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Activision and Microsoft to appeal after CMA blocks takeover

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

Activision has said it will “work aggressively” with Microsoft to overturn the U.K. competition regulator’s decision to block Microsoft’s proposed takeover of the game developer.Microsoft and Activision were confident of approval after agreeing remedies to address concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). But the CMA said on Wednesday that the proposed solution “failed to effectively address the concerns in the cloud gaming sector.”  It said: “The deal would reinforce Microsoft’s advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.”A spokesperson for Activision said the CMA’s report “contradicts the ambitions of the U.K. to become an attractive country to build technology businesses… The report’s conclusions are a disservice to U.K. citizens, who face increasingly dire economic prospects. We will reassess our growth plans for the U.K.“Global innovators large and s...

European Union set for showdown with industry over new pharma rules

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

Big Pharma has met its match. Brussels held firm on a planned overhaul of its pharmaceutical rules on Wednesday, confirming a punishing new measure that will cut into the sector’s bottom line. The proposed rules would remove two years of data protection from all new medicines launched in the European Union, allowing unbranded rivals to enter the market more quickly. Since details of this measure were first revealed in a leaked draft published by POLITICO in January, pharma companies have been up in arms about this threat to their earnings. Politicians and activists feared that a recent last minute delay was a sign that the industry had successfully lobbied to water down the package. But while the final version contains some sweeteners for industry, the overall shape of the package — which consists of one regulation and one directive — has stayed the same.Access above allThe reform puts forward a mix of carrots and sticks to try and fix big issues afflicting the market...

NH Editor, Pulitzer administrator Mike Pride dead at 76

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Mike Pride, who cultivated excellence in journalism as a New Hampshire newspaper editor and later rewarded it as administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, has died. He was 76.Pride, who died Monday in Florida from complications of a blood disorder, was the only person to serve as a juror, board member, board co-chair and administrator for the Pulitzers. But before he began bestowing some of journalism’s highest honors, he spent decades nurturing reporters often just starting their careers.Under his 25 years of leadership, the Concord Monitor expanded its staff and scope — attracting national attention for ambitious projects and aggressive coverage of both local issues and the national politicians who showed up every four years for New Hampshire’s presidential primary. The newspaper became something of a magnet for reporters looking to learn a lot, quickly, and then move on.Sarah Koenig, host and co-creator of the award-winning podcast Serial, was a Monitor poli...

Self-described satanist sentenced in virtual currency scheme

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The founder of a satanic church who lost a run for sheriff in 2020 as a Republican was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 18 months in prison Tuesday for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.Aria DiMezzo, of Keene, a 35-year-old self-described satanist, was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000 and to forfeit more than $14,000 along with 1.93 bitcoins, currently worth about $55,000.Between June 2020 and January 2021, DiMezzo charged a fee to exchange mostly U.S. dollars for bitcoin or other virtual currency, recruiting customers on websites, according to investigators. They said customers sent her money through bank accounts in her name and in the name of an organization she created, the Reformed Satanic Church.DiMezzo sold more than $3 million worth of virtual currency, did not register her operation as a money transmitting business and failed to comply with required regulations, according to prosecutors.For example, according to invest...

Rockets make it official, hire ex-Celtics coach Ime Udoka

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Rockets officially hired Ime Udoka as their new coach on Tuesday, replacing Stephen Silas, who was fired after three seasons.The Rockets had the worst record in the previous two seasons and finished tied with the Spurs for the second-worst record this season, earning another lottery pick in this year’s draft.“Ime’s intelligence, drive and toughness were the traits we were looking for in a coach to lead our team through this next stage of our development as we strive to become a champion,” Houston general manager Rafael Stone said in a statement. “We were honored to have the opportunity to speak to multiple outstanding candidates throughout the interview process and felt that Ime’s vision best aligned with the goals the Fertitta Family and myself have for the future of the Rockets.”Udoka led the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season. He was then suspended for this season after the disclosure of an inappropriate relationship with a female Celtics...

Boeing loses $425 million but plans production boost for Max

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

By DAVID KOENIG (AP Airlines Writer)Boeing lost $425 million in the first quarter — more than Wall Street expected — but said Wednesday that it plans to boost production of its best-selling plane later this year.Revenue rose 28% from a year earlier, as airlines scooped up new jets to meet rising travel demand.The company also stood by its forecast of producing $3 billion to $5 billion in cash flow this year.Shares of Boeing jumped about 4% before the opening bell Wednesday.CEO David Calhoun called it “a solid first quarter.”“We are progressing through recent supply chain disruptions but remain confident in the goals we set for this year, as well as for the longer term. Demand is strong across our key markets,” he said in a statement.Boeing’s passenger jets have been plagued by production problems, and it took a write-down in the first quarter for a military tanker.The Arlington, Virginia, company said the loss in core operations worked out to $1.27 per share. Analysts expected the c...

3 numbers that define left-hander Justin Steele’s lights-out start to the season for Chicago Cubs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

Left-hander Justin Steele might be the most underrated starter in the majors.Steele’s dominant stretch has helped the Chicago Cubs get off to a great start during a challenging early stretch. Back-to-back one-out walks in the third inning Tuesday represented the only time the San Diego Padres really tested Steele, who remained steady and in control into the sixth inning. Steele dropped his ERA to 1.19 after 5⅓ scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 6-0 win against the Padres at Wrigley Field.Catcher Yan Gomes tallied a four-hit game, including a two-run homer in the second that stood as the game’s lone runs until the eighth when he added an RBI single. Nico Hoerner’s three-run triple two batters later provided the exclamation point for the Cubs (13-9).The fifth shutout for the Cubs pitching staff tied a franchise record in the modern era for the most shutouts in the first 22 games of the season (1969, 1907 and 1902).“It’s just a testament to what we...

Giants fan’s viewers’ guide to the 2023 NFL Draft with possible targets at all positions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

The Giants have a ton of needs, and they’re picking at the back of all the NFL Draft’s rounds, which creates even more unpredictability and options for GM Joe Schoen.But there are still plenty of player names and positions connected to the Giants to keep an eye on for all 10 of the Giants’ picks in rounds one through seven.Here is a Giants fan’s viewer guide on some of the prospects to follow from Thursday through Saturday:FIRST ROUND: Corner is arguably the biggest need on Brian Daboll’s roster. So if one of the Giants’ “blue” corners — the color of their highest scouting grade — is available at No. 25, there is a good chance he would be the pick. Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr. and Maryland’s Deonte Banks are all highly thought of. There’s only one hitch: those top four corners on most experts’ big boards likely will be gone before ...

UK blocks Microsoft-Activision gaming deal, biggest in tech

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

By KELVIN CHAN (AP Business Writer)LONDON (AP) — British regulators on Wednesday blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard, thwarting the biggest tech deal in history over worries that it would stifle competition in the fast-growing cloud gaming market.The Competition and Markets Authority said in its final report that “the only effective remedy” to the substantial loss of competition “is to prohibit the Merger.” The companies have vowed to appeal.The all-cash deal faced stiff opposition from rival Sony and was also being scrutinized by regulators in the U.S. and Europe over fears that it would give Microsoft control of popular game franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush.The U.K. watchdog’s concerns centered on how the deal would affect competition in cloud gaming, which involves streaming games to tablets, phones and other devices. That frees players from the need to buy expensive consoles and gaming computers.Cloud ga...

China says it will send peace envoy to Ukraine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:55:52 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call on Wednesday that his government will send a peace envoy to Ukraine and other nations, state media said, after Beijing said it wants to act as mediator in Russia’s war with the country.A government statement reported by state TV gave no indication whether the Chinese envoy would visit Russia.“China will send a special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs to Ukraine and other countries to conduct in-depth communication with all parties on the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis,” the statement said.It made no mention of Russia or President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last year.“There is no winner in a nuclear war,” the statement warned.China has tried to appear neutral in the war but has refused to criticize Moscow’s invasion. Xi and Putin issued a joint statement before the February 2020 attack saying their governments had ...