Airport operator confirms luggage sale post is a scamTrump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years.Man City crisis continues as Feyenoord come from three down to draw
A Tennessee man is convicted of killing 2 at a high school basketball game in 2021ATLANTA (AP) — Deliberations are underway in Atlanta after a year of testimony in the gang and racketeering trial that originally included the rapper Young Thug. Jurors are considering whether to convict Shannon Stillwell and Deamonte Kendrick, who raps as Yak Gotti, on gang, murder, drug and gun charges. The original indictment charged 28 people with conspiring to violate Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Opening statements in the trial for six of those defendants happened a year ago . Four of them, including Young Thug, pleaded guilty last month. The rapper was freed on probation. Stillwell and Kendrick rejected plea deals after more than a week of negotiations, and their lawyers chose not to present evidence or witnesses. Both seemed to be in good spirits Tuesday morning after closings wrapped the previous night. Kendrick was chatting and laughing with Stillwell and his lawyers before the jury arrived for instructions. Kendrick and Stillwell were charged in the 2015 killing of Donovan Thomas Jr., also known as “Big Nut,” in an Atlanta barbershop. Prosecutors painted Stillwell and Kendrick as members of a violent street gang called Young Slime Life, or YSL, co-founded in 2012 by Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams. During closings on Monday, they pointed to tattoos, song lyrics and social media posts they said proved members, including Stillwell, admitted to killing people in rival gangs. Prosecutors say Thomas was in a rival gang. Stillwell was also charged in the 2022 killing of Shymel Drinks, which prosecutors said was in retaliation for the killing of two YSL associates days earlier. Defense attorneys Doug Weinstein and Max Schardt said the state presented unreliable witnesses, weak evidence and cherry-picked lyrics and social media posts to push a false narrative about Stillwell, Kendrick and the members of YSL. Schardt, Stillwell's attorney, reminded the jury that alleged YSL affiliates said during the trial that they had lied to police. Law enforcement played a “sick game” by promising they would escape long prison sentences if they said what police wanted them to say, Schardt said. He theorized that one of those witnesses could have killed Thomas. The truth is that their clients were just trying to escape poverty through music, Schardt said. “As a whole, we know the struggles that these communities have had,” Schardt said. “A sad, tacit acceptance that it’s either rap, prison or death.” Young Thug’s record label is also known as YSL, an acronym of Young Stoner Life. Kendrick was featured on two popular songs from the label’s compilation album Slime Language 2, “Take It to Trial" and “Slatty," which prosecutors presented as evidence in the trial. Weinstein, Kendrick’s defense attorney, said during closings it was wrong for prosecutors to target the defendants for their music and lyrics. Prosecutor Simone Hylton disagreed, and said surveillance footage and phone evidence supported her case. “They have the audacity to think they can just brag about killing somebody and nobody’s gonna hold them accountable,” Hylton said. The trial had more than its fair share of delays. Jury selection took nearly 10 months , and Stillwell was stabbed last year at the Fulton County jail, which paused trial proceedings. Judge Paige Reese Whitaker took over after Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Ural Glanville was removed from the case in July because he had a meeting with prosecutors and a state witness without defense attorneys present. Whitaker often lost patience with prosecutors over moves such as not sharing evidence with defense attorneys, once accusing them of “poor lawyering.” But the trial sped up under her watch. In October, four defendants, including Young Thug , pleaded guilty, with the rapper entering a non-negotiated or “blind” plea, meaning he didn't have a deal worked out with prosecutors. Nine people charged in the indictment, including rapper Gunna , accepted plea deals before the trial began. Charges against 12 others are pending. Prosecutors dropped charges against one defendant after he was convicted of murder in an unrelated case. Kramon is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Kramon on X: @charlottekramon
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SEALSQ Stock Hits Fresh 2-Year High On Regaining Compliance, Launch Of Innovation Hub: Retail Awaits SpaceX LaunchBeyonce's mum Tina Knowles issues statement after 'liking' post about Jay-Z rape claims
Helsinki, Finland’s renowned research school Aalto University has announced the launch of the Nokia Design Archive, a free online portal that maintains approximately 20,000 items and 959GB of digital files from Nokia during the mid-90s to 2017. Starting on January 15, 2025 users will be able to access the advertising, ideation sketches, designer interviews and presentations., licensed from Microsoft Mobile before the brand’s recent ownership change. Along with never-before-seen prototypes, design processes, and consumer technology concepts, the archive will also reveal material associated with iconic models like the ‘brick phone’ and the ‘banana phone.’ Designers, historians, organization and management scholars and experts contributed their expertise to Aalto University’s research team, piecing together the unique position held by Nokia in the late-90s and early aughts, an era. In a statement provided by Aalto University post-doctoral researcher, Kaisu Savola said “Nokia was in a similar position in the 90s as Samsung or Apple are today.” Many in the iPhone generation were too young to remember that the Finnish tech manufacturer was once at the forefront of the mobile revolution with its ambitious aesthetic and utopian technological ideals. These futuristic characteristics made the company’s devices popular among young millennials and Gen X’ers. She continued, “These large corporations shape our lives with their products. Technology doesn’t just shape us; we shape technology. When we started the project, the focus was on objects. As we began going through the material, we soon realized that it was about people.” The Nokia Design Archive will be accessible for free at the official Aalto University site from January 15.
NHS bosses ordered to prioritise emergency treatment for the sickest patients rather than worry about targetsThe Philadelphia Eagles (11-2) are one of the hottest teams in the league, but even the hottest teams can play cold. The Eagles won their week 14 home against a surprisingly difficult Carolina Panthers (3-10). There were many areas where the home team struggled in the 22-16 victory. There were some moments on the field and after the game with quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown seemed to not connect. While some might believe drama is once again developing with the Eagles, one football analyst believes it is just bad play that needs to be fixed. The Philadelphia Eagles have a “elementary” offense The Eagles almost lost their nine-game win streak as their offense struggled behind the poor play of the passing game. Hurts completed 14-of-21 of his passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. The leading receiver of the game Brown, who caught four receptions for 43. On Monday, ESPN’s Get Up crew talked about the dysfunction of the Eagles’ offense, starting with Hurts’ inability to connect with Brown. While analysts Rex Ryan and Damian Woody believe the drama is to blame, Dan Orlovsky believes it is as simple as the passing game not playing well. “Simple, it’s very simple. It’s very elementary. It’s very basic. A.J., let’s take a shot and hit a big play down the field. Yesterday, A.J. Brown got his first catch, his first touch, his first target in the second quarter with 1:26 left on the clock. That’s a problem. “They will have to have a better passing game in the playoffs to go win.” “This is a pass game that has been darn over these past six, seven and eight weeks. They don’t ask a lot out of it. It’s A.J., go win one-on-one. Yesterday, Jalen did not play well when it comes to that play example and for them to win in the playoffs. He cannot replicate what they did yesterday.” Eagles’ weak link It is not hard to believe that the Eagles’ passing offense might be one of the worst units on their team. Considering their running game, the offensive line and the defense is among the most elite units in the NFL, it is not a terrible thing. One of the biggest reasons the Eagles had one of the most efficient offenses in the league is because of the dynamic dual-threat ability of Hurts and the offense. Hurts was dangerous as a passer while in the RPO. As a pure pocket passer, he has had moments where he struggles like connecting on deep passes to Brown. Hurts doesn’t possess a powerful arm to consistently launch the ball down the field, an area that Brown excels in. It is up to head coach Nick Sirianni to create more efficient game plans for Hurts to excel in the passing game. Running back Saquon Barkley has been an MVP campaign based on his dominance and production for the Eagles’ offense. Orlovsky finished his discussion by talking about what has made Philadelphia successful this season. “This win streak has been built on the back of what?” “The running game and the defense” “So the passing game is going to have to get better, it’s not where they want it to be.” This article first appeared on NFL Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.PDI-P to mount defense against graft case
A Handful Of Big Tech Companies Surged By $8 Trillion In Market Value Since ChatGPT's Launch – Marking A New EraBAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — In the wee hours Sunday at the United Nations climate talks, countries from around the world reached an agreement on how rich countries can cough up the funds to support poor countries in the face of climate change. It’s a far-from-perfect arrangement, with many parties still unsatisfied but some hopeful that the deal will be a step in the right direction. World Resources Institute president and CEO Ani Dasgupta called it “an important down payment toward a safer, more equitable future,” but added that the poorest and most vulnerable nations are “rightfully disappointed that wealthier countries didn’t put more money on the table when billions of people’s lives are at stake.” The summit was supposed to end on Friday evening but negotiations spiraled on through early Sunday. With countries on opposite ends of a massive chasm, tensions ran high as delegations tried to close the gap in expectations. Here’s how they got there: What was the finance deal agreed at climate talks? Rich countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035. It’s not near the full amount of $1.3 trillion that developing countries were asking for, and that experts said was needed. But some delegations said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. The text included a call for all parties to work together using “all public and private sources” to get closer to the $1.3 trillion per year goal by 2035. That means also pushing for And it means, hopefully, that companies and private investors will follow suit on channeling cash toward climate action. The agreement is also a critical step toward helping countries on the receiving end create more ambitious targets to limit or cut emissions of heat-trapping gases that are due early next year. It’s part of the plan to keep cutting pollution with new targets every five years, which the world agreed to at the U.N. talks in Paris in 2015. The Paris agreement set the system of regular ratcheting up climate fighting ambition as away to keep warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. The world is already at 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 degrees Fahrenheit) and carbon emissions keep rising. What will the money be spent on? The deal decided in Baku replaces a previous agreement from 15 years ago that charged rich nations $100 billion a year to help the developing world with climate finance. The new number has similar aims: it will go toward the developing world’s long laundry list of to-dos to prepare for a warming world and keep it from getting hotter. That includes paying for the transition to clean energy and away from fossil fuels. Countries need funds to build up the infrastructure needed to deploy technologies like wind and solar power on a large scale. Communities hard-hit by extreme weather also want money to adapt and prepare for events like floods, typhoons and fires. Funds could go toward improving farming practices to make them more resilient to weather extremes, to building houses differently with storms in mind, to helping people move from the hardest-hit areas and to help leaders improve emergency plans and aid in the wake of disasters. The Philippines, for example, has been hammered , bringing to millions of people howling wind, massive storm surges and catastrophic damage to residences, infrastructure and farmland. “Family farmers need to be financed,” said Esther Penunia of the Asian Farmers Association. She described how many have already had to deal with millions of dollars of storm damage, some of which includes trees that won’t again bear fruit for months or years, or animals that die, wiping out a main source of income. “If you think of a rice farmer who depends on his or her one hectare farm, rice land, ducks, chickens, vegetables, and it was inundated, there was nothing to harvest,” she said. Why was it so hard to get a deal? Election results around the world that herald a change in climate leadership, a few key players with motive to stall the talks and a disorganized host country all led to a final crunch that left few happy with a flawed compromise. The ending of COP29 is “reflective of the harder geopolitical terrain the world finds itself in,” said Li Shuo of the Asia Society. He cited Trump’s recent victory in the US — with his promises to pull the country out of the Paris Agreement — as one reason why the relationship between China and the EU will be more consequential for global climate politics moving forward. Developing nations also faced some difficulties agreeing in the final hours, with one Latin American delegation member saying that their group didn’t feel properly consulted when small island states had last-minute meetings to try to break through to a deal. Negotiators from across the developing world took different tacks on the deal until they finally agreed to compromise. Meanwhile, activists ramped up the pressure: many urged negotiators to stay strong and asserted that no deal would be better than a bad deal. But ultimately the desire for a deal won out. Some also pointed to the host country as a reason for the struggle. Mohamed Adow, director of climate and energy think tank Power Shift Africa, said Friday that “this COP presidency is one of the worst in recent memory,” calling it “one of the most poorly led and chaotic COP meetings ever.” The presidency said in a statement, “Every hour of the day, we have pulled people together. Every inch of the way, we have pushed for the highest common denominator. We have faced geopolitical headwinds and made every effort to be an honest broker for all sides.” Shuo retains hope that the opportunities offered by a green economy “make inaction self-defeating” for countries around the world, regardless of their stance on the decision. But it remains to be seen whether the UN talks can deliver more ambition next year. In the meantime, “this COP process needs to recover from Baku,” Shuo said. ___ Associated Press reporters Seth Borenstein and Sibi Arasu contributed to this report. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
Las Vegas Raiders Already Expected To Struggle In 2025
Unconvincing Canada tops Germany 3-0 at world juniorsPresident-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The law was was signed by President Joe Biden in April after it passed Congress with broad bipartisan support. TikTok and ByteDance filed a legal challenge afterwards. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.
NBA Spread and Total Picks for Today, December 30WINNIPEG - Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * WINNIPEG - Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? WINNIPEG – Kyle Walters doesn’t believe losing a third consecutive Grey Cup means the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ roster should be blown up. The CFL club’s general manager told reporters at his year-end availability Tuesday that reaching a fifth straight championship game by overcoming lots of injuries was a big accomplishment. Even before Winnipeg’s recent 41-24 Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts, Walters said he was looking forward to next season. “I was excited for next year based on what I’m looking at, compared to years past, where we’ve got more young guys that have contributed that are under contract,” he said. “We’ve got more young players in the building. So, the idea of, ‘This is the end of the road. The team is in a free-for-all downward,’ I don’t think is accurate. “We have a good group of guys and we were in a one-point (Grey Cup) game with 10 minutes left ... before things went downhill.” The Blue Bombers started the season 0-4, moved to 2-6 and finished 11-7 to claim the West Division title. Star receiver Dalton Schoen, veteran linebacker Adam Bighill and backup quarterback Chris Streveler all suffered season-ending injuries and are pending free agents. Negotiating with the team’s 27 unsigned players could be impacted by moves across the league among coaches, personnel staff and players such as quarterbacks, Walters said. The Bombers have given permission for offensive coordinator Buck Pierce to speak to the B.C. Lions and Edmonton Elks about those teams’ vacant head-coaching jobs, he said. Walters also revealed the Ottawa Redblacks were given the go-ahead to talk to Richie Hall about their defensive coordinator vacancy. Hall was a Winnipeg defensive assistant this season after Jordan Younger took over from him as defensive coordinator. Walters said the Bombers received permission to speak to Lions offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic in case Pierce leaves. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have already been given the OK to talk to Winnipeg assistant general managers Danny McManus and Ted Goveia about the Ticats’ GM opening. “You’re hesitant to have too much conversation with people who may not be in the organization next year, so it’s just been me and (head coach) Mike (O’Shea) in this moment huddled together and talking about next year,” Walters said. He said an NFL team had asked Tuesday morning to work out one Blue Bomber, but he didn’t reveal the player’s name in case he wasn’t aware of the request yet. The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 2019 and ’21, but lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes last year and 24-23 to Toronto in 2022. Winnipeg re-signed placekicker Sergio Castillo last week. Walters said he’d like to have deals done with three or four main players before the end of the year. The team has some up-and-coming young players inked for next year, and injuries gave others valuable experience on both sides of the ball, Walters said. Receivers such as rookie Ontaria Wilson (1,026 yards receiving in 18 games) and Keric Wheatfall (273 yards in seven games) are signed through next season. “The experience that they got was invaluable,” Walters said. Re-signing players who missed time because of injuries can get tricky. “Organizationally, can we approach (their agents) and say, ‘Well, your guy was hurt, he should come back for less money?’” Walters said. “Generally, they don’t view it like that. They view that they’ll be back 100 per cent.” Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. One question mark is the backup to starting quarterback Zach Collaros, who suffered a deep cut to the index finger of his throwing hand late in the third quarter of the Grey Cup. Collaros got five stitches and numbing agent applied to his finger. He returned with a bandage on it, but admitted he had a hard time gripping the ball. “We’ll have to find out who our offensive coordinator is first,” Walters said when asked who might be Collaros’s backup. Terry Wilson, who briefly replaced Collaros in the Grey Cup, and Jake Dolegala are signed for next year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement
Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) is a statutory requirement in Title 10 of the United States Code (USC) for all Pentagon procurement projects labeled as a "Major Defense Acquisition Program." (MDAP). The B-21 Raider is one such program. LRIP was established in the wake of the Post-World War II run of large-scale weapons development and production programs - particularly aircraft. An explanation is necessary. "AcqNotes" - The Defense Acquisition Encyclopedia covers all aspects of Pentagon Weapons Procurement Programs. Ever since WWI, when aircraft were introduced into military operations, aeronautical research and development have been pursued at a breakneck speed, and it has not been cheap. The United States has been, and continues to be, the world's leader in aeronautical research and development. The DoD is spending big on aircraft acquisition with apparently few large programs for ground combat. 1 LRIP's Relationship to the Rest of the Acquisition Process LRIP is the acquisition phase with the greatest amount of risk of all types, affecting both the Air Force and Northrop-Grumman The MDAP Acquisition Process has three important phases before Low Rate Initial Production enters the picture. In the case of the B-21 Raider, the program ran from initial contract award to commencing LRIP, a span of 12 years. To streamline the program, the contract is being managed outside the Pentagon's normal contracting infrastructure. The program was assigned to the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) located at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH. Co-located at WPAFB is the headquarters of the AFRCO's parent organization, the Air Force Systems Command. If necessary, the AFRCO can cancel the program before LRIP commencement. It would be painful, but once AFRCO issued a Notice-to-Proceed for LRIP, the program just crossed the Rubicon, and turning back would be an epic disaster for the Air Force and Northrop-Grumman. Throughout the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, the Pentagon contracted for the R&D of dozens of aircraft. Most of these contracts started with the government paying for all development costs. The Pentagon, defense contractors, and Congress all understood that developing new technology was time-consuming and expensive. Standard practice for Pentagon weapon systems contracting was based on the common philosophy of all walks of life: "if you want to buy something that does not exist, you are responsible for the seller's costs to create it." This led to what is now a common term in all types of manufacturing: "Non-Recurring Engineering" (NRE) costs. NRE means that a customer wants to acquire a product or service that does not exist or exists, but the customer wants some changes made to it. The contractor will require additional funding for developmental engineering. NRE is typically listed as a standalone contract line item for the additional engineering funding. NRE expenses could be a small amount of money to accommodate a customer who wants a minor modification of the seller's standard product, or billions of dollars for something brand new, like the B-21 Raider. Customers are responsible for paying NRE development expenses. Using NRE line items on a contract attracts customers because it keeps the per-unit sales price uncluttered with unseen costs. By the mid-1960s, and with hundreds of billions of dollars spent by the Pentagon on defense contractor research and development, the "you want it, you pay for it" concept was wearing thin. Pentagon contracting officials were concerned over what appeared to be avoidable cost overruns by defense contractors. The Defense Department established a standalone agency in 1965, the "Defense Contract Audit Agency" (DCAA), to monitor the financial aspects of MDAP contracts. The DCAA's efforts led Pentagon contracting officers to revamp the acquisition process to avoid contractor cost overruns. Costs such as NRE slowly transformed over the next 20 years to a negotiated, fixed price. The new fixed-price method meant the defense contractor was financially responsible for cost overruns unless it could prove the overrun resulted from a situation neither the contractor nor the Pentagon anticipated. LRIP was also a new tool, among others, using the milestone/funding contract model. To the layperson, this contracting model can be labeled "pay-as-you-go." The following quote about discovering new technology is appropriate for this discussion: "You don't know what you don't know." Weapon systems development of non-existent technology fits the quote well. Trial and error in an R&D program is part of the process. Encountered problems are no more the defense contractor's fault than the Congress or the Pentagon's. Money will be spent on R&D efforts that do not lead to a solution, but at least the team knows what does not work. Coming out of the Vietnam War and the end of the Apollo Space Program in 1973, there was a major reduction in government contracting in the defense/aerospace sector. When new contracts started coming out later in the decade, numerous contractual mechanisms were used to control runaway program costs and excessive delays. While the B-21 Raider may look similar on the outside, it differs in many ways from its predecessor B-2 Spirit. Low Rate Initial Production was implemented to prevent the Government customer or the contractor from getting too far ahead on some contract objectives but lagging too far behind in other areas. A Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP), like the B-21 Raider, is subject to the Pentagon's incremental contracting process. Government contracting officers and program managers strenuously resist the temptation to cut corners. The contracting cycle uses the following incremental tools (or phases) to keep programs on time and within budget. Depending on the nature of the MDAP, it may use all or some of the Tools (phases) shown below. The B-21 Program used all three contracting tools before LRIP. Contract Management Tools (focus on aircraft programs Explanation Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) SDD is used when the Pentagon and the contractor are undecided about the program's nature and direction. Demonstrating what has been developed may require a flyable prototype, a scale model, or a mock-up. It is also possible that the work product is inconclusive, and the Pentagon either extends the SDD or issues a new contract. Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) EMD commonly includes two to five test aircraft, with at least one dedicated to ground testing only. Three critical milestones during EMD, if not already completed in SDD are: 1. Preliminary Design Review (PDR) 2. Critical Design Review (CDR). A successful CDR leads to the contractor "freezing" the aircraft's engineering configuration. 3. Build 4-7 flightworthy aircraft for all types of contractually required testing. Full-Scale Development (FSD) FSD is when the contractor clears up any open action items and prepares for production. This phase is typically marked by intense negotiations to determine whether the program is ready to support actual production and not require excessive "handholding" by the design engineers. Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) LRIP's main purpose is to "stress test" the contractor's team and possibly uncover latent issues that could prevent meeting a normal production run. Full-Rate Production (FSD) FSD uses incremental lots, or "blocks," to avoid the contractor getting too far ahead of schedule. 2 The Status of the B-21 Raider's LRIP Efforts How did the program get to where it is today? LRIP's statutory purposes are: To provide production-configured or representative articles for operational testing; To establish an initial production base for the weapon system and; To permit an orderly increase in the production rate for the weapon system sufficient to lead to full-rate production upon the successful completion of operational testing. [note: " operational testing " refers to the Defense Department's Directorate of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) , and not the contractually required flight testing done by the prime contractor] The B-21 Raider is unlike any aircraft acquisition program in recent memory. Neither Northrop-Grumman nor the Air Force wanted to go through the troubles of previous programs like the F-22 Raptor, B-2 Spirit, F-35 Lightning II, or the KC-46 Pegasus. (Fact number 4 mentions some of the problems encountered with these planes) Unbeknownst to everyone, the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) issued a classified, top-secret Request for Information (RFI) in 2011 to Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed-Martin, and Boeing. The following year, AFRCO issued Top-Secret contracts to the three defense contractors for an SDD effort. The fact that the AFRCO was assigned to be the Program Executive was the first indication that things would be different on the B-21 Program. Issuing classified RFI and SDD contracts was done to truncate the traditional, lengthy throughput timing of an aircraft MDAP. These steps easily shaved 2–3 years off of the development process. The AFRCO would continue to find prudent ways to save time and money. After the SDD contracts, the AFRCO issued an unclassified Request for Proposal in 2014 to all three contractors. Northrop Grumman's proposal won the contract in 2015, and they were issued a contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) effort. The contract's SOW (statement of work) stipulated that when the B-21 manufacturing tools and equipment were completed, Northrop-Grumman would produce six planes using the new production line. Six planes have been built; three planes are airworthy. They are allocated to various teams charged with contractually required tests and evaluations. In keeping with the plan to move smartly through the B-21's milestones, AFRCO released the LRIP contract in November 2023, the same month as the Raider's first flight. The B-21's LRIP contract is unique; some features require special approval. 3 B-21 LRIP Contract Gets a Waiver From the B-21's Program Executive A necessary action to maintain program momentum and cost control Title 10 (USC) Section 4231 specifies that the LRIP phase of an MDAP acquisition cannot exceed 10% of the expected total production quantity. One of the statutory MDAP requirements to complete and move forward from an SDD contract is an agreement between contracting officers and the contractor on the quantity of aircraft to be produced over the lifetime of the B-21 program. They expect to produce a total of 100 aircraft. Simple math shows that the B-21 LRIP is supposed to be 10 aircraft. This poses a problem in keeping the cost per plane in line with what the AFRCO and Northrop-Grumman agreed to for the first 21 production airframes. Throughout the B-21 Program, Northrop-Grumman and the Air Force have pursued opportunities to conduct as many contractual obligations concurrently rather than serially. Doing this sort of thing is well-known by the AFRCO. Part of their charter is to identify and mitigate roadblocks. Aside from the statutory LRIP requirement of producing a maximum of 10% of the B-21 Program's total of 100 aircraft, they also had a statutory problem that blocks any MDAP from moving out of LRIP and into Full-Rate Production if DOT&E has not been favorably completed. These issues were validated by the AFRCO and the DOT&E. Rather than waiting for Northrop-Grumman to complete its testing before DOT&E commenced its work, the two organizations are conducting all of the testing jointly. The Defense Secretary concurred with Northrop-Grumman, AFRCO, and DOT&E, and endorsed a waiver request sent to the Program Executive for approval. The waiver was granted to increase the LRIP quantity from 10 to 21 aircraft. This takes advantage of the previously agreed-upon fixed pricing for the first 21 production aircraft. LRIP will be conducted in lots of five aircraft each, with six in the final lot. The final LRIP lot has a 2030 delivery date. After granting the LRIP waiver, AFRCO and Northrop-Grumman agreed on the fixed pricing for an additional 19 aircraft, bringing the total to 40 planes. The Program Executive has extended the LRIP waiver from 21 to 40 aircraft. All of these contract process adjustments have never been done before. 4 Northrop-Grumman Absorbs a Financial Loss in LRIP Better to take a charge-off on 2023 taxes and not carry it on the books long-term From the 1980s until the present day, Pentagon contracting officers have issued contracts with ever-tightening cost controls on defense contractors. Cost controls helped, but there have been plenty of cases where neither the Pentagon nor the defense contractor was happy with the outcome. Troublesome aircraft development contracts include the Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit, the Boeing-Lockheed F-22 Raptor, the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II, and the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tanker program. Aircraft Program Results Due to Cost Overruns B-2 Spirit Cut production from 132 to 21 aircraft; Congress bans export F-22 Raptor Cut production from 750 to 381 to 195 to 187; Congress bans exports F-35 Lightning II First flight: December 2006, but the first delivery was not until 2015. The nine-year span between the first flight and the first delivery had numerous technical problems, with contentious cost negotiations to determine how to handle cost overruns. The Pentagon intends to buy 2,456 planes. Nine countries are under contract to buy the F-35. The program for all countries and models has delivered more than 1,000 planes. Within the past 3-4 years, the Air Force and Lockheed-Martin have agreed on applying excess costs. KC-46 Pegasus The KC-46 is based on Boeing's successful 767 program's freighter derivative. The Air Force intends to buy 179 aircraft. Thus far, the KC-46 has two additional customers besides the USAF: Japan and Israel. The contract was negotiated to be a Firm, Fixed Price per aircraft and a fixed program development amount of $4.9 billion. Profit margins are very thin. Two major engineering errors incurred an additional $700 million charge that Boeing was contractually obligated to absorb. Before the $700 million charge, Boeing calculated that the 179 planes on order would allow them to break even and profit on the eleven planes for Japan and Israel. At this point, Boeing is unlikely to see any profits. Pushing defense contractors into deals with fixed development costs and fixed unit pricing has had mixed results. This contracting practice has become problematic in programs like the KC-46 and the B-21, especially when the product has high NRE development costs and subsequent production. If the government and the contractor get into too much of a rush, additional costs always follow. These days, the biggest culprit in cost overruns is trying to save large chunks of money and time by conducting contract tasks concurrently instead of serially, as intended. A good example of how NOT to do it is the McDonnell-Douglas-Boeing T-45 Goshawk jet trainer debacle. Northrop-Grumman has diligently kept investors apprised of the B-21 Program's progress and challenges, including financial issues. To that end, it was no surprise that they took a pre-tax charge of $1.56 billion on their 2023 taxes earlier this year. AFRCO awarded the B-21 Raider Program to Northrop-Grumman in 2015, including a contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. The contract required building six aircraft using the actual production line and trained technicians that EMD paid for. During the same 2015 timeframe, AFRCO also issued an LRIP contract based on a negotiated, firm, fixed price per aircraft. Eight years later, when the Raider made its first flight in November 2023, Northrop was finally able to submit billing on LRIP work. This same process would have applied to Boeing and Lockheed Martin had either of them won the program. When the AFRCO announced the award and issued the EMD and LRIP contracts, all three bids were revealed and became public information. The B-21 Raider and China's H-20 reveal distinct advances in stealth and range, shaping each nation’s future strategic airpower. Northrop Grumman's competitors filed a protest in short order with the Government Accountability Office (GAO). Since the three defense contractors could only respond to the Air Force RFP if they had completed the SDD phase, any award protest could not be based on work already done. Lockheed-Martin and Boeing protested because Northrop Grumman's firm, fixed-price bid had been "lowballed." This was a reasonable protest, as both contractors were painfully aware that when the Air Force said the bids had to be firm, fixed-price, they meant it. Boeing, for example, was awarded the KC-46 Pegagus Tanker Program in 2011 at a firm, fixed price per aircraft, with a separate contract line item for all development costs not to exceed $4.9 billion. With these numbers, Boeing did not expect to turn a profit until the latter stages of production for the 179 tankers on order. After flight testing commenced during the EMD phase in 2014, it revealed two major problems: Cobham Aerospace's aerial refueling system had a serious flaw that could not be easily rectified. Cobham had to absorb a $206 million charge to redesign the system, then remove and replace it in the half-dozen testbed aircraft Boeing had already been paid for. This caused a 19-month program delay. Compounding Cobham's $206 million gaff, flight testing revealed a serious problem with the Boeing-designed aircraft wire harness system. The KC-46 was designed with triple redundancy in all major systems, including the wiring. Flight test engineers found excessive signal interference on multiple systems, including crosstalk in the wiring harnesses. Further ground testing found the problem. Instead of designing the wiring harnesses to route them with the triple redundancy in three separate areas of the plane, like one set of wires routed through the left side of the fuselage, on the right side, and finally, the bottom of the plane beneath the floorboards, all three redundant wire harnesses were designed and built right next to each other on one side of the plane only. Boeing spent another $425 million on the wiring problem fix. In total, Boeing has incurred $7 billion in KC-46 non-recurring engineering charges. The contract only covered the first $4.9 billion. The Air Force has covered only a small portion of the additional $2.1 billion. 5 What Challenges Are on the Horizon for LRIP? The Air Force and Northrop-Grumman are aware of the high stakes throughout LRIP All parties recognize the seriousness of the B-21 Program challenges going forward. There are three major program challenges: Managing the critical B-21 subcontractor relationships Mitigating future cost control issues Anticipating and preparing for future problems to maintain program momentum Managing the critical B-21 subcontractor relationships The B-21 Program has seven major subcontractors: Pratt & Whitney Janicki Industries BAE Systems Spirit AeroSystems Orbital ATK Rockwell-Collins GKN Aerospace There are also 400+ smaller suppliers. The seven major suppliers and many smaller suppliers have done business with Northrop-Grumman for many decades. The seven critical suppliers are on all American military aircraft to one degree or another. Each of the seven suppliers is also critical to many other aircraft manufacturers. The B-21 Program is risky for everyone, from the Air Force to Northrop-Grumman to the seven critical suppliers and beyond. If Northrop-Grumman stumbles badly, many of the B-21's suppliers could face serious hardships. It is one thing for Northrop-Grumman to take a $1.56 billion write-off, but the B-21 supply chain is not similarly positioned. Most certainly, if any critical supplier is unable to absorb a major program delay or a revenue loss not of their own making, Northrop-Grumman would likely have to take the "hits" on behalf of the affected supplier(s). Northrop-Grumman has squeezed $60 million extra from AFRCO to offset inflationary factors over the past few years. This is a paltry sum, considering the costs that were written off. Cost controls are also a major factor during LRIP. An instructive, telling situation for Boeing on the KC-46 program was the length of time it took to complete flight testing: over four years. This was for an aircraft that was a derivative of the B767-200 Freighter, which had been in service for more than twenty years. As soon as the Air Force finalized the KC-46 deal with Boeing, FedEx immediately put 50 new B767-200s on order. FedEx's planes came down the same production line as the KC-46, alternating with each other. If it took four years to test a derivative aircraft, imagine how long it could take for an all-new plane, from the wheels up? It took Lockheed-Martin 11 years to complete flight testing on the three all-new models of the F-35. The Air Force said it was the most comprehensive flight testing program in aviation history. Lockheed-Martin and Boeing leadership cautioned Northrop-Grumman about the pitfalls of bidding a firm, fixed price for the production of a newly developed aircraft during the 2014 timeframe of the B-21 Request for Proposal. Northrop-Grumman did not take the advice, feeling they had rigorously vetted their costs and stood by their proposal's fixed price bid. Both the AFRCO and the General Accountability Office agreed that Northrop Grumman's B-21 bid was fair and reasonable. The GAO rejected the protest from the two competitors. Now that AFRCO and Northrop-Grumman have agreed on fixed pricing for the first 40 aircraft controlling costs is paramount. Northrop-Grumman will have little sympathy for cost overruns in the supply chain since firm, fixed prices have been locked in by the B-21's suppliers. Neither will AFRCO look favorably upon Northrop-Grumman if they ask for pricing relief. Northrop Grumman's CEO, Kathy Warden, stated earlier this year that company leadership now understands what Boeing and Lockheed-Martin meant by their admonishment about the pitfalls of firm, fixed-price contracts for developmental aircraft. Even Pentagon contracting leadership has acknowledged their concern over defense contractors losing money on firm, fixed-price contracts with significant R&D work covered by an NRE line item. Warden said that the agreed-upon pricing for the 40th aircraft would be booked as a loss. Northrop-Grumman would begin turning a profit in Full-Rate Production of the final 60 aircraft. Warden also noted the Air Force is doing a comprehensive force structure design review. There is a strong possibility that the AFRCO will increase the program from 100 aircraft to 134 or more. Recapping the B-21's LRIP Situation As Boeing and Lockheed-Martin can attest, working on major contractual obligations in parallel instead of serially is a risky move with no room for error. One of the main goals of completing flight testing before full-rate production is to detect problems and correct them via design changes and/or revised manufacturing processes. Whatever problems are detected and solutions found require two paths of corrective action: Implementing them with suppliers and/or in-house manufacturing Determine what to do with any affected parts and equipment already produced, and then take action. This is why MDAP regulations limit LRIP to a maximum of 10% of the total expected to be made and do not allow the program to move forward from LRIP until flight testing has been successfully completed. The B-21 Program is now scheduled to produce 40 aircraft in the LRIP phase. If flight testing reveals any serious problems, it could easily impact costs, production scheduling, and flight test completion. The stakes and risk are high, with no room for error. Only time will tell. These two aircraft will form the backbone of the USAF’s bomber force for years to come.
Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo continues to pack on the PDA with new millionaire fiancé James Watt as she shares festive photos Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By RUTH FRANCIS FOR MAILONLINE Published: 22:20, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 22:20, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments She recently got engaged during an idyllic Greek getaway after 18 months of dating. And on Sunday, Georgia Toffolo, 30, took to social media to share some adorable Christmas snaps of her and fiancé James Watt. The former Made In Chelsea star posed with her husband-to-be in the car wrapped up in wooly winter jumpers on their way to stay with family. In another photo, Georgia wowed in a black long sleeved dress that boasted a stylish white collar. Resting her head lovingly on her partner's shoulder, she smiled to the camera, whilst James - the BrewDog founder, 42 - beamed in a pair of sunglasses and a festive headband. Another image from the same day, saw the couple radiate happiness with their arms around each other, as they enjoyed a lavish dinner. Georgia Toffolo took to social media to share some adorable Christmas snaps of her and fiancé James Watt In one photo Georgia wowed in a black long sleeved dress that boasted a stylish white collar as she rested her head lovingly on her partner's shoulder, who beamed in a pair of sunglasses and a festive headband Georgia, who found fame on Made In Chelsea, also shared snaps of the family in matching pyjamas for the festive photos stood on top of a hill. The sweet post saw Georgia with her arm outstretched, wearing a pair of reindeer antlers, whilst James wrapped up in a hat and jumper, had a youngster sat on his shoulders. In another photo Georgia flashed her huge sparkler as she posed in a black fluffy hat. With the huge diamond on show, the reality star pouted for the camera and let her blonde locks fall loosely down her shoulders. Alongside the collection, Georgia penned how she was making the most of being her last Christmas before the pair wed next year. She wrote: 'Soaking up my first Christmas being engaged and my last before we get married. 'Happily my family were with us up in Scotland - true to form we have done far too much and are all zonked and exhausted. So worth it though. 'Anyone else battled feeling under the weather this year? Desperate to get in bed with my book and not move!' Another image from the same day, saw the couple radiate happiness with their arms around each other, as they enjoyed a lavish dinner The pair who got engaged during an idyllic Greek getaway in October after 18 months of dating looked happier than ever as they celebrated over the festive season Georgia, who found fame on Made In Chelsea, also shared snaps of the family in matching pyjamasas they stood on top of a hill Alongside the collection, Georgia penned how she was making the most of being her last Christmas before the pair wed next year In another photo Georgia flashed her huge sparkler as she posed in a black fluffy hat and let her blonde locks fall loosely down her shoulders For another image, the blonde bombshell wore a white fluffy coat over her dress and added a touch of glamour with a diamond necklace fans couldn't help but notice the huge engagement ring in one of her photos and congratulated the happy couple for their good news Fans flocked to her comment section to wish the happy couple their best writing: 'Have a great break. Your ring is fabulous xx' Read More Georgia Toffolo, 30, reunites with I'm A Celeb bestie Stanley Johnson, 84, at Christmas party 'You look like you had a fabulous Christmas, your ring is beautiful. All the best for 2025 to you and James x' ... 'Just mega ❤️' .... Gorgeous ❤️xx' It comes after Georgia and James celebrated their engagement in style as they enjoyed a festive-themed bash. The BrewDog founder, 42, popped the question to the former Made In Chelsea star , 30, in October during an idyllic Greek getaway for her birthday. And just days before Christmas , the happy couple gathered at one of James' BrewDog branches in Aberdeen with their friends and family to mark their upcoming nuptials. The pair pulled out all the stops for party, capturing special moments with a 360 photo booth while also posing up a storm on a sleigh. Dressed to impress for the occasion, Georgia looked sensational in a black lace mini dress which she teamed with semi-sheer black tights and black boots . The star added a pair of bauble-clad antlers as she posed beside her husband-to-be, who looked smart in a white shirt and jeans. It comes after the pair celebrated their engagement in style as they enjoyed a festive-themed bash just before Christmas The BrewDog founder, 42, popped the question to the former Made In Chelsea star , 30, in October during an idyllic Greek getaway for her birthday Georgia lovingly danced with James while their nearest and dearest watched on. Before the pair posed for a number of snaps alongside their friends and family, including an adorable photo with James' granny donning a sparkly glitter ball helmet. Captioning her post, Georgia penned: 'Last night we hosted our Christmas / engagement party. I danced for hours and it was so special for us to have our people in one place. 'This is the second year we hosted this together and now I’m worried about what to do next year to top it! Highlight was James’ Granny on the 360 camera wearing a glitter ball helmet'. James - who is reportedly worth an estimated £262 million - proposed at the end of October, on the week she celebrated her 30th birthday in the Greek islands. At the time, a source told MailOnline: 'He asked her to marry him yesterday in front of both of their families in Greece . 'After the proposal they went to a big party at the Peligoni club and ended up dancing on tables to ABBA , celebrating with all the other guests.' Georgia, who found fame as a regular cast-member on E4 show Made In Chelsea , has been dating the millionaire BrewDog co-founder since last summer and the pair now live together in London. James proposed at the end of October, on the week she celebrated her 30th birthday in the Greek islands And just days before Christmas , the happy couple gathered at one of James' BrewDog branches in Aberdeen with their friends and family to mark their upcoming nuptials The pair pulled out all the stops for party, capturing special moments with a 360 photo booth while also posing up a storm on a sleigh Dressed to impress for the occasion, Georgia looked sensational in a black lace mini dress which she teamed with semi-sheer black tights and black boots Georgia radiated happiness as she lovingly danced with James while their loved ones watched on Georgia and James' loved ones partied the night away at the festive engagement bash The former I'm A Celebrity star rocked a pair of bauble-clad antlers for the party The pair posed for a number of snaps alongside their friends and family, including an adorable photo with James' granny donning a sparkly glitter ball helmet Captioning her post, Georgia penned: 'Last night we hosted our Christmas / engagement party. I danced for hours and it was so special for us to have our people in one place Announcing the news while showing off her enormous diamond engagement ring, the blonde beauty told her Instagram followers: 'James just asked me to marry him. 'It really was the best moment of my life so far. I never knew I could feel happiness like this. The easiest, quickest yes to being your wife. 'Our love story is my favourite. How we managed to find each other out of billions of people out there will always be my greatest blessing. 'I love you forever and the magical life we’re building.' James proposed with and exquisite eight carat triple-diamond studded band estimated to be worth £200,000. Georgia Toffolo Made In Chelsea Share or comment on this article: Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo continues to pack on the PDA with new millionaire fiancé James Watt as she shares festive photos e-mail Add comment
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As society faces the challenges of an aging population, new housing concepts are emerging that promise to address one of the most important issues of older adults: loneliness. One such option is intergenerational housing, which combines senior living facilities, daycare centers, and university campuses. This method not only provides care and accommodations but also encourages meaningful social connections among people of various ages. Belong, a supportive housing development in Chester, England, is an excellent illustration of this concept, as it includes an infant and preschool facility on its premises. Residents at Belong, whether in 24-hour nursing care or independent apartments, are lovingly known as “grand friends” and are welcome to visit the children at any time. “It doesn’t feel like a care facility—it feels like you’re part of a community,” says Caroline Baker, Belong’s head of dementia and care quality. The layout promotes spontaneous contact, such as informal talks in the café or group activities like choir and storytime, resulting in a vibrant, multigenerational setting. Benefits beyond the walls: socialization and cognitive health The advantages of such intergenerational arrangements go far beyond simply socializing. According to research, these interactions can have a significant impact on both older adults and young children. Being around children can assist seniors, particularly those suffering from dementia, connect with their long-term memories , and engage in activities that reinforce their cognitive skills . “Particularly for people living with dementia, it [being around kids] enables them to think about their previous lives and connect with their own childhood,” Baker points out. Furthermore, the opportunity to act as role models and feel wanted gives older persons a revitalized sense of purpose, which helps them overcome feelings of isolation. According to a 2015 study , persons aged 50 to 79 who studied part-time at a university were less likely to suffer from memory loss or cognitive illnesses like dementia . Positive contacts with older persons help children develop a more realistic and sympathetic understanding of aging. A global trend: examples from the UK, USA, and beyond Intergenerational housing patterns are gaining popularity around the world, with noteworthy examples in the UK and the United States. Providence Mount St. Vincent in Seattle began integrating a nursery into its senior housing complex in 1991. The program currently enrolls 125 youngsters, and interactions between the children and the 400-plus residents occur on a daily basis. The Pillars of Prospect Park in Minneapolis, which opened in 2020, includes a daycare center for both the general public and staff members’ children. Erin Erdahl, director of programs and partnerships at The Pillars, says, “It is comforting to have my child close by, but it is also fun to be able to pop up and visit the classroom and stay connected with them.” The United States has also seen an increase in university-based retirement communities, where seniors live on or near college campuses and participate in campus life. Examples include Arizona State University’s Mirabella complex and Lasell Village in Massachusetts, where residents utilize student IDs to attend classes and events. Planning for the future: urban integration and cultivating community As the baby boomer population ages , there will be an increased desire for lively, community-focused retirement living. Bryan Schachter, chief investment officer at Watermark Retirement Communities, underlines this shift: “Baby boomers don’t want to be out in the suburbs like most of the senior housing that was built 30 years ago... We’re trying to push the envelope in developing top-of-the-line care homes that are driven around hospitality, fitness and wellness, and dining options, and in urban locations like cities, which was not previously thought of.” In response to these evolving choices, urban retirement housing that incorporates intergenerational living is becoming increasingly important. These innovative models not only meet older individuals’ social needs but also provide practical solutions to issues like cheap housing and community engagement. As the stigma associated with traditional senior living diminishes, these new approaches to intergenerational care are paving the way for a more connected and caring society. By creating areas where different generations may coexist and grow, we can build communities that actually care about the well-being of all members. In this installment of our “Best Of” series, we focus on the top Business solutions of 2024. These stories celebrate creativity, resilience, and the pursuit of sustainable success in an ever-evolving economic landscape.The writer is a Congress MP and chairman, parliamentary committee on home affairs Sanjana Sanghi shines in traditional wear Pratibha Ranta captivates with her luminous and timeless charm Mimi Chakraborty exudes timeless glamour in a classic white saree Shriya Saran stuns in a stunning display of ethnic wear How to make Kashmiri-style Methi Mutton at home 8 plant milks and how to consume them Shriya Pilgaonkar's stunning look commands all eyes Remembering RJ Simran Singh: The girl next door with timeless style How to make spicy Chicken Seek Kebabs at home
