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TuSimple pivot from self-driving to AI animation is complete with CreateAI rebrandDrop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’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.
USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. DALLAS — It was 24 years ago that baseball's Winter Meetings, in this same location, produced one of the wildest free-agent runs in history. Alex Rodriguez received a staggering 10-year, $252 million contract, twice as much as the biggest contract in sports history, and more than the total value of 18 MLB franchises. Mike Hampton signed the richest pitching contract in history, an eight-year, $121 million deal with the Colorado Rockies. The Boston Red Sox signed Manny Ramirez to the second-largest contract in history with an eight-year, $160 million deal. There was a record $739 million spent on 25 free agents at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas. Now, nearly a quarter-century later, those meetings could look like a neighborhood bake sale with the amount of money that’s about to be distributed. Juan Soto is on the verge of signing a monstrous deal that will certainly exceed a record $700 million – perhaps even reach $750 million – two officials with direct knowledge of negotiations told USA TODAY Sports. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly comment. Soto's deal will eclipse Shohei Ohtani’s with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and will pay Soto an average salary of at least $47 million a year for 14 or 15 years. And, oh yes, it will include opt-outs just in case it’s somehow undervalued in a few years. The New York Mets remain the favorites, executives say, but officials caution that the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox are all in the same $700+ million neighborhood. The deal certainly will be a blessing for teams with exorbitant contracts, suddenly making All-Star outfielder Fernando Tatis’ 14-year, $340 million deal look like a bargain if the San Diego Padres ever decide to move him. Free-agent starters Corbin Burnes and Max Fried also are expected to receive deals exceeding $200 million at the meetings this week, and shortstop Willy Adames kicked off the meetings with a franchise-record from the San Francisco Giants. Baseball executives, scouts, managers, and agents are scheduled to descend upon Dallas on Sunday, and by the time they depart for their flights back home Wednesday afternoon, there could be nearly $1.5 billion spent on free agents. Here at the five most intriguing free agents, top players who could be traded, and five teams to watch during the Winter Meetings: : The guy who turned down a in 2022 will be laughing all the way to the bank. He made himself an extra $300 million by waiting. It took A-Rod nine years and a change of teams to win a World Series championship after his record contract. How long will it take for Soto to get that second ring – and will it be with the same team that signs him to this historic this contract? : They haven't thrown a pitch in more than two months, but their stocks have soared thanks to the contracts given to pitchers whose resumes pale in comparison. When Matthew Boyd receives a 2-year, $29 million contract without throwing more than 79 innings since 2019, when Luis Severino is getting $67 million over three years and Blake Snell is making an average annual salary of $36.4 million, Burnes and Fried should top $200 million. The San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox all lurk. The only drama is whether Fried goes ahead and signs before Burnes, or lets Burnes set the bar. Fried priced himself out of Atlanta, but is expected to sign with the Yankees or Red Sox. If Soto goes to the Mets, Fried could find himself in a nice bidding war between the Red Sox and Yankees. : Teams everywhere are being linked to Bregman, but the truth is that the Astros badly want him back, and the feeling is mutual. The trouble is that they are about $50 million apart. The Astros have a six-year deal worth $156 million sitting on the table – $5 million more than third baseman Matt Chapman received from the Giants but $26 million less than Adames – and Bregman is seeking in excess of $200 million. The Astros are expected to enhance their offer, but will it be enough to convince Bregman to stay? : Did the Dodgers meet with Soto and let people believe they actually are pursuing him just to help them , another Scott Boras client? Did they let the Soto rumors fester just to up the pressure on a Hernández reunin? Or did they jump into the original bidding to drive up the Soto price tag for everyone else? The truth is that the Dodgers should re-sign Hernandez to a three-year contract, with perhaps a fourth-year option, for somewhere in the $65-80 million range. The two sides have been seriously engaged in negotiations this week, but caution there’s still a gap. : Alonso says he loves the Mets and the Mets say they love Alonso, but something seems off. The Mets tried to sign him to an extension – seven years and $158 million, according to the New York Post – but it was flatly rejected. There’s no sign that the two sides have since talked, leaving everyone to wonder whether David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations, even wants Alonso. He could easily turn to Christian Walker, the three-time Gold Glove first baseman, who should come at less than half the cost of Alonso. Alonso could be a perfect fit for the Seattle Mariners. : No player will command as much on the trade market than Crochet, the ace of the Chicago White Sox. They are asking for team’s top prospects, and no one blames them. He’s young (25), he’s cheap (projected to earn $2.9 million by ) and he’s a stud, striking out 209 batters in 146 innings last season. The White Sox have had serious talks with the Philadelphia Phillies, but rejected the concept of Alec Bohm and outfielder Justin Crawford. The San Diego Padres would love him, and have dealt plenty of prospects in the past, but told the White Sox they are hanging onto catcher Ethan Salas and shortstop Leodalis De Vries. The Red Sox lurk. In the end, the White Sox will trade him to the team that gives them the most prized prospects, and hope they never again experience anything like their embarrassing 41-121 season. He may make too much money. No one is going to assume the entire $52.5 million left in Bellinger’s contract (if he opts back in for 2026 at $25 million). The Cubs would love to dump the contract, even for a lesser return, but they’re finding precious little interest. Still, there’s got to be a team out there that is willing to bite the bullet on the cash, and realize he’ll be a significant upgrade. We’re talking about you, Mariners and Yankees. He’ll definitely be moved, but it may not be until later this winter or spring. : When your boss calls you one of the worst decisions in his baseball career and is angry that you opted back into your contract at $22.5 million, you don’t need a therapist to know that you’re not wanted. The Diamondbacks are shopping him everywhere. They tried to get the Cubs interested in a swap for Bellinger. So far, they’re striking out, but considering the soaring price of pitching, and the brilliance he showed on the Texas Rangers’ World Series championship team, there’s a better shot of snow flurries in Phoenix next summer than Montgomery wearing a D-backs uniform. The Phillies realize they can’t run it back with the same offense again in 2025. It can be the most explosive in baseball, but as they’ve learned in the postseason, their lineup can also be awfully easy to navigate for opposing pitchers. Something has got to change, and Bohm easily has the most trade value among Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and himself. If the Astros lose Alex Bregman in free agency, you can be assured that Phillies president Dave Dombrowski will be immediately on the phone offering Bohm for Astros reliever Ryan Pressly – who’s being extensively shopped. : Let’s be honest, the Cardinals want him off the books and Arenado wants out of St. Louis if they’re not trying to win. He still has three years, $74 million left in his deal but if a team is willing to assume the entire contract, they’ll have to only send only a few Imo’s pizzas in return. Arenado has a full no-trade clause, but would be Ohtani’s personal driver if the Dodgers were willing to take him. The Red Sox could present a nice alternative, too. There are only a few suitors who have expressed the slightest of interest, but both sides know that if Arenado is still on the team when they report to Jupiter, Fla., the distractions of potential trade talks could be a nightmare for everyone. : In case the Yankees are ready to drown their miseries if they don’t re-sign Soto, all they have to do is look at the Padres to give them a $700 million shot of confidence. The Padres had Soto the entire 2023 season. You know what happened? They missed the playoffs. They traded him to the Yankees in the offseason, and they got better. The Yankees, if they don’t land Soto, can easily sign free agent Christian Walker for first base, sign Bregman or trade for Arenado for third base, trade for Bellinger to play center, move Aaron Judge back to right field, and still sign a frontline starter. Losing out on Soto could turn out to be a blessing in disguise. . : They’ve talked a huge game all winter, and have been in strong pursuit of Soto. Yet, whether they land Soto or not, they can’t stop now. They have to sign Fried or Burnes, or even both. They could trade for Arenado too. The expectations are simply too high to sit back and tell everyone that they tried. : Yes, the days of losing 110 games a season are over. They’ve made the playoffs each of the past two seasons. But now much, much more is expected than just signing slugger Tyler O’Neill to a three-year, $49.5 million contract Saturday, especially with new ownership. The Orioles still have the best young players in the game, but if they’re not careful, that window will close in a hurry. Just ask the 2016 Cubs. If they don’t bring back Burnes, they better come up with a replacement. It’s also time to use those prized prospects as capital and Crochet should be in their sights. : The Padres, about to be hit with massive pay raises for Manny Machado, Tatis and Xander Bogaerts, could lose starters Dylan Cease and Michael King in free agency after the year. They need to win. And they need to win now. They’ve traded away a dozen prospects to become one of baseball’s most powerful teams, but painfully realize this could be their final year to compete for a title without taking a step back. They need at least one frontline starter, if not two starters, with Joe Musgrove out for the year and questions about how many starts Yu Darvish can make this season. Their dream scenario is landing . He may be more essential to the Padres’ future than any team in baseball. Come on, you know GM Alex Anthopoulos has some tricks up his sleeve after spending the first month creatively trimming about $38 million in payroll by trading Jorge Soler, letting catcher Travis d’Arnaud leave and restructuring two deals. They need at least one starting pitcher, if not two, with veteran starters Charlie Morton and Fried likely out the door. They also need a closer with Joe Jimenez expected to miss most of the season after undergoing knee surgery. They could also use a corner outfielder with Ronald Acuña expected to be out at least until late May. Keep an eye on Anthopoulos, who pulled off coups last winter by acquiring Chris Sale from the Red Sox and signing Reynaldo Lopez.NFL fans are fuming over an awful game on Thursday Night Football. The Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks produced one of the worst games of this NFL season. The two teams combined for just nine points in what was the lowest scoring game of the season. Chicago ended up losing to Seattle 6-3 in a game where no touchdowns were scored. It was an extremely ugly game, with neither Geno Smith nor Caleb Williams throwing for over 200 yards. Smith had a 47.1 QBR while Williams had a 24.4 QBR. Read more on the NFL The two quarterbacks also combined to get sacked 10 times over the course of the game. The terrible outcome has many fans questioning the future of Thursday Night Football. The short week for NFL teams leads to many injuries, and a lot of the time it leads to worse football games. This was especially apparent in this 6-3 stinker of a game. Most read in American Football Fans shared how much they disliked the product on the field on social media after the game. "I’d rather watch badminton at this point," one fan said. "Fell asleep 3 times," another fan said. "You can point to this game but it is not isolated," a third fan said. "Game should have been flexed for a different game tbh," a fourth fan said. "These schedule makers gotta go!" a fifth fan said. The biggest action to come out of the Thursday Night Football game was wide receiver DK Metcalf's antics on the field. August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears August 8 - Pre-season begins August 27 - Deadline for 53-man rosters September 1 - Final day of pre-season September 5 - Season opener - Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs November 5 - Trade deadline January 5 - Week 18 of regular-season January 11 - Playoffs begin February 9 - Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana He was penalized multiple times for unsportsmanlike conduct throughout the game. Metcalf was seen pushing players on the head, and eventually headbutting another player. He only had 42 yards on the day, making his actions even more inexcusable. Read More on The US Sun Metcalf wasn't ejected from the game, but he did cost his team 15 yards multiple times. At least he gave viewers something to watch during the quiet game.
Alongside our Game of the Year top 10 list and personal picks from the Push Square editorial team, we are recognising the best PS5 games of 2024 in select categories. Today is the turn of the best PS5 RPG of 2024 . Bronze Trophy: Unicorn Overlord Unicorn Overlord is another banger from the supremely talented developer that is Vanillaware. This strategic RPG is a beautifully crafted experience, all the way from the art direction to the gameplay mechanics. Granted, the story's a little rote, but amassing an entire army of fantastically diverse characters is never dull — and actually finding ways to best utilise those characters is a devilishly addictive process. An immaculate adventure. Read our Unicorn Overlord PS5 review through the link. Silver Trophy: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Outside the imposing walls of Midgar, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is allowed to breathe, and fully embraces the grand sense of adventure that was so prevalent in the original PS1 classic. Rebirth expands on so much of what Remake got right, providing a robust RPG that offers up superb combat encounters and great character progression. But perhaps most importantly, there's a clear love for the source material on display here; everything is reimagined in often shockingly impressive detail, and the main cast feel brilliantly realised, without losing what made them so iconic in the first place. Read our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth PS5 review through the link. Gold Trophy: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth faced a ludicrously tough task in handling both the stories of Kazuma Kiryu and Ichiban Kasuga in a single, cohesive campaign, and RGG Studio figured it all out like water off a duck's back. Split across three open world maps, you'll at times construct and improve two entirely separate parties, each fighting on a different front. It's a demand most other studios would crumble under, but the Japanese team came out the other side all the better for it. Piecing all those turn-based fights and party management features together is the exact sort of story you'd expect of a Yakuza title: fascinating, twisting, unexpected, comical, and incredible. With over 80 hours of content to invest in when accounting for all the minigames and side stories, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the quintessential JRPG. It's a best-in-class effort from RGG Studio that proves the series is only ever on an upward trajectory, somehow only ever getting better and better. Read our Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth PS5 review through the link. Platinum Trophy: Metaphor: ReFantazio It may basically be a political take on Persona , but when the other IP from Atlus is already so strong, it would be silly for Metaphor: ReFantazio not to use that basic structure and take it to new heights. There's a slightly more streamlined approach to some things in the JRPG, like the more straightforward Archetype system and removing the need to equip specific monsters to strengthen relationship bonds. This allows you to better focus on the combat and building connections with teammates without the worry of failure, turning Metaphor into a JRPG that allows for so much more experimentation. The overall party continually grows throughout the 75-hour campaign, and the story remains gripping from the start to the very end. With the stunning visual style of an Atlus title, a great soundtrack, and a truly fantastic cast of characters, Metaphor: ReFantazio delivers absolutely everything you could possibly want out of a turn-based RPG in 2024. This is the subgenre at its new peak. Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio PS5 review through the link. Do you agree with our picks for the best PS5 RPG of 2024 ? Post your thoughts in the comments below and check out more of our Game of the Year coverage through the link.
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Jordan Jones scored 20 points as Cent. Conn. St. beat Holy Cross 69-56 on Saturday. Jones added six steals for the Blue Devils (6-3). Abdul Momoh scored 12 points and added three steals. Devin Haid had 12 points and shot 4 for 8, including 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. Max Green led the Crusaders (5-5) in scoring, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Tyler Boston added 13 points and five assists for Holy Cross. Caleb Kenney finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Cent. Conn. St. took the lead with 6:53 remaining in the first half and did not give it up. The score was 38-25 at halftime, with Haid racking up 12 points. Cent. Conn. St. pulled away with an 11-3 run in the second half to extend a six-point lead to 14 points. They closed out the victory over Holy Cross from there, as Jones led the way with a team-high 14 second-half points. NEXT UP Cent. Conn. St.'s next game is Sunday against Rhode Island on the road, and Holy Cross visits Quinnipiac on Tuesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Francis' 23 lead NJIT over Navy 69-64
Ousted former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad has found asylum in Russia after fleeing his country on Sunday, according to Kremlin sources quoted in the international media. Russian President Vladimir Putin had propped up the Assad regime for ten years, an extension of Soviet-era support. But with troops tied down in Ukraine, he could not help defend the regime when Syrian rebels began advancing after Hezbollah had been decimated by Israel in the Lebanon war. The BBC reported : “Deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow, Russian state media agencies report, citing sources in the Kremlin.” It added that Russian sources reported that Assad had been given asylum, noting that the BBC had not been able to verify those reports. Russia had supported Syria since a botched diplomatic effort by President Barack Obama to rid Syria of its chemical weapons led to Putin restoring a Kremlin foothold in the Middle East. Currently, there are still Russian naval forces in the Syrian coastal city of Latakia on the Mediterranean. Despite Russian and Iranian support for the regime, the Syrian rebels appeared to advance over the past two weeks almost without resistance, until reaching Damascus early Sunday morning. There were reports that Assad’s escape flight may have crashed, but those now appear to describe a separate flight. Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). He is the author of The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days , available for pre-order on Amazon. He is also the author of The Trumpian Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency , now available on Audible. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak . Photo: file
A man suspected to have been killed in his own home on Christmas Day has been named locally as Louis Price. Tributes have been pouring on social media for the doting dad hours after reports of the incident at the home Mr Price was living at with his parents emerged. One message posted on Facebook read: "I am in utter shock this has happened! You didn't deserve this. Always there when I needed you! Thank you for always having my back and making me laugh!" A second said: "All be grateful who is still around your tree this year. Another horrible message I woke up to this morning." It added: "Rest in peace Louis Price. Proper shocked me this one." Staffordshire Police said officers received a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes, at around 3.25am on Christmas Day. A statement released by the force on December 25 read: "We were called to a report of a man in his 30s in cardiac arrest on Elm Road, Norton Canes at around 3:25am this morning. Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene, he passed away a short while later. "The man’s next of kin have been informed and are now being supported by specially-trained officers. A 33-year-old woman from Cannock has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in custody." The statement added that a police and forensic presence was expected to remain at the scene for "a number of days", adding that a post mortem was scheduled to be carried out today (Boxing Day). A neighbour of Mr Price claimed to the Mail Online that at about 4.30am on Christmas Day she heard a female voice crying loudly over and again, "no, no, no". She told the paper: "I didn't know what was going on but it sound[ed] serious, I looked outside and the emergency services were everywhere." She added she believed Mr Price's parents were "away on holiday when it happened, They usually go away to the Maldives for Christmas and that may have been where they were. They will be absolutely devastated and my heart goes out to them." Another local said: "There are very nice neighbours and what has happened is very sad, and at Christmas, a time for family to be coming together. "The parents were abroad at the time and have been alerted to this nightmare and losing their son is such a dreadful way. It is shocking." Police is asking people with information linked to the incident to contact them via the police non-emergency number 101 or the Major Incident Public Portal. Anyone who wishes to provide information anonymously can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.In their final fixture of 2024, Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game midway through the opening period. Arsenal’s victory takes them back to within six points of leaders Liverpool, having played one match more than the Reds, and a point clear of Chelsea following their Boxing Day defeat to Fulham. Ipswich, although much improved in the second half, have now lost five of their last six games, and remain just one place off the bottom of the table, three points away from safety. 🎯 pic.twitter.com/hDd5bkHwXr — Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 27, 2024 Mikel Arteta’s men have been rocked by Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury which could keep the England winger, who has nine goals and 13 assists this season, out of action for the next two months. Gabriel Martinelli was handed the unenviable task of filling Saka’s shoes on Arsenal’s right-hand side and the Brazilian was involved in the only goal of the evening. The Ipswich defence failed to deal with Martinelli’s cross, with the ball falling to Leandro Trossard on the opposite side of the area. Trossard fought his way to the byline before fizzing his cross into the box for Havertz to convert from a matter of yards. It was Havertz’s third goal in four matches, his 12th of the season, and no less than the hosts, who at that stage of the match had enjoyed a staggering 91.4 per cent of the possession, deserved. Heading into Friday’s fixture, Arsenal had lost only one of their last 75 Premier League games when they had opened the scoring, and their triumph here rarely looked in doubt following Havertz’s strike. Three points that take Arsenal into second 🪜 #ARSIPS pic.twitter.com/Dx3s6XlwQ2 — Premier League (@premierleague) December 27, 2024 Havertz thought he had doubled Arsenal’s lead with 34 minutes gone when he converted Gabriel Jesus’ cross. But Jesus – handed his third successive start for the first time in a year – strayed into an offside position in the build-up. When referee Darren England blew for half-time, Ipswich had failed to touch the ball in Arsenal’s box, becoming just the second side to do so in the Premier League this season. Nottingham Forest were the other, away at Liverpool, before they went on to inflict Arne Slot’s sole defeat of his tenure so far. And for all of Arsenal’s possession, while they held just a one-goal advantage, Ipswich knew they were still in the game. An encouraging start to the second half for the Tractor Boys ensued, albeit without testing David Raya in the Arsenal goal. Shortly after the hour mark, Gabriel should have settled any growing Emirates nerves when he arrived unmarked to Declan Rice’s corner, but the defender headed wide of Arijanet Muric’s post when it looked easier to score. Just over an hour on the clock. #ARSIPS pic.twitter.com/JXNipX1J1Z — IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) December 27, 2024 Martin Odegaard then forced a fine fingertip save from Muric at his near post after a mazy run and shot from the Arsenal skipper. Rice’s stinging goal-bound volley from the following corner was blocked by Dara O’Shea as Arsenal pushed for a game-killing second. Havertz should have tapped home Trossard’s header but he fluffed his lines. And moments later, substitute Mikel Merino’s effort was diverted from danger by a diving Muric. Ipswich looked to catch Arsenal on the counter, but the match ended without them registering a single effort on Raya’s goal. Ipswich fans goaded their opponents with chants of “boring, boring Arsenal”, but it was the Gunners who enjoyed the last laugh as they saw out 2024 with a win which keeps the pressure on Liverpool.
NoneBOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' reliance on hotels and motels to shelter homeless people will be phased out in the next couple of years, Gov. Maura Healey said Friday, outlining changes to the state's emergency family shelter system. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' reliance on hotels and motels to shelter homeless people will be phased out in the next couple of years, Gov. Maura Healey said Friday, outlining changes to the state's emergency family shelter system. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts’ reliance on hotels and motels to shelter homeless people will be phased out in the next couple of years, Gov. Maura Healey said Friday, outlining changes to the state’s emergency family shelter system. The Democratic governor said the changes would help more families find stable, permanent housing and help manage costs. Healey said the emergency assistance system has remained steady at around 7,500 families with up to 40 families initially seeking shelter per day. In recent months, that average has fallen to about 15-18 families per day, she said. “In recent years, the state’s family shelter system has grown to be increasingly unsustainable,” Healey said in a statement. “We’ve taken significant action to rein in its growth, and we’ve seen tangible results.” Last year, Healey declared a state of emergency, capping shelter capacity at 7,500 families. The state has also barred homeless families from sleeping overnight at Logan International Airport in Boston. Healey said the state will be phasing out the use of hotels and motels to shelter homeless people during the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years. The facilities lack the space for services and can be isolating, Healey said. She said providers will work with families to find safe and stable housing. The administration will also push to increase the state’s temporary rental subsidy, Healey said. Under the proposed change, families will be eligible for up to $25,000 of rental assistance per year for two years. The current benefit is a total of $30,000 over two or $45,000 over three years. Beginning Dec. 10, homeless families will be placed on either a “Rapid Shelter Track” or “Bridge Shelter Track” depending on their needs, Healey said. The Rapid Shelter Track is aimed at families who have the resources to quickly find permanent housing. They will be offered 30 days of support to receive help with transitioning quickly to stable housing. The Bridge Shelter Track is meant for families with more complex needs who may take longer to find permanent housing – including women with late-term pregnancies and people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Gladys Vega, president of La Colaborativa, an immigrant aid organization in Chelsea, Massachusetts, said it’s critical to maintain a safety net for those struggling to find housing they can afford. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “As rental prices continue to rise, families across the commonwealth are increasingly finding themselves unable to sustain the cost of housing,” Vega said. “Many Massachusetts residents are a single paycheck away from homelessness.” Massachusetts has struggled to deal with a spike in demand for homeless services — in part due to the influx of migrants to the state. In June, Healey announced that beginning Aug. 1, families not prioritized for placement in emergency assistance shelters would be eligible to stay at overflow sites for just five days. Healey said she was tightening restrictions on emergency assistance system eligibility because of the system’s “continuing capacity constraints” and the need to protect its financial sustainability Beginning June 1, the state also began limiting how long homeless families can stay in shelters to nine months. After that, families are eligible for up to two 90-day extensions. Advertisement AdvertisementBOSTON — Pavel Zacha scored 2:49 into overtime, and the Boston Bruins beat the Flyers 4-3 on Saturday for their fourth straight victory. Boston’s Brad Marchand tied it with 5:22 left in regulation. Trent Frederic had the other two goals for Boston, which is 7-2 since interim coach Joe Sacco took over for the fired Jim Montgomery. Zacha scored the winner after Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman stopped Joel Farabee’s breakaway seconds earlier. Rookie Matvei Michkov scored two first-period goals for the Flyers in their second straight loss. Cam York also scored, and Travis Sanheim had two assists. Coming off a frustrating loss against Florida when they gave up a season-high seven goals, the Flyers blew a third-period lead for the second game in a row, which left coach John Tortorella was frustrated with a couple of calls late. “Let me start: One thing I teach my team to do is not dive,” he said in opening his postgame press conference. “Maybe I should start teaching them that. The way this has gone here ... maybe I should teach them to dive.” The Flyers were called for two tripping penalties — neither of them led to goals — in the third period. They also were whistled for a tripping that led to a goal in the second. Boston scored twice in the third period of its fourth consecutive win. The Flyers blew a third-period lead for the second straight game. “I’m not going to go too far into it,” Tortorella said. “That’s one of the things we talk about as a team: ‘We’ve got to play an honest game. There’s no cheating, there’s no embarrassing referees. You don’t embarrass the referees.”’ Michkov scored a power-play goal at 7:24 when he one-timed a shot from the right circle off a short tip pass from Sean Couturier. His second came on a redirected shot at the edge of the crease. Takeaways Flyers: Leading all rookies in scoring coming into the day with nine goals and 22 points, Michkov had three assists in his last game on Thursday. Bruins: Sacco used star winger David Pastrnak on the top line with Brad Marchand for the second straight game and the first two times this season after Marchand scored two goals in Boston’s last game. Key moment Marchand hustled to a puck deep in the offensive zone, skated around Tyson Foerster and slid the puck between Aleksei Kolosov’s pads for the tying goal. Up next The Flyers have a quick turnaround, hosting Utah on Sunday.
Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’OTTAWA — Two senior members of the federal cabinet were in Florida Friday pushing Canada's new border plan with Donald Trump's transition team, a day after Trudeau himself appeared to finally push back at the president-elect over his social media posts about turning Canada into the 51st state. Both Trudeau and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who Trudeau has been courting to become Canada's next finance minister, shared posts on X Thursday, a day after Trump's latest jab at Canada in his Christmas Day message. It isn't clear if Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who has repeatedly insisted Trump's 51st state references are a joke, will raise the issue with Trump's team when he and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly meet with them in Palm Beach. The two are there to discuss Canada's new $1.3 billion border plan with just under four weeks left before Trump is sworn in again as president. He has threatened to impose a new 25 per cent import tariff on Canada and Mexico the same day over concerns about a trade imbalance, as well as illegal drugs and migration issues at the borders. The broad strokes of Canada's plan were made public Dec. 17, including a new aerial intelligence task force to provide round-the-clock surveillance of the border, and improved efforts using technology and canine teams to seek out drugs in shipments leaving Canada LeBlanc's spokesman, Jean-Sébastien Comeau, said the ministers will also emphasize the negative impacts of Trump's threatened tariffs on both Canada and the U.S. Comeau said the ministers will build on the discussions that took place last month when Trudeau and LeBlanc met Trump at Mar-a-Lago just days after Trump first made his tariff threat. It was at that dinner on Nov. 29 when Trump first raised the notion of Canada becoming the 51st state, a comment LeBlanc has repeatedly since insisted was just a joke. But Trump has continued the quip repeatedly in various social media posts, including in his Christmas Day message when he said Canadians would pay lower taxes and have better military protection if they became Americans. He has taken to calling Trudeau "governor" instead of prime minister. Trudeau had not directly responded to any of the jabs, but on Thursday posted a link to a six-minute long video on YouTube from 2010 in which American journalist Tom Brokaw "explains Canada to Americans." The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, including their founding based on immigration, their trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian Army in World War 2 and other modern conflicts. "In the long history of sovereign neighbours there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada," Brokaw says in the video. Trudeau did not expand about why he posted a link to the video, posting it only with the words "some information about Canada for Americans." Carney, who is at the centre of some of Trudeau's recent domestic political troubles, also called out Trump's antics on X Thursday, calling it "casual disrespect" and "carrying the 'joke' too far." "Time to call it out, stand up for Canada, and build a true North American partnership," said Carney, who Trudeau was courting to join his cabinet before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last week. Freeland's sudden departure, three days after Trudeau informed her he would be firing her as finance minister in favour of Carney, left Trudeau's leadership even more bruised than it already was. Despite the expectation Carney would assume the role, he did not and has not made any statements about it. LeBlanc was sworn in as finance minister instead the same day Freeland quit. More than two dozen Liberal MPs have publicly called on Trudeau to resign as leader, and Trudeau is said to be taking the holidays to think about his next steps. He is currently vacationing in British Columbia. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 27, 2024. Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press