Category: 3. Business

The chairman of the committee leading Newfoundland and Labrador’s independent review of the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding with Quebec is backing the impartiality of his three-man team.

“As we understand the information, we will form an opinion. We do not have an opinion as we sit today,” Chris Huskilson told Radio-Canada on Monday.

Huskilson is the president and CEO of 5-H Holdings and the former CEO of Emera Inc. Emera helped develop the Maritime Link for power distribution alongside Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.

Premier Tony Wakeham appointed him as the committee chair on Dec. 15.

The other two members, Guy Holburn and Michael Wilson, are members of the former oversight committee created by the previous Liberal government.

Holburn is a professor of business, economics and public policy at the University of Western Ontario.

Wilson, who resigned from the original committee, has been public about what he calls a lack of independence among the former oversight committee, specifically among a limited scope of work and overstepping by the Liberal government.

“We’re all focused on getting the information, forming an opinion and writing a report for the government,” Huskilson said.

Some opinions formed, Liberals say

Meanwhile, Opposition leader John Hogan believes some of those opinions are already formed.

“Mr. Wilson clearly has an opinion. He’s expressed his opinion publicly. He expresses opinion during the general election campaign. He thinks this is a bad deal for Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Hogan.

Wilson stated in an open letter on Oct. 2 that the conditions of the MOU are “disastrous” and that the MOU “results in an outrageous transfer of wealth to HQ and is an outright betrayal of the people of this province and all future generations.”

Hogan also criticized Huskilson’s role. Hogan believes the PCs appointed the former Emera CEO to justify killing the Churchill Falls MOU since he was  also involved in Muskrat Falls.

Hogan said Huskilson’s past association with Muskrat Falls raises questions about whether he is the best person to lead the panel.

If the MOU, which was signed by the previous Liberal government, goes ahead, the province could take in more than $225 billion over the next 50 years and increase power output on the Churchill River by nearly 4,000 megawatts — largely powered by the development of the Gull Island hydroelectric project.

Huskilson said he is well qualified to serve as chairman of the independent review committee despite the Liberals’ opinion.

“This is not about Muskrat Falls. It’s about the remainder of the river,” he said. 

Committee members paid ‘reasonable rate’

Huskilson’s committee will have until April 30, when they are expected to submit a report, to decide whether the agreement in principle is in the province’s best interests.

The expert panel will cost the provincial government about $1 million, according to Wakeham.

David Sorensen, an executive council spokesperson, indicated on Monday each member of the committee will be paid $475 per hour of work.

“This is a reasonable rate considering the level of expertise required to examine the scope of a project the size of the Churchill River and Gull Island, and the billions being discussed,” Sorensen told Radio-Canada in a statement. 

The previous government, along with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Hydro–Québec, had committed to signing a deal by April 2026.

Wakeham has frequently called that an “artificial deadline” and has said he won’t be rushed. He also re-stated his commitment to putting the deal to a public referendum in 2026.

“You will have your say on any deal before I sign it,” he said. “We will only develop our resources on our terms.”

Hogan questions whether Wakeham wants to proceed with the MOU.

“He has never expressed his own opinion about whether he thinks it’s a good deal, and if he doesn’t think it’s a good deal, how he would change it. I think he owes that to the public.”

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A coalition of 21 states along with the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration on Monday to prevent it from defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which says it will run out of money in a few weeks.

The consumer watchdog agency is funded by the Federal Reserve — unlike many other federal agencies — to insulate it from political whims. But under Acting Director Russell Vought, the CFPB is refusing to accept money from the Fed.

The CFPB argues that the law that established the agency says it must get funding from the Fed’s “combined earnings,” or profits made by the Fed. But the Fed doesn’t have those earnings, the Trump administration says, because it’s paying out more money than it’s taking in, or operating at a loss.

The attorneys general suing the administration — and some Democratic lawmakers — reject that argument. They say the CFPB is narrowly defining “combined earnings” as profits, whereas lawmakers had intended the term to mean the wider funds — or proceeds — coming into the Fed.

In their suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Oregon, the states argue Vought and CFPB are using “an unreasonable and unlawful interpretation of ‘combined earnings.’” The agency’s stance puts the “CFPB at risk of losing all of its funding as early as January 2026,” the states argue.

Such a loss of funding would hurt their residents, the attorney generals argue.

In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James — who is leading the coalition of states — argues that the CFPB is legally required to “collect and process consumer complaints and share that complaint data with states,” which the agency can’t do if it isn’t funded.

“Defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will make it harder to stop predatory lenders, scammers, and other bad actors from taking advantage of New Yorkers,” James said in the statement.

“My office and attorneys general across the country rely on the CFPB for consumer complaints and other data to get justice for consumers,” she added.

Under the Trump administration, much of the CFPB has been gutted, with the agency preventing many of its staff from doing their work. The administration also has tried to fire most of the CFPB’s staff, though those attempts have been blocked by the courts.

Since its creation in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the CFPB has been the target of many conservatives. They argue the agency is too aggressive when it comes to enforcement and that it’s not accountable enough to Congress.

HARTFORD – The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Food and Standards Division is warning the public that Willy Pete’s Chocolate Company LLC of Harwinton is recalling their Almond Despair chocolate bar due to undeclared almonds. The ingredient statement incorrectly listed macadamia nuts instead of almonds.

Customers who have allergies or severe sensitivities to almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume these products.

The Almond Despair chocolate bars are packaged in purple wrappers with a weight of 2 oz and UPC 0 987261 5.

The recalled chocolate bars were distributed to the following stores:

• Curioporium: 168 Center St Suite 101, Southington, CT 06489
• Army Barracks: 30 Broadway, Saugus, MA 01906
• Puckerbutt Pepper Co.: 1376 Broadcloth St Suite 102, Fort Mill, SC 29715

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Consumers who purchased the affected chocolate bars from Willy Pete’s Chocolate Company LLC are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Anyone with questions about the recall may contact the company at 860-878-0302 Consumers who would like to file a complaint with DCP’s Food and Standards Division can email DCP.FoodandStandards@ct.gov.

“We’ve listened carefully to feedback from our customers,” Instacart said in its statement. “And we understand that the tests we ran with a small number of retail partners that resulted in different prices for the same item at the same store missed the mark for some customers. At a time when families are working exceptionally hard to stretch every grocery dollar, those tests raised concerns, leaving some people questioning the prices they see on Instacart. That’s not okay—especially for a company built on trust, transparency, and affordability.”

Instacart has not yet responded to CR’s questions about whether it would allow grocery retailers or food manufacturers to run price experiments with promotions and discounts on its platform.

Instacart’s reversal follows nearly two weeks of blowback from U.S. consumers, regulators, and politicians, many of whom objected to the use of algorithms, AI, and customer data to help set prices.

On Dec. 9, the day our findings were published, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., announced he was sponsoring the One Fair Price Act, which would prevent companies from using consumers’ personal data to set individualized prices. The legislation has since gained two additional co-sponsors, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Separately, in Pennsylvania, a state senator cited our reports in announcing a plan to introduce similar legislation that would ban “surveillance pricing,” the use of personal data or demographic information, shopping history, and buyer behavior to set prices.

In the two weeks after we published our findings, at least 12 members of Congress followed suit with formal letters to Instacart and/or the FTC, which regulates U.S. grocery stores. The ranking member of the House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., sent a letter to Instacart, reiterating our findings and requesting answers from the company regarding its pricing practices by mid-January. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sent a separate letter to the FTC, requesting that the agency investigate the company. A group of four Democratic House members who call themselves the Monopoly Busters Caucus, including Craig, released a statement calling for the FTC and state regulators to “immediately investigate Instacart and hold it accountable for ripping off its customers.”

And a group of seven Democratic senators—including Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Booker, ranking members of two separate subcommittees on privacy, technology, antitrust, and consumer rights issues—wrote to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, a Republican appointed by former President Joe Biden and elevated to chair by President Donald Trump. Their letter raised concerns about Instacart’s pricing practices and asked the FTC to investigate.

“We are deeply concerned that Instacart’s pricing tactics may result in higher food prices, less competition, fewer opportunities to comparison shop, more incentive for companies to collect sensitive personal data, and increased customer confusion—potentially in violation of the FTC Act,” the letter from the seven senators says.

The FTC Act includes several provisions that prohibit “unfair or deceptive” commercial practices and allows the agency to enforce those laws and seek financial relief and penalties. 

On Dec. 17, Reuters reported that the FTC had launched an investigation into Instacart’s pricing technology in response to our article and research. In a statement to CR the next day, the FTC wrote that it doesn’t comment on potential or ongoing investigations but “like so many Americans, we are disturbed by what we have read in the press about Instacart’s alleged pricing practices.”

Last week, in an unrelated case, the FTC and Instacart agreed to settle a case in which the regulator alleged that Instacart had advertised free delivery services and then charged consumers to have groceries delivered, and also failed to disclose to consumers who signed up for a free trial that they would be automatically enrolled in its subscription program. As part of a proposed settlement, Instacart will refund $60 million to customers who were charged for Instacart+ without their express informed consent, and the company is prohibited from “making misrepresentations concerning the costs of delivery services and satisfaction guarantees.”

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO, December 22, 2025 – Today, FanDuel, the premier online  gaming company in North America and part of Flutter Entertainment (NYSE: FLUT, LSE: FLTR),  and CME Group (NASDAQ: CME), the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, launched  FanDuel Predicts in Alabama, Alaska, South Carolina, North Dakota and South Dakota,  beginning a phased national rollout over the coming weeks. FanDuel Predicts will expand  access to financial and sports markets for millions of U.S. customers over the coming months. 

FanDuel Predicts will provide customers with a platform to express their views on the day’s  biggest stories across financial indicators, cultural moments and sports. This new mobile  application will be available in the Apple App Store and Google Play and will integrate  FanDuel’s “Know Your Customer” sign-up process, requiring customers to submit their birth  date, Social Security number, home address, banking information and a government-issued ID.  Once the Predicts account is created, customers can buy or sell event contracts ranging in price  from as little as $0.01 to $0.99 by choosing “Yes” if they think an event will happen or “No” if  they don’t. 

The platform will offer event contracts in all 50 states on benchmarks such as the S&P 500 and  Nasdaq-100, prices of oil and gas, gold, cryptocurrencies, and key economic indicators such as  GDP and CPI. In addition to financial markets, sports contracts will be available across baseball,  basketball, football, and hockey in states where online sports betting is not yet legal, except on  tribal lands. As new states legalize online sports betting, FanDuel Predicts will cease offering  sports event contracts in those states. 

“We’re giving our customers a new platform to engage with the world around them – whether  that’s the next Fed rate decision or a sports event,” said James Cooper, Senior Vice President,  Flywheel and New Ventures at FanDuel. “This launch in five states will provide valuable insights  into customer engagement with this new platform, enabling us to refine our approach as we  expand to additional states in 2026.” 

“CME Group prediction markets will enable a new generation of users to express their views on  global benchmarks, economic indicators, sports and more,” said Lynne Fitzpatrick, President and  Chief Financial Officer, CME Group. “This launch is a pivotal step for expanding the reach of our  products to FanDuel’s millions of registered users across the U.S.”  

The rollout of FanDuel Predicts will continue to other states through early 2026. 

FanDuel will extend its commitment to consumer protection to the FanDuel Predicts app. At  launch, customers will be able to set deposit limits, deposit alerts or self-exclude if needed with  mental health services provided by Kindbridge Behavior Health. 

About FanDuel 

FanDuel Group is America’s premier mobile gaming company, consisting of a portfolio of  leading brands across mobile wagering including America’s #1 Sportsbook FanDuel  Sportsbook, its leading iGaming platform FanDuel Casino, the industry leader in horseracing  and advance-deposit wagering FanDuel Racing, and its daily fantasy sports product. In addition,  FanDuel Group operates FanDuel TV, its broadly distributed linear cable television network, and  FanDuel TV+, its leading direct-to-consumer OTT platform. FanDuel Group has a presence  across all 50 states with approximately 17 million customers and 25 retail locations. The  company is based in New York with offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Jersey City. 

About CME Group 

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com)  enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and  analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture  opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products  across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, cryptocurrencies, energy, agricultural products and metals. The company offers  futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading  via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of  the world’s leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing.  

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are  trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. NYMEX, New York Mercantile  Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a  trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC  and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones  Indices LLC (“S&P DJI”). “S&P®”, “S&P 500®”, “SPY®”, “SPX®”, US 500 and The 500 are  trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures  contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

Media Contacts: 

Alex Pitocchelli, FanDuel 
press@fanduel.com

Laurie Bischel, CME Group 
news@cmegroup.com

Investor Contacts: 
Paul Tymms, Flutter 
Ciara O’Mullane, Flutter 
Chris Hancox, Flutter 
investor.relations@flutter.com

Adam Minick, CME Group 
investors@cmegroup.com

CME-G

SOURCE CME Group

Nate Callister to Succeed Paul Burdiss as Zions Bank’s CEO

SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Zions Bancorporation, N.A. today announced the upcoming retirement of Paul Burdiss, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s Zions Bank division, operating in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming, on December 31, 2025. Mr. Burdiss joined Zions Bancorporation in 2015 as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, serving in that role until he assumed his current position with Zions Bank. During his more than 35-year career in the financial services industry, he also held positions at SunTrust Bank and Comerica.

Harris H. Simmons, Zions Bancorporation’s Chairman and CEO, stated “We extend our most sincere thanks to Paul Burdiss for his years of service to the Company and Zions Bank. Paul has been instrumental in building a very strong finance team for the Company, and more recently in continuing to strengthen Zions Bank’s position as the Intermountain West’s premier banking organization. I’m pleased that he has agreed to consult with the Company in coming months to promote a smooth transition in leadership.”

Mr. Simmons concurrently announced that Mr. Burdiss will be succeeded by Nathan Callister, who currently serves as Executive Vice President and Executive Director of Commercial Banking at Zions Bank. Prior to joining Zions Bank, Mr. Callister was at Wells Fargo Bank, where he was Executive Vice President/Market Executive for Commercial Banking in Utah and Idaho. He is a graduate of BYU and the University of Southern California and has been deeply involved in community affairs and organizations in Salt Lake City, including as board chair for the Salt Lake Chamber. Mr. Simmons stated, “We’re very pleased to have Nate Callister assuming this new position. He brings a wealth of banking expertise and strong relationships in the community, and I wish him great success in his new role.”

Zions Bancorporation, N.A. is one of the nation’s premier financial services companies with approximately $89 billion of total assets at December 31, 2024, and annual net revenue of $3.1 billion in 2024. Zions operates under local management teams and distinct brands in 11 western states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Bank is a consistent recipient of national and state-wide customer survey awards in small- and middle-market banking, as well as a leader in public finance advisory services and Small Business Administration lending. In addition, Zions is included in the S&P MidCap 400 and NASDAQ Financial 100 indices. Investor information and links to local banking brands can be accessed at www.zionsbancorporation.com.

SOURCE Zions Bancorporation

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Dec. 22, 2025–
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced that Dr. Reshma Kewalramani, Chief Executive Officer and President, will present at the 44^th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT.

A live webcast of management’s remarks will be available through the Vertex website, www.vrtx.com, in the “Investors” section under the “News and Events” page. A replay of the conference webcast will be archived on the company’s website.

About Vertex

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation to create transformative medicines for people with serious diseases and conditions. The company has approved therapies for cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia and acute pain, and it continues to advance clinical and research programs in these areas. Vertex also has a robust clinical pipeline of investigational therapies across a range of modalities in other serious diseases where it has deep insight into causal human biology, including neuropathic pain, APOL1-mediated kidney disease, IgA nephropathy, primary membranous nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, type 1 diabetes and myotonic dystrophy type 1.

Vertex was founded in 1989 and has its global headquarters in Boston, with international headquarters in London. Additionally, the company has research and development sites and commercial offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Vertex is consistently recognized as one of the industry’s top places to work, including 16 consecutive years on Science magazine’s Top Employers list and one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. For company updates and to learn more about Vertex’s history of innovation, visit www.vrtx.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251222363465/en/

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

Investors:

InvestorInfo@vrtx.com

Source: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated

In France, Arkema sites joined forces to support those most in need, working alongside renowned organizations such as the Red Cross and Secours Populaire.

Teams at CETIA, CRRA, and Pierre-Bénite prepared “solidarity boxes” filled with essential items and thoughtful gifts to bring comfort. The Feuchy site partnered with the initiative “A Christmas Gift for the Most Vulnerable – Shoe Boxes Arras”, helping many families enjoy a warmer holiday season.

In the Southwest, the Lacq-Mourenx, Mont, Lannemezan, and GRL sites took part in Secours Populaire’s Green Santa campaign, donating toys and treats for children. At Serquigny and Cerdato in Normandy, employees organized a gift collection for young children in collaboration with the Red Cross, while the La Défense headquarters supported the Saint-Vincent-de-Paul Conference in Colombes.

Finally, the Jarrie site exemplifies Arkema’s long-standing commitment: on December 5, it donated chocolates and sweets to Secours Populaire of the city of Vizille Drac Romanche, continuing a partnership of more than ten years. School supplies, hygiene products, Christmas toys—these initiatives reflect the teams’ ongoing efforts to support local families. As Damien Gaspard, Secretary of the Drac-Romanche Committee, emphasized: “These gestures show that solidarity can be found everywhere to help those in extreme need. It plays an important role in reducing inequalities.”