US government sues to block largest supermarket merger in history
CNN
The Federal Trade Commission and XX states sued XXX to block the $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons.
The Federal Trade Commission on Monday sued to block the $25 billion deal between Kroger and Albertsons, alleging the largest supermarket merger in US history would lead to higher prices, store closures and job losses. The merger, announced in 2022, sought to combine the fifth and tenth largest retailers in the country. The companies own dozens of chains, including Safeway, Vons, Harris Teeter and Fred Meyer. But the proposed merger came as food prices have skyrocketed. Americans are spending 26% more on groceries since 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the highest portion of their income on food than any point over the past 30 years. The FTC, in a statement, said the merger would eliminate competition in the grocery industry, which could drive costs even higher. Kroger (KR) and Albertsons, which both employ mostly unionized workforces, said they wanted to merge to be more competitive against non-union giants such as Walmart, Amazon and Costco. The grocers are also facing increased pressure from Aldi, the fast-growing German discount supermarket chain. The merger would accelerate “our position as a more compelling alternative to larger and non-union competitors,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said when the deal was announced.
Former judges side with Anthropic and raise concerns about Pentagon’s use of supply chain risk label
Nearly 150 retired federal and state judges have filed an amicus brief on Tuesday supporting AI company Anthropic in its lawsuit against the Trump administration for designating it a “supply chain risk,” CNN has learned.
Attacks on commercial ships in the Middle East this month have all but closed the vital Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers. One of the few alternative routes for oil exports from the region goes through the Red Sea. But now even that lifeline is in danger.
When Mona Panjwani opened One40 Rooftop, a swanky restaurant in lower Manhattan last year, one of the biggest dilemmas besides the menu was choosing the reservation platform.
What could get more expensive because of the war in Iran?
Gas prices have skyrocketed due to the US-Israel war on Iran, putting even more financial strain on many Americans’ wallets.
United Food and Commercial Union Local 7, the union representing the 3,800 striking workers, said that JBS failed to meet its demands during contract negotiations over higher wages, life-saving safety equipment and improved healthcare.
Every day brings a new complaint — or three — from the Trump administration about the American news media’s coverage of the Iran war.
Traffic through the strait, normally the conduit for a fifth of global oil output, has been severely curtailed since the start of the Iran conflict. But Iran itself is shipping oil through the waterway in almost the same volumes as before the war, earning the cash needed to sustain its economy and war effort.
How Anthropic may benefit from its fight with Trump
The price of oil rose to its highest level since July 2022 Sunday evening as the Trump administration suggested the war with Iran could last several more weeks and President Donald Trump called on the international community for help reopening the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers.
When Melanie Galeaz posted a fan edit of “Heated Rivalry,” she didn’t know it would lead to her dream job.
The worst global oil crisis in decades could become a major problem for the Federal Reserve, whose policymakers meet this week to determine the next moves for the US economy.
President Donald Trump’s attack dog atop the FCC, Brendan Carr, garnered lots of attention on Saturday for threatening the licenses of local broadcasters over news coverage he deemed to be “fake.”