3 recipes to help you through the busy holiday season
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.NYT's Brooks: Smith Was Right to Drop Case, It's More Dangerous if We 'Use Trials as Political Weapons' Going Forward
One of the key drivers behind the recent surge in the China Golden Dragon Index is the robust performance of Chinese stocks across various sectors. From technology firms to traditional industries, Chinese companies have demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of global economic challenges, leading to strong earnings growth and improved financial health. As a result, investors are increasingly turning their attention towards Chinese equities as a lucrative investment opportunity.
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Lin Zhiling, a renowned Taiwanese singer and actor, has always been a household name for his charming persona and talent. However, in recent years, it's his son Kimi who has been making waves in the entertainment industry with his striking looks and undeniable charisma. At just 15 years old, Kimi has captured the hearts of fans with his remarkable resemblance to his father, particularly in his mesmerizing eyes that seem to have been copy-pasted from Lin Zhiling himself.As we look towards 2025, it is clear that the central government's stance on the real estate market will have a significant impact on the industry as a whole. With a commitment to stability and support, the government is laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and prosperous real estate market in the years to come. It is now up to developers, investors, and stakeholders in the industry to work together towards this common goal of a stable and thriving real estate market.
In a statement released by Beijing Guoan, Setien expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge, stating, "I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead such a prestigious club like Beijing Guoan. I am excited to work with the players and staff to build a competitive team that can achieve success both domestically and on the continental stage."The Prime Minister laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking Liverpool could be set to lead the way in dealing with spiking in city night clubs as the government aims to stamp out the harmful practice. This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer revealed more details on his plans to make spiking a drink a specific criminal offence as part of the government’s crackdown on violence against women and girls. During a meeting with police bosses, transport figures and hospitality executives in Downing Street on Monday morning, the Prime Minister said he hoped the measures would give people “the confidence to come forward”. He laid out plans for venue staff to be trained in relation to spiking, with a pilot to begin within weeks before a wider rollout next year. The government announced that 10,000 workers in the hospitality industry will be trained to deal with incidents by next spring as part of an expansion of a scheme piloted from December, to be rolled out from March of next year. But venues in Liverpool could go even further, with one veteran of the city's pub and nightclub scene saying the hospitality sector should be aiming to train all staff in preventing and handling spiking incidents. John Hughes is chairman of Pub Watch and Liverpool Nightlife CIC and he works with nightclub and pub owners in the city centre. John insists that while Liverpool is a safe night out, there is still more that can be done to tackle spiking - and he believes Liverpool can go beyond current government plans. Speaking to the ECHO , John said: "Any sort of training in licenced premises, it's no good just a handful of people knowing what to do. We see the training side of it in Liverpool as one of the main things [to focus on] and we don't want to just train frontline staff - we want to share that knowledge with everyone. "It is difficult to train everyone because of the nature of the night time economy. For some people these jobs are a part-time thing. It's also very difficult to get your messages over to all the staff, because of the business that we are in, when you want to speak to people they are in bed because they're working until the early hours of the morning." But despite the challenges, John said he thinks Liverpool should be aiming to go beyond the training measures planned by the government. He said: "In Liverpool we want to go beyond what the government is recommending. I think they need to do more for our industry because we are on our knees and in April with the rising costs facing businesses it's only going to get worse. It's tough out there at the minute." Part of John's work with Pub Watch and Liverpool Nightlife CIC involves giving out testing kits to customers in clubs and bars, which enable drinkers to check if their beverages have any unwanted substances in them. John is also working on designing a safety app which he hopes will be rolled out across the city's bars and clubs to offer free training for all staff, along with safety checks for businesses. He said: "The great thing about Liverpool is we are all working together so well." John also highlighted the city's 'Purple Flag' status, which is has proudly held for 14 years. The Purple Flag rating is like the Blue Flag for beaches or Green Flag for parks – which aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres in the evening and night time. Detailing the planned national training scheme, Sir Keir told the meeting it would be “partly to spot what’s happening, but also to know what to do in the event that there is an incident in a venue”. Labour says the proposals are part of the party’s promise to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade – although home secretary Yvette Cooper did admit the pledge is “ambitious” and that the government has not worked out how to measure their progress as she laid out a string of reforms to overhaul policing at an annual summit with police chiefs last Tuesday. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Spiking is a disturbing and serious crime which can have a damaging and long-lasting impact on victims. “That’s why today we are taking decisive action to prevent this devastating crime and to crack down on perpetrators, by introducing a new criminal offence for spiking and launching specialist training for thousands of bar staff nationwide. “People shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of their drinks on a night out. These changes are about giving victims greater confidence to come forward, and ensuring that there is a robust response from the police whenever these appalling crimes take place.”
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AFP) — Azerbaijani and US officials believe a Russian surface-to-air missile caused the deadly crash of an Azerbaijani passenger jet, media reports and a US official said Thursday, as the Kremlin cautioned against “hypotheses” over the disaster. The Azerbaijan Airlines jet crashed near the Kazakh city of Aktau, an oil and gas hub, on Wednesday after going off course for undetermined reasons. Thirty-eight of the 67 people on board died. The Embraer 190 aircraft was supposed to fly northwest from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to the city of Grozny in Chechnya, southern Russia, but instead diverted far off course across the Caspian Sea. An investigation is underway, with pro-government Azerbaijani website Caliber citing unnamed officials as saying they believed a Russian missile fired from a Pantsir-S air defence system downed the plane. The claim was also reported by The New York Times, broadcaster Euronews and the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Some aviation and military experts said the plane might have been accidentally shot by Russian air defence systems because it was flying in an area where Ukrainian drone activity had been reported. A former expert at France’s BEA air accident investigation agency said there appeared to be “a lot of shrapnel” damage on the wreckage. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said the damage was “reminiscent” of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which was downed with a surface-to-air missile by Russia-backed rebels over eastern Ukraine in 2014. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It would be wrong to make any hypotheses before the investigation’s conclusions.” – Shrapnel strikes reported – Euronews cited Azerbaijani government sources as saying that “shrapnel hit the passengers and cabin crew as it exploded next to the aircraft mid-flight”. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said early indications suggested a Russian anti-aircraft system struck the plane. Kazakhstan news agency Kazinform cited a regional prosecutor as saying that two black-box flight recorders had been recovered. Azerbaijan Airlines initially said the plane flew through a flock of birds, before withdrawing the statement. Kazakh officials said 38 people had been killed and there were 29 survivors, including three children. Jalil Aliyev, the father of flight attendant Hokume Aliyeva, told AFP that this was supposed to have been her last flight before starting a job as a lawyer for the airline. “Why did her young life have to end so tragically?” the man said in a trembling voice before hanging up the phone. Eleven of the injured are in intensive care, the Kazakh health ministry said. – Day of mourning – Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declared Thursday a day of mourning and cancelled a planned visit to Russia for an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a grouping of former Soviet nations. “I extend my condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the crash... and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” Aliyev said in a social media post Wednesday. The Flight Radar website showed the plane deviating from its normal route, crossing the Caspian Sea and then circling over the area where it eventually crashed near Aktau, on the eastern shore of the sea. Kazakhstan said the plane was carrying 37 Azerbaijani passengers, six Kazakhs, three Kyrgyz and 16 Russians. – Bloodied survivors – A Kazakh woman told the local branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) she was near where the plane crashed and rushed to the site to help survivors. “They were covered in blood. They were crying. They were calling for help,” said the woman, who gave her name as Elmira. She said they saved some teenagers. “I’ll never forget their look, full of pain and despair,” said Elmira. “A girl pleaded: ‘Save my mother, my mother is back there’.” Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation with Aliyev and “expressed his condolences in connection with the crash”, Peskov told a news conference.Santander Bank has officially launched Openbank , a new digital banking platform, whose initial offering brings high yield savings opportunities to more Americans. Openbank’s high yield savings account features an attractive Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 5.00%*, no fees, low minimum deposits, and an exceptional customer experience with frictionless account opening that takes less than four minutes. With the launch of Openbank, Santander expands its addressable market in the U.S., complementing its existing branch network to serve customers nationally and grow deposits to be a lower-cost funding source for the company’s consumer lending, including its at-scale Auto business. “Openbank brings to life our strategy to build a digital bank with branches to accelerate growth and provide easy access to high yield savings accounts for U.S. customers nationwide,” said Tim Wennes, CEO of Santander US. “The early results for Openbank have been strong, and we expect our new customers will find Openbank to be a seamless and easy digital experience, backed by one of the world’s largest financial services companies with 171 million customers around the globe.” Santander US’s research shows that 6 in 10 middle-income Americans have not taken action to benefit from higher yields available. Consumers have been reluctant to act on higher interest rates because of commonly held misperceptions, such as that opening an account is overly burdensome, time-consuming, and not worth it. Openbank’s High Yield Savings account’s attractive APY is among the best savings opportunities available on the market, and the account has been rated 4.5 stars out of 5 on Bankrate.com.** Openbank provides eligible U.S. customers with a digital banking experience built upon Santander’s legacy of strength and stability, as a global financial powerhouse. This launch marks the first time Santander integrates its entire core, proprietary technology into one stack, offering customers a seamless and secure online banking experience. “High yield savings accounts are only the beginning, as we introduce Openbank to customers across the U.S. outside our historic footprint in the Northeast,” said Swati Bhatia, Head of Retail Banking & Transformation of Santander Bank. “At Santander, consumer banking is in our DNA. Operating a digital consumer bank within a global consumer bank allows us to innovate faster like a fintech and introduce new products in a matter of months, not years.” Additional products will be introduced in time to ensure that Openbank by Santander is meeting the ongoing needs of its customers. As part of the Openbank by Santander launch, Santander Bank created an in-person and mobile launch event called “Play to Save.” The innovative experience included two games focused on saving and making smart money moves. For the in-person experience, consumers were able to play using a large game controller placed in front of a projected gaming screen in Austin and Miami. Openbank by Santander deposits, through Santander Bank, are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category and the platform employs biometric security protocols to add an extra layer of security, so customers can bank digitally with confidence. For more information about Openbank by Santander, including eligibility and how to open an account, please visit here.
Walmart’s mega “Black Friday Deals” sale is coming to a close, but there’s still time to score major savings on those holiday gifts online now. The Walmart “Black Friday Deals” sale will end early on Sunday, Dec. 1 , giving you a few more hours to snag markdowns up to 70% off in some of the best deals of the year from Walmart. This includes big discounts on those hot-ticket electronic devices , essential kitchen appliances , stylish fashion and top toys . Walmart rolled out this big “Black Friday Deals” sale on Nov. 11, splitting the event into two sales that were featured online and in stores. It also gave exclusive online access to Walmart+ members five hours before the general public for a first chance at the best deals. As the second of Walmart’s “Black Friday Deals” sale , this holiday shopping event kicked off on Nov. 25 and will come to a close just before Walmart rolls out online-only deals for Cyber Monday on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. ET with exclusive online access for Walmart+ members at 8 p.m. ET. The Cyber Monday deals will run until midnight ET on Dec. 2. But before this Cyber Monday sale arrives, you can shop the mega discounts Walmart is still offering now on TVs , wireless headphones , smartwatches , vacuums , cookware , grills and griddles , gaming consoles and more. Shop Walmart’s Black Friday sale To help you find the best deals, here’s a roundup of some of our favorites that you can still grab from Walmart’s “Black Friday Deals” sale before it ends today. Shop for more markdowns during Walmart’s Black Friday sale here. The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .In a world often filled with darkness and despair, Alex Yang's story is a beacon of light and a reminder that, in the end, the ties that bind us to our past and our future are stronger than any force that may seek to tear us apart. His is a story of hope, of resilience, and of the enduring power of the human spirit to rise above even the most daunting of challenges. And as he continues on his quest to find his family and reclaim his identity, Alex Yang serves as an inspiration to us all – a living testament to the power of love, perseverance, and the unbreakable bond that ties us to our roots.
Furthermore, Son's impact goes beyond just scoring goals. His work rate, tactical awareness, and ability to create space for his teammates make him a valuable asset on the field. His presence alone forces opponents to recalibrate their defensive strategies, often opening up opportunities for other players to shine. Son's unselfish nature and team-first mentality make him a natural leader both on and off the pitch.In conclusion, Ionut Radu's impending departure from Inter Milan marks the end of an era for the goalkeeper and the club. His legacy as Skriniar will forever be remembered by fans and teammates, who have witnessed his talent and passion firsthand. As Radu prepares to say goodbye to the Nerazzurri, we look forward to following his future endeavors and celebrating his continued success in the world of football.
Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in Freshpet, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FRPT – Free Report ) by 54.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 439,681 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 154,909 shares during the quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. owned 0.91% of Freshpet worth $60,135,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Freshpet in the third quarter valued at $29,000. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Freshpet during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its position in shares of Freshpet by 41.1% during the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 371 shares of the company’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. boosted its position in shares of Freshpet by 3,670.0% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new position in Freshpet in the second quarter worth about $52,000. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, EVP Stephen Macchiaverna sold 2,178 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $140.01, for a total transaction of $304,941.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 86,039 shares in the company, valued at $12,046,320.39. This represents a 2.47 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, President Scott James Morris sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.13, for a total transaction of $790,650.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 122,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $19,351,949.40. This represents a 3.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold 9,678 shares of company stock worth $1,480,217 over the last ninety days. 3.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Read Our Latest Report on FRPT Freshpet Stock Performance Shares of Freshpet stock opened at $153.05 on Friday. Freshpet, Inc. has a 52 week low of $69.37 and a 52 week high of $160.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 3.91 and a current ratio of 4.72. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 171.97 and a beta of 1.39. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $143.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $134.49. Freshpet ( NASDAQ:FRPT – Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, November 4th. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.10. Freshpet had a net margin of 4.75% and a return on equity of 3.67%. The company had revenue of $253.40 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $248.36 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.15) EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 26.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Freshpet, Inc. will post 0.87 EPS for the current year. Freshpet Profile ( Free Report ) Freshpet, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Freshpet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freshpet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .The Rise and Fall of "Instant Meal Kits": Who's Overeating?
In conclusion, Inter Milan’s ambitions to win the Serie A title and excel in the Champions League are driven by a strong desire for success and excellence. Marco Parolo’s insightful comments underline the team’s determination to achieve their goals, while also acknowledging the potential threats that they may face, particularly from a resurgent Lazio side. As the season unfolds, fans can expect an exciting and competitive race for the Serie A crown, with Inter Milan looking to overcome all obstacles and emerge victorious in both domestic and European competitions.Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season
