By Leah Nylen and Jaewon Kang | Bloomberg A judge blocked Kroger Co.’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. , finding the takeover would lessen competition for US grocery shoppers, in a ruling that marks a likely death knell for the deal. In a decision filed in Oregon federal court Tuesday, US District Judge Adrienne Nelson found in favor of the US Federal Trade Commission. The agency had argued that the proposed tie-up violates US antitrust law and that a division of hundreds of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. wouldn’t do enough to replace the lost competition. Also see: Biggest question from Kroger-Albertsons trial: What’s a grocery store? “There is ample evidence that the division is not sufficient in scale to adequately compete with the merged firm and is structured in a way that will significantly disadvantage C&S as a competitor,” Nelson wrote. “The deficiencies in the disvestiture scope and structure create a risk that some or all of the divested stores will lose sales or close, as has happened in past C&S acquisitions.” Nelson’s decision is a major victory for the FTC and its outgoing Chair Lina Khan, who came under harsh criticism from conservatives and business groups for stepped-up antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration. “Today’s win protects competition in the grocery market, which will prevent prices from rising even more,” said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar. “This statement makes it clear that strong, reality-based antitrust enforcement delivers real results for consumers, workers, and small businesses.” Also see: Albertsons would have shed these 63 California stores A C&S Wholesale spokesperson said the company is disappointed by the court’s decision and that it looks forward to seeing how Kroger and Albertsons will determine the next steps of the proposed deal. Kroger and Albertsons didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment. Attorneys for the companies have said the acquisition would probably be called off if the judge ruled against the deal. Kroger shares jumped as much as 6.1% in New York trading on Tuesday, extending earlier gains. Albertsons slumped as much as 10%. Specific Market Nelson agreed with the FTC that supermarkets constitute a specific market, countering the companies’ argument that the market extends to online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. “Supermarkets are distinct from other grocery retailers,” Nelson wrote. “Supermarkets offer a larger selection of fresh and non-perishable items, a one-stop shopping experience that appeals to a particular consumer’s preference to meet all their grocery needs in one location, and a customer service focus with deli, bakery, meat, and other specialized departments.” The ruling marks a disappointing end to a two-year odyssey by Kroger and Albertsons, which sought to become a bigger player with a more substantial national footprint to better compete against larger, non-unionized rivals including Walmart Inc. Kroger and Albertsons agreed to combine in October 2022 in what would have been the biggest US grocery deal in history, bringing together more than 4,000 stores across 48 states and Washington, DC. Kroger will likely turn its focus back to improving and investing in its existing network of about 2,750 stores. Albertsons, on the other hand, could emerge again as a deal target, but is expected in the near term to invest in its roughly 2,270 stores and technology. The proposed deal has been a political hot potato, drawing pushback from elected officials, union groups and consumer advocacy firms. The companies vowed to spend $1 billion to cut prices, $1.3 billion to improve store conditions and $1 billion to raise worker wages and benefits following the deal. The FTC has increased antitrust enforcement under the Biden administration, though the results in court have been mixed. The FTC lost a challenge to Microsoft Corp.’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. and won against Illumina Inc. over its purchase of startup Grail and against Tapestry Inc.’s planned $8.5 billion acquisition of Capri Holdings Inc. The companies and the agency fought their case in court for three weeks over the summer in Oregon, as grocery inflation came back into the political spotlight ahead of the US presidential election. Grocery inflation hit a four-decade high in 2022 due to higher costs of labor, transportation and ingredients. Price increases have moderated and are expected to stay within historical ranges, though many American shoppers still say expensive groceries continue to squeeze their ability to spend. The FTC argued that the deal would harm consumers by eliminating competition on prices and quality, making the combined entity less likely to improve its services by offering flexible hours and pickup services. It said the grocers would have more leverage over workers, which would slow wage growth and worsen benefits, and that the proposed divestiture would be inadequate. The agency tried to depict Kroger and Albertsons as the most direct competitors. It said the deal would combine the two largest “traditional supermarkets” in a market that includes Walmart and Target, but does not include Amazon, Costco, Aldi and dollar stores. The companies argued that such a definition is “antiquated” and no longer describes how people shop and pointed to various changes they have made in response to newer threats. The grocers also said joining forces would help them increase market share and improve technology to compete with Amazon, Walmart and other companies. The case is Federal Trade Commission v. Kroger Co., 24-cv-00347, US District Court, District of Oregon (Portland). Related Articles Retail | Fear of Trump tariffs sending Americans into debt as pantry stockpiling rises Retail | Costco’s popular Kirkland diapers shifting suppliers Retail | Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year’s biggest day for online shopping Retail | SunFed cucumbers and Costco eggs recalled due to potential salmonella contamination Retail | Gifting on a budget: 5 secrets to being generous without going brokeRALEIGH (AP) — CNN wants a court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson that attacks its report that he made explicit posts on a pornography website’s message board. The network says Robinson presented no evidence that the network believed its story was false or aired it recklessly. The September report says Robinson, who ran unsuccessfully for governor this month, left statements over a decade ago on the message board in which, in part, he referred to himself as a “black NAZI" and said he enjoyed transgender pornography. The report also says he preferred Adolf Hitler to then-President Barack Obama and slammed the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as “worse than a maggot.” Robinson, who was seeking to become the state's first Black governor, said he didn’t write those posts and sued in October, just before early in-person voting was to begin. While filing a dismissal motion Thursday in Raleigh federal court, attorneys for CNN said Robinson’s arguments suggesting he was the likely victim of a computer hacking operation that created fake messages would require a series of events that is not just “implausible, it is ridiculous.” Generally speaking, a public official claiming defamation must show a defendant knew a statement it made was false or did so with reckless disregard for the truth. “Robinson did not and cannot plausibly allege facts that show that CNN published the Article with actual malice,” attorney Mark Nebrig wrote in a memo backing the dismissal motion, adding that the lawsuit “does not include a single allegation demonstrating that CNN doubted the veracity of its reporting.” For Robinson, who already had a history of inflammatory comments about topics like abortion and LGBTQ+ rights , the CNN story nearly led to the collapse of his campaign. After the report's airing, most of his top campaign staff quit, advertising from the Republican Governors Association stopped and fellow Republicans distanced themselves from him, including President-elect Donald Trump. Robinson lost to Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein by nearly 15 points and will leave office at year-end. Robinson's lawsuit was initially filed in state court. It says, in part, that CNN chose to run its report based on data from the website NudeAfrica, which had been hacked several years ago and ran on vulnerable, outdated software. His suit claims the network did nothing to verify the posts. He's seeking monetary damages. Thursday's memo highlights the network's story, including a section where the CNN journalists showed how they connected Robinson to a username on the NudeAfrica site. As the CNN story said previously, the memo says the network matched details of the account on the message board to other online accounts held by Robinson by comparing usernames, an email address and his full name. The details discussed by the account holder matched Robinson’s length of marriage, where he lived at the time, and that both Robinson and the account holder had mothers who worked at a historically Black university, the memo says. CNN also said it found matches of figures of speech used by both the NudeAfrica account holder and in Robinson’s social media posts. “This is hardly a case where, as Robinson alleges, CNN ‘disregarded or deliberately avoided the truth’ rather than investigate,” Nebrig said, adding later that the network “had no reason to seriously doubt that Robinson was the author” of the posts. Robinson's attorneys didn't immediately respond to an email Friday seeking comment. The lawsuit says anyone could have used Robinson's breached data to create accounts on the internet. His state lawsuit also sued Louis Love Money, a former porn shop worker who alleged in a music video and a media interview that for several years starting in the 1990s, Robinson frequented a porn shop where Money was working and that Robinson purchased porn videos from him. Robinson said that was untrue. Money filed his own dismissal motion in the state lawsuit. But since then, CNN moved the lawsuit to federal court, saying that it's the proper venue for a North Carolina resident like Robinson and a Georgia-based company like CNN and that the claims against Money are unrelated.Todd Grantham is leaving the staff of the NFL's Saints to become the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, New Orleans interim coach Darren Rizzi said Monday. Grantham has been defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL and for Georgia, Louisville, Mississippi State and Florida at the college level. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekjackpot wild-win slots machine 。

Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionPaschal Donohoe has said that no one could have done a better job as Justice Minister than Helen McEntee. On Friday, at an event outlining Fine Gael's plans to make Dublin City safer, Mr Donohoe said he has been proud to work alongside the outgoing Minister. "I believe she has done a sterling job and is an exemplary colleague and politician," he said. "I couldn't be stronger in making the case for her." Mr Donohoe defended Ms McEntee's record in her role, pointing to the €2bn budget designed to support An Garda Síochána, legal changes made to ensure that crimes against the person are dealt with "in a way that we believe is appropriate", and the rolling out of body cams. "I could make the case to you about further local changes that have happened. The fact that we have reopened Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station and the fact that there is now a Garda office on O'Connell Street," Mr Donohoe said. "But I do acknowledge that for too many at the moment, they want to feel safer when they come into Dublin. They feel that there is an air of edginess that has developed, that I have to recognise and we have to act on." He declined to speculate on who might or should take on the justice portfolio following the election, saying the difficulties the city faces are complex, but said he believes if a Fine Gael government is elected, it can make progress on the issue of safety. Responding to criticism of the Dublin Taskforce by Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon about the level of funding allocated to the city in Budget 2025, Mr Donohoe said the taskforce report was completed after the budget. He clarified that there is money in Dublin City Council's budget available to implement any recommendations put forth by the recent taskforce. "It is up to us to now ensure that the very best of it is brought to the fore so that everyone feels safe to enjoy it," Mr Donohoe said. "We will do this by implementing, in full, the taskforce recommendations, with a focus on revitalising O'Connell Street; delivering more visible policing and security; and transforming derelict sites, converting them to high-density residential units to ensure the re-population of our city streets." Mr Donohoe also addressed a dinner that he attended where Ryanair CEO was also in attendance, saying that no government business was discussed at the event. "If any issue in relation to government business, regulation, or policy had been dealt with, that would have been recorded and would have been dealt with in the same way that every other engagement that I do is dealt with," he said. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty said that Mr Donohoe has failed to shed light on details about the dinner and should come out and "allay suspicions". "Fine Gael says that the meeting was attended by another unnamed person. Who was that person? "We have already witnessed Mr O'Leary launch the campaign of a Fine Gael election candidate in which he made disparaging remarks about our teachers and was cheered to the rafters by Fine Gael members in attendance," Mr Doherty said. "It would be instructive for the public to know just how much influence Michael O'Leary has with Fine Gael and, by extension, over decisions made by that party in government."

Syrian government forces withdraw from central city of Homs as insurgent offensive acceleratesCALGARY, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 9, 2024-- Pembina Pipeline Corporation ("Pembina" or the "Company") (TSX: PPL; NYSE: PBA) announced today its intention to redeem its issued and outstanding Cumulative Redeemable Floating Rate Class A Preferred Shares, Series 22 ("Series 22 Shares") (TSX: PPL.PF.B) on January 8, 2025 (the "Redemption Date"). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209268731/en/ Pembina intends to redeem all of its 1,028,130 issued and outstanding Series 22 Shares, in accordance with the terms of the Series 22 Shares, as set out in the Company's articles of amendment dated December 1, 2017 on the Redemption Date for a redemption price equal to $25.50, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon but excluding the Redemption Date per Series 22 Share (the "Redemption Price"), less any tax required to be deducted or withheld by the Company. The total redemption price to Pembina will be approximately $26 million. The Company has provided notice today of the Redemption Price and the Redemption Date to the sole registered holder of the Series 22 Shares in accordance with the terms of the Series 22 Shares, as set out in the Company's articles of amendment dated December 1, 2017. For non-registered holders of Series 22 Shares, no further action is required however, they should contact their broker or other intermediary with any questions regarding the redemption process for the Series 22 Shares in which they hold a beneficial interest. The Company's transfer agent for the Series 22 Shares is Computershare Investor Services Inc. Questions regarding the redemption process may also be directed to Computershare at 1-800-564-6253 or by email to corporateactions@computershare.com . About Pembina Pembina Pipeline Corporation is a leading energy transportation and midstream service provider that has served North America's energy industry for 70 years. Pembina owns an integrated network of hydrocarbon liquids and natural gas pipelines, gas gathering and processing facilities, oil and natural gas liquids infrastructure and logistics services, and an export terminals business. Through our integrated value chain, we seek to provide safe and reliable energy solutions that connect producers and consumers across the world, support a more sustainable future and benefit our customers, investors, employees and communities. For more information, please visit www.pembina.com . Purpose of Pembina: We deliver extraordinary energy solutions so the world can thrive. Pembina is structured into three Divisions: Pipelines Division, Facilities Division and Marketing & New Ventures Division. Pembina's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under PPL and PBA, respectively. For more information, visit www.pembina.com . Forward-Looking Information and Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements"), including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of applicable securities legislation, that are based on Pembina's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "continue", "anticipate", "schedule", "will", "expects", "estimate", "potential", "planned", "future", "outlook", "strategy", "project", "trend", "commit", "maintain", "focus", "ongoing", "believe" and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to, without limitation, the timing, Redemption Price and process applicable to the redemption of the Series 22 Shares. The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that Pembina has made in respect thereof as at the date of this news release regarding, among other things: oil and gas industry exploration and development activity levels and the geographic region of such activity; the success of Pembina's operations; prevailing commodity prices, interest rates, carbon prices, tax rates and exchange rates; the ability of Pembina to maintain current credit ratings; the availability of capital to fund future capital requirements relating to existing assets and projects; future operating costs; geotechnical and integrity costs; that all required regulatory and environmental approvals can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; prevailing regulatory, tax and environmental laws and regulations; maintenance of operating margins; and certain other assumptions in respect of Pembina's forward-looking statements detailed in Pembina's Management's Discussion and Analysis and Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2023 and from time to time in Pembina's public disclosure documents available atwww.sedarplus.ca , www.sec.gov and through Pembina's website at www.pembina.com . Although Pembina believes the expectations and material factors and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these expectations, factors and assumptions will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to: the regulatory environment and decisions; Indigenous and landowner consultation requirements; the impact of competitive entities and pricing; reliance on third parties to successfully operate and maintain certain assets; the strength and operations of the oil and natural gas production industry and related commodity prices; non-performance or default by counterparties to agreements which Pembina or one or more of its affiliates has entered into in respect of its business; actions by governmental or regulatory authorities; the ability of Pembina to acquire or develop the necessary infrastructure in respect of future development projects; fluctuations in operating results; adverse general economic and market conditions in Canada, North America and worldwide; risks relating to inflation; the ability to access various sources of debt and equity capital; changes in credit ratings; counterparty credit risk; and certain other risks and uncertainties detailed in Pembina's management's discussion and analysis and annual information form, each for the year ended December 31, 2023, and from time to time in Pembina's public disclosure documents available at www.sedarplus.ca , www.sec.gov and through Pembina's website at www.pembina.com . This list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Readers are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted, forecasted or projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof. Pembina does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209268731/en/ CONTACT: For further information: Investor Relations (403) 231-3156 1-855-880-7404 e-mail:investor-relations@pembina.com www.pembina.com KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OIL/GAS NATURAL RESOURCES ENERGY OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES UTILITIES SOURCE: Pembina Pipeline Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/09/2024 05:01 PM/DISC: 12/09/2024 05:03 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241209268731/enRafael Nadal has had a profound impact on not just his supporters, pundits and opponents but also his own people. One of them is Carlos Costa of IMG fame, who started as Nadal’s agent and eventually became his business partner. Costa has been associated with Nadal since he was 16 when he didn’t even properly make it on the ATP Tour. On social media, Costa went viral with his post for which he took a lot of effort and love to showcase it to the world. The post included a caption in which he expressed gratitude for getting to work with Nadal for 22 years in the ‘world’s best tournaments’. The picture had all of Costa’s ID cards till date, which are required to be worn by each member of a particular player’s box as well as their representatives. Those cards are arguably Costa’s most prized possessions. Costa has played a vital role in the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s material success but is more proud of Nadal, the person. Nadal’s values throughout his career have not changed, as he is someone who doesn’t like change within his setup and values loyalty. Apart from relieving uncle Toni Nadal in 2017 from his coaching duties, his core team has remained pretty much the same, and this included Costa. It is this continuity that helped Nadal to earn more than just prize money at the peak of his playing career. Costa is the man who is the key to the former World No.1 still having sponsors like Kia Motors, Nike and Babolat, who have backed him since the start. Eventually, Costa made him diversify from prize money and endorsements into businesses and other investments so much that his net worth is reportedly said to be beyond $320 million today . After his retirement, Nadal will be continuing with Costa since they co-own Hi7tory, an athlete and event management company that is responsible for growing and funding Rafa Nadal Academy branches across the world. Costa also plays a vital role in ensuring that the Rafa Nadal Foundation is taken care of. Little did Costa know that he would go on to become a successful businessperson after failing to reach his potential as a professional tennis player. When Costa tried to put Spanish tennis on the world map before Nadal A six-time ATP title winner in singles, Carlos Costa played professional tennis for 11 years. In doubles too, he has won 5 titles. His prize money earnings in his tennis career came up to $3,134,189. But his most famous win was at the Stockholm Open in 1993 when he defeated the eventual 14-time Grand Slam champion, Pete Sampras on clay. Costa won that match 7-6 (7-1), 2-6, 6-1, and was a major deal in the tennis world. The surface was an indoor carpet surface, and it suited Costa. Costa never won a Grand Slam title but nevertheless contributed a lot to Nadal winning 22 of them. While the Spanish legend might not publicly credit him often, he is the first person to admit that Costa’s influence behind the scenes worked wonders for him. Nadal and Costa’s equation shows that money is important but must never supersede relations and the game. This is something that aspiring young players must look to emulate.

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Virgo – (23rd August to 22nd September) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Always have a smile Be cool in love life to explore its multiple phases today. Overcome the challenges at work with confidence. Your attitude is crucial in financial decisions. Tackle the relationship issues to keep your love affair intact. Overcome the challenges at work with a positive attitude. Both health and money will also be positive. Virgo Love Horoscope Today Do not let minor egos hamper the love affair. Spend more time together but ensure you avoid unpleasant conversations. Some Virgos will find the relationship toxic and may come out of it. Your love life will see minor twists and you may also introduce the lover to the parents to get the approval. The second half of the day is good to propose and you may open up the mind to the crush without inhibition. Virgo Career Horoscope Today Be professional in attitude. The seniors within the organization will appreciate your commitment and this will help you professionally deliver good results. Always maintain your patience on the office floor and stay away from gossip, office politics, and ego clashes. Some entrepreneurs may have a tiff with authorities and this must be resolved before the day ends. Put in efforts to raise funds that will also ensure you expand the trade to new territories without much difficulty. Virgo Money Horoscope Today Prosperity will permit you to purchase a new vehicle. You should keep an eye on the property as some minor disputes will arise within the family. The stock market is a good investment option. However, you need to learn about the industry before making vital financial decisions. Some females invest in property that will bring in good returns in the future. You may also contribute to a celebration at the office or within the family. Entrepreneurs will also see good returns from even foreign markets. Virgo Health Horoscope Today Minor medical issues will be there. Seniors may have breathing issues while children may complain about skin or oral health issues. You must skip alcohol today and should also be careful to fill the plate with more proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Pregnant girls must take care while taking part in adventure sports. Females may have gynecological issues. Those who drive must be careful, especially in the evening hours. Virgo Sign Attributes Strength: Kind, Elegant, Perfectionist, Modest, Strong-willed Weakness: Picky, Over-possessive Symbol: Virgin maiden Element: Earth Body Part: Intestine Sign Ruler : Mercury Lucky Day: Wednesday Lucky Color: Gray Lucky Number: 7 Lucky Stone : Sapphire Virgo Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn Good compatibility: Virgo, Pisces Fair compatibility: Aries, Leo, Libra, Aquarius Less compatibility: Gemini, Sagittarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)