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<p><a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/richard-branson-mont-blanc-climb-near-death" target="_blank">Richard Branson</a>’s Virgin Galactic is set to launch its SpaceShipTwo test flight as early as Dec. 13, bringing the company’s spacecraft all the way to space – depending on what your definition of space is.</p><p>According to <em><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2018/12/11/richard-bransons-virgin-galactic-says-it-is-cusp-flying-humans-space-where-does-space-begin/?utm_term=.dc1365125f3f" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a></em>, the company will be firing its rocket motor to an expected altitude of 50 miles, a measurement that the company is considering as the “edge of space.”</p><p>But not everyone is in agreement as to where the “edge of space” actually begins. According to <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2018/virgin-galactic-gets-set-spaceshiptwo-flights-aim-space-high/" target="_blank">Geekwire</a>, the traditionally agreed-upon boundary between space and the Earth’s atmosphere, also known as the Karman Line, is set at 100 kilometers (or 62 miles), which leaves the anticipated flight just short of its goal.</p><p>However, the debate on where the line is has been brewing recently due to new research by astronomer and satellite expert Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Geekwire reported. According to McDowell, the line could be as low as 80 kilometers (or 50 miles). Still, finding this line continues to be tricky business. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) <a href="https://www.fai.org/news/statement-about-karman-line?type=term&amp;id=1443" target="_blank">released a statement</a> in November saying it will be considering the new research in the coming year.</p><p><strong>Related: </strong><a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/virgin-trains-usa-brightline" target="_blank">Richard Branson's New High-speed Trains Will Let You Visit Disney World and Miami in the Same Vacation</a></p><p>In the meantime, Virgin Galactic will be continuing on its quest for viable commercial spaceflights. The company will be conducting this test of the SpaceShipTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, according to <em><a href="https://spacenews.com/virgin-galactic-to-attempt-flight-to-space-this-week/" target="_blank">Space News</a></em>. This will be the fourth powered test flight that the company has conducted for the spacecraft.</p><p>“Overall the goal of this flight is to fly higher and faster than previous flights. We plan to burn the rocket motor for longer than we ever have in flight before, but not to its full duration,” reps for the company said in a <a href="https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/Virgin-Galactic-Flight-Test-Program-Update-SpaceShipTwo-Preparing-For-Fourth-Powered-Test-Flight/" target="_blank">statement</a>. “At the end stages of the rocket burn in the thin air of the mesosphere and with the speeds that we expect to achieve, additional altitude is added rapidly. That results in new and important data points, particularly relating to supersonic handling qualities and thermal dynamics, both of which we will be watching closely in the cockpit and on the ground in Mission Control.”</p><p>The company expects the spacecraft’s pilots to experience “an extended period of micro-gravity” as the craft reaches its altitude goal.</p><p>Even though the spacecraft is not flying with passengers yet, more than 600 people have signed up for future trips at a whopping $250,000 per ticket, <em>The Washington Post </em>reported.</p><p>Reps for the company admitted in its statement that there is still a lot of work to be done before actual commercial flights are possible to launch. “Whether we complete all our objectives during the next flight or need to wait a little longer, we remain committed to completing the final stages of this extraordinary flight test program as quickly, but more importantly as safely, as possible.” </p>

Swiss Life-owned UK investment manager Mayfair Capital has appointed Westmount co-founder Giles King as fund manager for its UK Thematic Growth Fund.

<p>Ever hear the name of a place and wonder, “Where the heck is that?”</p><p>Well, you’re not alone. Destinations like Croatia, for example, have been gaining in popularity as an alternative to crowded vacations in other European nations like Italy or France. But, like many other Americans, you might be lost as to where to actually find it on a map.</p><p><a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/yis/2018/">Google's 2018 Year in Search</a> reveals Croatia is one of the most puzzling places people are looking for when starting searches with the term “where is.” The top 10 “where is” searches for 2018 are:</p>Where is Villanova University<em><strong>Where is Croatia</strong></em>Where is Parkland FloridaWhere is Hurricane FlorenceWhere is Hurricane MichaelWhere is my polling placeWhere is PyeongchangWhere is Amazon basedWhere is Paradise CaliforniaWhere is Prince from<p>There it is. Number two on the list. Clearly, Croatia is hot and a total mystery to find. For those who are not familiar with the country, the simple answer is that Croatia is in Europe. But the more detailed answer is that it’s bordered by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. And, if you look on a map, it’s just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. Basically, if you look on the “heel” and “calf” part of the Italy’s boot, you’ll see Croatia on the other side of the of water.</p><p>Mystery solved. But now that we’ve found it, this might be the perfect time to plan a trip to actually go there. If you’re in the U.S., you sadly won’t find any direct flights until June 2019 when American Airlines starts <a href="https://www.aa.com/i18n/plan-travel/destinations/europe.jsp" target="_blank">direct service between Philadelphia and Dubrovnik</a>. However, you can fly to another European city before catching a connecting flight to Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Split or Pula, Croatia. You can also take a ferry from various ports in Italy.</p><p>The tourist season, according to <a href="https://www.croatiatraveller.com/Getting%20toCroatia.htm" target="_blank">Croatia Traveller</a>, is between April and October, thanks to nice weather and beautiful scenic views. The summer season is most popular since Croatia is known for having spectacular beaches. The Dalmatian Coast, a narrow stretch between Zadar to the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro, is a big draw.</p><p>But there are also many other <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/croatia/things-to-do" target="_blank">things to do</a> in the country made even more famous by <em><a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/culture-design/tv-movies/game-of-thrones-vacation-wanderu" target="_blank">Game of Thrones</a></em>. Dubrovnik and Zagreb, in particular, have incredible, historic architecture, including fantastic <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-guide/dubrovnik/things-to-do/dubrovnik-cathedral" target="_blank">churches, cathedrals</a> and museums, and delicious restaurants. Or, if you’re in Split, be sure to visit Diocletian's Palace, an ancient Roman ruin from the fourth century A.D. Nature lovers should also visit <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/plitvice-lakes-national-park-croatia" target="_blank">Plitvice Lakes National Park</a> to snap plenty of photos of the area’s gorgeous waterfalls.</p><p>Tourists can also choose from a variety of accommodations that cater to every budget, from social youth hostels to luxury beach resorts overlooking the sea.</p><p>Once you take your trip, you won’t just impress your friends with all your amazing vacation pictures, but also your newly discovered geographical knowledge.</p>

The musician allegedly is waiting for his ex-wif Gwyneth Paltrow to settle down with Brad Falchuk before going forward with his relationship with the 'Suspiria' star.

Released on December 12, the visuals features segments from the songstress' narrative film which is titled 'Dirty Computer'.

<p>You get a flight to Oprah, you get a flight to Oprah and you get a flight to Oprah!</p><p>A Nashville councilwoman has proposed renaming the Nashville International Airport to the Oprah G. Winfrey Nashville International Airport.</p><p>Although Oprah was born in Mississippi, she got her career start in <a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/points-of-interest-nashville" target="_blank">Nashville</a>, after graduating from Tennessee State University. In honor of the star’s local roots, Councilwoman Sharon Hurt wrote letters to Nashville Mayor David Briley and the current airport board chairman, Dexter Samuels, to request the name change.</p><p>"I think it's a grand opportunity for us to recognize someone of Oprah's stature," Hurt said in <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2018/12/11/oprah-g-winfrey-nashville-international-airport-councilwoman-seeks-name-change/2282779002/" target="_blank">an interview with <em>USA Today</em></a>.</p><p>However, it’s not the city council who will make the final decision but rather airport authority. The board has said that to name the airport after Oprah would go against airport policy. The current policy states that in order to change the airport name, the honoree must have made a "substantial contribution" to either the Nashville International Airport or the field of aviation. (The airport board must have forgotten <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aamb1gMqjR8" target="_blank">that time Oprah appeared on an episode of <em>30 Rock</em></a> and dispensed her wisdom from a plane.) The honoree must also have been deceased for at least two years for the change to be made.</p><p><strong>Related:</strong><b> </b><a href="https://www.travelandleisure.com/weekend-getaways/weekend-in-nashville" target="_blank">The Perfect Three-Day Weekend in Nashville</a></p><p>"Both the president/CEO of the authority and I agree that Ms. Winfrey's achievements and accolades are too numerous to recite," Samuels wrote in a letter, "however, renaming the airport after Ms. Winfrey does not meet the criteria established by the (airport authority)."</p><p>The board does have the ability to overturn the rule but, as of yet, no proposal has been made.</p>

McLaren’s in-house customization center, McLaren Special Operations (MSO), seems to roll out bespoke versions of the British automaker’s cars at a bimonthly pace—or at least that’s how often it issues press releases about them. But this latest batch commissioned by McLaren Beverly Hills is actually deserving of an announcement. Numbering six cars in total, the special edition collection features three separate racing-inspired themes each applied to a 570S Coupe and Spider.

The three themes are called Muriwai, Papaya Spark, and Sarthe Grey, and represent major periods in McLaren’s racing history. The series of cars has been dubbed “Racing Through the Ages.” According to MSO, the blue and white Muriwai theme pays homage to Bruce McLaren’s early days of racing in New Zealand; Papaya Spark nods to the orange liveries in use during the 1960s and ’70s and on today’s F1 cars; and Sarthe Grey is inspired by McLaren’s 1995 Le Mans victory. Each gets special touches to go along with its theme, such as the kiwi on the Muriwai’s spoiler end plates, as well as a “1 of 6–Racing Through the Ages” plaque.

“It’s exciting for us at MSO any time we are able to merge McLaren’s racing heritage with current McLaren Automotive road cars,” said Ansar Ali, McLaren Special Operations chief, in a release. “Working alongside our retailers such as McLaren Beverly Hills to create these distinctive, limited editions of special cars for McLaren customers is an increasingly important part of our business as the demand for bespoke commissions becomes more popular.”

Each of the cars gets a black exterior package, dealer-installed rear wing, titanium exhaust, black 10-spoke lightweight wheels, and a GT4-inspired racing stripe that runs along the hood and roof. The cabins have striping on the seats, special headrest logos, an orange 12-o’clock mark on the steering wheel, and a key fob finished to match the exterior color. We’re sure they’re already spoken for, but that doesn’t make them any less fun to stare at.

Source: McLaren

The post McLaren Honors its Racing Heritage With Six Special Edition Beauties appeared first on MotorTrend.

Michael Spavor is believed to have been detained on suspicion of harming China's national security.

Demand for upmarket hotels and "experiences" has lifted profits at the European travel group.

From German stollen bread and roast ham to a festive Christmas punch and potato soufflé - you can't miss these delicious gluten-free Christmas dishes.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley sees "significant challenges" in turning around the department store chain.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley sees "significant challenges" in turning around the department store chain.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley sees "significant challenges" in turning around the department store chain.

Admitting he's not in contact with four of his sextuplets, the former 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' star reveals their last meeting was tense and awkward.

'The Trial of the Chicago 7', which has Aaron Sorkin attached as director, is reported to be shut down by its producers two months before it is scheduled to go into production.

Judge John Hallett allegedly suggested another lawyear to 'get a hotel room' with the actor and 'suck each other's d**ks.'

The 'New Freezer' rapper announces the happy news by sharing on Instagram a picture of his model girlfriend getting a sonogram.

Just two weeks into her Broadway run as Erzulie, the former Destiny's Child member is ordered by her doctor to 'take a leave of absence from performing.'

Of the plan itself, the 'Jane the Virgin' actress says that she wants to do it in celebration of her 39th birthday, reasoning that in showbiz, there are not enough people 'actually saying their age.'

The singer hopes to lift up the spirits of Madison Taliaferro by sweetly singing 'I'm Yours' and 'Have It All' live at the hospital.