• I'm the eldest daughter, so every year I plan our family vacation.
• These trips have left us with some success but also trauma because of everyone's different interests.
• A cruise through the Mediterranean appealed to everyone.

Family vacations are one of those things I plan yearly that bring excitement and nausea.

As the eldest daughter of my family with aging parents who, after a lifetime of hustling, now finally have the excess of free time and assets required to go on vacation, I get to play travel agent. The good news is that I have no strict budget other than the desire, long instilled by my Asian parents, to procure a good deal that won't dent my eventual inheritance. The bad news? I have children whose ability to hold it together and not have a total meltdown hinges on secret forces that even I, as both a mother and psychologist, have yet to figure out.

The trick, of course, is to go on a vacation that only leaves behind lifelong memories (plus Instagrammable proof, in case my children are prone to forget and go back to complaining about their lives) but not estrangement or therapy.

To further complicate this 3D puzzle, my mother is an Anglophile who only wants to go to Europe and stroll around cobblestone streets. My younger son is a small child who appears allergic to walking and only likes Asian food, while my older son is a teenager who thinks all of the above would interfere with his rizz (or aura, or whatever Zoomers are calling gravitas these days). My father, meanwhile, has no preferences except that we don't spend more money than necessary.

We all enjoyed a cruise

Historically, this involved traveling — with varying levels of success/trauma — on trains, planes, and cars, but our best multi-generational family trip to date happened during a weeklong Mediterranean cruise last summer.

The Celebrity Edge ship we sailed on started in Barcelona and ended in Rome. Over the course of seven days, it single-handedly sold every single member of my family from age 6 to 68 that cruising was the ideal way to travel when there are both small children and old people involved.

Barcelona enchanted us as a departure port for nearly a week before we stepped onto our ship. Whatever residual jet lag or weariness the elderly or young members of the family had by the time we deposited ourselves at the cruise port evaporated the minute we embarked. Much to everyone's shock and delight, the speed and lack of lines during onboarding made airports and train terminals feel like the DMV in comparison.

Once we got to our rooms, we were ready to sell our souls to become one of those lifelong cruisers who have their own monogrammed badges and dedicated lounges, albeit for different reasons: the adults marveled at the ocean-view windows (complete with a seating area in the larger of our two staterooms) while the kids fought over the collectible necklace (with special colored pendants to be scavenged each day on board) waiting for them on the bed.

We all loved the food

A quick perusal of our dining options turned into Sophie's Choice, albeit in the best way possible because instead of a single main dining venue, we got to pick from four specialty restaurants whose names my parents couldn't exactly pronounce but whose vibes screamed European with a hint of Vegas: Tuscany, Cyprus, Normandie, cosmopolitan.

We spent the rest of the week trying every single one. By our last day at sea, we couldn't exactly tell them apart, but no matter — between the lobster night and endless iterations of surf-meets-turf, no grownup left the dining room unhappy, and what my children could not consume in burgers or chicken tenders, they made up for with post-dinner trips to the Oceanview Cafe's buffet. Even my parents — whose aging appetites seem to have shrunk year by year — couldn't resist a second helping of dessert at the ice cream counter or in the form of a fruit plate.

There were activities for everyone

When we weren't eating, our multigenerational group was busy doing what we each liked to do best: my 6-year-old spent his evenings and most of his sea days playing at Camp at Sea, while my 13-year-old quickly found his own multinational crew at Teen Camp. I took my mother to a watercolor art workshop and my father to the nighttime entertainment at the theater aspirationally deemed The Club.

When we docked, we meandered off the gangway at our own pace to explore the markets and museums of Valencia before spending long days near the water in Ibiza and Corsica. Portofino and Cinque Terre necessitated shore excursions, but disembarking in Rome allowed us to explore another timeless city the old-fashioned way, on foot.

When we boarded our plane to return home, we all swore to do another cruise again as soon as possible. Considering that this was last year, and we've gone on two more cruises since then, I think the evidence speaks for itself: cruising just might be our favorite multi-generational way to travel.

• The CEO of an aerial firefighting company said drones are a major problem for its pilots.
• Bridger Aerospace has sent two "Super Scooper" planes to help tackle the LA wildfires.
• Last week, a drone collided with a Super Scooper over LA, grounding the plane for days.

The CEO of a company that flies "Super Scooper" firefighting planes said one of his biggest worries is drones crashing into his planes during emergencies like the Los Angeles wildfires.

As the fires raged last week, a consumer drone collided with Quebec-1, one of only two Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper aircraft fighting the Palisades fire.

The planes didn't belong to Bridger Aerospace, but the company's interim CEO Sam Davis said it's something he's long feared.

"My greatest fear — and I lose sleep at night — is something like that drone strike that happened on the Quebec Scooper, because you can't do anything about that," Davis told Business Insider in an interview.

There were no injuries in the incident, but it took out a chunk of the firefighting capacity during one of the most costly natural disasters in US history.

The FBI announced a search for the owner of the drone, which punched a fist-sized hole in the plane's wing, grounding it for days.

The rogue drone was unsettling news for Davis' company, which has sent two of its own Super Scoopers — along with their pilots and maintenance crews — to join the firefighting efforts.

"We all breathed a sigh of relief that our Quebec compatriots up there were safe because bad things could have happened," he said.

Davis said their pilots train for this sort of scenario, but had the drone struck an engine, the result could have been catastrophic.

He also said that unauthorized drones are being spotted during wildfire emergencies every year, which results in aircraft being grounded until they get the all-clear.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the one in the Palisades was trying to get some great footage of a scooper, and they got more than they bargained for," he added.

The Super Scoopers are a spectacular sight, with a similar flying style to combat aircraft.

The planes are meant to skim the water at speed, Davis said, "fill up tanks in 10 to 12 seconds — 1400 gallons of water — and continuously scoop and drop water on one tank of fuel."

It takes a special kind of mindset to pilot a Super Scooper, he said, adding: "Every pilot I know that does this is just a little bit crazy in a good way, because they like the thrill — but they're extremely highly trained professionals."

Interference doesn't just come from rogue drones.

"It's the same on water operations," Davis said. "We've had jet skis wanting to get on Instagram, videoing our scoopers, racing alongside of them."

After the collision last week, the Federal Aviation Administration warned that interfering with firefighting on public lands is a federal crime punishable by up to a year in prison.

It said there's also a civil penalty of up to $75,000 for interfering with firefighters during temporary flight restrictions.

But Davis urged people to also think about the human cost of their actions.

"They could cost somebody their lives," he said. "They can cost millions of dollars in damage."

People seeking out cool footage in these situations, he added, is the "last thing we need."

• I drove cross-country for a year and saw wildly beautiful places in each region of the US.
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore wowed me in the Midwest, and I loved the Everglades in Florida.
• Maryland's Assateague Island National Seashore was a beautiful place to enjoy nature.

When I spent a year driving across the country and living out of a pickup truck, I saw firsthand how each region of the United States has its own distinct flair, history, and geography.

As I explored 49 states, I found myself drawn to unique landscapes and wildlife that I couldn't find anywhere else in the world. I was shocked to find many places that felt remote, wild, and special without having to leave the country.

Here's a standout spot from each region of the US that I visited.

New England: Green Mountain National Forest

Vermont's massive Green Mountain National Forest is beautiful throughout many seasons, and I especially loved seeing it in the fall.

It gets really dark at night — although it can be scary, it means I was able to really see the stars when I visited.

Since it's a national forest, it has plenty of backcountry camping spots where one can be alone with the immense trees that reach toward the stars.

Mid-Atlantic: Assateague Island National Seashore

Assateague Island National Seashore is minutes from Maryland's famous resort town Ocean City, but it feels lifetimes away from civilization.

The coastal national park is especially famous for its wild horses — I spent a weekend hiking 26 miles round-trip on this beach and saw tons of them.

Even visitors who don't hike as I did may be able to spot horses from beaches that are somewhat easy to access along the main road through the park.

Camping on the island is an immersive experience that can be done in the backcountry, at walk-in or drive-in sites, or with an RV.

Midwest: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Michigan's Upper Peninsula looks unreal in and of itself, with its beautiful landscape complete with multicolored rocks and cliffs.

A highlight of it, though, is the otherworldly Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Its water is blue and lively, and waterfalls pepper the park like jewels. The cliffs rising out of Lake Superior are stunning.

In the fall, wandering through the park's vibrant foliage will make you feel like you're walking in a painting.

South: Everglades National Park

South Florida's Everglades National Park is one of the largest national parks in the Lower 48.

Although some believe it's just a swamp filled with gators, it's actually an immense 1.5-million-acre park filled with wonder I haven't found anywhere else.

Bioluminescent algae come alive at night, mangroves make channels for canoe trips that feel like magic, and dirt roads lead to waterways with abundant fishing opportunities and picturesque sunsets.

It's filled with tropical wilderness and is home to endangered, rare species, from Florida panthers to manatees, too.

Mountain West: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park rightfully gets a lot of hype for its geological features, like its active geysers and hot springs. I also think it's the best place to see wildlife in the Lower 48.

During the three months I spent living in Yellowstone, I saw grizzlies, wolves, eagles, moose, elk, pronghorns, black bears, badgers, and falcons on a regular basis. Honestly, three months still isn't enough time to see the park — I'm not sure a lifetime would be.

That said, the park is still worth seeing for any amount of time and in any capacity.

Pacific West: Santa Cruz in Channel Islands National Park

California's Channel Islands National Park isn't called "the Galapagos of North America" for nothing. The unique park consists of five islands, and my favorite is Santa Cruz.

First of all, the ferry ride from Ventura Harbor to Santa Cruz is spectacular. On my trip, I saw a megapod of dolphins, humpback whales, and sea lions. Even just the view of the islands coming out of the ocean blew me away.

Santa Cruz is mostly uninhabited and is home to many unique species, like the beautiful island scrub-jay. Also, keep an eye out for the native island fox, a tiny cutie that may take your lunch if you leave it out.

• The "Bridget Jones" actor Renée Zellweger took a six-year career break from 2010.
• She said she was "sick" of her own voice.
• The Oscar-winner used the time to do various activities, from studying international law to adopting dogs.

Renée Zellweger took a break from her acting career because she was "sick" of her own voice, she said. She spent that time doing a variety of things, from studying to adopting rescue dogs.

The actor will return to her most famous role in the sequel "Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy," which is out on Valentine's Day. The film follows the titular writer-turned-TV producer as she navigates life as a single parent to two children after the death of her husband, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth).

Hugh Grant, who plays Daniel Cleaver, Jones' previous love interest, will also reprise his role. To mark the occasion, Grant interviewed Zellweger for Vogue.

When he asked why she took a six-year break from acting in 2010, she replied: "Because I needed to. I was sick of the sound of my own voice. When I was working, I was like, 'Oh, my gosh, listen to you. Are you sad again, Renée? Oh, is this your mad voice?' It was a regurgitation of the same emotional experiences."

In the last decade, more people have started using career breaks to develop their personal lives away from work — some have used the time to travel, others focused on their families.

Gen Z, in particular, has been rewriting the rulebook on career gaps, and many have used the time to upskill in the hope of benefitting their careers in the future.

A LinkedIn survey in 2022 found that 69% of people who took a career break said it "helped them to gain perspective and figure out what they want in life."

For Zellweger, that included studying international law and starting a production company, Big Picture Co.

She also adopted a pair of dogs.

Zellweger said: "I wrote music and studied international law. I built a house, rescued a pair of older doggies, created a partnership that led to a production company, advocated for and fundraised with a sick friend, and spent a lot of time with family and godchildren and driving across the country with the dogs. I got healthy."

Her career break ended in 2016 when she returned to the big screen for "Bridget Jones's Baby," which sees Jones fall pregnant.

At the time, Zellweger told Vanity Fair that she returned to the role because it had been 15 years since the original movie, and the team "could take a different and interesting angle on it."

• Spain's planned 100% tax on non-EU homebuyers is unlikely to solve its housing crisis.
• Spain's prime minister said too many foreigners were buying properties as investments, not homes.
• But hiking taxes could discourage buyers and hurt Spain's economy, economists told BI.

Spain's plan to impose a 100% tax on homebuyers from non-EU countries like the US and UK may fail to achieve its intended results, and could easily backfire on the country's economy, experts told Business Insider.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the measure on Monday, as part of his government's efforts to tackle the country's growing housing problem.

If approved by lawmakers, the 100% tax would effectively double the cost of properties for non-EU homebuyers.

Sánchez said that too many foreign buyers saw Spanish property as an investment, and were buying homes for financial gains rather than to live in.

But experts said the impact may not be what the government hoped.

Jesús Alonso, a real-estate agent with Engel & Völkers, said the tax was unlikely to resolve Spain's housing crisis.

Instead, he said it could trigger a decline in demand for luxury properties, which could reduce new projects, especially in regions reliant on foreign buyers.

He also said the move could hurt regions reliant on foreign spending, as well as the retail and hospitality sectors, especially in coastal regions.

"A drop in demand could discourage new developments and stagnate this market," he added.

According to Spain's Association of Registrars, foreigners bought 24,700 properties in Spain in the third quarter of 2024, accounting for 15% of all real estate purchases.

This included EU and non-EU buyers.

The number was higher in the first half of 2024, when foreigners bought and sold 69,412 properties, or 20.4% of total sales and purchases, according to data from Spain's General Council of Notaries.

Antonio Fatas, a professor of economics at INSEAD, a French business school, said foreign purchases are not large enough to determine market prices.

He described the 100% tax as an "easy" fix to a "complex" problem, one that ignores the underlying cause of Spain's housing crisis, which is about supply and demand.

According to research by Caixa Bank, the supply of new housing in Spain is being weighed down by factors including a lack of land earmarked for development and a shortage of skilled labor.

"In the absence of a significant increase in the housing supply in the coming years, the gap between supply and demand will steadily widen," it said.

Caixa Bank said in September that it expected Spanish house prices to rise by 5% in 2024, and 2.8% in 2025.

José Carlos Díez Gangas, an associate partner at the venture capital firm LUAfund, said the government's strategy is to try to curb demand growth.

However, echoing Fatas' point, he said: "There is a shortage of supply, and the greatest effect will be on prices, which will surely continue to rise until more houses come on the market."

At the same time, Spain has seen many ghost towns spring up, due in part to the 2008 financial crisis, a lack of public services, and migration from rural areas to cities.

Some estimates point to upward of 3,000 abandoned villages, even as other areas struggle to find enough housing.

Still, experts say the latest government idea could backfire on the economy as a whole.

"Does it make sense to make it difficult for a foreigner to buy a home in Spain?" said Fatas, adding: "Clearly, this represents a flow of capital into Spain that can have positive effects on the economy."

He said that stopping these flows would "negatively affect the construction, tourism sector, and anyone who could benefit from such a transaction."

• Jeff Bezos just scored a huge win: Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket into orbit.
• Now it's the turn of Elon Musk's SpaceX, which is set to launch Starship for the seventh time later Thursday.
• The two billionaires are locked in a race to dominate the global space industry.

Ahead of the most important moment in Blue Origin's history, Jeff Bezos couldn't help feeling nervous.

"I'm worried about everything," the billionaire Amazon founder told Ars Technica's Eric Berger on Sunday, as Blue Origin's technicians prepped the company's 32-story-tall New Glenn rocket for its first launch into orbit.

"We've done a lot of work, we've done a lot of testing, but there are some things that can only be tested in flight," Bezos said.

In the end, he needn't have worried. After a series of delays due to a vehicle subsystem issue, New Glenn finally roared into orbit in the early hours of Thursday, smashing through a barrier many space companies never cross on their first attempts.

The launch was a huge milestone for Blue Origin, which Bezos founded in 2000.

It is a big step toward Blue Origin's ambitions of using reusable rockets to regularly carry satellites and NASA astronauts into space, and proved that the rocket company can go toe-to-toe with its rivals in the new space race.

One of those rivals was watching closely.

SpaceX founder Elon Musk — who has clashed with Bezos personally away from their respective business rivalries — congratulated Blue Origin's founder on the successful launch.

The spotlight will now turn to SpaceX, which is set to launch its own mega-rocket Starship for the seventh time just hours after Bezos' company completed the feat for the first.

SpaceX steps up to the plate

SpaceX dominates the commercial space launch industry, launching more rockets into orbit than the rest of the world combined last year and making headlines around the world when it successfully caught Starship's 232-foot-tall rocket booster in October.

The company's latest launch, which is set for 4 p.m. CST on Thursday but could be delayed, will see it attempt the booster catch again and also demonstrate Starship's ability to deploy payloads into orbit by releasing several "dummy" Starlink satellites.

Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have ambitious launch schedules for 2025, meaning this will likely not be the first time Musk and Bezos will face off in dueling rocket launches.

SpaceX has signaled it will aim to launch Starship up to 25 times in 2025, while Blue Origin is planning to capitalize on New Glenn's success by launching the giant rocket as many as 10 times this year.

Both companies have contracts worth billions with NASA's Artemis program, with Starship and Blue Origin's "Blue Moon" lunar lander set to carry astronauts to the moon over the next decade.

Blue Origin is also set to carry satellites into orbit for Amazon's Project Kuiper, the e-commerce giant's rival to SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service. Amazon previously bought launch slots for Kuiper from SpaceX.

Space industry braces for Trump

While Blue Origin has finally joined the orbital big leagues, SpaceX could still have a crucial advantage: Musk's newfound political influence.

The billionaire Tesla CEO has been elevated to "first buddy" status in the incoming administration thanks to his support of Trump's presidential campaign, and is set to play a crucial role heading up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

Trump has already announced that Jared Isaacman will be NASA's next administrator. Isaacman, a billionaire private astronaut, has flown multiple commercial missions for SpaceX and has voiced support for Musk's ambitions of colonizing Mars.

SpaceX has also got a boost from Sean Duffy, Trump's nominee for Transportation Secretary, who told lawmakers in his confirmation hearing on Wednesday he would review penalties imposed on the company by the Federal Aviation Authority, which has been a frequent target of Musk's ire.

By contrast, Bezos has been attempting to patch up his complex and, at times, antagonistic relationship with Trump.

The billionaire flew into Mar-a-Lago for dinner with Trump and Musk last month and told The New York Times' Dealbook conference he was "optimistic" about Trump's second term.

Ahead of New Glenn's launch, he told Reuters that one thing he wasn't nervous about was the bromance between the new president and his greatest rival.

"Elon has been very clear that he's doing this for the public interest and not for his personal gain," Bezos said. "And I take him at face value."

• Emirates president Tim Clark told Business Insider how he thinks Boeing can get out of its "mess."
• He said the company should treat workers better: "You look after the people, they look after you."
• Boeing delivered 348 planes in 2024, the lowest number since the pandemic.

The boss of one of Boeing's biggest customers has a blunt message for its new CEO: treat your workers better.

Tim Clark, the president of Emirates airline, told Business Insider in an interview: "You look after the people, they look after you. I think they've been offsided by the previous management for too long."

"Have you got yourself into a mess like this because you prided yourself on treating them badly and not giving them a deal when you were making fat profits and taking bonuses at board level? Really? That's not the way to run a business. You need to get people with you.

"So if you look after the guys and share the loot, you probably won't have such a forceful union," Clark added.

A seven-week strike exacerbated Boeing's troubles last year. Tensions flared and the acting labor secretary went to Seattle to help broker negotiations.

Union members approved the company's fourth offer, which will increase pay by 38% over four years. It also included a $12,000 ratification bonus.

Dubai-based Emirates is one of Boeing's biggest customers. It has the world's largest fleet of Boeing 777s and has ordered more than 200 of the modernized 777X variant, which has faced several certification delays.

The embattled planemaker delivered 348 planes in 2024, its lowest number since the pandemic, as it grappled with the fallout from January's Alaska Airlines blowout.

Boeing is working to overhaul its production processes and get back on track. It's now led by Kelly Ortberg, who took over as CEO in August.

Clark thinks it will take years for the company to fully recover: "The hiatus, for me, is likely to last until the end of this decade."

"Produce good quality, safe aircraft, and the profits will come," he told BI. "If you prioritize one before the other, in an incorrect manner as happened over the last 10 years, then you will reap the whirlwind."

He added: "Don't worry about what City analysts or the Wall Street analysts are telling you what you can and can't do. Just get on with the job, produce very good airplanes. I promise you, we'll buy them in large numbers — we as an industry."

Clark said he wanted to see the planemaker recover from its woes and turn things around.

"We need Boeing — we need them to get back to the type of company that produced the excellent aircraft they always used to do," he said.

Shares in Boeing fell 31% in 2024, making it the biggest faller of the 30 stock in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

• The US law market is largely off-bounds to Big Four firms due to ethical rules on legal independence.
• KPMG is close to changing that by securing a unique license in Arizona to practice law.
• Traditional law firms shouldn't feel threatened by the move, a legal expert told Business Insider.

KPMG is one step closer to becoming the first Big Four firm to set up a legal division in the US.

On Tuesday, an Arizona judicial committee unanimously recommended that the state Supreme Court approve KPMG US's application for a unique state license that would allow it to practice law.

If approved, the firm will establish KPMG Law US as an alternative business structure (ABS). The Arizona Supreme Court told BI it would weigh the decision on January 28.

Arizona began its ABS program in 2021, scrapping a rule that prevents non-legal ownership of law firms.

The rule was set by the American Bar Association and only allows licensed lawyers to own or invest in law firms in an effort to prevent conflicting interests.

It has held back the Big Four professional services firms — KPMG, Deloitte, EY, and PwC — from establishing legal divisions in the US as they have done in other key markets.

Practicing law in the US "is something that no Big Four network firm can currently do," Christian Athanasoulas, a partner in KPMG's Tax Division and US head of Tax services, told BI.

The firm does provide business advice to legal clients in the US, he explained, but does "not interpret and apply legal standards to legal questions."

Athanasoulas said advances in technology and the growing demand for alternative legal services made it the right time to establish KPMG Law US, and they were "excited by the opportunity" that Arizona's regulatory reform presented.

"Pending approval, this innovation would differentiate KPMG Law US both in the legal and the consulting markets," he said.

The firm aims to focus primarily on large-scale, process-driven work, such as volume contracting, remediation exercises, and M&A-driven harmonization of contracts.

KPMG will position itself as complementing the services of traditional law firms rather than competing with them. It won't work on complex commercial transactions, trademark disputes, and other areas that are "core capabilities of traditional law firms," Athanasoulas told BI.

What they do have over competitors is the ability to harness KPMG's holistic, global suite of services.

"We see opportunities in the market to provide these required tasks, at scale, with better controls and more standardized outcomes than some existing market participants currently provide," Athanasoulas said.

Their work would not be limited to Arizona but could extend nationally, depending on individual state rules.

KPMG is already a major player in the global legal landscape, providing legal services in more than 80 jurisdictions. In the last financial year, the tax & legal division was KPMG's fastest-growing function, expanding by almost 10%.

The Big Four and the US legal landscape

The pending approval of KPMG Law US's ABS status raises questions about whether the other leading firms will follow suit and whether that will change the nature of the US legal market.

The Arizona Supreme Court said it introduced the ABS program to "transform the public's access to legal services," according to a 2020 press release.

"If the rules stand in the way of making those services available, the rules should change," the Court said.

Over 100 firms have since been approved to practice law under the program. Advocates for the Arizona ABS program say it deepens competition, lowers prices, and facilitates easier access to justice.

Utah is running a similar pilot program, and there are exceptions in Washington, D.C., that allow non-lawyers to hold minority stakes in a law firm. But other states have not yet followed suit.

"The most frequently stated concerns are that non-lawyer ownership or investment will create conflicts or low-quality work because of profit motivations," Brad Blickstein, CEO of Blickstein Group, a legal industry consultancy, told BI.

KPMG said any new firm would be governed by the same high ethical standards that apply to other law firms, and there would be no crossover between legal services clients and audit clients.

Legal experts have been predicting that the Big Four will move into the US law market for several years, Blickstein said. While they may take some work over time, traditional law firms shouldn't feel threatened, he added.

"KPMG is somewhat limited in what it can do as an Arizona law firm, and even in markets like the UK where they have free rein, the Big Four has not put too many law firms out of business.

"I continue to believe that the Big Four will eventually have a meaningful - but not existential - impact on US law firms and legal departments," Blickstein said. "This is a step in that direction, but only a step."

• My wife and I are considering asking my mother-in-law to move in with us.
• There are plenty of benefits to multigenerational households.
• We have room in our home for her, it's good for our budget, and we love spending time with her.

My mother-in-law was recently widowed. Although she is independent, in good health, and has her own home, my wife and I are considering having her move in with us. This way of living, with multiple generations of a family under one roof, is known as "intergenerational households." And it can offer some valuable benefits.

I'm in favor of intergenerational households for many reasons — and why my family might try this at home.

Many countries do it

Intergenerational households are common in many other countries. Research from the UN shows that as of 2019, in 67 out of 100 countries that had data available, older people tend to live with their extended families instead of alone. When I lived in Japan, I remember seeing how common it was for young adults to keep living at home with their parents well into their 30s or beyond.

Living with multiple generations under one roof is a great way for families to stay connected and for young people to save on rent while starting their careers. This way of living is not so rare in America, either. Pew Research shows that as of 2021, about 18% of the US population resided in multigenerational households.

It's not always easy to share a home with a grandparent or your parents; sometimes, people want to get out from under their parents' roof or have more privacy. But sometimes, sharing living space with older family members is the best way to make ends meet and keep your family connected and strong.

It's good for the family budget

A few years ago, my wife, kids, and I moved to a new house that is bigger than our former home. Sometimes, this house feels a little "too big." We have an extra bedroom, multiple bathrooms, and more than enough space for one more person. And my mother-in-law is no freeloader; if she moves in with us, she has offered to help contribute to our monthly household expenses.

I'm not going to charge steep rent to my wife's mother, but it would be great to have another adult in the house to help pay the mortgage and utilities. Splitting the bills seems to be a good strategy for many intergenerational households; Pew Research from 2022 has found that families who live this way are less likely to fall into poverty. When you have more people to share the costs of maintaining a household, the whole family can feel a little more financially comfortable.

We love my wife's mom, and she's easy to have around

Even though she's enjoying retirement, is in good health, and doesn't "need" to move in with us, my wife, kids, and I like the idea of having my mother-in-law live with us. Our kids are teenagers and don't have many years left of living at home before leaving for college and starting careers. It would be fun for our kids to spend more time with their grandmother during this special time.

What else are families for besides helping each other through life and spending time together? No one knows how much time we have, so we might as well spend it with the people we love most. My family is still discussing the possibility of having my wife's mother move in. But if we can find a way to make it work, we might do it. Becoming an intergenerational household could help our family make happy everyday memories and feel a little closer and better connected.

• My eldest had a severe food reaction that sent us to the ER when she was 5 months old.
• I wanted to avoid repeating that traumatic experience so I took control of all aspects of our lives.
• I thought if I could keep my child safe then I was a good mother. My helicopter parenting backfired.

I've been a parent for almost 12 years. If there's one thing I've learned, parenting is the ultimate reminder that you cannot control much in life. I learned this lesson the hard way.

After a traumatic birth and emergency C-section, my first child was born with a severe food allergy to dairy. Of course, I didn't know this right away.

It became clear one night after a frantic trip to the Emergency Room with a 5-month-old baby. I spent months after that ER visit trying to control every aspect of our lives to protect us from experiencing another reaction.

Surprisingly, my attempts worked. We did not have another reaction for many years. Ergo, I reasoned that if I could control all aspects of our lives as well, then we would be safe.

I had an ingrained belief that if I could keep my child safe, then I was a good mother. I really wanted to be a good mother.

Controlling our lives wasn't a winning strategy

I never wanted my child to feel like she wasn't normal or wasn't enough. So, I inadvertently became a helicopter parent.

I swayed her friend choices to people who would respect our limitations. I swayed our outings to places where I felt comfortable and knew we would be protected, not necessarily the places where we would have new experiences or grow.

I was so afraid of what my life would be like if something really bad happened that I kept us from living a full life. This translated to my other child, who became completely dependent on me.

At some point, I knew they would need to be able to exist independently; I just wasn't sure how to let go. I didn't know how to hold the uncertainty of their independence, so I avoided allowing it.

I eventually ended up divorced, out of touch with myself as a person and as a parent, and with two very small children depending on me to keep them safe and show them the way.

Emotionally exhausted, post-divorce, I just couldn't do it anymore. So, I did what parents often do. I committed to figuring it out.

I can't control much, but I can still be a good mother

I did a lot of deep reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic and learned to tune back into myself.

I sought therapy to challenge why I was so afraid and learned ways to overcome those fears.

I practiced being alone, going to new places, and trying new things like hiking and paddleboarding. Then, I shared those experiences with my kids.

After I learned to love and be myself again, I started to see my children for who they were instead of what I thought they should be.

I believe them when they tell me what they think, want, and dislike. I don't try to dissuade them anymore.

I've spent most of the last five years facing and working to overcome my fears. It's been worth it to watch my kids blossom. They have friends, social lives, and favorite places to eat, and we've also traveled a bit.

Watching my eldest on the beach in Hawaii with a smile as big as the ocean is a moment I'll always cherish.

Of course, over the years, my eldest has had more food allergy reactions. Each one is terrifying at the moment, but we've learned to grow from these experiences, like understanding to recognize which foods are safe and how to branch outside her comfort zone.

I cannot control much about life, at all, but I can figure out how to live and parent in a supportive way.

• BP is cutting thousands of jobs, the oil giant announced on Thursday.
• The cuts will affect 4,700 staff positions and 3,000 contractor roles.
• BP said it was part of a program to "simplify and focus" the oil giant.

Oil giant BP is cutting thousands of jobs, the company announced on Thursday.

Some 4,700 positions will be eliminated, while the number of contractors will be reduced by 3,000, it said in a statement sent to Business Insider.

The cuts, which amount to about 5% of its workforce, are part of a program to "simplify and focus" BP that began last year.

"We are strengthening our competitiveness and building in resilience as we lower our costs, drive performance improvement and play to our distinctive capabilities," the statement added.

"As our transformation continues our priority will — of course — be safe and reliable operations and continuing to support our teams."

Bloomberg first reported the job cuts.

"I understand and recognize the uncertainty this brings for everyone whose job may be at risk, and also the effect it can have on colleagues and teams," CEO Murray Auchincloss told staff in an email seen by the outlet.

BP shares rose as much as 1.7% in London before paring gains.

This is a developing story.

• Starbucks will host its first manager conference since the COVID-19 pandemic this year.
• The last conference was hosted in Chicago in 2019 and had over 12,000 attendees.
• New CEO Brian Niccol wants to stamp his mark and enhance in-person experiences at the chain.

Starbucks is bringing back a major conference for its store managers and senior staff for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic as it refocuses on in-person experiences.

Starbucks confirmed to Business Insider that thousands of store managers and other senior staff will be invited to the gathering this year. It will include training, development, and networking opportunities, the company said.

"As we get back to Starbucks, we must refocus on what has always set us apart — a welcoming coffeehouse where people gather, and where we serve the finest coffee, handcrafted by our skilled baristas," the chain said in a letter sent to invited staff.

"We know the power of in-person connection. We haven't met as a group since 2019, and we're excited to bring our North America retail leaders together again in 2025 to help us get 'back to Starbucks,'" it continued.

Starbucks declined to share details of the event's location and dates, though users on a Subreddit for Starbucks staff said they had been told it would be hosted in Las Vegas.

The last similar conference for senior retail staff was hosted in Chicago toward the beginning of September 2019, just a few months before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 1987, the Windy City was the location of the first US Starbucks store away from its headquarters in Seattle.

2019's three-day event consisted of learning and speaker sessions at McCormick Place Convention Center in the South side of Chicago. Over 10,000 store managers from the US and Canada were in attendance, along with 2,000 regional leaders, the senior leadership team, and staff.

New CEO Niccol looks to make his mark

News of the conference comes as the coffee giant's new CEO, Brian Niccol, looks to make his mark.

Since joining the coffee giant in September, Niccol has said he envisions Starbucks stores becoming places where people want to hang out again, focusing on the value of in-person experiences.

"Our stores will be inviting places to linger, with comfortable seating, thoughtful design and a clear distinction between 'to-go' and 'for-here' service," he said in an open letter.

Earlier this week, the firm said it would expand its free refills policy to all customers at participating cafés as part of its new code of conduct, effective January 27. Starbucks rewards members were previously the only ones who could get a free top-up of their order.

The coffee company also announced it would be reversing its open-door policy, which lets non-paying guests use store facilities, like bathrooms, indoor communal areas, and patios.

As a former boss of the Mexican grill chain Chipotle, Niccol attended the California-headquartered fast food chain's all-manager conference in March in Las Vegas.

Attendees included restaurant general managers, executives, and employees with more than 20 years of experience. Chipotle held a similar conference in 2022.

• Rebecca Douglass, a surgeon, chose to keep her maiden name when she married her husband.
• She maintained her name to preserve her legacy professionally and simplify administration.
• Her husband supports her decision, and they manage family roles with her as the primary earner.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rebecca Douglass, a 36-year-old general surgeon in Emporia, Kansas. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and earned a chemistry degree from the University of Kentucky in 2012. I then went to the University of Pikeville for medical school and moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for my surgical residency in 2016.

I met my husband on Hinge in 2019 during my residency. We got engaged after three months and married eight months later. It was quick, but we knew we wanted to be together.

I kept my last name once we married and never considered taking his.

When we were making wedding arrangements, I was adamant that I wanted to keep my last name

My decision was mainly because I worked so hard to earn my degrees. When someone asks me why I kept my maiden name, I inform them that my husband didn't go to medical school — I did.

It became important to me to keep my name professionally. If one day something happens, like we get divorced, I want to keep my legacy for my entire life.

It was also just easier to keep for administration purposes

When I met my husband, I was already well established in my residency and applying for attending surgeon positions.

It would be quite difficult to change my last name when I had already completed multiple research studies, obtained my license, and finished additional professional work that would then not be able to be searched easily and verified from my résumé.

My husband had no issues with me keeping my maiden name and even offered to take it. He didn't in the end because we realized it wasn't important to us. I socially go by his last name, but nothing legally has changed.

Keeping my name hasn't caused any issues

Proving who I am in relation to my husband hasn't been problematic, especially in this advanced age of technology.

I also have two young children who share my husband's name, and we haven't had any issues thus far. We agreed to this from the start.

My husband became a part-time stay-at-home dad during the pandemic

My husband had been previously married, and we looked after his son from his first marriage for half of the week during the pandemic. Now, we have my stepson for all his school breaks greater than three days.

I was pregnant during the pandemic, and because pregnant women were at higher risk, we decided that my husband would at least go to part time work when we had my stepson. My husband is an audio engineer, and much of his work is remote, but he had to decrease his hours significantly. We wouldn't have been able to do that without my salary as a surgeon, though.

Once we had our son together and I finished my maternity leave, he became completely stay-at-home. Now, he does a little consulting work but is otherwise a full-time stay-at-home parent to our one- and three-year-olds.

He would prefer to be working but is making the sacrifice for me

He misses work but understands I've worked my whole life to become a physician. It matters regarding my identity, but it also makes more sense financially because I earn more.

He plans to increase his hours when the kids are both in school. He'll still be the responsible parent to take them to and from school and after-school activities, so he won't be able to go full time.

It's only usually people over 65 who ask questions about our decisions

I've not faced any significant criticism, but sometimes people comment on the fact that I've not changed my name or that my husband stays at home. Younger people are fine with it. Not even my grandparents said anything, and my dad was actually happy that I was keeping the family name.

Everyone in my life has always known me to be a strong-headed woman, so if I say something is going to happen, they don't question it.

If women want to keep their name, they should feel empowered to do that. Marriage is a commitment between two people — changing a name is just something on paper.

• In November, Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip praised the new Miss Universe's blond hair and blue eyes.
• She said Miss Universe didn't need to evolve because "we already got the best here."
• New Miss America Abbie Stockard told BI that Jakrajutatip's remarks were "so frustrating to hear."

Miss Universe CEO Anne Jakrajutatip shocked the pageant community when she praised Miss Universe winner Victoria Kjær Theilvig's blond hair and blue eyes, calling them "the best."

"We have blond and blue eyes, so we're coming to the ultimate evolution already," Jakrajutatip said during a November press conference when a reporter asked her if the Miss Universe pageant still needed to evolve. "We don't need any more evolution here. We already got the best here."

Jakrajutatip's remarks angered some pageant queens and left others unbothered, like Miss Universe first runner-up Chidimma Adetshina.

In a recent interview with Business Insider, the new Miss America Abbie Stockard said she took issue with Jakrajutatip's words.

"That's just so frustrating to hear because I know I fall into that category, and it just seems like it takes away from all the hard work I put into it," Stockard said. "I think people have to know that."

Representatives for Miss Universe and Jakrajutatip did not respond to a request for comment from BI.

Stockard grew up watching Miss America on television every year but only began competing during her first year at Auburn University, where she's currently a nursing student.

"My mom was working four jobs at the time, and I was looking for a way to relieve some of that financial burden on my family," said Stockard, adding that she has acquired over $89,000 in scholarship money from the organization, $50,000 of which came from winning the Miss America title on January 5.

"I fell in love with this organization and everything that it stands for," Stockard added. "And what I learned was that it doesn't matter if you have any previous pageant experience or not; you can win no matter how many years you've been doing it. And I'm excited to use this story of mine to inspire other young women."

Both Miss America and Miss USA — the latter of which is part of the Miss Universe Organization and now overseen by Jakrajutatip — have undergone big changes over the past few years amid their own controversies.

Sam Haskell ran the Miss America Organization for 12 years before he stepped down in 2017 after his vulgar internal emails about past Miss America winners were leaked to the press. He was replaced by former Fox News host and Miss America 1989 Gretchen Carlson, who removed the swimsuit round from the competition. She resigned in June 2019 after Cara Mund, who was Miss America at the time, spoke out against her leadership.

Miss USA made headlines in October 2022 when then-president Crystle Stewart was suspended after contestants said that year's pageant had been rigged. Jakrajutatip took over the Miss Universe Organization that same month.

"We seek not only to continue its legacy of providing a platform to passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and traditions but also to evolve the brand for the next generation," she said in a statement sent to BI at the time.

In August 2023, it was announced that Jakrajutatip had sold the Miss USA license to Laylah Rose. In May 2024, Miss USA Noelia Voigt and Miss Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava both resigned within days of each other. It was the first time in the pageant's 72-year history that a woman had given up her title.

Their mothers, Jackeline Voigt and Barbara Srivastava, told BI in an interview at the time that their daughters experienced "eight months of torture and abuse" while working with Rose. Miss USA and Rose did not respond to BI's previous requests for comment on the mothers' statements.

These ongoing controversies have helped diminish the luster of pageant competitions in America, where they once had prime-time slots on major networks and were watched by millions of people.

Stockard told BI she thinks Miss America is "going to continue evolving." She hopes to show the world there's far more to the title than physical appearance.

"Miss America is not just a pretty face; she's a force to be reckoned with," Stockard said. "The young women in this organization, they are mentors, they are role models, they are the leaders of tomorrow."

• Insight Partners has raised $12.5 billion for new software investments as the tech market heats up.
• The new funds mark the largest raise by a VC firm in over two years, per PitchBook data.
• Insight investors say they expect a higher caliber of startups to show up for funding this year.

As more startups go to fundraise to top off their bank accounts, Insight Partners is leaning into the opportunity with billions in new cash for its software investments.

Insight has closed on $12.5 billion for its newest set of funds, Business Insider has learned. The sum is little more than half the size of its previous fundraise of $20 billion in 2022 — a big step down that Insight managing director Ryan Hinkle says is indicative of a "great reset" in tech investing over the last several years.

The firm will allocate the new funds across several different categories: its 13th flagship fund, buyout investments, and an opportunities fund, which provides later-stage companies with financing that combines debt and equity features. Insight declined to share the exact financial breakdown of funds.

Insight had initially set out to raise $20 billion for this set of funds, The Financial Times reported last year. The firm lowered its target as investors in venture capital funds broadly backed off the asset class, spooked by plunging tech stock prices, geopolitical chaos, and recession fears. Household names like Tiger Global and TCV have also switched up strategies and closed funds below their targets in recent years.

Insight's $12.5 billion haul is still an impressive get in a market that's limping back to normalcy. According to PitchBook data, the new funds mark the largest sum raised by a venture capital firm in over two years. In 2024, General Catalyst raked in $8 billion in fresh capital, while Andreessen Howoritz's newest fundraise topped $7.2 billion.

Insight invests in companies from the seed round to the IPO and focuses on categories powered by software, such as healthcare, cybersecurity, data, and the future of work. The firm employs about 485 people, including a hundred investment professionals — a massive dragnet for sourcing and closing deals. Early investments include Twitter, Alibaba, Shopify, and, more recently, buzzy AI startups like Jasper, Wiz, and Writer.

Insight returned over $8 billion to the firm's own investors last year out of profits from exits in the portfolio, according to the firm. Among them, Salesforce bought Own, a data management provider, for $1.9 billion, and Mastercard purchased the threat intelligence company Recorded Future from Insight for over $2 billion.

Insight has gassed up the tank as investors widely expect funding for startups to rebound. In late 2022, many founders saw the writing on the wall and cut spending to stretch their cash reserves further. Fewer founders went out to fundraise in an investor-friendly market. Two and a half years later, some of those same founders are now electing to raise money again in order to lean into risk and spend to grow. Hinkle said Insight is eagerly awaiting those firms.

"The better the income statement and performance of these companies, the less likely they have been raising capital the past two and a half years," said Hinkle, noting he was generalizing.

"This is my expectation, at least, that the batch of companies that hasn't raised since 2021, they're either thinking about an exit, which is good because we can buy those companies, or they're thinking about raising capital again, which is good because we can provide the capital," Hinkle said. Either way, he said, Insight has a product for them.

Praveen Akkiraju, a managing director at Insight, had another reason to feel optimistic. Software spending cooled off in the downturn, but more businesses are planning to increase their tech budgets to capture the efficiencies that artificial intelligence can provide. Recent leaps in the field, such as the application of "agents" and the shrinking cost of computing, have also amplified their interest. This is good news for software companies that sell into the enterprise market.

"Every company cares about AI. It doesn't matter if you're legacy software, hardware, transportation, construction, or you're an electrician," Akkiraju said. "That's what's unique about this. It's enabling tech that's going to fundamentally lift the entire ecosystem."

Hinkle also offered a caveat to his funding outlook. He doesn't expect startups to come to market for funding in the same numbers as they did in 2021. Dealmaking will remain subdued, he said. Hinkle put it this way: After weeks of freezing temperatures in New York, 42 degrees and sun can feel downright tropical. But it's still frigid. And the tech winter hasn't thawed yet.

• TSMC reported net income of $11.6 billion in its fourth-quarter earnings Thursday.
• The company, which makes chips for Nvidia and Apple, is riding the AI boom.
• TSMC's CFO said its results were "supported by strong demand" for its advanced chips.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company has reported record earnings, indicating that demand for AI chips remains strong.

TSMC, the world's largest contract semiconductor manufacturer, reported Thursday that its net income increased 57% year-over-year to NT$374.68 billion, or $11.6 billion.

Revenue between October and December increased by 37% from the year-ago period to $26.88 billion. It was up 14.4% from the previous quarter.

"We forecast our revenue from AI accelerator to double in 2025, as a strong surge in AI-related demand continues," said C.C. Wei, the CEO of TSMC, in an analyst call.

That revenue stream already tripled in size in 2024, he said.

The AI accelerator category covers a slew of products that can power computing-hungry AI models.

TSMC manufacturers chips for companies including Nvidia, Apple, and AMD.

Almost three-quarters of TSMC's revenue from its wafer category — products using a thin slice of semiconductor material — came from what the company defines as its "advanced technologies." These are chips measuring 7 nanometers or smaller.

Nvidia's new flagship AI chip, Blackwell, uses 4-nanometer chips manufactured by TSMC.

In an earnings statement, Wendell Huang, senior VP and chief financial officer at TSMC, said that its results were "supported by strong demand" for its most advanced chips — those measuring 3 nanometers and 5 nanometers.

"Moving into first quarter 2025, we expect our business to be impacted by smartphone seasonality, partially offset by continued growth in AI-related demand," Huang said.

In 2024, 35% of TSMC's revenue came from smartphones, while 51% came from high-performance computing.

Earlier this week, the Biden administration introduced new export controls limiting the flow of AI chips to countries that are not US allies. Wei said during the analyst call that the impact of the rules on TSMC's operations is "not significant" and would be "manageable."

TSMC shares were up by nearly 4% after the publication of its earnings and were up more than 90% over the last 12 months.

• Tesla is offering discounts on Cybertrucks as it looks to juice sales.
• Buyers can get $1,600 off a new Cybertruck, with used demo trucks advertised at a $2,600 discount.
• It comes after Tesla reported its first-ever drop in annual sales.

Tesla has started offering discounts on the Cybertruck as it battles to recover from a decline in sales.

The automaker is now advertising up to $1,600 off new Cybertrucks on its website, with buyers also able to pick up demo versions of the futuristic pickup with just a few hundred miles on the clock at a $2,600 discount.

It comes after Tesla moved some of its workers off its Cybertruck production line at its Austin factory, three employees at the facility previously told Business Insider.

The workers were moved to the production line for Tesla's best-selling Model Y sedan, a move which two of them said was unusual.

Sales of the Cybertruck, which launched in 2023 and was Tesla's first new passenger vehicle since the Model Y was released in 2020, have faced scrutiny in recent months.

The company does not make Cybertruck sales figures public, but it said it sold 85,000 "other vehicles," including Cybertrucks, Model X, and Model S vehicles, in 2024.

Tesla amassed two million reservations for the Cybertruck prior to the vehicle's release, according to an online tracker published by Electrek.

The automaker has said the unorthodox off-roader is now turning a profit, and industry data shows it is still outselling rivals like the Ford F-150 Lightning.

However, that hasn't been enough to stop Tesla from recording its first-ever annual sales decline in 2024, despite piling on incentives toward the end of the year.

The carmaker is now pushing to meet Elon Musk's ambitious target of 20-30% sales growth this year, unveiling a revamped version of the Model Y in Asia last week.

The Cybertruck also faced multiple recalls in 2024, ranging from problems with its enormous windshield wiper to a fault that risked the truck's accelerator pedal getting jammed at full throttle.

The discounts, first reported by CNBC, may help alleviate one of the biggest barriers for Tesla fans eyeing the trapezoid truck: the price.

When Elon Musk unveiled the Cybertruck in 2019, he said the angular EV would start at $39,900, with the most expensive version selling for about $70,000.

However, initial versions of the Cybertruck were priced at over $100,000, and Tesla only rolled out a cheaper all-wheel-drive version for $80,000 in October.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment, sent outside normal working hours.

• Ukraine said one of its F-16 pilots downed a record-breaking six cruise missiles in one mission.
• That shows how much Ukraine's air force has developed, a former US F-16 pilot told BI.
• All of its systems had to work well, and it showed how Ukraine is fighting more like the West.

A Ukrainian pilot's record-breaking shootdown of six missiles with an F-16 offers insight into how much its air force has developed as it fights back against Russia's invasion.

Throughout much of the war, Ukraine's air force faced one of the world's biggest air forces with a fleet of older, Soviet-designed combat aircraft while begging the West for F-16s readily available in NATO arsenals.

The US, however, refused to allow the transfer, even as other allies pushed to give Ukraine the aircraft. Washington felt they would arrive too late, that training would take too long, and the jets could prompt Russian escalation. But it eventually relented.

Early usage of the aircraft in combat saw the loss of an airframe and the Ukrainian pilot, raising questions about how much of an impact the jets could make.

But Ukraine's assertion that one of its F-16 pilots downed six Russian cruise missiles in one mission — which it said is a record for the American-made fighter jet — shows how much Ukraine's air force has developed, a former American F-16 pilot told Business Insider.

Responding to missile threats requires coordination and quick reaction. Ret. Col. John Venable, a 25-year veteran of the US Air Force and a former F-16 pilot, told BI the pilot being alert, able to get a notification, and get out in time to intercept all of those missiles "says a lot" about "the capabilities are of the Ukrainian Air Force."

The reported intercept spoke to "their ability to actually detect" cruise missiles and "then scramble fighters in order to successfully intercept them." he said. Cruise missiles do not fire back like a Russian jet would, but it was a very impressive showing of Ukraine's air force.

Responding like this was "no simple task," Venable said, which required all of Ukraine's command and control systems, as well as its sensors and radars, to work together. He said that to "actually find, fix and engage threats that are inbound to your nation, that says a lot about their command and control."

Fighting like the West

Venable said the event shows how much Ukraine has been fighting like the West does.

He said Russia's "command and control apparatus is basically scripted," which means they have an issue letting pilots "go out and actually do what you are required to do without someone doing a puppeteer thing over the top of you."

The Ukrainian F-16 pilot pulling off what Ukraine says they did "says a lot about how far the Ukrainians have come" from their Soviet start and that "scheme of close control."

Peter Layton, a fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute and a former Royal Australian Air Force officer, told BI the intercept showed the pilot had "good training" since he was "able to react quickly to a changing situation."

"Russian pilots have a reputation of needing to receive orders from their ground controllers,'" he said. This event demonstrates Ukrainian pilots "have adopted Western methods of operating both independently and aggressively when the situation is right."

For instance, Ukraine said the pilot, who said he was out of missiles and short on fuel, made a quick decision to keep fighting, pursuing two more of the Russian missiles with guns, a riskier engagement requiring control of the plane and confidence a safe airfield was nearby.

Ukraine, generally, has adopted a more Western style of fighting, with individuals and leaders making quick decisions away from the central command. But Russia, though it has been learning, has been hampered by not delegating such responsibility, making it slower to respond to battlefield developments and even losing commanders as a result.

Ukraine's F-16 pilots have received training from a coalition of countries, including the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, the US, and Romania.

The exchange is not one-sided. While many of Ukraine's soldiers have received training from Western allies, those allies say Ukraine is teaching them about tactics and how to fight Russia, too.

Western officials and warfare experts say Ukraine's tactics and successes reveal lessons that the West should learn for fighting Russia.

These lessons have been something of a trade-off as the West provides more gear and as Ukraine signs agreements with countries like the UK, Denmark, and France, with the war showing vulnerabilities in systems and tactics.

The Westernization of Ukraine's army aids its ambition to join NATO, an uncertainty while the country is at war with Russia and a question in the aftermath.

A small air force

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, some expected Ukraine's air force would be immediately destroyed in a war with Russia.

Russia attempted to wipe out Ukraine's air force at the start but failed, with Ukraine able to disperse many jets and keep them intact. Those surviving aircraft have played key roles in its defense, even as the skies remain heavily contested.

Ukraine's air force is expanding and becoming more Western with the arrival of F-16s and a pledge from France to send Mirage aircraft.

Warfare experts say Ukraine has nowhere near enough F-16s to make a difference against Russia, and the few it does have are older versions, less powerful than what many allies have and Russia's best jets. Ukraine appears to be using its few F-16s primarily to help its air defenses battle missile threats rather than sending them on risky missions against Russian jets or critical ground targets.

The Ukrainian jets, 50-year-old aircraft made by Lockheed Martin, typically fly with a loadout of four air-to-air missiles and are equipped with bolt-on self-defense pylons for detecting incoming missiles.

Venable said the air-defense mission has met his expectations for how Ukraine would use them.

Ukraine, Venable said, does not have enough F-16s, nor does it have the support systems or upgrades, to be able to use them aggressively to change the shape of the war.

Ukraine's air force is not perfect, Venable said. But the progress so far is clear. "As far as being able to intercept inbound missiles and being able to engage them, this says a lot about their capabilities."

• I spent two nights in Snowmass, a ski town in Colorado.
• Snowmass is often mentioned in reference to its popular neighbor, Aspen.
• I've visited both and would book future trips to Snowmass.

It's hard to pinpoint what makes Colorado's ski town Snowmass stand out.

I could argue that it's the mountain itself. As one of the state's largest ski mountains, people spend entire days on the slopes, hitting every type of terrain and avoiding a single crowd.

I could say it's the community. It's impossible to avoid a friendly conversation with your waiter or the couple sitting next to you sipping après margaritas.

Maybe it's the town's casual nature. Sure, Snowmass has high-end restaurants and luxury lodges, but no one bats an eye if you eat $88 sashimi in Crocs and sweatpants.

Sara Stookey Sanchez, Snowmass' public relations manager, told me that it boils down to a "vibe."

"What I think makes us so special, and it's truly a terrible answer, but it's a vibe," she said. "The community lives and breathes Snowmass."

With Snowmass sitting just 15 minutes from Aspen, the town is rarely mentioned without reference to its glitzy neighbor. But after spending three days in Snowmass, I discovered what Stookey Sanchez meant.

Although both towns have their appeal, I'll stick to Snowmass for future ski trips.

In terms of skiing, Snowmass is the winner

Colorado is dotted with ski towns, and over the past four winters, I've checked more than a dozen off my list.

I've headed to Vail, where I felt transported to Europe. As a snowboarder living in Denver, Winter Park and Breckenridge have become favorites thanks to their proximity to the city. During my first Colorado winter, I spent three nights exploring Aspen while keeping my eyes peeled for celebrities.

Each destination has its highlights, but in terms of the actual mountain, Snowmass stands out.

Snowmass is one of the four mountains that make up the Aspen Snowmass Ski Resort. The other three include Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk.

Snowmass was ideal for me, an intermediate snowboader. There was plenty of terrain to explore, and for a full day, I rarely lapped a ski run. Instead, I breezed through empty lift lines and carved fresh tracks across the mountain.

Plus, the mountain seemed suited for all levels of experience. There are terrain parks, bunny hills, and plenty of black runs.

Meanwhile, I couldn't even snowboard during my trip to Aspen. While Aspen is known as a popular ski town, Aspen Mountain's terrain is limited to intermediate and expert skiers who can get down steep runs. When I visited a few years ago, I wasn't comfortable on the mountain. Even today, I'm sure I could get down the mountain, but I'm not sure I'd enjoy it.

During my three-day stay, I heard this from others. Skiers and snowboarders raved about Snowmass, and plenty mentioned that although they stayed in Aspen, they were coming to Snowmass every day to ski.

While Aspen has the reputation, Snowmass has the scale

The town of Snowmass is split into two areas: Snowmass Base and Snowmass Mall. Snowmass Base Village is much more modern, with fine dining options, a skating rink, and luxury condos and hotels. There's also the Snowmass Mall, home to retail, food, and more accommodations.

Snowmass' main appeal — at least to me — is its ski-in, ski-out accommodations. More than 14 of the town's hotels and condos have direct access to lifts. For example, I spent two nights at the Viceroy Snowmass, where a lift line was less than a five-minute walk from my hotel room. For me, getting on the mountain easily is a huge advantage when it comes to a ski trip.

Aspen, on the other hand, has far fewer ski-in, ski-out options. A quick search online shows just six, including The Little Nell, where a night during the winter rarely costs less than $2,500.

There are some areas where Aspen shines. Although upscale, the town itself feels more charming. Quaint buildings fill the town center, and the town's rich mining history is hard to ignore as you walk between Prada and Valentino stores. Art galleries dot the town, and a night at Aspen's Belly Up concert venue is something you won't find in Snowmass.

Plus, the food options in Aspen are incomparable. The town has more restaurants than Snowmass, including Michelin-starred options like Bosq.

With Aspen's exclusive reputation comes a higher price. Aspen is considered one of the most expensive ski towns in the US. In a 2024 ranking of the country's most expensive vacation destinations, OptimosTravel said the average weeklong trip to Aspen was $5,330 per person. According to Kayak, the average weeknight hotel cost in the first two weeks of January in Snowmass was about $1,040 compared to Aspen's $1,900 average.

After visiting both, finding cheaper eats was more doable in Snowmass, where you could find $15 sandwiches and $9 breakfast burritos.

Meanwhile, some costs between the towns remain the same. The mountains, for example, all share the same lift tickets, so skiing — no matter where you are — will cost about $250 a day.

But if you're staying in Snowmass, where accommodations are cheaper, your dollar stretches further, and you'll have a little more budget to après in Aspen.

The debate between the two towns is age-old

With only 15 minutes between the two towns, I'm far from the first to compare the pair, and I won't be the last.

Plenty of people prefer Aspen — it's a charming town to see and be seen. Others, however, love the expansive outdoors and laid-back vibe Snowmass provides.

And even if you do end up in Snowmass, I'd argue that a trip there wouldn't be complete without at least one night spent drinking, dining, and wandering Aspen.

For me, a ski trip boils down to the skiing itself. If I had to choose between lugging my snowboarding gear on a bus each morning versus finding a ski-in, ski-out condo in Snowmass and hitting more terrain, I'd choose the latter.

• It may be difficult to take your teenager's breakup seriously.
• Journalist Lisa Phillips wrote a book to show parents how to help their heartbroken teens.
• She said you need to validate their feelings and ensure they aren't withdrawing.

When Lisa Phillips' 13-year-old daughter started dating another person, the author and journalist became distressed. She wondered how this relationship — and eventual breakup — would affect her only daughter.

This led Phillips to write the book, "First Love: Guiding Teens Through Relationships and Heartbreak." It's aimed to help parents — like herself — navigate these new treacherous waters.

"Sometimes parents get caught up in what kind of relationship it was, saying, 'Oh, it was just a crush,' or 'Oh, this was just this weird situation. You never really said that you were an official couple. So it's probably good you can move on now,'" Phillips told Business Insider.

While that will be most parents' gut reaction, it isn't the best one. It can be difficult to manage your teen's feelings through this difficult time, but it's not impossible. Here's how.

First, validate your child's feelings

"If the heartbreak is happening, you want to validate it," Philips said, emphasizing that validation is the most important thing a parent can do.

Teens need to hear from their parents that their grief matters and their breakup matters — even if it may seem trivial to you.

Dr. Maria Ashford, a psychologist who has years of experience working with teens, said she sees heartbreak as one of many factors that may be leading to an increase in anxiety and stress.

"Teens, in general, are more hesitant to share these types of vulnerabilities, but especially in an environment where they may be unsure of whether their feelings will be validated or what kind of response they get," Ashford told Business Insider.

By validating their feelings, you're showing your teen you want to be there for them and help them move on with their lives.

Help them take the next steps toward healing

Some heartbroken teens might want to talk about the breakup all the time. Phillips said it's important that your teen doesn't ruminate or stay stuck in negative thoughts about the breakup. Instead, they need the right guidance to get out of this loop.

Phillips recommended saying: "Alright, we've really talked about this a lot. I am worried your brain is getting worn out. Let's think of one problem you can fix now."

You can also ask them if there are other concrete ways to support them. For example, Philips said, helping them deal with how they're going to work at their after-school job if that person is going to be there and coming up with strategies for them to talk to their boss to arrange different shifts.

What if your teen is hesitant to discuss their feelings with you?

Ashford said that if your adolescent isn't talking to you about their feelings, you need to watch for behaviors like avoiding certain activities or social engagements. This may be a sign that they're depressed.

Ashford said to check in with your reticent adolescent and suggested saying: "I know that you just went through something really tough, and when we go through these periods, it's helpful to talk to someone about how we feel. I also know sometimes it can be hard to do that with parents, so I just want to make sure you feel you have someone you trust who you can talk to about these things."

She also suggested you work together to find a therapist if they refuse to talk.

Remember, this is not about you

If you were close to your child's ex, you may have feelings of loss and grief, but you have to find ways of dealing with that on your own.

Phillips also added that this is not the time to discuss your own breakup or your past romantic disappointments.

"Do not bring up your divorce — especially if it's that child's parent," Phillips said. "That's just really not OK. That stirs up all kinds of issues of loyalty."

It's most important to focus on your child at this time and what they need to get through the breakup.

"In this moment, your child needs to feel heard on the [issues] they're dealing with in their life," Phillips added.