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jollibee 5 In conclusion, the nominations of XGP games at TGA 2024 serve as a reminder of the power of storytelling, creativity, and innovation in the world of gaming. As players eagerly await the awards ceremony to see which titles will emerge victorious, one thing is clear: the XGP platform has firmly established itself as a powerhouse in the industry, with a reputation for delivering exceptional gaming experiences that capture the imagination and thrill players around the globe.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.

The implications of Assad's asylum in Russia are far-reaching and could have significant repercussions for the Syrian conflict. With Moscow now openly providing sanctuary to the embattled Syrian president, the balance of power in the region is likely to shift, with Russia emerging as a key player in determining the future direction of the conflict.( MENAFN - IANS) Seoul, Dec 27 (IANS) South Korea's business sentiment index fell to the lowest level in more than four years amid Political uncertainties following President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration and concerns for growth momentum, a central bank poll showed on Friday. The Composite Business Sentiment Index, or CBSI, in all industries for December came to 87, down 4.5 points from the figure tallied for the previous month, according to the survey by the Bank of Korea. It marked the lowest level since September 2020, when the index came to 83, reports Yonhap news agency. December's reading also logged the largest decline since January 2023, when the figure dropped 5.6 points from a month earlier. The outlook for next month sank 7.3 points to 82.4, also the lowest level since August 2020. The index measures corporate prospects for business conditions. A reading below 100 means pessimists outnumber optimists. The CBSI among manufacturers fell 3.7 points from a month earlier to 86.9 in December, the lowest level since February 2023. Manufacturers pointed to unfavourable business conditions and tight financial conditions as major reasons for their negative view. The index for non-manufacturers also lost 5.0 point to 87.1, the data showed. The economic sentiment index, which reflects sentiment among both consumers and businesses, dropped 9.6 points to 83.1 for December, the data showed. The worsening sentiment came after the opposition-led National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon earlier this month following Yoon's shocking imposition of martial law on December 3. The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to remove Yoon from office or restore his powers. South Korea is also experiencing sagging domestic demand and weak exports growth, and the economic growth for next year is forecast to come below the 2 percent level. MENAFN26122024000231011071ID1109033944 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.As the holiday season approaches, the gaming industry is abuzz with the latest sales figures for the month of November. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday driving consumer spending to record levels, major console manufacturers are eagerly analyzing the data to determine how they are tracking towards their annual sales targets.

(Source: Nasdaq) Wall Street’s main indexes rose on Wednesday after an in-line inflation reading kept intact bets on the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates later this month. A Labor Department report showed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.3% on a monthly basis in November, compared with the 0.3% increase forecast by economists polled by Reuters. Annually, it stood at 2.7%, in line with estimates. Core inflation, which excludes volatile components such as food and energy, came in at 3.3% as expected. “Everything’s exactly in line with estimates ... it’s very likely that you will see the Fed probably go ahead with what they projected, cutting 25 basis points (later this month),” said David Miller, chief investment officer at Catalyst Funds. Bets on the Fed cutting 25 basis point cut next week jumped to over 96%, compared with an 86% chance before the data, according to CME’s FedWatch Tool. Bets had risen following Friday’s employment report, which showed an uptick in unemployment alongside a surge in job growth. Also expected this week is a producer prices reading on Thursday. Yields on U.S. government bonds also slipped after the data, with the yield on the 10-year note last at 4.2108%. Yields move inversely to prices. At 9:35 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), rose 91.53 points, or 0.21%, to 44,339.36, the S&P 500 (.SPX), gained 34.06 points, or 0.56%, to 6,068.97 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), gained 187.52 points, or 0.95%, to 19,874.76. Eight of the 11 major S&P sub-sectors were trading higher, with consumer discretionary (.SPLRCD), rising 1.3%, while communication services (.SPLRCL), added 1.8%. Most megacap and growth stocks were higher early on, with Tesla (TSLA.O), up 1.8% and Amazon.com gaining 2%. Despite running into some turbulence earlier this week, both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are hovering near their all-time highs, as investors bought into heavyweight technology stocks all through the year in a bid to catch up with the artificial intelligence hype. Another tailwind for equities was former President Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election in November, as analysts believe his policies on lower corporate taxes and eased regulation could boost corporate performance. Among other movers, GameStop (GME.N), opens new tab gained 5.2% after the videogame retailer reported a profit for the third quarter on cost-saving efforts. Broadcom (AVGO.O), jumped 3.5% following a report that Apple (AAPL.O), is developing its first server chip specially designed for artificial intelligence with the company. Macy’s (M.N), opens new tab slumped 12% after the department-store bellwether cut its annual profit forecast as persistent weakness in demand clouded its expectations for the holiday shopping season. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 2.85-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.81-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted eight new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 39 new highs and 26 new lows. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Shashwat Chauhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Maju Samuel)

Mavericks vs. Nuggets prediction, odds: NBA picks, best bets

Friends, colleagues remember former state Rep. Mary MurphyAfter ten years behind bars, I was finally free. Free to run, free to explore, free to live. And in that moment, I knew that my journey was just beginning.

WASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. Straight Arrow News The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Straight Arrow News Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Robert Nickelsberg // Getty Images If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. Mike_shots // Shutterstock In order for the previous tip on this list to work, "Find My Phone" must be turned on in advance, but remotely wiping your device isn't the only thing this feature allows you to do. The "Find My Phone" feature enables you to track your device, as long as it's turned on and not in airplane mode. This is particularly helpful if you misplaced your phone or left it somewhere since it can help you retrace your steps. While this feature won't show you the live location of a phone that has been turned off, it will show the phone's last known location. With "Find My Phone," you can also remotely lock your phone or enable "Lost Mode," which locks down the phone, suspends any in-phone payment methods, and displays contact information for returning the phone to you. If your phone was stolen, experts caution against taking matters into your own hands by chasing down the thief, since this could land you in a potentially dangerous situation and is unlikely to result in getting your phone back. Canva Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. KT Stock photos // ShutterstockDisney Christmas merch is like peanut butter and jelly. Both the holiday and those beloved movies are the equivalent of a warm hug, so they blend perfectly at this most wonderful time of year. That's why I look out for Disney Christmas merch whenever sweater weather approaches; there's something a little magical about the range. Because there's always a lot to choose from, I've whipped up my own nice list of gear that I think deserves to be under the tree this year. As an example, I'm a big fan of the Mickey Mouse Icon Holiday ''Merry Christmas'' Spirit Jersey – it's a lighter jumper despite being baubled up to the nines, meaning it'll be cozy enough to keep the chill away but not so much that you boil. I've got the Walt Disney World version myself, and I'm a little smitten with it. So, let's get to it. Regardless of whether you want a present for yourself to get in the festive spirit or timely Disney gifts , you should find something to suit you below. Best Disney Christmas decorations 2024 The Holidays are all about decorations so far as I'm concerned, and that's why they're some of the best Disney Christmas merch in my opinion. There's no shortage of ornaments to hang from your tree, or display pieces to spruce up the mantle with some Christmas spirit. While a few have already gone out of stock (like the cute Mickey Mouse bauble that looks like a peppermint and glows), plenty of others still line those shelves. You can grab decs inspired by everything from Nightmare Before Christmas to the Marvel universe, and I can say from personal experience that they're of a surprisingly high quality. Actually, that's true for all of Disney's tree decorations I've seen this year. The paintwork on them is consistently neat (they don't feel like tacky rush-jobs) and most are made of a weighty material that feels premium. They're not all created equal, of course, but most are pretty great. You can find the full range of decorations at the Disney Store (or here if you're based in the UK ), but I've listed a few of my favorites below. GamesRadar+ recommends Best Disney Christmas toys You can always rely on Disney toys modelled around holidays, and Christmas enjoys some of the best ones. Yes, Disney Halloween plushies are all well and good – but they can't compete with the Christmas equivalents. And we're not just talking about the classic Mickey and Minnie combo, either. Santa Jabba the Hutt, Winter Spider-Man, and more are also crashing the end-of-year party. Not that it's all about the soft toys, of course. Plenty of Disney properties get a festive makeover to celebrate the season, be it Home Alone or Star Wars. While you can find these at the Disney store (or at the UK shop ), I've listed some of my standouts here. GamesRadar+ recommends Best Disney Christmas homeware & apparel When it comes to Christmas-time, staying cozy is the name of the game – and this year's Disney homeware understands that assignment. From snuggly hooded blankets to sweaters galore, this makes up the bulk of Disney's Holiday offerings... and I'm here for it. It's been a good haul in 2024. Alongside a host of funny Christmas jumpers (a personal highlight is the Homer-Simpson-vanishing-into-a-bush meme reimagined as a Christmas tree), classy kitchenware and throws have been on-hand to brighten the season. Again, stock is starting to dwindle, but there's still enough to furnish your home with some Holiday cheer. You can see the full range at the Disney Store ( here for UK readers ), but I've rounded up a few of my own highlights. GamesRadar+ recommends Want some present inspiration? Don't miss these gifts for gamers , or must-have PS5 gifts .

JonBenét Ramsey case gets renewed attention 28 years after her murder

The controversy began when players discovered that in "Uncharted: The Lost Legacy," they are unable to harm the dogs that attack them during gameplay. Instead of being able to defend themselves by shooting or otherwise eliminating the aggressive animals, players are forced to seek alternative means of escape or evasion. This decision by the game developers has incited a passionate discussion among gamers, with opinions on both sides of the issue.

The revelation of Yue Yun's rise to fame has sparked a wave of excitement and anticipation in the gaming community. Players are eager to witness the clash of titans between Sun Ce and Yue Yun, as they battle it out for supremacy and glory. Many are speculating about the potential outcomes of this epic showdown, as the two legends prepare to go head-to-head in fierce competition.

In addition, the opposition has criticized the new government for its failure to engage in meaningful dialogue and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including other political parties, civil society organizations, and the general public. They argue that the lack of transparency and inclusivity in the decision-making process will undermine the legitimacy of the new government and breed resentment and opposition among those who feel marginalized and excluded from the political process.Fresh strife between IIT Kharagpur administration and teachers’ body

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — This isn’t a week when coach Todd Bowles feels he needs to find the right words to ensure his Tampa Bay Buccaneers are motivated to face the last-place Carolina Panthers. The Bucs (8-7) have won eight of the last nine meetings between the NFC South rivals, including the past three with Baker Mayfield at quarterback. It hasn’t exactly been smoothly sailing against the Panthers (4-11), though, for the three-time defending division champions. And, with at least a share of first place on the line Sunday, Bowles and his players say they are focused solely on rebounding from last week’s disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys. “We know it’s going to be a tough ballgame. It went overtime last time. They’re coached very well; they play very hard,” Bowles said, referencing Tampa Bay’s 26-23 win at Carolina on Dec. 1. “We know what’s at stake for us. It doesn’t need to be talked about. Everybody understands that,” Bowles added. “We’ve got to clean up our own mistakes, and we’ve got to play an error-free football game.” The Bucs are tied with Atlanta for the best record in the NFC South, however the Falcons (8-7) hold the tiebreaker after sweeping the season series between the teams. To claim a fourth straight division title, Tampa Bay needs to win remaining home games against the Panthers and New Orleans Saints while Atlanta loses at least once in the last two weeks of the regular season. If the Falcons hold on to win the South, the Bucs can earn a wild-card playoff berth if they win out and the Washington Commanders lose twice. Mayfield, who has resurrected his career since being released by Carolina two years ago, summed up the attitude in a resilient locker room. The Bucs have won four of five games following a four-game losing streak threatened their playoff hopes. “I keep saying it, this team has the mental makeup of a great team. We just have to continue to fight and find ways to win,” the quarterback said. “If we don’t take of business, we won’t be in the playoffs.” Chuba’s revenge Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard cost his team the game four weeks ago against Tampa Bay when he fumbled on the second possession of overtime just after Carolina had reached field goal range. Mayfield responded by leading the Bucs back down the field for the winning field goal. The loss was devastating for Hubbard at the time, but he promised himself when the opportunity arose again he’d make the most of it. He did that this past Sunday, when he carried twice for 49 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown run in which he broke two tackles, in overtime to lift the Panthers to a 36-30 win over Arizona, knocking the Cardinals out of the playoff hunt. “I’d let it go, but it’s definitely been in the back of my head a little bit,” Hubbard said. “Like I said, when the next opportunity came, I told myself I’m going to get it back for them. To be able to have them trust me in that opportunity again, and to have it in that way is a blessing from God.” Young’s development Bryce Young has shown solid progress in his decision making, particularly when the pocket begins to break down. Last week, the second-year QB ran for a career-best 68 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown. Young was benched after two games this season, but since returning to the lineup has played better, restoring some faith that perhaps the No. 1 overall pick in 2023 can be the team’s quarterback of the future. “Just time in the system and time as a team for us to come together,” Young said of why he has improved. “For me, being able to get reps, and get time with everyone. It’s just all of us being able to feed off of each other, and it’s been able to allow us to turn in the right direction.” Awful vs. the run The Panthers have been abysmal against the run, allowing nearly 200 yards per game on the ground over the last seven games. In the last meeting with Tampa Bay, Bucky Irving ran for a career-high 152 yards and a touchdown, so Carolina’s defense has a good idea of what's coming Sunday. Close calls Mayfield has beaten Carolina three times since joining the Bucs in 2023. All of the meetings have been close, though, with the Panthers losing twice by three points and Tampa Bay settling for three field goals in a 9-0 regular season-ending victory that clinched its third straight NFC South championship last January. “We know them well. They know us well,” Mayfield said. ___ AP Sports Writer Steve Reed in Charlotte, North Carolina, contributed to this report. ___ NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Fred Goodall, The Associated PressZhejiang, known for its vibrant manufacturing sector and entrepreneurial spirit, hosted several of the investment promotion conferences. Local businesses were encouraged to embrace e-commerce as a means to expand their reach beyond traditional markets and tap into the global demand for high-quality products. With AliExpress providing a platform for direct-to-consumer sales and access to millions of online shoppers worldwide, Zhejiang-based enterprises were presented with a unique opportunity to boost their export business.Kroger and Albertsons' plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history crumbled Wednesday, with Albertsons pulling out of the $24.6 billion deal and the two companies accusing each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through. Albertsons said it had filed a lawsuit against Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger said the claims were “baseless” and that Albertsons was not entitled to the fee. “After reviewing options, the company determined it is no longer in its best interests to pursue the merger,” Kroger said in a statement Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after two judges halted the proposed merger in separate court cases. U.S. District Court Judge Adrienne Nelson in Oregon issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday blocking the merger until an in-house judge at the Federal Trade Commission could consider the matter. An hour later, Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson in Seattle issued a permanent injunction barring the merger . Ferguson ruled that combining Albertsons and Kroger would lessen competition and violate consumer-protection laws. The companies could have appealed the rulings or proceeded to the in-house FTC hearings. Albertsons' decision to pull out of deal instead surprised some industry experts. “I’m in a state of professional and commercial shock that they would take this scorched earth approach,” said Burt Flickinger, a longtime analyst and owner of retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group. “The logical thing would have been for Albertsons to let the decision sink in for a day and then meet and see what could be done. But the lawsuit seems to make that a moot issue.” Albertsons is unlikely to find another merger partner because it has significant debt and underperforming stores in most of its markets., Flickinger said. Consumers will feel the most immediate impact of the deal's demise, he said, since Albertsons charges 12% to 14% more than Kroger and other grocery rivals. “They had so much debt they had to pay it off it's reflected in their pricing and promotional structure,” Flickinger said. Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran testified during the federal hearing in September that his company might consider “structural options” like laying off employees, closing stores and exiting certain markets if the merger with Kroger didn’t go through. “I would have to consider that,” he said. “It’s a dramatically different picture with the merger than without it.” But in a statement Wednesday, Sankaran said Albertsons would “start this next chapter in strong financial condition with a track record of positive business performance." In the company's most recent quarter, Albertsons' revenue rose 1% to $18.5 billion and it reported $7.9 billion in debt. Kroger said it would also move forward in a strong financial position, with revenue down slightly to $33.6 billion in its most recent quarter. The company announced a $7.5 billion share buyback program Wednesday after a two-year pause. Kroger and Albertsons first proposed the merger in 2022 . They argued that combining would help them better compete with big retailers like Walmart, Costco and Amazon, which are gaining an increasing share of U.S. grocery sales. Together, Kroger and Albertsons would control around 13% of the U.S. grocery market. Walmart controls around 22%. Under the merger agreement, Kroger and Albertsons — who compete in 22 states — agreed to sell 579 stores in places where their locations overlap to C&S Wholesale Grocers , a New Hampshire-based supplier to independent supermarkets that also owns the Grand Union and Piggly Wiggly store brands. But the Federal Trade Commission and two states — Washington and Colorado — sued to block the merger earlier this year, saying it would raise prices and lower workers' wages by eliminating competition. It also said the divestiture plan was inadequate and that C&S was ill-equipped to take on so many stores. On Wednesday, Albertsons said that Kroger failed to exercise “best efforts” and to take “any and all actions” to secure regulatory approval of the companies’ agreed merger transaction. Albertsons said Kroger refused to divest the assets necessary for antitrust approval, ignored regulators' feedback and rejected divestiture buyers that would have been stronger than C&S. “Kroger’s self-serving conduct, taken at the expense of Albertsons and the agreed transaction, has harmed Albertsons’ shareholders, associates and consumers,” said Tom Moriarty, Albertsons’ general counsel, in a statement. Kroger said that it disagrees with Albertsons “in the strongest possible terms.” It said early Wednesday that Albertsons was responsible for “repeated intentional material breaches and interference throughout the merger process.” Kroger , based in Cincinnati, Ohio, operates 2,800 stores in 35 states, including brands like Ralphs, Smith’s and Harris Teeter. Albertsons , based in Boise, Idaho, operates 2,273 stores in 34 states, including brands like Safeway, Jewel Osco and Shaw’s. Together, the companies employ around 710,000 people. Kroger sued the FTC in August in federal court in Ohio, claiming that the federal agency’s in-house administrative hearings were unlawful because the FTC was also able to challenge the merger in federal court in Oregon. In paperwork filed Wednesday, the FTC said it expected to update the court on its next steps in that case by Dec. 17. In Colorado, which also sued to block the merger, Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday that he still was awaiting a decision from a state judge. In that case, Colorado also was challenging an allegedly illegal no-poach agreement Kroger and Albertsons made during a 2022 strike. Shares of Albertsons fell 1.5% Wednesday, while Kroger's stock was up 1%.

Luckin Coffee, the up-and-coming Chinese coffee chain known for its innovative marketing strategies and trendy beverage offerings, recently launched a limited edition collaboration cup priced at 183.5 RMB. However, what was supposed to be a stylish accessory for coffee lovers turned into controversy when it was discovered that the cup was not suitable for holding hot water, as originally marketed.We are pleased to announce that missing individual Bu B has been safely located following an extensive search effort by authorities. The individual had been reported missing earlier this week, prompting a widespread search and rescue operation.