to get through to the end of COVID. But I believe you have to be flexible," she said. "I am hopeful that we now have the social safety net ... "If we find that there are some gaps, obviously we will be agile and look to fill those gaps."

Freeland told a Vancouver business group by video conference that the government hopes the supports it has put in place will get businesses and Canadians through to the end of the pandemic, but did not discount additional aid if needed.

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - British negotiators are still trying to bridge gaps in trade talks with the European Union but ending a transition period without such an agreement remains the most likely outcome, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said again on Thursday.

Retail executives say the World Cup, moved to the winter to avoid the intense Qatari summer temperatures, has totally thrown the algorithms they increasingly use to predict trading and plan their logistics.

OTTAWA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The economic impact of the second wave of COVID-19 in Canada has been deeper than expected and the government must be agile to ensure it can respond to gaps in supports should any emerge, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Thursday.

The review heard that Bronson has a 'romanticised' view of violent incidents in the past, after he told parole judges how he loved a 'rumble' and enjoyed mass brawls in prison but insisted he has since found solace in art and is a man of 'peace'.

JERUSALEM, March 21 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has been trying to mediate an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflict, said on Monday that despite some progress big gaps remained between the sides.

The 70-year-old - whose real name is Michael Gordon Peterson - could be released in a matter of weeks after spending most of the past 48 years behind bars after three parole judges started hearing his case at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Once dubbed one of Britain's most violent offenders, Bronson has spent most of the past 48 years behind bars, apart from two brief periods of freedom during which he reoffended, for a string of thefts, firearms and violent offences, including 11 hostage-takings in nine different sieges.

That's what we're planning for," said Murphy. "Whether (people) choose to celebrate in the pub, and we service them through (wholesaler) Booker, or they celebrate at home, and we service them through Tesco, we don't mind as long as they're having fun.

Similarly, shoppers spent 1.2 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) on alcohol at supermarkets during last year's Euro 2020 soccer tournament, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, in which England reached the final at London's Wembley Stadium.

Similarly, World Cups, traditionally held in the northern hemisphere summer, typically provide a major boost to British supermarkets as households stock up on beers, wines and spirits, barbecue food and snacks and host large gatherings.

UK food retailers are already under severe pressure from cost inflation and changing shopper habits.

Earlier this month Tesco trimmed its profit forecast, while last month, Morrisons, the Co-operative and Aldi UK all reported profit falls.

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The winter World Cup has added a new level of uncertainty to the Christmas trading outlook of Britain's supermarkets: How do you persuade cash-strapped shoppers to buy yule logs and luxury biscuits at the same time as beer and pizza?

She told the hearing she believes Bronson should eventually be moved to a lower security prison with open conditions to allow him to interact with other people and poses 'less of a risk' outside of jail.

There is also a danger that people, distracted by the soccer, do not feel festive and do not turn their attention to Christmas spending until after the tournament, leading to a frantic final week of trading, he said.

However, confidence levels among shoppers were at record lows even before the government's, now reversed, new economic plan sent mortgage rates surging and sparked fears of a sharp drop in house prices to compound the cost-of-living crisis.