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Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday questioned whether the Tamil Nadu police were not even aware of the basic procedure of non-disclosure of the identity of the complainants in sexual assault cases. “How was the First Information Report (FIR) published online? Why was the identity of another person involved in the case [of sexual assault on the Anna University campus] not revealed? Suspicions of political pressure in this case are increasing. The case should be transferred to the CBI...,” he posted on social media. Leaders raise questions PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the State government to suspend the officials who released the FIR that had the identity of the complainant. “Though two persons were involved in the case, only one of them has been arrested. Are the police attempting to protect the other accused and demoralise the complainant?..,” he asked. CPI (M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan condemned the police for publishing the FIR online. DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant, in a statement, questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s silence in the case. The Chennai Press Club expressed shock over the disclosure of the identity of the complainant by a section of the media. It is morally wrong and legally offensive to disclose identities of women and children who file complaints of sexual assault, it said. However, Minister for Law S. Regupathy, at a press conference, said the State government had not revealed the identity of the complainant in the FIR. “The government is not attempting to silence the complainant. Having trust in this government, she came forward to lodge a complaint and the government took action.” Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan, speaking in Thanjavur, rebutted reports that claimed that the accused was a DMK member. Published - December 27, 2024 12:18 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit
House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girlBalaji, a former employee at the AI giant OpenAI, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26. OpenAI has expressed condolences following the death of former researcher Suchir Balaji , who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment earlier this month. The company released a statement Thursday, December 26, confirming they are supporting Balaji's family during this difficult time. The statement on OpenAI newsroom comes exactly a month after Balaji's death on November 26. "We were devastated to learn of this tragic news and have been in touch with Suchir's family to offer our full support," the statement read. "Our priority is to continue to do everything we can to assist them." Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said “appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation.” Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August this year. Oone of his first projects at OpenAI, called WebGPT, is said to have helped pave the way for ChatGPT . Balaji had publicly raised concerns about potential copyright infringement by OpenAI and other AI companies, particularly regarding the use of copyrighted material to train generative AI models like ChatGPT. His concerns gained attention amidst numerous lawsuits from writers, programmers, and journalists alleging unauthorized use of their work. OpenAI stated they first became aware of Balaji's concerns through his comments published in The New York Times and that there has been no subsequent interaction. In the NYT interview, Balaji explained his growing interest in copyright law, sparked by the increasing number of lawsuits against AI companies. He also shared his skepticism about "fair use" as a viable defense for many generative AI products in a widely circulated post on X. Elon Musk , currently engaged in legal disputes with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman , reacted to Balaji's death with a brief "hmm" post on X.Strategic hire underscores Assembly's commitment to bolstering its leadership team to deliver best-in-class services and results for its clients. NEW YORK , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Assembly, a leading global marketing agency within the Stagwell (STGW) network, today announced the appointment of Josh Berman as Executive Vice President, Assembly Lead. Earlier this year, Assembly unveiled a new operating structure with teams organized into 'Assemblies' based on geography and industry sector. Based in New York , Berman will co-lead Assembly East, focusing on deepening brand relationships, driving innovation, and providing more rigor, expertise, and growth for clients. Berman brings 15 years of media industry experience to Assembly. Most recently, as Managing Partner and Client Lead at Wavemaker, he led media planning and buying for a major Church & Dwight brand and contributed to global product development initiatives, leveraging data and technology to craft effective marketing solutions. Over his career, Josh has partnered with marquee brands across various industries, including Citi, Campbell's , IKEA, Tiffany & Co., Amgen, Marriott, and AT&T. Berman's appointment is part of Assembly's ongoing growth efforts, ensuring that the agency remains at the forefront of the industry and continues to meet clients' evolving needs. "Our clients get the best of both worlds—an agency big enough to lead yet small enough to care—which means each client receives the attention, dedicated leadership, and prioritization the industry and clients are demanding," said Rick Acampora , Global CEO of Assembly. "Josh's extensive experience in media strategy, analytics, client leadership, and innovation, coupled with his ability to fuse media and creative to unlock and accelerate brand performance, will be instrumental as we continue to elevate and find the change that fuels growth for our clients. We are thrilled to have him join our team." Berman's role is effective immediately. ABOUT ASSEMBLY Assembly is a leading global omnichannel media agency that merges data, talent, and technology to catalyze growth for the world's most esteemed brands. Our holistic approach weaves together compelling brand narratives with a comprehensive suite of global media capabilities, driving performance and fostering significant business expansion. Our initiatives are powered by STAGE, our proprietary operating system, and executed by a dedicated global team of over 2,300 professionals across 35 offices worldwide. Committed to purposeful action, Assembly leads the way in social and environmental impact within the agency realm. As a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network designed to revolutionize marketing, Assembly continues to set new standards of excellence. For more information, please visit assemblyglobal.com . Contact Mariana Delacqua mariana.delacqua@assemblyglobal.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/josh-berman-joins-assembly-as-evp-assembly-lead-in-north-america-302337752.html SOURCE AssemblyHouse Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl
What's New The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Bank of America , Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase on Friday for allegedly failing to protect consumers from fraud on the popular peer-to-peer payment network Zelle. Why It Matters Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are three of the nation's largest banks. Zelle, meanwhile, is one of the most popular peer-to-peer payment networks in the U.S. Zelle has over 143 million users and, according to the CFPB, in the first half of this year, its users transferred $481 billion spanning over 1.7 billion transactions. The CFPB's lawsuit claims that hundreds of thousands of consumers filed fraud complaints and most were denied help from the banks. In some cases, consumers who filed complaints were allegedly told to contact the fraudsters directly to recover their money, according to CFPB. What To Know The CFPB claims that the banks violated federal consumer financial laws that regulate electronic funds transfers. These laws require banks to conduct "reasonable investigations" when consumers report transaction errors. Banks Rush To Get Zelle To Market: CFPB The CFPB alleged in a federal civil complaint that the banks rushed to get Zelle to market without effective safeguards against fraud. "Shortly after Zelle's launch, significant problems, including fraud being perpetrated on consumers using Zelle, quickly became apparent. But defendants did not take meaningful action to address these clear defects for years," the complaint said. Bank Customers Lost Over $870 Million The CFPB said in a press release issued Friday, "Customers of the three banks named in today's lawsuit have lost more than $870 million over the network's seven-year existence due to these failures." Zelle Operator Named In Lawsuit Early Warning Services, a financial technology and consumer reporting company that operates Zelle, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The fintech company is owned by seven U.S. banks, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase. These three banks accounted for 73 percent of activity on Zelle in 2023. What People Are Saying CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in Friday's press release : "The nation's largest banks felt threatened by competing payment apps, so they rushed to put out Zelle. By their failing to put in place proper safeguards, Zelle became a gold mine for fraudsters, while often leaving victims to fend for themselves." Bank of America said it strongly disagreed with the lawsuit. It said over 99.95 percent of transactions on Zelle go through without incident and that the lawsuit would add "huge new costs" to banks and credit unions offering the free Zelle service to its customers. "When a client has an issue, we work directly with them," Bank of America said. JPMorgan Chase said in a statement that the CPFB was "overreaching its authority by making banks accountable for criminals." Early Warning Services said the lawsuit was "legally and factually flawed." "Zelle leads the fight against scams and fraud and has industry-leading reimbursement policies that go above and beyond the law," the fintech company said. Wells Fargo declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Associated Press. What Happens Next If the CFPB wins the lawsuit, it could cost these three big banks an unspecified amount of money. "The CFPB's lawsuit seeks to halt unlawful conduct, obtain redress for harmed consumers, and obtain a civil money penalty, which would be paid into the CFPB's victims relief fund, and secure other appropriate relief," the bureau said in its press release. This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.Exact date all Winter Heating Payment should be paid by – and what to do if yours is missing
'I've lost a mentor and guide': Rahul Gandhi grieves demise of Dr. Manmohan SinghFaruqi & Faruqi Reminds Chipotle Mexican Grill Investors Of The Pending Class Action Lawsuit With A Lead Plaintiff Deadline Of January 10, 2025 - CMGTHERE’S a reason why the idea of a European super league has been floated again. And a reason why England’s wealthiest clubs won’t be running a mile from the plan. That reason is: Manchester United 0 Bournemouth 3 . The fact the ‘smallest’ club in the Premier League can crush England’s largest club on their own turf, not just in one fluke result but in two consecutive seasons, is definitive proof anything can happen in the world’s richest domestic competition. Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Fulham were promoted together in 2022 and all sit in the top half of the table because they have enough cash, and competence, to assemble squads with at least two very decent players in every position. Brighton and Brentford also sit above United, approaching the halfway point of the season. Which torpedoes the idea of the ‘rich getting rich and the poor getting poorer’. Because, in the Premier League, there is no poor. Real Madrid and Barcelona — who are backing the latest Super League scheme — are deeply envious of the Premier League because it’s basically bloody brilliant. United and the rest of the traditional English elite are tempted by a super league because they can no longer guarantee themselves European football — and because it would offer them more money to distance themselves from those well-run upstart clubs. On Sunday, I landed after a seven-hour flight from the Middle East, during which five Premier League games had been played. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Two of the results — Tottenham 3 Liverpool 6 , as well as Bournemouth’s latest drubbing of United — made me laugh out loud. And yet it’s not even all that surprising any more. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs haven’t had what you’d have once called a single bog-standard, easily predictable result, either positive or negative, in any domestic match since they beat Brentford 3-1 on September 21. Perhaps the 4-1 win over West Ham in October — but even that was the crushing of a local rival, involving a comeback, a red card and a mass brawl. And it’s not just Spurs, of course. A few weeks ago, I predicted, half-jokingly, that there might not be Champions League football in Manchester next season for the first time in 30 years. Now there is nothing vaguely funny about that statement. In fact, it’s entirely likely. City’s phenomenal meltdown — one win and nine defeats from 12 games in all competitions — has been analysed until the cows come home. But if Real, Barca or any other European powerhouse had suffered similar issues to Pep Guardiola’s side — key injuries and a squad which has aged in fast-forward — their results wouldn’t have been nearly as bad because there’d have been a comfy win or two to pick up. Which would avert the complete confidence collapse City have suffered. Instead, City lost to Bournemouth and Brighton and was drawn to Crystal Palace . Because they are all decent teams. Before City’s horror run, their previous three league games were single-goal victories over Fulham, Wolves and Southampton. Fulham had a superior ‘expected goals’ count to City at the Etihad. It took a controversial 95th-minute winner to defeat Wolves. Guardiola caused much amusement at the time by praising Russell Martin’s Saints to the hilt after City’s 1-0 home win. Pep wasn’t being patronising. He was being serious. He knew that even the bottom team could visit the champions and cause serious problems. So even City’s 12-game run does not represent such a sudden fall off a cliff edge. It was coming — because the Premier League is too bloody brilliant. United’s crisis has been dragging on for 11 years but the depths of their fall couldn’t be replicated by the richest clubs in Spain, Germany, Italy, France or anywhere else. In 55 league games since the start of last season, United have a goal difference of -2. A decade or so ago, England’s leading clubs were protected against such failures by a Champions League income which gave them a substantial and meaningful wealth gap over the smaller clubs. That has now been negated. The Premier League is so wealthy, so competitive, that the biggest clubs need a bigger cushion to protect themselves from their own failings. In Europe’s other major leagues, that buffer still exists. But Real, Barca and other major Continental clubs know that, as the global fascination with the Premier League grows, the more gloriously unpredictable it becomes. And so, another imaginary super league. This one, laughably called the Unify League because the ‘Ripping Everything To Shreds League’ would sound too obvious, and it would supposedly be based on merit with promotion and relegation and no automatic membership for the elite. Which makes it more palatable than the previous imaginary European super league - which England’s erstwhile ‘Big Six’ all signed up to. The 96-team Unify League would consist of a Star League, a Gold League, a Blue League and a Union League — making it sound as if the whole thing has been concocted by a bored nine-year-old boy in his bedroom. And yet it is backed by Real chief Florentino Perez , substantially more powerful than a bored nine-year-old boy in his bedroom. It has been dreamt up out of fear and envy by those who can’t hack the fact that the Premier League is so bloody brilliant. And at some point, whether in this decade or the next, one of these imaginary European super leagues — perhaps a worldwide super league involving the Saudis and others — will come to fruition. So, for now, enjoy Tottenham’s lunacy, relish City’s meltdown and savour United’s prolonged crisis. Because the Premier League, in all its current glory, is too good to last.The Dolphins' improbable path to the playoffs isn't in their hands, but they must do their part
A Tyler teenager who was missing for three weeks has been found safe, police confirmed Friday afternoon. Lily Peppler, 17, has been located, Tyler Police Department Spokesperson Officer Andy Erbaugh confirmed. "We have made contact with her, and her family is notified," Erbaugh said. "She has been removed as a missing person." Lily, a student at Tyler Legacy High School, was missing since Nov. 1 prior to being found safe. She was last seen leaving the school that morning, police said. No further details have been provided about the circumstances of the missing persons case, and family has stated in public posts on social media they are not sharing further details at this time.BOYS BASKETBALL After a short stint in District 24-6A play, Brazoswood will receive a small reprieve before diving back in. The Bucs dropped to 0-2 in the district after suffering an 84-39 loss Friday to Dickinson. The Bucs (0-2, 8-8) will turn their attention to the 51st annual Brazosport ISD Holiday Classic this weekend before venturing back into district play at the start of the new year. On Friday, Dickinson raced out to a 19-8 lead in the first quarter and pushed its advantage to 42-20 by halftime. Jose Trevino led the Bucs with eight points, followed by Kyle Mathews and Israel Williams with seven points each. Kaden Solis added six. ’Necks lose another close game: The Columbia Roughnecks are 0-2 in a crowded District 29-4A, but it’s not for lack of effort. Friday’s 58-57 loss to Wharton marks the team’s second district defeat by two points or fewer. The team lost 66-64 Dec. 17 to Brazosport. The Roughnecks join Needville and Sweeny as the other 0-2 teams in the district. Columbia (0-2, 6-11) will compete in this weekend’s Brazosport ISD Holiday Classic beginning Friday. Danbury continues strong start: The Danbury Panthers won their fourth straight game Saturday with a 51-34 victory over High Island at Danbury High School. The win improved the Panthers to 12-7 overall on the season. The Panthers will play in the Hull-Daisetta Invitational beginning Friday. GIRLS BASKETBALL B’port improves to 4-0 in district Regardless of how their non-district season started, the Brazosport Lady Exporters are the cream of the crop so far in District 29-4A play. The Lady Ships defeated Sweeny, 62-43, Friday at E.E “Flash” Walker Gymnasium. Brazosport sported a 4-7 overall record when it opened district play Dec. 10 against Needville. Since then, the Lady Ships (4-0, 8-7) have won four straight and lead the district by three games, courtesy of owning the current head-to-head tiebreaker against Columbia, who the Lady Ships defeated Dec. 17. Before resuming District 29-4A play Jan. 3 at El Campo, the Lady Ships will play in the 51st annual Brazosport ISD Holiday Classic beginning Friday. Lady ’Necks fall to Wharton: Ayvah Fields turned in a double-double performance, but it was not enough in Friday’s 46-44 loss to Wharton in District 29-4A play. The loss dropped Columbia to 2-2 in district play and 13-5 overall on the season. Fields scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the defeat. Hayley Broussard also had a strong performance, contributing 13 points and nine rebounds. The Lady ’Necks junior varsity squad handed Wharton a 53-16 loss behind Lacie Welch’s 14 points. Luretta Woodard added 10 points, while Kellie Keen contributed eight to the team’s tally. Woodard excelled in rebounding, pulling down 10 boards. Jessalyn Flores and Keen each snatched five boards. Skyla Vice and Addie Martinez each recorded five steals. The Lady ’Necks will compete in the Brazosport ISD Holiday Classic beginning Friday.The Dolphins' improbable path to the playoffs isn't in their hands, but they must do their part