STORES across the UK have confirmed they will cut their opening hours over the New Year to give staff an extra rest. Some high-street staples are closing their doors entirely while others are drawing the blinds earlier than usual. 1 Find out which stores are closing for the 2025 New Year Credit: Getty It's good to know when these timings are so you're well prepared and don't waste a day out. Traditionally, most shops are expected to close on New Year's Day, but in recent years retailers have started to change their opening hours. We recommend checking the opening hours of your local store as they aren't always the same across all branches. If you're unsure and can't find any information online, ask a staff member when you're next in. Read more from money CHRIMBO CHEER Christmas opening times 2024 LIVE: Tesco and Asda welcome back punters SEND IT The Post Office's New Year opening times revealed Below are the stores that have confirmed closures on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day... Tesco Tesco is one of the major stores that will reduce it's opening hours but not close its doors entirely. But it's good to be prepared - especially if you're needing to stock up on any last-minute booze for New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve, Tesco Extra stores and superstores will close at 7pm, with some exceptions on the Isle of Man. Most read in Money RUNNING DRY Fears supermarket Guinness shortage could mean NO supplies for New Year’s Eve WELL ISLE BE We've moved onto an island in London with no bridge - pals say we're 'bonkers' 'SAD NEWS' 'Genuinely gutted' cry locals as popular Scots eatery announces sudden closure SHOP SHOCK Iconic British high street chain forced to close ANOTHER store after 34 years Meanwhile, the majority of Express stores will close at 10pm and some bigger branches will only stay open until 7pm. For New Year's Day, superstores will open from 8am to 6pm. Poundland's £1m Elgin store opens Most Express stores are open from 8am to 10pm but some bigger ones may close earlier. Tesco advises customers check the opening hours of their local store before heading out. Sainsbury's Sainsbury's is also staying open for the New Year period but with shorter service hours. On New Year's Eve, supermarkets will be open from 10am to 7pm and convenience stores from 6am to 9pm. And on New Year's Day, supermarkets will be open from 8am to 8pm and convenience stores from 8am to 9pm. Petrol filling stations will open 30 minutes before and close 30 minutes after the main store on New Year's Day. However on New Year's Eve they will open an hour later. The supermarket will return to its usual operating hours on January 2. Check with your local Sainsbury's to be sure. M&S M&S is reducing its hours on New Year's Eve and completely closing its doors to the public on New Year's Day. The retailer told The Sun: "On New Year's Eve almost 400 of our stores will be open 9am-7pm but customers can check out the hours of their local store on the M&S app or website. "On New Year’s Day, our stores will be closed so colleagues can spend more time with loved ones. The size of your shop and whether it has a food hall may cause hours to vary, so check with your local. Asda Asda will be reducing its hours on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. On December 31 it will open at 7am and close at 7pm. While on January 1 it will open at 9am and close at 6pm. Times will vary between stores, however, so shoppers are advised to check the precise timings for their local stores. You can do this via Store Locator tool on Asda's website. Waitrose Waitrose has confirmed it will shut the majority of its stores on New Years Day with only a handful staying open. Those which remain open will continue operating via Deliveroo and Uber Eats. Check with your local Waitrose to find out if it is one of the branches opening on New Year's Day. New Year's Eve opening hours will also vary. However, stores will generally open at 8am and close at 7pm. Aldi Aldi has also confirmed it will close completely on January 1. It is also set to open at 8am on New Year's Eve and close to the public early at 6pm. These hours should be the same across the board so no need to check with your local. Morrisons Morrisons has revealed it will open at 7am on New Year's Eve, and close its doors early at 7pm for all stores in England and Wales. Those living in Scotland can enter stores from 6am. On New Year's Day all stores will open at 8am and close at 6pm. And on January 1 Morrisons will return to its regular operating hours - unless you live in Scotland, where it will open 9am to 6pm. Read more on the Scottish Sun GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ VAX HORROR Striken Scots 'gaslit' by health bosses after complications from Covid vaccine Supermarket loyalty schemes - which has one? MOST UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop. Here we round up what saving programmes you'll find at the big brands. Iceland: Unlike other stores, you don't collect points with the Iceland Bonus Card. Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save. Lidl Plus : Lidl customers don't collect points when they shop, and are instead rewarded with personalised vouchers that gives them money off at the till. Morrisons: The My Morrisons: Make Good Things Happen replaces the More Card and rewards customers with personalised money off vouchers via the app. Sainsbury's: While Sainsbury's doesn't have a personal scheme, it does own the Nectar card which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops. You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card. You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point. Tesco: Tesco Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone. You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers - 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher. Here you need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point. Waitrose: myWaitrose also doesn't allow you to collect points but instead you'll get access to free hot drinks, and discounts off certain brands in store. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk . Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing vs. ASML: Which Stock Will Outperform in 2025?Washington — A number of Republican senators have expressed concern about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Defense Department, potentially putting his intended nomination at risk. Hegseth, who has been meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this week to try to build support ahead of his confirmation hearings, has faced a round of negative stories involving allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement at veterans' charities , repeated intoxication and infidelity. "Some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but some of this stuff is, it's going to be difficult," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters Tuesday. "Time will tell." Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, also said he found the allegations "disturbing" but added, "We all love a good redemption story." Cramer suggested Hegseth's alleged behavior stemmed from alcohol abuse, adding that "almost everything else can come from that one abuse." Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, who noted he has also read the reporting and is aware of the allegations, said Hegseth will have to address them. "I want to know if they are true and I want to hear his side of the story and he is going to have to address them," he said Tuesday, adding that he wasn't sure if Hegseth's nomination would face headwinds. On Monday, the New Yorker reported that before he became a full-time Fox News host, Hegseth was forced to step down from two nonprofit advocacy groups — Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America — amid complaints about his alleged behavior that included repeatedly being intoxicated while on the job, leading a hostile work environment and mismanaging the charities' funds. CBS News reported that Jessie Jane Duff, a Marine veteran who served as one of Trump's 2024 campaign executive directors, was among those who pushed to have him ousted from Concerned Veterans for America in 2016. A lawyer for Hegseth has denied the allegations. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, said Tuesday that the allegations "are a surprise to all of us" and that his ability to be confirmed by the Senate "depends on how he addresses the issues that have been raised." Lummis said the allegations also came as a surprise to Trump. "Some of the earlier issues that were raised about an incident in California, I think were satisfactorily addressed and would not have interfered with his nomination, but some new things that have come to light in the last 12 to 14 hours are things he needs to address," she said. Hegseth, an Army veteran turned Fox News star, was investigated for sexual assault in 2017 in Monterey, California. Authorities declined to file charges in the case, saying none were "supported by proof beyond a reasonable doubt." Hegseth told investigators that the sexual encounter with the woman was consensual and he has denied any wrongdoing. He paid a confidential settlement to the woman out of concern that her accusation could result in his firing from Fox News, his lawyer said after the claims became public in mid-November. But Sen. Tommy Tuberville pushed back on the notion that Trump may have concern about his pick. "I talked to him last night," the Alabama Republican said Tuesday. "I don't think there's any concern. Why would there be?" Asked Monday whether he thought the Senate would confirm him to lead the Pentagon, Hegseth said he was "taking it meeting by meeting." Trump has already had one Cabinet pick withdraw from the process. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida pulled his name from consideration amid scrutiny over allegations of sex trafficking and illicit drug use, which he denies. Alan He contributed to this report. United States Senate Donald Trump Pete Hegseth Defense Department Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at CBSNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
President-elect Donald Trump called his meeting with Justin Trudeau productive and says the prime minister made a commitment to work with the United States to end the drug crisis amid the threat of stiff tariffs. Trudeau flew to Florida Friday evening to attend a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump’s transition team is based. The in-person meeting came at the end of a rocky week in which Trump threatened to impose stiff tariffs on all imports from Canada and Mexico, unless the two countries stop illegal border crossings and prevent illicit drugs from entering the U.S. In a post on Truth Social, Trump says he and Trudeau discussed the drug crisis, particularly fentanyl, illegal immigration, as well as trade, energy and the Arctic. Trump’s post did not directly mention tariffs. Trudeau told reporters in West Palm Beach Saturday morning that he had an excellent conversation with Trump’s transition team.
AMESBURY, Mass. , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Provident Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq:PVBC), the holding company for BankProv (the "Bank"), today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a new stock repurchase program. Under the repurchase program, the Company may repurchase up to 883,366 shares of its common stock, or approximately five percent of the current outstanding shares. The repurchase program was adopted following the receipt of non-objection from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston . The repurchase program permits shares to be repurchased in open market or private transactions, through block trades, and pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Repurchases will be made at management's discretion at prices management considers to be attractive and in the best interests of both the Company and its stockholders, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company's financial performance. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b -18 of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable legal requirements. The repurchase program may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any particular number of shares. About Provident Bancorp, Inc. Provident Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:PVBC) is the holding company for BankProv, a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Massachusetts . With retail branches in the Seacoast Region of Northeastern Massachusetts and New Hampshire , as well as commercial banking offices in the Manchester / Concord market in Central New Hampshire , BankProv delivers a unique combination of traditional banking services and innovative financial solutions to its markets. Founded in Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1828, BankProv holds the honor of being the 10th oldest bank in the nation. The Bank insures 100% of deposits through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, visit bankprov.com . Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements, such as statements of the Company's or the Bank's plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as, "expects," "subject," "believe," "will," "intends," "may," "will be" or "would." These statements are subject to change based on various important factors (some of which are beyond the Company's or the Bank's control), and actual results may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements (which reflect management's analysis of factors only as of the date on which they are given). These factors include: general economic conditions; interest rates; inflation; levels of unemployment; legislative, regulatory and accounting changes; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank; deposit flows; our ability to access cost-effective funding; changes in liquidity, including the size and composition of our deposit portfolio and the percentage of uninsured deposits in the portfolio; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; competition; our ability to successfully shift the balance sheet to that of a traditional community bank; real estate values in the market area; loan demand; the adequacy of our level and methodology for calculating our allowance for credit losses; changes in the quality of our loan and securities portfolios; the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans; our ability to retain key employees; failures or breaches of our IT systems, including cyberattacks; the failure to maintain current technologies; the ability of the Company or the Bank to effectively manage its growth; global and national war and terrorism; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on our operations and financial results and those of our customers; and results of regulatory examinations, among other factors. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive. Readers should carefully review the risk factors described in other documents that the Company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Investor contact: Joseph Reilly President and Chief Executive Officer Provident Bancorp, Inc. jreilly@bankprov.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/provident-bancorp-inc-adopts-stock-repurchase-program-302320082.html SOURCE Provident Bancorp, Inc.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles was granted a reprieve complete with a second swing at hiring a head coach in Chicago. Poles will interview candidates and select a replacement for Matt Eberflus, who was fired Friday after the Bears' sixth consecutive loss and fourth of the season decided on a final play. "Ryan Poles is the general manager of the Chicago Bears, and he will remain the general manager of the Chicago Bears," president and CEO Kevin Warren said Monday. "Ryan will serve as the point person of our upcoming search for a head football coach. We will closely, we will work together on a daily basis to make sure we have the right person as our head football coach." Warren said the McCaskey family provided "all the resources" to build a championship environment. He confirmed that Thomas Brown, who a month ago was passing game coordinator before replacing Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator, will serve as interim head coach and shift from the press box to the sideline starting this week. Warren did not say whether Brown would automatically receive an interview for the full-time coaching position, which he said "will be the most coveted head coaching job in the National Football League." Poles said consideration will be given to candidates with the plan to develop rookie No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, but there are no set plans to involve the quarterback in the interview process. He said the Bears showed great progress through two seasons but couldn't sustain growth. "At the end of the day, we just came up short too many times," Poles said of firing Eberflus, his pick to be the Bears' head coach in January 2022. Brown promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to interim offensive coordinator on Monday and announced that defensive coordinator Eric Washington will be the defensive play caller, a role Eberflus previously held. Trailing 23-20 on Thanksgiving Day, the Bears were within field-goal range when quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked. With 32 seconds remaining, Eberflus elected not to use his final timeout as Williams heaved an incompletion down the right sideline as time expired. "When you look at the end-of-the-game situations, detailing to finish in some of those moments. We all know a lot of games come down to those critical moments where we weren't able to get over the hump," Poles said. Eberflus said after the game that everything was handled properly and held a press conference via Zoom on Friday voicing confidence he'd have the team ready to play the 49ers this week. But three hours later, he was fired. Warren admitted the franchise could've handled the timing better, but clarified there was no decision on Eberflus' status at the time of his media session. "The decision was made to terminate the employment of head coach Matt Eberflus," Warren said 72 hours later. "We try to do everything in a professional manner. That decision was made on Friday." "Coach Eberflus had his press conference, we had not made a final decision. I think you know me, you know Ryan you know George McCaskey. One thing we stand for is family, integrity, doing it the right way. In retrospect, could we have done it better? Absolutely." Eberflus, 54, went 14-32 in two-plus seasons. The Bears (4-8) travel to San Francisco (5-7) in Week 1. --Field Level MediaSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Samsung is preparing to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which is anticipated to be a game-changer in the premium segment. Scheduled to launch on January 22, 2025, this highly awaited device is expected to build on its predecessor's success with notable upgrades and features aimed at solidifying Samsung's dominance in the smartphone market. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-9167143-2"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Release Date and Pricing Speculation Rumours suggest the Galaxy S25 series will debut at Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco on January 22, 2025, with availability starting around February 6. Pricing for the Ultra model remains uncertain, particularly after the Galaxy S24 Ultra launched at $1,299. Industry insiders speculate that increasing material costs and the addition of Qualcomm's advanced Snapdragon 8 Elite chip could lead to a price hike, though Samsung has yet to make an official announcement. Continues below advertisement window.addEventListener("load", function() { let ad_unit_fire_time = 1000; if(ad_delay_time_abp > 0){ ad_unit_fire_time = parseInt(ad_delay_time_abp) + 500; } setTimeout(function () { googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("div-gpt-ad-1253031-3"); }); },ad_unit_fire_time) }); Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Design and Display Features Design-wise, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumoured to introduce subtle refinements while retaining the premium titanium frame introduced with its predecessor. The device is expected to feature a slightly larger 6.9-inch display with thinner bezels and a more ergonomic, curved design. However, reports indicate Samsung may reuse its M13 OLED display technology instead of adopting the brighter M14 panels seen in competing devices. Available colors may include titanium, black, green, and blue, with potential exclusive options such as jade and pink to appeal to diverse consumer preferences. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Camera Upgrades Samsung appears to be prioritizing camera enhancements in its bid to stay competitive against rivals like Apple. One significant rumour suggests a substantial upgrade to the ultrawide lens, increasing its resolution from 12MP to an impressive 50MP. Additionally, the telephoto system might introduce "variable focal lengths," enabling smoother and more versatile zooming capabilities. Despite earlier speculation about removing the second telephoto lens, leaks indicate that Samsung will maintain its four-lens setup for now. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Performance & AI Integration Under the hood, the Galaxy S25 Ultra is rumoured to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite, promising a substantial boost in performance. Early benchmarks indicate a 40% increase in CPU efficiency and a 42% improvement in GPU capabilities compared to its predecessor. The device may also feature an upgrade to 16GB of RAM, which would enhance multitasking and support advanced on-device AI functions. Samsung is reportedly focusing heavily on AI integration for the S25 series, potentially incorporating generative AI features into Bixby and other applications. The phone is expected to launch with Android 15, customized with Samsung’s One UI 7, and will continue the brand's promise of extended software support. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Leaks: Battery Life & Charging The battery is anticipated to retain its 5,000mAh capacity, but thanks to the energy efficiency of the Snapdragon 8 Elite, users might experience longer battery life. Meanwhile, charging speeds are likely to remain at 45W, mirroring the capabilities of the Galaxy S24 Ultra.