 week agoLatest NewsComments Off on ‘A punch was the last thing I thought about’ – Neymar trolls Gabriel Jesus over Arsenal star’s ‘weird’ birthday cake
ARSENAL striker Gabriel Jesus left fans in stitches with a birthday cake Neymar described as “weird” in the pair’s hilarious exchange over its sexual innuendo.
The crocked 28-year-old appeared oblivious to the way his Instagram followers might interpret the design after posting a photo of him pointing towards the cake with a huge grin on his face.
instagram @dejesusoficialGabriel Jesus showed off his funny cake[/caption]
Neymar found the cake design hilariousGetty
The message on the top, etched out above two cartoon-style figures in an apparently compromising position with the one on the ground wearing a birthday hat representing the Gunners’ striker, said in Portuguese: “I’m going to celebrate my birthday, yes.”
Neymar found the cake hilarious, responding with a laughing emoji while commenting: “Congratulations brother. The design of of this cake is weird.”
The Arsenal frontman tried to play down any suggestion of rudeness in response to his former Brazil team-mate.
Insisting the design showed something completely different to what his pal was seeing he said: “I didn’t want a cake but the woman did it like that. I’m getting a beating hahaha!”
But Neymar continued: “A punch was the last thing I thought about” followed by more laughing emojis.
Another of Jesus’ followers chimed in by adding: “I think Jesus is taking something other than a punch!!!”
The birthday boy footballer also posted another photo of him celebrating his big day with his influencer fiancee Raiane Lima and their daughter Helena.
The couple announced in December they were expecting their second child.
The injury is the opposite knee to the one in which he suffered an ACL injury in 2022.
Jesus has been posting updates on his journey back to playing, publishing a video last month of him walking in a pool and on a treadmill and showing his daughter touching his knee as he rested.
He wrote alongside the footage: “The first seven weeks of recovery are done.
“Working hard and improving every day, thanks to God. Step by step.”
Jesus and Raiane revealed in January she was expecting a boy in a touching video featuring their daughter, born in May 2022.
In a heartfelt message coinciding with Raiane’s birthday eight weeks ago, the Arsenal star wrote: “I wish you all the best.
“You deserve everything good in your life! Me, Helena and our son on the way are blessed by God to have a woman like you in our lives!
“May God continue to bless you and protect you. I love you.”
1 week agoLatest NewsComments Off on How Brits will soon board planes to Benidorm on their doorstep with NO pilots – but it’s up to you whether they take off
FORGET the 4am dash to the airport and the endless queues at check-in — your next flight to Benidorm could be aboard a plane with no pilot at all taking off right outside your house.
Brits are closer than ever to boarding self-flying aircraft for short-haul holidays, as futuristic aircraft powered by AI get ready to take to the skies.
XwingSelf-flying planes, like this one by Xwing, are expected to carry passengers by the end of the decade[/caption]
GettyBrits could soon be jetting off on holiday with self-flying aircraft[/caption]
GettyOne expert says we already have the technology can do it — it’s just a matter of time and public acceptance[/caption]
And with budget airlines like Ryanair running one of Europe’s most modern fleets, the leap to pilotless planes could be closer than you think – a move that could save the industry billions of dollars.
The idea of zipping off to Benidorm or Majorca in a plane with no one at the controls might sound terrifying to some, but insiders insist it could soon become a normal reality.
Aviation expert Julian Bray predicts that by 2050, hopping into a self-flying plane for a sunny escape to Spain will feel as normal as booking a seat on a low-cost airline today.
He told The Sun: “Realistically, we are almost there because China already has a flying taxi called eVTOl, which stands for electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicle. And that’s just the beginning.
“The technology can do it — it’s just a matter of time and public acceptance.”
Airborne revolution
In California, Xwing — a startup modifying Cessna 208 cargo aircraft — is aiming to launch fully autonomous commercial operations this year, Forbes reports.
Its aircraft are already flying automated missions with just one safety pilot onboard to meet current regulations.
Once certified, the company hopes to expand into passenger flights by the end of the decade.
Even the planes are ready to launch, and there are some surprising benefits for airlines and passengers when you remove the need for a human pilot.
Without the need for a cockpit, autonomous aircraft can instantly carry more passengers adding an extra seat on smaller planes – A six-seater becomes a seven-seater.
Xwing expects that regional self-flying aircraft will cover short-hop routes like those favoured by holidaymakers heading to sun-soaked hotspots across Europe.
BOEING’S self-driving FLYING taxis are set to hit the skies by 2030 in a revolutionary tech move.
They will be able to reach a top speed of 110mph and transport passengers as the ambitious plans will soon bring our futuristic dreams into reality.
Boeing thinks that by 2030, technology from its subsidiary Wisk Aero will help alleviate traffic congestion in the United States.
Wisk Aero aims to revolutionise urban transportation by providing safe, efficient, and eco-friendly aerial mobility options.
The company’s CEO, Brian Yutko, said that the pilotless air-taxi are expected to begin carrying passengers “later in the decade” as it works with the US regulator to secure approvals.
“We are right now testing and producing the elements of this aircraft that we will hope to fly around the end of this year,” he said.
This highly advanced air taxi, known as Generation 6, integrates top-tier safety systems from commercial aviation, leading autonomous technology and software, continuous human oversight for every flight, and an efficient design
The eVTOL has a range of 90 miles (144 km) per charge, including reserves, and can maintain a cruising speed of 120 knots (138 mph/222 kph) at altitudes ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 feet (762 to 1,220 meters).
With a wingspan of 50 feet (15 meters), it features 12 propellers for takeoff, with the front row tilting for forward propulsion during horizontal flight.
During cruising, the four-bladed rear propellers deactivate and lock to minimise drag, while the larger front propellers have been updated to include five blades.
The wings and booms have also been raised above the passenger compartment to improve safety and minimise noise.
For UK holidaymakers dreaming of warmer weather, that means the days of rushing through Gatwick or Heathrow might soon be replaced with simply summoning a flying cab from your local pad – and jetting off to Costa Blanca for the perfect getaway.
“You could pick you up nearer to your home or nearer to your holiday destination,” says Bray.
“And that has got to be good.”
The technology can do it — it’s just a matter of time and public acceptance
Julian Brayaviation expert
And while holiday flights are already cheap, autonomous aircraft could eventually cut prices further by avoiding expensive airport charges, Bray explained.
Landing zones could be smaller, simpler and closer to home – more like helipads than terminals.
Eve Air MobilityEve Air Mobility hopes to launch its eVTOL in 2026[/caption]
Eve Air MobilityThe aircraft can hold up to four passengers[/caption]
Eve Air MobilityA model of what Eve’s eVTOL will look like once it’s operating[/caption]
“You might not need to keep a schedule,” the expert added.
“Like a taxi, you would summon it up and enter your flight plan. And then you’ll go.”
Are pilotless planes safe?
Though the concept may sound space-age, much of the tech is already there, Bray revealed.
Today’s commercial pilots only manually fly for around 12 to 20 minutes per trip – the rest is handled by automation.
In fact, Bray says that modern planes can already take off and land by themselves. We just don’t let them.
Even the safety systems are prepped for emergencies.
If something goes on mid-air, these aircraft are programmed to safely return to base or land themselves in a nearby open space.
“It just needs a patch of land, and down it comes,” Bray says.
And there are plenty of real-world examples of autopilot stepping in to underline the importance of backup systems.
In 2016, a US Air Force F-16 autopilot system saved a student pilot’s life when he blacked out mid-flight, according to The Verge.
But it’s not always good news. In 1994, Aeroflot Flight 593 crashed after the autopilot disengaged when the pilot’s child nudged the controls — a chilling reminder of how human error can still play a role.
In October 2023, a Corendon Airlines 737-800 approaching Düsseldorf suffered an autopilot failure, forcing the crew to land manually, Aviation Herald reported.
You could pick you up nearer to your home or nearer to your holiday destination
Julian Brayaviation expert
That’s why manufacturers are building in safety nets, including manual override features and remote pilot options.
While fully autonomous, many eVTOLs in testing — like those from EHang — are still supervised by a safety pilot or operator who can step in if needed, according to EHang’s official site.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)has also started drawing up operating rules for “powered-lift” aircraft to make sure they meet strict safety standards, FlightGlobal reports.
But while the skies may soon be filled with these “flying cars”, the real turbulence also lies in public acceptance.
A global survey in 2017 found that the majority of travellers were unwilling to board a pilotless plane, even if tickets were cheaper.
In the US, 81% of people said they’d be uncomfortable flying without a pilot at the helm.
But Bray believes that will change with time — especially if the benefits are clear.
He says: “People don’t like change, and they don’t like something that’s new, unless somebody else tries them first.”
FAA officials in the US have begun working with manufacturers to build certification programs, including for Boeing’s Wisk — but resistance remains.
WiskBoeing has revealed its ambitious plans for self-driving flying taxis[/caption]
ReutersThe futuristic vehicle will be manufactured by Wisk Aero, a subsidiary of the planemaker giant[/caption]
WiskIt will be able to carry four people and their luggage, without the need for a pilot[/caption]
Pilot unions are already sounding the alarm, warning of safety risks and over-reliance on untested tech.
Europe’s aviation watchdog has said it won’t even consider relaxing two-pilot flight deck rules until 2030.
There is also a matter of infrastructure. Vertical landing pads, charging ports, and completely new air traffic management systems all need to be built.
Eve Air Mobility’s CEO Johann Bordais previously told The Sun: “The roadblock will be ecosystem readiness, not technology.”
Behind the scenes, airlines and aircraft makers are quietly pushing for change.
“It’s all about money,” Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer told Forbes.
“Manufacturers are looking for the next innovative technology to deploy so that they can sell it and make money, and airlines are looking at how they can do this more cheaply.”
A 2018 UBS report suggested autonomous planes could save the aviation industry $35 billion a year.
And because of all the safety and bureaucracy hurdles, many experts think fully autonomous air travel will roll out gradually.
eVTOLs, or electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing vehicles, are a new category of aircraft designed to take off, hover, and land vertically using electric propulsion systems.
These innovative vehicles represent a significant step toward the future of sustainable and efficient air mobility.
Unlike traditional aircraft that rely on runways, eVTOLs operate vertically, making them particularly suited for use in urban areas where space is limited.
They are powered by electric motors, typically using rechargeable batteries, although hybrid systems combining electric and fuel-based propulsion are also under development.
This electric propulsion makes them quieter and more environmentally friendly than conventional aircraft.
One of the most exciting aspects of eVTOL technology is its potential to transform transportation.
In urban areas, eVTOLs could serve as air taxis, alleviating traffic congestion and reducing commute times.
Beyond cities, they could provide quick, efficient travel between regional destinations, bridging gaps where trains or highways might be slower or unavailable.
Their ability to operate in tight spaces and remote areas also makes them valuable for emergency services, such as medical evacuations or disaster response.
They are also being explored for cargo transport, offering a faster and more sustainable alternative to ground-based logistics.
In the military and defence sectors, eVTOLs could be used for reconnaissance, troop transport, or delivering supplies in challenging terrains.
1 week agoLatest NewsComments Off on Gardens of WA: Bounty reward the wild at heart – perfection not needed when growing own food
Many people start out chasing this ideal of perfection and, when the garden grows wild, throw their arms up in despair, deciding that a productive garden just isn’t possible.
1 week agoLatest NewsComments Off on Freo trio injured, but brave Dockers hold off Bulldogs
Fremantle have overcome the loss of three players to injury and a five-goal masterclass from Sam Darcy to post a 16-point win over the Western Bulldogs.
1 week agoLatest NewsComments Off on Fremantle Dockers overcome injuries to beat Western Bulldogs in Andrew Brayshaw’s 150th game
Fremantle have produced a crucial victory over the Western Bulldogs despite copping multiple injuries as they were rewarded for a scoring blitz in the first half.
