- Wallace and Gromit return with comic warning about AI dystopia
- Philippine military says will acquire US Typhon missile system
- Afghan bread, the humble centrepiece of every meal
- Honda and Nissan expected to begin merger talks
- 'Draconian' Vietnam internet law heightens free speech fears
- Israeli women mobilise against ultra-Orthodox military exemptions
- Asian markets track Wall St rally as US inflation eases rate worries
- Tens of thousands protest in Serbian capital over fatal train station accident
- Trump vows to 'stop transgender lunacy' as a top priority
- Daniels throws five TDs as Commanders down Eagles, Lions and Vikings win
- 'Who's next?': Misinformation and online threats after US CEO slaying
- Only 12 trucks delivered food, water in North Gaza Governorate since October: Oxfam
- Melrose Group Publicly Files Complaint to the Ontario Securities Commission
- Langers edge Tiger and son Charlie in PNC Championship playoff
- Explosive batsman Jacobs gets New Zealand call-up for Sri Lanka series
- Holders PSG edge through on penalties in French Cup
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin to talk gas deliveries
- Daniels throw five TDs as Commanders down Eagles
- Atalanta fight back to take top spot in Serie A, Roma hit five
- Mancini admits regrets over leaving Italy for Saudi Arabia
- Run machine Ayub shines as Pakistan sweep South Africa
- Slovak PM Fico on surprise visit to Kremlin
- Gaza rescuers say Israeli strikes kill 35
- 'Incredible' Liverpool must stay focused: Slot
- Maresca 'absolutely happy' as title-chasing Chelsea drop points in Everton draw
- Salah happy wherever career ends after inspiring Liverpool rout
- Three and easy as Dortmund move into Bundesliga top six
- Liverpool hit Spurs for six, Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth
- Netanyahu vows to act with 'force, determination' against Yemen's Huthis
- Mbappe back from 'bottom' as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- Ali hat-trick helps champions Ahly crush Belouizdad
- France kept on tenterhooks over new government
- Salah stars as rampant Liverpool hit Spurs for six
- Syria's new leader says all weapons to come under 'state control'
- 'Sonic 3' zips to top of N.America box office
- Rome's Trevi Fountain reopens to limited crowds
- Mbappe strikes as Real Madrid down Sevilla
- 'Nervous' Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- Pope again condemns 'cruelty' of Israeli strikes on Gaza
- Lonely this Christmas: Vendee skippers in low-key celebrations on high seas
- Troubled Man Utd humiliated by Bournemouth
- 2 US pilots shot down over Red Sea in 'friendly fire' incident: military
- Man Utd embarrassed by Bournemouth, Chelsea held at Everton
- France awaits fourth government of the year
- Germany pledges security inquest into Christmas market attack
- Death toll in Brazil bus crash rises to 41
- Joshua bout only fight left for beaten Fury says promoter Hearn
- Odermatt stays hot to break Swiss World Cup wins record
- Neville says Rashford's career at Man Utd nearing 'inevitable ending'
- Syria's new leader vows not to negatively interfere in Lebanon
Teen follows sister's tailwinds in global flight bid
A daredevil British-Belgian teenager is bidding to become the youngest person to fly solo around the world -- after his elder sister managed her own inspirational feat just weeks ago.
Piloting a Shark ultralight plane, 16-year-old Mack Rutherford aims to circumnavigate the globe alone and beat Briton Travis Ludlow's same achievement set when he was 18 years and 150 days.
Rutherford's lofty ambition follows his sister Zara, 19, last month becoming the youngest female to fly solo around the world after she spent just over five months navigating the Earth's skies.
"So I actually couldn't have done it without her," Mack Rutherford told AFP, as he announced his plans Tuesday at the historic Biggin Hill airfield in Kent, southeast England.
"I always knew I wanted to do something special in my aviation career, but it's only after Zara flew around the world that I knew, yes, this is what I want to do.
"This is an amazing thing and so she actually helped bring me to this point."
Zara insisted the siblings, and the broader community of round-the-world flying enthusiasts, were not rivals but instead eager for new achievements to keep being set.
"We're really supportive of each other, making sure that we can help others break our records as much as possible," she explained.
"I'm really excited, I think it's going to be really cool."
- 'Amazing' -
The Rutherfords' parents are both pilots -- their father flew for Britain's Royal Air Force -- and have handed down the passion to their children.
Both have been flying obsessives from an early age, with Mack qualifying for his pilot's licence in July 2020 aged just 15 years and two weeks.
However their mother, Beatrice de Smet, revealed she was initially reluctant to let her youngest embark on the risky endeavour.
"But he then wrote me a very long letter, explaining... why it was important for him to do it now," she said at the Biggin Hill announcement.
"And I cried a lot and then I said: 'Okay, you can go, I don't want to break your dream'."
Zara successfully circumnavigated the world in a tiny, 325-kilogram (717-pound) Shark UL single-propellor plane, which her brother will now use for his bid.
It is one of the fastest light aircraft, capable of cruising at speeds of up to 186 miles per hour (300 kilometres per hour).
During her round-the-world journey, Zara had to skirt around clouds and could not fly at night, meaning she had to divert or make hasty landings on many occasions.
That included landing abruptly last month just a short distance from Dubai to avoid getting caught in the first thunderstorm the Gulf city had seen in two years.
Although Mack conceded "there's always risk" solo piloting, he argued that ample planning mitigates those risks "to a point where actually it's very unlikely something bad will happen".
The teen added he hoped to show that "you don't have to be 18 to do something amazing".
"You don't have to wait. You can do something special now," he added.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN