World Leaks

A HYPERSONIC aircraft that could fly from London to Sydney in two hours has reached a key milestone ahead of its first launch next year.

Australia-based Hypersonix Launch Systems, the firm behind the DART spaceplane, has inked a deal with Southern Launch, which operates two spaceport sites.

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The rocket is scheduled to take off in the first quarter of 2025[/caption]

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The US Department of Defence has already cut a supply deal with the Brisband HQ’d firm for its DART spaceplanes[/caption]

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A rocket will take the vehicle up into the sky, before the spaceplane separates and ignites its own scramjet engines to zoom away[/caption]

The deal will see the spacecraft, which can fly five times the speed of sound, blast off from either the Eyre Peninsula, the southernmost tip of Australia, or the Koonibba Test Range, in the first quarter of 2025.

A rocket will take the vehicle up into the sky, before the spaceplane separates and ignites its own scramjet engines to zoom away.

Hypersonix is set to attach devices to the spaceplane to see how they fare when moving at Mach 5 to Mach 7 speeds through the air.

In a statement, Hypersonix CEO Matt Hill said: “The intensity of hypersonic testing is set to rise rapidly and there are a huge number of both emerging technology companies and large aerospace companies that need hypersonic flight heritage for their products.

“Our hypersonic test bed will make this affordable for these companies to flight qualify their technology.”

Despite a relatively small aerospace industry, aviation experts largely consider Australia to be a pioneer in hypersonic technology.

The US Department of Defence has already cut a supply deal with the Brisband HQ’d firm for its DART spaceplanes, which Hypersonix executives believes can one day fly at seven times the speed of sound.

While the company is also set to help the UK’s Ministry of Defence develop hypersonic missiles, as part of a £1billion contract signed in July.

But the brand doesn’t just want to carve out a military niche.

Michael Smart, founder of Hypersonix, previously told local outlet Australian Aviation that his long-term goal is to fly customers to space “like you fly with Qantas”.

Qantas is the largest commercial airline in Australia.

“Hypersonix’s long-term ambition is to bring affordable aircraft-like operations to access to space, flying to the edge of space for spacecraft deployment and returning to land like a plane,” Southern Launch said.

“Hypersonic engines will also power a future generation of passenger aircraft with the potential of reducing the flight time from Adelaide to London to just two hours.”

A DEVASTATED wife has shared a heartfelt tribute to a talented DJ who worked with a British legend and featured on BBC radio before dying from a rare cancer.

Music producer Danny Stubbs tragically passed away after fighting a year-long battle with cancer.

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Danielle Stubbs shared a heartfelt tribute to top DJ, Danny Stubbs[/caption]

His heartbroken wife, Danielle Stubbs, 33, described him as “the most beautiful person inside and out” in a moving tribute.

“His attitude from the beginning was incredible,” she told StokeonTrentLive.

Danielle added: “He didn’t want to listen to the prognosis, and he wanted to prove to the doctors that they were wrong.

“I know he was fighting to be with me. The last few months have been incredibly hard, but he was so strong.

“It’s not fair, but life went this way. It’s hard to even think about the future, because it’s not the life that we imagined. I just want to keep making him proud.”

Despite Danny’s diagnosis, the DJ and electrical engineer for United Utilities remained active, going skiing, running half-marathons, climbing mountains, and performing.

His wife said: “My heart breaks for everyone that loved him too, his daughter Leah, both our families and all his friends. Danny was the most beautiful person inside and out. He had a sparkle in his eyes and a smile that would light up a room.

“I’m unbelievably proud of all he achieved, and I would like to thank everyone that has supported Danny’s music throughout the years, his legacy will live on forever.

“I would also like to thank all those loved ones who supported us throughout the last 12 months and for all the comforting words of condolence since Danny’s passing.

“I’m so proud of how Danny fought to stay with me, he never gave up and his mentality was so strong even up until the end. Danny still wins. Taking care of him was the greatest privilege, loving him was an honour.

“I am so grateful for the time we had together but it would have been selfish of me to keep him when the cancer was cruel. Danny is no longer in pain and is at peace now.

“The most beautiful person, loved by everyone. I will treasure our love forever. I love you, I miss you and will see you on the other side, my sweet husband.”

Danny, aged 40, was diagnosed with rare Stage 4 oesophagal adenocarcinoma in August last year.

Doctors told him that the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes and bones in his spine and that they couldn’t operate to remove it.

He sadly passed away on August 24 at St Luke’s Hospice in Winsford after losing his fight with the disease.

The talented DJ was a father to Leah, 19, a brother to Lee, Shaun and Kenny and a son to Gary and Angela.

The music lover began his career at clubs in Hanley in the early 2000s before his career skyrocketed, leading him to perform at venues across the world.

He also remixed tracks for U2 and Ariana Grande, as well as working with Paul Oakenfold.

His funeral will be held in Crewe on Thursday, September 19.

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READING’S club takeover attempt by Rob Couhig has collapsed with owner Dai Yongge looking for other parties to return to the table.

The 75-year-old was inches away from being named the new owner of the former Premier League now League One side after funding the club over the summer and meeting supporters on multiple occasions.

The future of the club is now in serious doubt, according to BBC Radio Berkshire’s Tim Dellor, who has heard from a source that current owner Dai Yongge is still “keen to sell the club.”

Despite the collapse of this sale, Yongge is still open to selling with other interested parties expected to be invited back to the negotiating table but currently, no bidders are waiting in the wings.

The radio show revealed that Couhig has been fully repaid for his loans and the club will be kept afloat in the short term by a sell-on fee received for Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.

Redwood Holdings led by Couhig, reportedly loaned the club around £4 million.

Couhig was spotted at games earlier this term, including the Wigan Athletic clash giving fans hope that the takeover would be completed soon.

However, in recent days this hope has faded and it now appears that the Berkshire side is back to square one as they seek to remove Yongge.

Protests against the owner occurred last term including a match abandonment due to a pitch invasion against Port Vale with fans in despair in January earlier this year.

Fans’ hopes were raised in March when it was revealed that Dai had entered a period of exclusivity with an interested buyer.

The period of exclusivity ended in June and at that point, the club revealed that talks were ongoing with the same party and other interested buyers.

It was expected that the former Wycombe Wanderers chief would end seven years of hardship under the Chinese billionaire Yongge.

However, the final contract could not be signed and Couhig has exited the process.

The Royals currently sit in midtable in the third tier but they could slide down the division with the club’s future now uncertain again.

The club has yet to comment.

THOUSANDS of households could be eligible for a £300 winter fuel payment this year due to a little-known Universal Credit loophole. 

However, time is of the essence, as certain conditions must be met within a specific time frame to qualify.

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Here’s everything you need to know[/caption]

In the past the winter fuel payment, worth up to £300, was available to everyone aged 66 and above.

However, recent changes by Chancellor Rachel Reeves mean that around 10million pensioners will no longer receive the benefit.

Now, the payment is limited to retirees on pension credit or those receiving other means-tested benefits including Universal Credit.

Over 800,000 households are thought to be missing out on pension credit, which unlocks their eligibility for this year’s winter fuel payment.

However, not everyone over the state pension age is eligible.

If you’re in a mixed age couple, where one of you is over state pension age (66), and the other is under it, you can’t claim pension credit.

Instead, you’ll need to claim Universal Credit.

Thousands of couples could be missing out on this benefit, which is worth up to £618 a month with the standard allowance.

Plus, a successful claim will make you eligible for this year’s winter fuel payment.

To qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment, you must have an active claim for Universal Credit (or other means-tested benefits) during the “qualifying week”, which runs from September 16 to 22 (this week).

You might assume that if you do not apply before the end of the week, you will not qualify for this year’s payment.

However, thanks to a little-known loophole, this is not the case.

This is because new claims for Universal Credit can be backdated by one month.

This means that the absolute deadline to claim the benefit and qualify for this year’s winter fuel payment is October 18.

Of course, if you fail to apply for the benefit before this date, you won’t qualify for this year’s cash.

CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. 

To claim, you typically need to:

• Live in the UK
• Be aged 18 or over 
• Be under State Pension age (unless you’re part of a mixed-aged couple)
• Have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments

How much money you’ll get depends on your personal circumstances, but the monthly standard award is £393.45 for a single person over 25 and £617.60 for a couple who are both over that age.

If you have a disability or health condition, or if your child does, there are extra top ups you can get in your Universal Credit award.

If you rent, you can also get help towards those costs and any service fees you might pay.

If you have over £6,000 in money, savings and investments, your payment will be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. Another £4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete £250.

However, if you’re moving over from tax credits as part of the managed migration process, the savings limits will not apply for the first twelve months.

You can apply for Universal Credit online by visiting gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim.

PRINCESS Beatrice’s adorable daughter Sienna is celebrating her third birthday today and will no doubt be celebrating in style at their £3.5million home.

Beatrice, 36, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, live in a luxury Cotswolds farmhouse which they purchased in 2021.

Paul Edwards

Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi live in a £3.5million Cotswolds farmhouse[/caption]

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The couple relocated to the Cotswolds in 2021 for a more private family life[/caption]

instagram/edoardomapellimozzo

Their daughter together, Sienna, is celebrating her third birthday today[/caption]

Previously the couple lived in a four-bed apartment in St James’s Palace.

However, following their wedding in 2020, the royal couple decided to base themselves in the tranquillity of the English countryside for a private family life.

The incredible pad boasts six bedrooms and numerous reception rooms, which are perfect for hosting guests and royal family members.

There is even a guesthouse separate from the property, which Beatrice and Edoardo renovated from an outhouse.

And fit for royalty, the farmhouse offers numerous extravagant features, including an outdoor swimming pool and tennis courts.

Beatrice and Edoardo live in the home with Sienna, but Edoardo’s eldest child, the eight-year-old Christoper Woolf, known as Wolfie, from previous partner Dara Huang, also stays with the family.

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Princess Beatrice also helps to look after Edoardo’s son from a previous relationship, Wolfie[/caption]

Elite neighbours

There are also a number of family members nearby too.

Beatrice’s cousin Zara Tindall and husband Mike are neighbours, meaning Sienna will have the chance to hang out with their three kids, Mia, 10, Lena, six, and Lucas, three.

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Zara and Mike Tindall live close by, with their kids Mia, Lena and Lucas[/caption]

Property developer Edoardo’s parents also have a home in the Cotswolds, so they can spend time with their grandkids.

Meanwhile, Beatrice’s parents Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew are less than two hours away by car at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

When friends and family do come to stay, there is a “party barn” converted from another outhouse which is perfect for dancing.

To ensure privacy is maintained, Beatrice and Edoardo have installed a six-foot security fence around their property.

According to the Daily Mail, they live close to Prince Harry‘s polo pal George Spencer-Churchill and his wife Camilla.

The Churchills’ ancestral home Blenheim Palace is just up the road from their new house.

They are also nearby to David and Victoria Beckham‘s swanky home as well as Ellie Goulding.

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Beatrice and Edoardo’s home has a swimming pool and a ‘party barn’[/caption]

Sienna’s birth

Little Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi was born on September 18, 2021 at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London.

Unlike her mother, Sienna does not have the title of Princess, although the title she does have is unique.

Baby Sienna does not have any royal titles but she will receive the title Nobile Donna through her father’s family.

Her mother was eligible to have the title, of Princess, as she is a grandchild of the monarch through the male line.

Princess Beatrice‘s father is the late Queen’s second son, thus giving Beatrice and her sister Princess Eugenie royal titles.

Beatrice’s title was Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York, reflecting her father’s title.

However, after she wed, her title is now Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice, Mrs Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

When Edoardo married Beatrice he did not get a royal title, neither did Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank.