Latest news with #TomJones
Business Wire
4 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Merlin Signs Agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation to Advance Next-Generation Autonomous Flight
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merlin, a leading developer of assured, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, today announced an agreement with Northrop Grumman to integrate the Merlin Pilot onto its next-generation testbed ecosystem, Beacon™. Unveiled in June 2025, Beacon™ is designed to accelerate the development of autonomous mission capabilities by providing an open-access environment where technology partners like Merlin can test, validate, and refine their systems in alignment with government requirements. Merlin serves as the prime contractor with the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for integrating autonomy on the C-130J and is rapidly advancing its work on the KC-135. This collaboration with Northrop Grumman accelerates next-generation uncrewed systems, reduces risk, and reinforces Merlin's platform-agnostic strategy, marking a pivotal step toward adding the Scaled Composites-built Model 437 Vanguard to its growing portfolio. Utilizing Model 437—now modified for optionally autonomous flight—Northrop Grumman is getting new mission and flight autonomy software airborne and validated faster. Merlin is providing its mission autonomy software, the Merlin Pilot, for critical testing and validation activities. Specifically, Merlin will provide engineering integration for software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing and flight test operations, contribute to test procedure and documentation development, participate in recurring planning sessions, and deploy on-site personnel for flight tests in Mojave, California. 'The demand for autonomous capabilities, especially in defense applications, is accelerating rapidly,' said Matt George, CEO and founder of Merlin. 'Our collaboration with Northrop Grumman marks a major milestone in advancing mission autonomy—combining Merlin's innovative software with the scale, rigor, and hardware expertise Northrop Grumman offers, which is needed for real-world deployment. The significance of joining the Beacon™ project is that it allows us to validate our technology on military aircraft and in mission-relevant environments, but also enables us to test and adapt new capabilities from Northrop Grumman for future Merlin efforts.' 'We look forward to working with our partners to integrate their innovative capabilities that will accelerate the development of future autonomous platforms,' said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president, Aeronautics Systems, Northrop Grumman. 'Beacon is about collaboration across industry between companies of all sizes and expertise. By providing access to the Beacon ecosystem, we're enhancing innovation, new competition and ultimately the autonomous capabilities that industry can deliver to our customers – with unmatched speed and at scale.' About Merlin Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world's leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation's biggest challenges. To learn more, visit or follow us on X @merlinaero. About Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers' toughest problems, our employees define possible every day.
Metro
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Sir Tom Jones, 85, makes triumphant return to the stage after suffering illness
Sir Tom Jones has returned to the stage a week after being forced to cancel a show due to health issues. Last week the singer, 85, announced he was unable to perform in Bremen, Germany due to an upper respiratory infection. At the time he explained he 'needed treatment and rest', also apologising to fans for the 'disappointment and inconvenience'. A few days after the cancellation, Sir Tom had been due to headline a festival at the Dundee Waterfront this weekend. However, the organiser of Discovery Festival was confident the show would go on as planned, saying: 'We have no concerns ahead of Tom Jones' show on Sunday, July 27.' Their reassurances were luckily correct, with the crooner recovering in time to be able to delight fans at the event last night. Photos and videos from the festival show Sir Tom – best known for hits including It's Not Unusual, Sexbomb and Delilah – looking fighting fit, standing up on stage and swinging as he sung. Posting a clip on X, fan Anne Marie wrote: 'Tom Jones in Dundee yesterday, just wow! 85yrs old and he still has it.' Sir Tom's cancelled show had been part of his Defy Explanation tour, which kicked off in June and is set to run until the end of August with dates across the UK and Europe. During a recent show at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark, he joked: 'Is my voice still working? Yes? So as long as it's here, I'm here.' Last year, Sir Tom told Metro the only way he would retire would be if he completely lost his voice. 'I wouldn't like to shortchange an audience, 'he said. Being old, you can't do what you used to do. 'I mean, I can't walk around like I used to, but I wouldn't want to now. When you're young you're full of p*** and vinegar and you're giving it plenty. Now I concentrate more on singing than I do anything else.' After releasing It's Not Unusual in 1965, the following year Sir Tom won best new artist at the Grammy Awards. More Trending Throughout his career, he's sold over 100 million records, with 36 Top 40 hits in the UK and 19 in the US. He also won an MTV Video Music Award in 1989, two Brit Awards: best British male in 2000 and outstanding contribution to music in 2003 and got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1989. In 1998 Sir Tom was awarded an OBE, before being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for services to music. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Discovery Festival: What you need to know about Tom Jones' Dundee gig from set times to banned items
Sir Tom Jones performs on stage. |Tom Jones will headline the final day of Discovery Festival Dundee. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Legendary Welsh singer Tom Jones will bring the final day of Discovery Festival in Dundee to a close this evening. His headline slot at the three-day event in the city's Slessor Gardens follows headline performances from Ocean Colour Scene and The Human League on Friday and Saturday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With support from acts including Scottish singer-songwriter Kerr Mercer, here's everything you need to know about Tom Jones' Dundee gig. When will gates open for Tom Jones Dundee? Gates will open for Tom Jones' Slessor Gardens show Dundee at 3pm today. Tom Jones Dundee: Set times Official timings for the waterfront event have yet to be revealed, though organisers have shared that the first act will take to the stage from 4pm. Though they haven't been confirmed, the running order of events may look something like this: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gates open : 3pm : 3pm Kerr Mercer : 4pm : 4pm King King : TBC : TBC Ward Thomas : TBC : TBC Tom Jones: 7pm (TBC) Rising pop talent Kerr Mercer. All timings are subject to change, but Tom Jones' official website suggests he will take to the stage for the final night of festivities at 7pm. The event is expected to finish around 10.15pm. What will the weather be like in Dundee? On Sunday, the Met Office have predicted cloudy weather with light showers from the early afternoon. While it won't be cold, temperatures will range from about 18C to 19C at the most. What items are banned from Tom Jones' Dundee show? Concertgoers are advised to avoid bringing bags where possible, and that if you must take one it is no larger than a sheet of A4 paper. Prohibited items include: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Food and drink (a doctor's note will permit food/drink required for medical conditions). Water will be available at the bars free of charge. Glass containers, including perfume and aftershave Camping chairs, folding chairs, gazebos or picnic blankets Professional cameras, video cameras or audio recording devices Dogs (except assistance dogs) As it is a standing event, organisers state that those who require assistance for medical reasons to alert the medial team as no camping equipment of any kind is allowed. Can I leave and come back? Once you have entered Slessor Gardens for Tom Jones' Dundee show, no re-entry will be permitted. Is Tom Jones' Slessor Gardens gig cashless? All bars at Dundee Discovery Festival are cashless. However, cash can be used to purchase tokens with a token both located by the main entrance. They will be valid only for bars, and not food vendors. There are no ATMs on site. Tom Jones performing. |What will food and drink be like? There will be a number of food and drink vendors in operation at Slessor Gardens during the event. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad There will be four bars in operation on the site - including one dedicated to prosecco - as well as an additional private bar and toilets for 'Gold Area' ticketholders. Meanwhile, food vendors will include: Loaded dogs & fries Salt 'n chilli chicken Burgers Pizza Mexican Duck wraps Greek Souvlaki Coffee/donut and crepes Pick and mix sweets Can I still buy tickets for Tom Jones' in Dundee? There are still limited tickets available for day three of Discovery Festival in Dundee. Available via Ticketmaster, you can select from general admission for Friday only, or for the entire weekend. In addition, 'Gold Circle' tickets are still on sale. How much are tickets? To catch Tom Jones' headline slot, you can expect to pay: General Admission (day) : £62.90 : £62.90 Gold Circle (day): £91 £91 Discovery Festival & 80's Calling Weekend General Admission ticket (Friday-Sunday): £168.40 Additional handling fees will be added to each order, and only 8 tickets may be purchased per person. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What can I do if I can no longer go? For those who booked their tickets months in advance and can no longer attend, unfortunately there are no refunds or transfers available. That being said, some ticket outlets have an approved re-sale function you may be able to take advantage of.
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Matt O'Neill, late Calgary radio icon, mourned by former co-host
Article content Francis recalled some of the 'silly ideas' the two would come up with on the show. Article content 'They were closing a portion of Barlow Trail up to the airport and we did a tribute show called Bye Bye Barlow,' he said. 'And we hyped it up for weeks as if the Saddledome was closing. There we were on the day of the broadcast, literally on the side of the road … it was ridiculous. And we were inviting people to call in and share their favourite memories of Barlow Trail and everybody played along and told made up stories of how fond they were of this ridiculous stretch of road that nobody cared about.' Article content Another was the time the two decided to play 'It's Not Unusual' by Tom Jones on the radio, on repeat for three-and-a-half hours. 'The shtick was that the soundboard was broken and you could only play one song and we were hoping to get it fixed but we wouldn't know until we press the button again and then we pressed the button and it would play the same song,' Francis said, with a chuckle. Article content Article content It was a prank, sure to drive listeners away but to the hosts' delight, it did the opposite. 'Our phones lit up, not for people saying it's ridiculous … people were playing along, giving us tips on how to maybe fix the board,' Francis said. Article content 'It was almost like the whole city understood our humour.' Article content The two were let go after the show was taken off the air in 2015, but O'Neill came back for a brief stint in the years after, until his health troubles pulled him away. This time, the show was different. Article content '(He spoke) openly and honestly about all the things nobody every talks about on the radio – divorce, rehab … other demons he had battled in his life and there were several,' Francs said. 'He decided to take a completely different approach and address issues that society is too scared to really talk about publicly. And he kind of took them head on and did the show for a couple of more years after that.' Article content Article content Off the air, the two remained close, even serving as groomsmen at each other's weddings. Article content 'We kind of grew up together and shared our lives on the radio,' Francis said. But the camaraderie remained, whether it was on a microphone or elsewhere. Article content 'Even when we played hockey together, and we always played on the same line, I always felt we had chemistry on the ice or when we were just hanging out with our families,' he said. Article content The last Francis had seen him was at the rink, 'being a great hockey dad.' Article content 'He was at the rink just being a great hockey dad, supporting his sons like he always did,' he said. 'I knew he'd be at the rink because I was there to watch his son play. So we had a we had a good little chat. It was great to see him … I'll always remember that.' Article content Thursday had marked the 10-year anniversary of when the show was taken off the air and Francis had sent a note to O'Neill about it on the day. 'We joked about the day we got fired,' he said. He never received an answer to that note. Article content But they had spoken three weeks go when O'Neill called him up. 'He called and said that his therapist had suggested he call a handful of people in his life who were really good to him and had really been difference makers. And he called me and told me that, and said that, and he just wanted to thank me for always being (there),' Francis said. Article content 'I really feel blessed that he took the time to call me and have that conversation with me. It gave me a little bit of closure .. I certainly now get the feeling he knew and just wanted to be a good guy and tie up some loose ends and give me that gift.' Article content
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Family of man who drowned joins West Mercia water safety campaign
The sister of a man who drowned has said she wants to stop other families suffering the same Jones was found dead nine days after he went missing by the River Severn in Worcester in September sister Ellie and his parents spoke alongside police, fire, and rescue teams in Worcester on Friday to relaunch the Home and Dry campaign. Agencies also gathered to spread the message in Ironbridge and Bridgnorth in Shropshire."I remember coming in from gymnastics one of the nights, and mum and dad telling me he'd [Tom] gone up to heaven, and I think from that moment everything was kind of just different for me," said Ellie, who was 12 at the time. "I've spoken to all my friends from school, to the girls that I've met at uni, and I've always said to them 'just please stay away from the water'."If you want to go home before everyone else I'm coming with you, we'll get in an Uber together, we're not going anywhere near the river."The Home and Dry campaign aims to encourage people to be aware of the dangers of water. It operates across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Jones family are determined to save more lives, and Ellie said she believed some people did not appreciate the danger that water could pose."I think we're doing everything we can, it's just whether they want to listen," she said."I'd hope people were listening, because I wouldn't want anyone else to experience what we have had to go through."She said when she moved to university she got friends to walk the route into town in daylight."Do the reccy sober, do them in the daylight, and make sure all your friends know to stay safe."Ian Jones, Tom's father, added: "I took Tom back to uni, and I shook his hand, and I didn't see him again. I can't have any other family going through that, it's just not worth it." Andy Neal, a volunteer from West Mercia Search and Rescue, was involved in the search for Tom was also part of live water rescue demonstrations in Ironbridge on Friday."The big thing that we're trying to warn people about is cold water shock," he said."Even in the hot sun, what you tend to get is a warm layer of water on the top... and just underneath it can be very cold."He said agencies were also keen to teach water safety in schools."Prevention is better than cure - we'd rather be spending our time teaching people about it than pulling them out as a body." Simon Cusack, group commander at Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, added that they wanted people to enjoy the beautiful rivers, canals and reservoirs in the area, but to do so safely. What to do if you or a friend are in trouble Roll on to your back, and stretch out your arms and legsShout for helpIf you are on the bank, do not enter the waterCall 999Source: Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue ServiceAdditional reporting by James Bovill, BBC Midlands Today Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
