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Achievement thwarted: FTC sues to block Microsoft, Activision Blizzard deal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

The Federal Trade Commission has sued to block Microsoft from completing its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard, the latest antitrust challenge to the proposed merger but one that could hasten its conclusion.The FTC’s Monday filing in a federal court in San Francisco seeks a restraining order and injunction to stop Microsoft’s $69 billion purchase of the California gaming company behind hit franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.Microsoft, maker of the Xbox game system, has been struggling to win worldwide approval for the deal with just over a month before the deadline to close it, according to the contract it signed with Activision.“We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court,” said a statement Monday from Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chair and president. “We believe accelerating the legal process in the U.S will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market.”The FTC already t...

Former Patriots captain reportedly skipping mandatory minicamp over contract

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

The Patriots had a notable hole in the middle of their defense during Monday’s minicamp practice.According to ESPN, longtime defensive tackle Lawrence Guy did not report due to what are believed to be contract-related reasons. Guy is entering his seventh season with the Patriots and 13th in the NFL. In 2021, Guy re-signed on a 4-year, $11.5 million contract packed with incentives.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots release top free-agent signing after 3 months New England Patriots | Mac Jones reacts to DeAndre Hopkins’ reported Patriots visit: ‘Obviously we’d love to have him’ New England Patriots | Bill Belichick expresses uncertainty about DeAndre Hopkins’ Patriots visit New England Patriots | Mac Jones, Bill O’Brien and 5 things to follow at Patriots minicamp New England Patriots | Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson ready to be ‘the guy’ in 2023 after Dami...

Concerns about traffic and safety raised in Naperville’s second stadium meeting with Chicago Bears, councilman says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

Questions about traffic and public safety were raised in Naperville’s second conversation with the Chicago Bears about building an NFL stadium in the city instead of Arlington Heights, Naperville City Councilman Benny White said.White was part of an online meeting organized by Mayor Scott Wehrli with Bears representatives last week. He would not disclose who else was part of the session, how things were left or if a third meeting was planned.The concept of Naperville as a possible alternative stadium location was broached by Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli when he wrote a letter to the team and then held a June 2 in-person meeting with Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren. Wehrli has stressed that conversation was very preliminary.White, a council liaison to the Naperville Development Partnership and senior council member, said his goal in the second meeting was to ask the questions residents have raised after news of the first meeting became public.“My main concern was th...

Tom Holland describes ‘The Crowded Room’ as his ‘hardest’ and ‘most rewarding’ job so far

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

The words “Tom Holland” and “spoilers” can immediately illicit snickering. There are compilation videos on YouTube of the “Spider-Man ” star accidentally revealing too much about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His slip-ups and near-giveaways have become a running joke among his co-stars and filmmakers. The actor found himself in familiar territory with his new twisty, surprise-laden series “The Crowded Room,” now streaming on Apple TV+ — and says by comparison, keeping quiet about Marvel is a piece of cake.“With Marvel… it’s all about the villain, the costume, the locations, the end result. They’re relatively easy to keep those things a secret,” said Holland in a recent interview. “I know that sounds stupid coming from me because I spoil everything, but with ‘The Crowded Room’ there are so many twists and turns in this show that people won’t be expecting. It really is a puzzle.”The limited-series takes place in 1970s New York with Holland as Danny, a young man arrested i...

Stock market today: Wall Street rises, and S&P 500 hits highest level in more than a year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street climbed Monday ahead of a big week for central banks around the world, vaulting the S&P 500 to its highest level in more than a year.The benchmark index rose 40.07 points, or 0.9%, to 4,338.93 and its highest close since April 2022. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 189.55, or 0.6%, to 34,066.33, while the Nasdaq composite rallied 202.78, or 1.5%, to 13,461.92.The U.S. stock market has been cruising on hopes the economy may avoid a recession and the Federal Reserve may soon take it easier on its hikes to interest rates. Traders are betting the Fed will hold rates steady at its next meeting, which concludes on Wednesday. That would be the first time it hasn’t hiked rates at a meeting in more than a year.Investors see high-growth stocks as some of the biggest beneficiaries of lower rates, and they led the market Monday. Tech stocks alone accounted for more than half the S&P 500’s gain, powered by gains of at least 1.5% for both Microsoft...

Elevator construction delays at Exhibition GO station causing rough travel for wheelchair user

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

Elevators connecting the platforms at Exhibition Station have been out of service for months, making travel very inconvenient for those with disabilities. One man who uses a wheelchair reached out to CityNews to share about the negative impact this is having on his life.James Christie is a Toronto FC superfan and season ticket holder. “I get involved in culture, sport … I get involved in the vibes of Toronto.”He also been in a wheelchair for most of his life and this year, getting home from BMO field has been a struggle.The elevators on the northside of the tracks have been undergoing upgrades since late fall as the station is being revamped for the Ontario Line.Leaving many like Christie to rely on a shuttle bus as a connector to the north platform.Christie tells CityNews not only is it a 15-minute drive around, but you need to book the shuttle 48 hours in advance, and it only runs until 11 p.m.He also said the booking system is complicated and the shuttle is ofte...

UN chief calls for coordinated global action on disinformation, hate and artificial intelligence

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The proliferation of hate and lies on digital platforms and the threat that artificial intelligence can become an uncontrolled “monster” demand coordinated global action — starting with a code of conduct for governments, tech companies and advertisers that promotes truth and protects human rights, the U.N. chief said Monday.Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he plans to appoint a scientific advisory board in a few days, and an advisory board on artificial intelligence in September to prepare initiatives that the U.N. can take. He said he would react favorably to a new U.N. agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency, which is knowledge-based and has some regulatory powers.Guterres told a news conference he plans to consult widely on the just released principles for the U.N. Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms, which he will issue before next year’s U.N. Summit of the Future. H...

In Montana, young people put state’s response to climate change on trial

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Rikki Held joined other young plaintiffs in a lawsuit to force Montana officials to do something about climate change after watching wildfires blacken the sky over her family’s ranch, drought stress the cattle and violent floods erode the banks of a nearby river. Held, now 22, and 15 other young people finally got their day in court Monday after suing state officials three years ago for failing to take action to curb global warming.They are trying to persuade state District Judge Kathy Seeley over a two-week trial that the state’s allegiance to fossil fuel development endangers their health and livelihoods and threatens future generations.“I know that climate change is a global issue, but Montana needs to take responsibility for our part. You can’t just blow it off and do nothing about it,” Held testified.The state court case centers on a government’s obligations to protect people against worsening climate change and is the first of dozens of similar lawsu...

Police: Maryland fatal shooting of 3 happened after parking dispute

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A man was charged in a shooting that killed three men — including a father and son — and wounded three others in a neighborhood dispute over parking during a party, police said Monday.Charles Robert Smith, 43, of Annapolis, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, assault and other offenses in the shooting that happened Sunday evening, Annapolis Police Chief Edward Jackson told reporters at a media briefing. Smith surrendered to authorities Sunday night without incident, the police chief said, and he was ordered held without bond Monday. Police recovered both a semi-automatic handgun and a long gun at the scene.Jackson identified the victims as Nicholas Mireles, 55, of Odenton, Maryland; Mario Antonio Mireles Ruiz, 27, of Annapolis; and Christian Marlon Segovia, 25, of Annapolis.Police responded to call for help at a home around 7:50 p.m. Sunday and found six people had been shot. The three wounded were in stable ...

Navy admiral with Pacific experience tapped as next top naval leader

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:35:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Navy admiral with extensive experience in the Indo-Pacific has been recommended to be the service’s next top leader, officials said Monday.Adm. Samuel Paparo, current commander of the Navy’s Pacific Fleet, was recommended by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and is on tap to be nominated as the next chief of naval operations, although President Joe Biden has not yet formally signed off on it, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no public announcement has been made.The selection of Paparo comes as a bit of a surprise, since he had long been expected to move up to take over U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the current vice chief of naval operations, had been widely mentioned as a leading candidate for the top Navy job.If Franchetti were selected she would have become the first woman to be a military service chief and the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Women have served as military se...