James Argent has given The Mirror a grand tour of his dazzling festive home. The 36 year old is all set to spend his first Christmas with new love, 31 year old Nicoline Artursson, and shared a glimpse into their Christmassy Essex retreat. "This is my Christmas tree - as you can see it is slightly wonky," he shared with a chuckle. "I actually cut this down myself with my bare hands believe it or not but I can't take credit for the decorations. That was my girlfriend Nicoline and my mum Patricia. They made it look beautiful. I am proud of it." The couple's romance blossomed after they first met in July on his way to a gig in sunny Marbella, and things have been looking up ever since. James, affectionately known as Arg, is now integrating Nicoline into his world , complete with her own stocking hung by the fireplace. READ MORE - Blood seen dripping from balcony after model involved in gruesome murder-suicide READ MORE - I'm A Celebrity's Dean branded 'pathetic' after stealing food from co-stars as viewers fed up "This is the first Christmas me and Nicoline are going to be spending together," Arg beamed. "We are going to make it a real special one to remember. I can't wait to make some amazing memories." Their home boasts a quirky yet stunning Christmas tree decked out with oversized red bows, luxury Christmas crackers and twinkling silver and white baubles, all set off by gleaming gold lights. Amid the backdrop sits an elegant white and black grand piano and a chic turquoise electric guitar. The dining table echoes the festive opulence with arrangements of gold, green and white floral displays amongst glass goblets, awaiting guests at the four-person setting. Beaming with pride, Arg shared: "The number one wedding singer and party event man in the country, this is where the preparation and magic happens." But Arg's home has even more unique touches. His beloved garden features a cosy hot tub area for those chilly evenings, which James admits is a personal highlight: "There is nothing better. It is like being in a roasting hot bath." Not just a winter retreat, his backyard transforms into a social hub in warmer weather, complete with chic outdoor furniture reminiscent of Love Island settings. He expressed his affection for this space: "The garden is probably my favourite place in the house. I love spending time out here especially in the summer months." Following his departure from The Only Way Is Essex , the TV show that brought him fame, Arg embarked on a transformative journey that included rehab and a gastric band surgery, resulting in an impressive 14-stone weight loss. Keeping fit is now more convenient than ever with his outdoor home gym. Reflecting on his lifestyle changes, Arg stated: "I'm three years clean and sober. I've managed to maintain a healthy weight and a good relationship with exercise and food. Nicoline is really good at tennis so we want to play doubles. She's going to get me into mindfulness and meditation." Radiating happiness about his current life, he said: "I'm feeling great. I have a job that I love, an amazing girl by my side – life couldn't get any better. I'm no longer embarrassed or ashamed. I'm proud that I've come through the other side." Hailey Bieber loves this Avene moisturiser for sensitive skin - and it's currently on sale for £10 . Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .Jimmy Carter dies: The 39th U.S. president and global humanitarian was 100
Qatar tribune Agencies President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated on Saturday the main priority of the government’s economic program to lower inflation as he said that there would be more interest rate cuts in 2025 after the central bank cut its key rate by 250 basis points to 47.5% earlier this week. The Turkish central bank trimmed the one-week repo rate on Thursday after an 18-month tightening effort to tackle elevated prices. “Priority in our economy program is to lower inflation ... We will hopefully reduce inflation to the required level by using other tools at our disposal in addition to the monetary policy,” Erdoğan told members of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in the northwestern city of Bursa. “We will definitely start lowering the interest rates; 2025 will be the landmark year for this,” he said.“Interest rates will decrease so that inflation will decrease. We will take this step. This is now indispensable for us.” The annual inflation rate dipped to 47.1% in November compared to around 75% in May, marking the lowest since mid-2023. Inflation is seen declining further to 45.2% in December, according to a recent Reuters poll which saw the annual rate falling to 26.5% by the end of 2025. The central bank earlier announced that it had reduced the number of scheduled policy meetings next year to eight from 12 in 2024. According to a Reuters poll’s median, the central bank is expected to ease rates to about 28.5% by the end of 2025, with forecasts ranging between 25% and 33%.“The main purpose of our ecnomic program is to compensate for the welfare loss, which our nation, our fixed-income citizens in particular, has been experiencing due to the imbalances in exchange rates and inflation, as soon as possible. To that end, we must, first of all, eliminate such matters as inflation used as an excuse for the high cost of living,” Erdoğan said at the congress of AK Party in Bursa. “The arbitrary pricing habits of greedy opportunists, which cannot be explained by inflation, exchange or interest rates, of course, do not make our job easier, they make it harder. There is a group that perceives the free market economy as disorder and exploits it to the fullest, but we will overcome them,” he added. “In fact, the most effective method in this regard is for our nation to boycott products and services that increase prices excessively,” he outlined. Furthermore, drawing attention to housing and rental prices, which he said play an important role in inflation rise and the perception of the cost of living, President Erdoğan stressed that they are in preparation for taking a step that will prevent this, and added: “As of the summer months, during which the construction activities in the earthquake zone will be completed to a great extent, we are planning to launch a social housing mobilization.” Like this, he noted that they will take steps aimed at enabling fixed-income citizens to own their own houses. Separately, at another event in Bursa on Saturday, the president also highlighted the confidence in the economic program as he pointed out to improvement in the economy, stating that the goals for 2024 have been achieved “to a large extent.” “We have full confidence and support for our economic program. We have achieved our goals for 2024 to a large extent despite the crises that resurfaced in our region and the elections. International capital inflow to our country has accelerated, our reserves have strengthened, foreign exchange volatility has decreased, and financing circumstances have improved,” said Erdoğan. “Our country’s credit risk premium has also fallen significantly. We are the only country whose rating has been increased twice by the three credit rating agencies,” he noted. “We have also taken realistic steps and a common future vision in the 2025 budget. This year, we have allocated TL 1.57 trillion (nearly $44.7 billion) for investments,” he added. “In addition to the reconstruction of the earthquake zone, we have given priority to investments in irrigation, investments that will connect organized industrial zones with ports by rail, and investments that will quickly complete the industrial infrastructure,” he said. Speaking at the Award Ceremony for Contributors to Economy, the president also highlighted the importance they attached to maintaining the competitive strength in the apparel, textile, leather and furniture sectors. Copy 30/12/2024 10Giants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the Saints
Darren Till announces new opponent after Tommy Fury cancelled fightAP Business SummaryBrief at 5:20 p.m. ESTBRITS can earn £100s every month by simply renting out their driveway - in one of the easiest money-making side hustles around. According to data from Just Park, home owners living across many different locations up and down the UK can make extra cash with their unused parking spaces - with some areas highly sought after. Homeowners could earn £330 every month - and in some very rare cases the figure rises up to £5,000 a month - by renting out their driveways, according to research by LKQ Euro Car Parts. The motoring experts have crunched the numbers and revealed that Brighton is the most lucrative location. Residents living in the coastal city are able to earn an average of £636 a month by renting out their unused driveway or parking space. This number is somewhat inflated by the fact that in some parts, the most expensive parking space to rent in Brighton is advertised at more than £5,000 a month. Read more Motors News London also features high on the list, with the average monthly income from renting out a parking space there standing at £480. The most expensive parking space listed in the capital is a corking £1,057 a month. Glasgow and Edinburgh are also significant earners, with people living in these Scottish cities receiving over £400 a month for renting out their unused parking spaces. Mark Newman, from Sheffield , is just one home owner who’s turned his parking space in a great little earner, largely thanks to match-going fans heading to a nearby football stadium. Most read in Motors He said: “I first started to rent my parking space after a gentleman knocked on my door enquiring about it. “I live only a stones-throw away from Hillsborough, the Sheffield Wednesday football stadium, and he spotted an opportunity to grab himself a reserved spot in a fantastic location. “I agreed to let him rent my space for every home-game, £10 per match, which adds up to over £250 across the football season. “He’s been renting this space for a season and a half now and drops a white envelope through my door every time he parks, handwritten with a ‘thanks’ and the £10 enclosed. “If I had any advice to people looking to rent their parking space, I'd say make sure you look at the available options online and compare with your location to see what might be available to you. “You never know, you could make a nice little side hustle out of it.” Brighton, £636 London, £480 Glasgow, £457 Edinburgh, £429 Durham, £239 Birmingham, £225 Leeds, £225 Southampton, £207 Plymouth, £205 Manchester, £200 LKQ Euro Car Parts weighed in, adding: “Parking rentals are a great way to earn extra cash and make use of your unused space, but they also provide an affordable option for your vehicle when visiting other cities. “If you’re parking somewhere other than a secure car park, it’s important to ensure that your vehicle is protected from potential theft. “Never leave valuables in your car, especially in plain sight, and keep your key in a protective case that prevents fob hacking technology .” READ MORE SUN STORIES This comes as a man recently shared how he makes £1,000 a month from renting his EV charger that he has installed outside his home. Joseph Gorham, 53, paid £350 for his charger which he rents out to fellow electric car owners.
Spyre Therapeutics to Participate in the 7th Annual Evercore ISI HealthCONx ConferenceDefiant Adani says committed to compliance after US indictment
Cardinals' feel-good month comes to a screeching halt after a head-scratching loss to Seahawks
Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100
BingEx Limited ( NASDAQ:FLX – Get Free Report ) was up 3.4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $8.20 and last traded at $8.20. Approximately 5,068 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 90% from the average daily volume of 51,146 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.93. BingEx Trading Up 2.9 % The stock has a fifty day moving average of $10.08. About BingEx ( Get Free Report ) BingEx Limited, through its subsidiaries, provides on-demand courier services under the FlashEx brand name in the People’s Republic of China. The company offers Flash-Riders as service providers. It serves individual and business customers, including local retailers, restaurants, and logistics players through its mobile platform and website. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for BingEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BingEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .None
Guest lineups for the Sunday news showsGiants will try to snap a 7-game losing streak when they host the Saints
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bucky Irving isn’t choosy. The rookie running back relishes any opportunity he gets to contribute to the success of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have rebounded from a tough stretch to climb back into a tie for first place in the NFC South. Irving leads NFL rookies in rushing with 732 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while sharing the workload with starter Rachaad White and third-stringer Sean Tucker, who have combined to ease some of the burden on quarterback Baker Mayfield. A fourth-round draft pick out of Oregon, Irving is coming off rushing for a season-best 152 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 26-23 overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. He had another 33 yards receiving, giving him a rookie-leading 1,017 total yards from scrimmage through 12 games. The Bucs (6-6) on Sunday host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-10), who have an outstanding newcomer of their own with Brock Bowers on the verge of breaking the league's record for catches by a rookie tight end. Bowers leads all players, regardless of position, with 84 receptions. He's fourth with 884 yards receiving and second behind Irving among rookies with 895 total yards from scrimmage. “I don’t really like taking all the credit. It’s those guys up front,” Irving said, deferring to Tampa Bay’s improved offensive line. “I think I have to do something special for those guys for Christmas because they’re getting the job done.” The Bucs are eighth in the NFL in rushing at 137.2 yards per game. They’ve gained 100-plus yards on the ground in nine of 12 games after only doing it nine times in 34 games over the past two seasons. Irving, whose ability to make defenders miss and accelerate in the open field, has provided a spark to an offense that sputtered without injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin during a four-game losing streak. It doesn’t seem to bother the rookie that he still sits behind White on the depth chart. The starter had a 38-yard run in overtime to set up the winning field goal last week. Coach Todd Bowles continues to stress that the Bucs, tied with Atlanta for the NFC South lead, need both Irving and White to be successful. “In our room, all our success is one,” said Irving, who in the past two weeks became the first rookie since Miles Sanders in 2019 to string together consecutive games with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. “If I’m having success,’’ Irving added, “everybody in the room is having success.” Tampa Bay’s porous secondary figures to be tested by Bowers, the first tight end to lead the league in catches after Week 13 since Todd Christenson in 1986. The first-round draft pick out of Georgia needs three receptions to break Sam LaPorta’s season record (86 in 2023) for catches by a tight end. He’s 116 yards away from joining Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 in 2021) as the only rookie tight ends to finish with 1,000-plus yards receiving. “I thought he was one of the best tight ends coming out in a long time – not just this draft, but in a long time,” Bowles said. “He’s living up to expectations. He can play wideout, he can play tight end, he can do some fullback, he can run jet sweeps,” the Bucs coach added. “They do a lot of things with him and he’s a very talented guy.” The last time the Raiders went against Mayfield was two seasons ago when he came off a plane to play for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite having minimal time with the playbook and just one brief practice, Mayfield rallied the Rams to a 17-16 victory on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 10 seconds left. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was the team’s linebackers coach at the time. “He plays the game kind of like Brett Favre, who I played against in (the) league,” Pierce said. “He’s very fiery. He’ll do whatever it takes to make a play. The play’s never dead with him. You’ve got to keep your eyes on him and then stay in coverage, so that’ll be a challenge.” Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell didn’t look as though he had missed nearly six weeks because of a broken thumb when he almost led Las Vegas to a victory at Kansas City last week. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 19-17 loss to the Chiefs. But O’Connell had a hard time looking at the positives given how close the Raiders came to beating the two-time defending Super Bowl champions. “Definitely some good plays, but it just stinks more than anything,” O’Connell said. “It was just a really hard loss. Even sometimes when you have a game right after, it’s easier to move on. But we had a longer week this week and so kind of really got to sit in it and it’s no fun.” AP Sports Writer Mark Anderson in Las Vegas contributed to this report. NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Topline The landmark federal prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump effectively came to an end Monday, as Special Counsel Jack Smith asked a judge to dismiss felony charges against Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election and dropped a fight to reinstate classified document charges—ending the historic saga before Trump retakes office. Key Facts Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here . Crucial Quote Trump responded to the cases being dropped, saying on Truth Social these cases—and the others he has faced in New York and Georgia—were “empty and lawless, and should never have been brought.” He continued : “It was a political hijacking, and a low point in the History of our Country that such a thing could have happened, and yet, I persevered, against all odds, and WON.” Key Background Trump was charged by the Justice Department in August 2023 with trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, one of four indictments brought against Trump at the state and federal level—a historic move, marking the first time a former president has faced criminal charges. Trump attempted to have the charges thrown out by arguing he had “presidential immunity,” and the Supreme Court ultimately sided with him, ruling mostly in his favor by saying he could not be charged for any activities that were “official” presidential duties. After the court’s ruling, Smith’s team issued a new , slimmed down indictment against Trump in August for the same four felonies. The second indictment more clearly argued Trump was not acting as president in his efforts to overturn the election, but was acting as a presidential candidate. Separately, Trump was indicted in the federal documents case last June for allegedly withholding national security documents and obstructing justice. Prosecutors alleged Trump intentionally tried to conceal classified documents and prevent them from being returned to the government, leading to 40 federal felony charges . Trump argued he was legally allowed to have the documents because of the Presidential Records Act, though experts said his argument was flawed. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges brought against him and described them as a “witch hunt” by President Joe Biden’s DOJ in an attempt to ruin his presidential campaign. In October before he was elected, Trump said if he returned to the White House he would “fire [Smith] within two seconds” and called the prosecutor a “scoundrel” and a “very dishonest man.” Tangent Last week, Trump’s criminal sentencing in his New York hush money case was postponed indefinitely . Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and was scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 26, but Judge Juan Merchan paused the sentencing and asked for briefs on whether the case should be dismissed to be filed by Dec. 9. There’s not yet a clear path forward for when the sentencing could take place, but prosecutors proposed sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office. Meanwhile, Trump’s criminal charges in Georgia for trying to reverse his election loss are on hold amid an appeals court fight over the prosecutor. Further ReadingGiannis Antetokounmpo returns for Bucks after missing 1 game with knee swelling
NoneOpinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own Akila Selvaraj has consistently proven herself as an experienced professional in product management and AI integration, blending over 17 years of expertise in product management, AI integration, and enterprise architecture. As Chief of Products and AI Product Manager at a leading tech firm, Akila has delivered significant projects leveraging artificial intelligence, big data, and IoT to address industry needs to meet evolving industry demands. Her career spans impactful roles across sectors like finance, manufacturing, and quick-service restaurants, where she has successfully delivered on complex projects and steered cross-functional teams across global locations. “In today’s tech landscape, innovation isn’t optional –- it’s the foundation on which successful solutions are built,” Akila emphasizes, summarizing her career philosophy. Akila’s current role involves leading an ambitious AI-driven product line that targets environmental sustainability through advanced monitoring systems. Her team developed an air quality monitoring solution powered by machine learning algorithms and AI avatars, which provides real-time updates, safety recommendations, and connections to service providers. This solution has offered users tailored guidance on air quality while also addressing the market’s growing demand for user-friendly, actionable data on environmental health. “AI facilitates monitoring, predicting, and responding to environmental issues with improved efficiency and accuracy,” Akila explains. Her work in this domain showcases her ability to leverage AI to provide meaningful, real-time insights, bridging technology and user needs. Akila’s experience is beyond environmental technology, as she also led the development of a virtual hosting service. Designed to enhance customer engagement, the AI-powered system incorporates video, voice, and chatbots to deliver personalized interactions that cater to both B2B and B2C clients. This service has significantly increased client conversion rates by providing a dynamic, human-like user experience, which is particularly effective in retargeting campaigns. Reflecting on her goals for the project, Akila says, “Our objective is to create interactions that feel personal and intuitive. AI has the potential to transform how we engage with customers by making every touchpoint a meaningful one.” During her tenure at a global data solutions company, Akila served as Big Data Architect for a renowned quick-service restaurant chain. She played a key role in a landmark cloud migration project that transitioned their order processing system to a cloud-based architecture, integrating AI-powered analytics for order forecasting and dynamic promotions. This transformation not only improved order accuracy but also enhanced speed and operational cost efficiency—an outcome that positioned her client as a frontrunner in the industry. In addition to this achievement, Akila led the development of an AI-powered forecasting engine that enabled real-time analysis of customer purchasing patterns. This tool empowered her client to make data-informed promotional offers, which improved customer engagement and sales. “The project integrated predictive intelligence into business operations, improving decision-making and efficiency, aligning technology with business strategy in a way that directly impacted profitability,” she notes. Prior to her role in the quick-service domain, Akila held a leadership position at a prominent IT services firm, where she managed next-gen big data initiatives for a major manufacturing client. She spearheaded the migration of legacy ETL workflows to modern, cloud-based platforms, introducing tools like Talend and Spark to optimize data processing times and model efficiency. Her efforts reduced data processing time by 30%, enabling faster and more informed decision-making for the client. Akila’s expertise in data integration also led her to architect reusable data quality frameworks that set new operational benchmarks for accuracy and consistency in data handling. This accomplishment earned her recognition within the organization and became a foundational model for subsequent projects. “Quality data is the bedrock of any AI or data-driven initiative; without it, we’re building on sand,” she says, underscoring her commitment to data integrity. Akila’s experience with cloud technology is extensive, particularly in managing the migration of enterprise data to platforms like AWS and Redshift. Her migration strategy included robust data mapping and testing protocols that ensured zero data loss and seamless system integration, delivering scalable, cost-effective solutions for her clients. Her approach not only streamlined operations but also allowed her clients to leverage the power of cloud computing for enhanced analytics. Her notable projects in this field include the cloud migration of a financial services client’s data infrastructure, resulting in improved scalability and cost savings, and a retail client’s archival and compliance solutions, which allowed for streamlined, efficient data retention aligned with regulatory standards. Akila has demonstrated her expertise through her work on AI-powered mobile applications. At her previous organization, she led the development of an app that used machine learning to deliver personalized restaurant recommendations based on user preferences, location, and dietary needs. By harnessing AI for real-time, tailored recommendations, this app helped her client significantly boost customer engagement and repeat business, exemplifying how targeted, data-informed experiences enhance user satisfaction. Reflecting on this, Akila states, “In the digital era, personalization has become a standard for user engagement. We aim to create applications that anticipate needs and make experiences memorable.” Akila’s career is marked by accolades and recognitions that speak to her dedication to innovation and excellence. From “Employee of the Month” awards for her technical leadership to special acknowledgments for significant contributions to AI and cloud migration projects, she has continually demonstrated her value as a forward-thinking leader. At her current organization, she received recognition for her transformative work in personalized marketing campaigns, underscoring her expertise in AI product development and user engagement strategies. As Akila looks to the future, her goal remains clear: to drive the next generation of AI and data-driven products that solve real-world challenges across industries. Her career highlights the application of technical expertise and strategic thinking to create meaningful impact in a rapidly evolving field. “The potential of AI is only limited by our ability to innovate and adapt. I’m committed to pushing these boundaries to create value at every step,” she shares. Akila Selvaraj’s career reflects her commitment to pushing the envelope of technology and bringing purposeful, AI-powered solutions to life. Her work demonstrates the potential for user-centered innovation in addressing technological challenges. Jon Stojan is a professional writer based in Wisconsin. He guides editorial teams consisting of writers across the US to help them become more skilled and diverse writers. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.