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Premier League 2024/25: Liverpool held at the death, Arsenal overcome Man UnitedLAS VEGAS — With a restructuring at Andretti Global that pushed Michael Andretti into a smaller role, the chances of his organization landing a Formula 1 team have substantially increased. So much so that F1 and Formula One Management could have a decision to grant the General Motors-backed entry a spot as the 11th team on the grid in the coming weeks. Dan Towriss, now the majority owner of the Andretti organization, was at the Las Vegas Grand Prix on Thursday scoping his chances of entering the top motorsports series in the world. So was the FBI, allegedly, as part of a Department of Justice investigation into why F1 denied the Andretti organization expansion into the series. F1 currently has 10 teams that field 20 cars and only one — the organization owned by California businessman Gene Haas — is an American team. Las Vegas marks the third race this season in the United States, more than any other country, as F1 has exploded in American popularity over the last five years. Even so, Andretti could not get approval from F1 to enter the series. But, the situation changed in September when Andretti scaled back his role with his namesake organization. Now with Towriss in charge, talks have amplified, even though it is not clear what the name of an Andretti-less F1 team would even be. Cadillac would do the engines — but says it won't be ready until 2028 — which means a 2026 Towriss-led F1 team would be GM branded but with a partner engine supplier. Most of the existing teams have been largely opposed to an 11th team entering F1, citing a dilution in prize money and the massive expenses they've already committed to the series. But, Andretti among others believed the teams' position was personal in that they simply didn't like Andretti, who ran 13 races in the 1993 season. His father, Mario, is the 1978 F1 world champion. The Andretti application had already been approved by the FIA, which is F1's ruling body, but later denied by F1 itself. F1 promised to revisit the issue once General Motors had an engine ready to compete. The existing 10 F1 teams have no actual vote or say in if the grid is expanded, which Mercedes boss Toto Wolff reiterated Thursday when The Associated Press asked why the sudden chance of acceptance in a potential 11th team. "We have an obligation, a statutory obligation as directors, to present the standpoint that is the best for our company and for our employees, and we've done that," Wolff said. "I think if a team can add to the championship, particularly if GM decides to come in as a team owner, that is a different story. "And as long as it is creative, that means we're growing the popularity of the sport, we're growing the revenue of the sport, then no team will be ever against it. So I'm putting my hope in there." Wolff has been eager to hear from Towriss directly on what the plans for the organization are now that Andretti has a smaller role. "No one from Andretti or Andretti Global or whatever the name will be has ever spoken to me a single sentence in presentation of what the creative part is," he said. "But they don't need to because the teams don't decide. It is the commercial rights holder, with the FIA, we have no say. If I want to be invited to a party and go to the party, I'm sitting down at the table and telling who I am and why I'm really good fun and sitting here and everybody will enjoy my presence. "That hasn't happened, but you know, that's now my personal point of view, not a professional, because there's nothing we can do, nothing we can say," Wolff continued. "And I don't know the people. I've obviously spoken to Mario. I didn't speak to his son. I didn't speak to any other people that are behind that. I don't know who they are. So I know GM, GM is great." Fred Vasseur, team principal at Ferrari, said he's not opposed to another team if it adds value to F1. "The discussion is between FIA, the team, and FOM. It's not our choice," he said. "For sure, as Toto said, that if it's good for the sport, good for the show, good for the business, and adds value on the sporting side, that we are all OK."OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Fresh off one of its best showings of the season, the Baltimore defense now has another problem to worry about. Roquan Smith missed practice again Friday because of a hamstring injury. Although the Ravens didn't officially rule him or anyone else out — they don't play until Monday night — the All-Pro linebacker's status seems dicey. “Definitely it will be a challenge if Roquan can’t go,” defensive coordinator Zach Orr said. “We’re holding out hope and everything like that. I think it’ll just be by committee. Not one person is going to replace Roquan. Roquan’s an every-down linebacker.” Although the Ravens lost 18-16 last weekend, Baltimore didn't allow a touchdown. That was an encouraging sign for a team that ranks 26th in the league in total defense. Baltimore is on the road Monday against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Ravens appear to have dodged one potential nightmare. Star safety Kyle Hamilton injured an ankle against Cincinnati on Nov. 7, but he was able to play almost every defensive snap the following week against Pittsburgh. But Smith was injured in that game and didn't practice Thursday or Friday. Linebacker Malik Harrison had a season high in tackles last weekend and figures to have a significant role if Smith can't go. “We tell these guys, ‘You’re one play away to going in there — you never know, so you got to stay ready.’ Malik — he was ready,” Orr said. “I thought he went in there and did a good job, especially after the first series, he settled down. That’s what we expect from him.” It's hard to tell whether last week can be a significant turning point for Baltimore's defense. The Ravens allowed only 10 points in a dominant win over Buffalo in Week 4, then yielded 38 against Cincinnati the following game. After allowing 10 against Denver, the Ravens were picked apart by the Bengals again a few days later. So they still haven't shown they can play a good game defensively and then build on it. “I think it’s easier said than done. It’s something that we kind of got caught up saying against Buffalo and then coming up the next week and not doing," Hamilton said. "We’re aware of it now and know that we played a good game, but I think we can get a lot better, and I think that’s kind of the mindset everybody on defense has right now.” Hamilton's ability to make a difference all over the field is part of what makes him valuable, but positioning him deep is one way the Ravens can try to guard against big passing plays. Pittsburgh's Russell Wilson threw for only 205 yards against Baltimore. That's after Joe Burrow passed for 428 and four touchdowns in the Ravens' previous game. “I’ve always seen myself as a safety. A versatile one, but at the end of the day, I think I play safety,” Hamilton said. “If I’m asked to go play safety, I feel like that’s not an issue for me to play safety if I’m a safety.” NOTES: In addition to Smith, WR Rashod Bateman (knee), DT Travis Jones (ankle), S Sanoussi Kane (ankle) C Tyler Linderbaum (back) and CB Arthur Maulet (calf) missed practice Friday. WR Nelson Agholor (illness) returned to full participation after missing Thursday's practice. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

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A federal judge has blocked Kroger ’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons on Tuesday (Dec. 10) , citing concerns that the deal would reduce competition in the U.S. grocery market, Bloomberg reported. U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which had argued that the merger would harm consumers by reducing competition, particularly through inadequate divestitures of stores to C&S Wholesale Grocers . Nelson found that the divestitures were not substantial enough to replace the competitive loss and warned that some of the divested stores could close or lose sales. “There is ample evidence that the divestiture 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 divestiture 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.” Despite the setback, Kroger shares rose 6.1%, while Albertsons’ stock dropped 10%. The ruling likely signals the end of the two-year-long merger attempt , with Kroger and Albertsons likely turning their attention back to improving their existing operations. Kroger, which has about 2,750 stores, will focus on investing in its network, while Albertsons may seek other strategic options, including potentially becoming a new acquisition target. The proposed merger, which was first announced in 2022 , sought to create a formidable competitor to nonunion rivals like Walmart . The deal, however, faced pushback from politicians, unions, and consumer groups, Bloomberg reported . Critics argued that it would harm consumers by reducing grocery store options and increasing prices. The FTC contended that the merger would lessen competition in the supermarket sector, which the judge agreed with, rejecting the companies’ argument that the market extended to online retailers like Amazon . When Kroger announced its third-quarter earnings Dec. 5, CEO Rodney McMullen was adamant the merger would receive approval. “The food industry has always been competitive and will continue to be after this merger,” McMullen stated . “We are committed to closing this merger because bringing Kroger and Albertsons together will provide meaningful and measurable benefits — lower prices, secure jobs and expanded access to fresh, affordable food — for customers, associates and communities across the country.”In 2010, which was the last time the Washington Nationals had the No. 1 overall draft pick, they took Bryce Harper . In 2025, the Nationals are now heading toward the top pick again after winning baseball’s Draft Lottery on Tuesday. With a 71-91 record last season, the Nationals came into the lottery with a 10.2-percent chance of landing the No. 1 pick, the fourth-best odds in the league. They will pick No. 1 overall for the first time since they took Harper with their second of consecutive No. 1 picks (they also picked No. 1 overall in 2009 and took Stephen Strasburg). #1 PICK BABY LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!! — Washington Nationals (@Nationals) December 10, 2024 The Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals were the other big winners of the draft lottery. The Mariners had the 15th-best record in baseball last season and the Cardinals the 13th best, but they will pick No. 3 and No. 5, respectively, in next year’s draft. The Miami Marlins and Colorado Rockies each had a 22.45-percent chance of winning the No. 1 overall pick — the best odds in the lottery — but each fell outside of the top three. The Rockies will pick fourth and the Marlins seventh. Advertisement The draft is seven months away, and there is currently no standout, consensus top prospect in the class according to The Athletic’s scouting expert Keith Law. “The top of the 2025 draft looks extremely weak right now,” Law wrote. “Not only is there no runaway 1-1 candidate like a Bryce Harper or a Stephen Strasburg, the guys who might be at the top of a ranking or a pref list currently are all flawed in some way that in most years would eliminate them from 1-1 contention.” Texas A&M outfielder Jace Laviolette, Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold, and Oklahoma high school third baseman Ethan Holliday — the brother of Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday — are among the most notable names, but none has a set of can’t-miss tools. Laviolette strikes out a lot, Arnold is primarily a two-pitch pitcher, and Holliday doesn’t have elite defensive value. Ethan Holliday (25 OK) doing what No. 1 players in the class do: hitting a 🚀 grand slam into the night. Ball was still soaring when it went out; excellent hitting tools & explodes onto this one. #GoPokes commit. #WWBA @PGMidwestBB pic.twitter.com/wdfbj5pkoc — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) June 23, 2024 “That could mean there’s an opportunity for someone who comes out strongly this spring,” Law wrote. He noted Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella, Indiana outfielder Devin Taylor, and UC-Santa Barbara right-hander Tyler Bremner as players who could rise to the top of draft boards with strong performances next year. Here is the complete first-round draft order for 2025: (Top photo: Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)ASML Investors Have Opportunity to Lead ASML Holding N.V. Securities Fraud Lawsuit