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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.A Pakistan without Benazir Bhutto Ms Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan with mission of reconciliation in politically and religiously divided country Benazir Bhutto takes the oath of office for prime minister on October 19, 1993 in Islamabad. —AFP/File The general belief is that no one is indispensable in this mortal world. But in my humble opinion, there are definitely exceptions to this general rule. Had Jinnah (our Quaid-e-Azam) and Benazir Bhutto lived a little longer, Pakistan would have been a different and a much better country. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); Mohammad Ali Jinnah, like his rival Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, would have given a liberal, democratic and multi-religious constitution to Pakistan, free from exploitation of minorities and deprived classes. Similarly, had Benazir Bhutto lived longer, she might have built a more secure and harmonious Pakistan based on a grand reconciliation which she proposed and advocated before her unfortunate killing in the streets of the power centre of Rawalpindi in broad daylight. Ms Benazir Bhutto had returned to Pakistan with the mission of reconciliation in a politically and religiously divided country. She wrote a book called 'Reconciliation', preaching a long-lasting pact of peaceful coexistence between the warring ideologies. In her philosophical but equally practical formula of grand reconciliation, she referred to and quoted examples from across the globe to prove that conflict can be transformed into peaceful coexistence through dialogue. Benazir Bhutto, who was educated at Oxford University and trained under the traditional British parliamentary practices, initially believed that debate and talks could settle and resolve contentious issues. But with her practical experience in her own country and learning from abroad, she perhaps realised that settled societies like Britain can resolve issues through dialogue without compromising their principled positions. But in unsettled societies like the Middle East, India and Pakistan, the warring rivals have to make sacrifices and compromises to reach reconciliation. These groups might have to sacrifice their principled positions as well. One could say that such efforts at reconciliation were also practised by Israeli politician and philosopher and two-time prime minister Ishaq Rabin (Yitzhak Rabin). Rabin was instrumental in finalising the historic Oslo Accord that suggested a two-state solution for a peaceful and sustainable coexistence between Israel and Palestine. Rabin had met Benazir Bhutto, and both exchanged views on regional and international politics – though it is important to note that Benazir Bhutto strongly supported the Palestinian cause. Ultimately, she did proceed towards a reconciliation between the establishment and the PPP. I am also privy to Benazir Bhutto’s desire to sit with her ideological rival from Jamaat-e-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, to pave the way for establishing a working relationship. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Amir ul Azeem was part of this informal communication. I personally brought Bhutto’s message to the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership. Qazi Sahib had consented to this meeting, but her unfortunate murder spoiled this golden opportunity to bridge the gap between two conflicting ideologies. Had Benazir Bhutto been lucky enough to have survived the second consecutive attack on her life, we might have seen a more harmonious and more peaceful Pakistan. She believed in the reconciliation of ideas rather than the clash of ideas. In the last years of her life, she seemed to act like a mystic who loves all and hates none. She had been a fighter in all her political life, but in her last days, she was peace and reconciliation personified. Benazir Bhutto’s reconciliation with General Musharraf is still very unpopular in Pakistan and is considered a dirty power deal. Guaranteed and patronised by the US and the British establishments, it was the best solution in those critical times of the war against terror. Named the NRO, the agreement was a pact between Musharraf and a popular political party for the transition to democracy through fair and free elections. It was patterned on the Oslo Accords and the Mandela Model. But this pact couldn’t work because General Musharraf backed out. Ironically, the harshest critic of the NRO, Imran Khan, now seeks the same kind of settlement from the army leadership. The prime demand of the PTI is to release Imran Khan, which means withdrawing all the pending cases against him. Isn’t that another NRO? Unfortunately, the powers that be always create Frankensteins to counter their political enemies. But they forget the universal lesson that Frankenstein's monsters ultimately kill their own creators. Benazir Bhutto was accused by her opponents of corruption and having foreign currency accounts in Switzerland. Subsequently, she had to spend the worst time of her life, facing cases at home and abroad. Ultimately, she was sentenced by a Pakistani court (whose judge was later thrown out of the judiciary for committing injustice at the behest of then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif) and red warrants from Interpol were sought against her. Her reputation was damaged a lot, but she fought back against all the odds, and eventually, all the cases against her were withdrawn unconditionally. She returned to Pakistan with a clean slate and radiating victory. But Frankenstein's monsters once again struck at their creators. The Sharif family also came under fire for corruption charges, foreign bank accounts, and kickbacks. Though many cases have already been decided in the Sharifs' favour, they still suffer a loss of reputation. The moral of the story is that whoever digs a pit for others, eventually falls himself into it. Imran Khan’s social media brigade is a new Frankenstein's monster, and if he doesn’t control it, that brigade will attack him as well. Seventeen years have passed since we lost Benazir Bhutto, who used to advocate for reconciliation. But we are getting farther and farther away from reconciliation. And as a result, we are literally drowning in a deep sea of hatred and infighting. We couldn’t benefit from Benazir Bhutto’s recipe of reconciliation, which is the only way out. But this recipe can only be effective if each party involved is ready to sacrifice its stated position. People have been cruel to the real heroes of their times, be they truthful prophets or visionary politicians. Ishaq Rabin was the greatest benefactor of the Jews and wanted a sustainable and peaceful Israel by giving a two-state solution. But the extremists killed their own visionary leader. Since his killing in 1995, Israel has been at war and will remain entangled in the flames of war until and unless the Oslo Accords are fully implemented. Benazir Bhutto was also killed by fundamentalists, although she wanted peace and tranquillity for future generations as well. The writer is the editor of Jang in Lahore, an anchor, and the executive director at Geo TV.

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Police arrested a 16-year-old student after he allegedly brought a gun to his high school in Kenosha, the second time in less than a month that someone has apparently tried to bring a firearm into one of the southeastern Wisconsin city’s schools. Indian Trail High School and Academy’s resource officer learned Monday that a photo of the student with a gun had been posted on social media, police said in a statement Wednesday. The student was located, escorted to an office, arrested and taken to the police department. Investigators later determined that the student had hidden a gun in a “sensitive area,” making it difficult for officers to locate the weapon initially. The statement did not elaborate, and a police spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more details late Wednesday afternoon. The student was in custody at a juvenile detention facility on Wednesday awaiting a court hearing, the statement said. Criminal proceedings involving minors and their outcomes are secret in Wisconsin. Kenosha police on Nov. 7 after he tried to bring what police said were “suspicious bags” into Roosevelt Elementary School. Investigators believe the boy was armed, judging by videos of him brandishing what detectives believe was a rifle and comments he made to other students. The teen fled after school staff members moved to question him. Police arrested him at his home later that afternoon.

CUSTOMERS BANCORP, INC. ANNOUNCEMENT: If You Have Suffered Losses In Customers Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: CUBI), You Are Encouraged To Contact The Rosen Law Firm About Your RightsIt’s unlikely Donald Trump will be able to realize his campaign promise that all remaining Bitcoin will be made in the U.S., according to observers who know the industry. “It is a Trump-like comment but it is definitely not in reality,” Ethan Vera, chief operating officer at Seattle-based Luxor Technology, which provides software and service to cryptocurrency miners, told Bloomberg News. Bitcoin is made through a process known as mining , in which operations use high-powered, fuel hungry computers to solve complicated math problems used to validate transactions in the network and post them to a public ledger, known as the blockchain. Crypto mining companies who solve these problems first are rewarded with payment, including in Bitcoin itself, a currency whose overall supply is currently capped at 21 million coins , not all of which have been issued. Considerable roadblocks stand in Trump’s way to make good on his vow. Bitcoin mining is distributed across the world, particularly in places with cheap access to abundant energy needed to fuel the data centers needed to mine crypto. The U.S. is currently home to less than half of all crypto mining, according to the government Energy Information Administration . There’s not much Trump could do to change the distribution aside from encouraging favorable regulation and energy prices to get operators within the decentralized currency to come to the U.S. But it’s not clear how successful that would be, or how long it might take. Moreover, a trade war with China like Trump is proposing, would further hike costs in the U.S., since most miners use Chinese-made computers. Nonetheless, the Trump campaign courted the crypto industry throughout his 2024 campaign, promising to make the U.S. a “Bitcoin superpower,” with the government buying a strategic reserve of cryptocurrency, even though Trump once dismissed crypto as “based on thin air.” Trump also promised to remove Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who is viewed as an opponent within the industry. Trump even unveiled a crypto venture of his own in September. The industry, in turn, has handsomely rewarded the Trump campaign. It contributed over $200 million to Trump and his allies, with donations from firms involved in crypto including Ripple, Coinbase, and venture capital powerhouse Andreessen Horowiz. In December, Bitcoin hit a record high price, in part because of optimism over the incoming administration. Crypto exchanges Coinbase and Kraken have also donated $1 million to the Trump inaugural committee. They join inauguration donors, including Amazon and Meta , as the tech industry seeks to build close relationships with the new White House. As The Independent has reported , the 2024 marked a sea change in tech politics, in which many top figures in the industry, including Elon Musk, left behind their traditional Democratic allies and supported Republicans.

DeepSeek-V3, ultra-large open-source AI, outperforms Llama and Qwen on launchBy A Correspondent The ruling Zanu PF party’s festive season message has been met with widespread criticism and outrage from Zimbabweans who feel insulted by the party’s attempt to wish them a “joyous and peaceful festive season” amidst the country’s economic crisis. In a statement, Zanu PF Secretary Obert Mpofu said, “The Zanu PF... join our party supporters in wishing the people of our great nation, Zimbabwe a joyous and peaceful festive season as well as a prosperous 2025.” Mpofu’s message continued, “May the Festive Season be filled with laughter, love and warmth and may the new year bring with it a renewed sense of patriotism and pride in our beloved nation.” However, many Zimbabweans feel that the message is tone-deaf and insensitive to the struggles they face daily. The country has been plagued by economic instability, high inflation, and shortages of basic goods, leaving many citizens struggling to make ends meet. Zimbabwe has a long history of political and economic turmoil, dating back to the colonial era 1. The country gained independence in 1980, but has since been ruled by the Zanu PF party, which has been accused of authoritarianism and human rights abuses. As the country heads into the new year, many Zimbabweans are skeptical about the prospects for improvement. The Zanu PF’s festive season message has only added to their frustration and sense of disillusionment with the ruling party. In a year that promises to bring more challenges and uncertainties, Zimbabweans are calling for genuine action and solutions from their leaders, rather than empty words and festive greetings.