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US judge temporarily halts Activision Blizzard buyout to Microsoft

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In an attempt to prevent competitors from going out of the competition, US regulators were granted approval for a request to stop the buyout of Activision Blizzard to technology colossus Microsoft for $69 billion.

According to the court, the temporary restraining order “is necessary to maintain the status quo while the complaint is pending.”

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the deal could “substantially lessen competition in the sector”.

The hearing of the case is set to take place from June 22 to 24 in San Francisco.

If the deal with Activision Blizzard — a company behind Call of Duty and Candy Crush — is successful, it would be the biggest deal ever in the history of the video gaming industry.

According to BBC, it has split competition regulators in the UK, the US and Europe.

The UK restrained the buyout while the European Union (EU) approved it. For the successful conclusion of the deal, Microsoft and Activision require permission from the US, the UK and EU regulators.

The deal would give Microsoft’s Xbox console exclusive access to Activision games, leaving competitors Nintendo and Sony out in the cold, argued the FTC.

A Microsoft logo is seen in Los Angeles, California, US. — Reuters/File
A Microsoft logo is seen in Los Angeles, California, US. — Reuters/File

The companies have a time limit of June 16 to submit their arguments to oppose the preliminary injunction and the FTC will have to reply on 20 June.

Microsoft said a takeover of Activision would benefit gaming companies and players.

It has offered to sign a legally binding agreement with the FTC to provide Call of Duty games to rivals including Sony for a decade.

The European Commission approved the acquisition and said that Microsoft’s offer of 10-year free licensing deals — which promise European consumers and cloud game streaming services access to Activision’s PC and console games — means there would be fair competition in the market.

But the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the deal in April. It maintained that it was concerned the takeover would offer reduced innovation and less choice for gamers.

The companies criticized CMA’s decision and said they would file an appeal.

Brad Smith, Microsoft president said it marked the company’s “darkest day” in its four decades of working in Britain.

In response to the announcement by the FTC Monday, Smith noted that Microsoft welcomed the “opportunity to present our case in federal court” in its attempt to persuade US regulators to allow the deal to be completed.

“We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market,” he added.

The buyout of Activision is regarded as crucial for Microsoft, which is trying to catch up with its main competitor Sony.

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Instagram releases a kid-focused feature.

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With the help of this new Instagram function, parents will have more control over what their kids do online.

New users between the ages of 13 and 15 will have their Teen Accounts enabled immediately, while current users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia will be gradually transferred to the new accounts over the course of the following 60 days.

Important characteristics of teen accounts

Teen accounts are by default set to private, which limits the display of their posts to authorized followers and keeps non-followers from getting in touch with them.

Restrictions on Teen Messaging: To minimize unwanted encounters, teens are only able to message people they follow or already have a connection with.

Control of Sensitive Content: Tight settings will prevent exposure to potentially dangerous content, like advertisements for cosmetic procedures or violent content.

Parental Control: Guardians can keep an eye on their offspring’s internet behavior, such as direct messaging and content intake.

Positive Content: By allowing teenagers to research interests, like sports, music, or the arts, they can enhance their online experience.

Extra protection

Reminding teenagers to take breaks after 60 minutes of app use is part of the daily limit.

Sleep mode: To encourage sound sleep habits, automatically mute notifications between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Using artificial intelligence to power age verification, underage individuals can be identified and moved to teen accounts.

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Microsoft and BlackRock are set to establish a $30 billion fund for artificial intelligence infrastructure.

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AI models, particularly those employed in deep learning and extensive data processing, necessitate considerable computer power, resulting in increased energy usage.

The computational demands of AI have compelled technology firms to interconnect thousands of chips in clusters to attain the requisite data processing capacity, resulting in a significant increase in the demand for specialized data centers.

The investment entity, termed Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, seeks to improve AI supply chains and energy procurement, according to BlackRock and Microsoft.

MGX, the investment firm supported by Abu Dhabi, will serve as a general partner in the fund, while Nvidia (NVDA.O), a manufacturer of AI chips, will provide its expertise.

The collaboration is expected to generate a total investment potential of up to $100 billion, inclusive of loan funding, according to the corporations.

The investments will primarily be in the United States, with the remainder allocated to partner countries, as stated by the firms.

The Financial Times initially reported on the development.

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Pakistan ascends 14 positions in the UN E-Government Index 2024.

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This significant breakthrough signifies Pakistan’s shift from the “Middle EGDI category” to the “High EGDI category” for the first time, indicating considerable improvements in digital government capabilities.

The nation’s E-Government Development Index has risen to 0.5095, an increase from 0.42380 in 2022. Although Pakistan remains behind global leaders such as Denmark (0.9847) and regional leaders like Singapore (0.969) and the Maldives (0.6745), this enhancement is a significant accomplishment.

Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja has reaffirmed the government’s dedication to establishing a digital Pakistan.

During an event in Islamabad on Wednesday, she underscored the necessity for collaborative endeavors to promote innovation among the youth.

She asserted that the private sector ought to have a pivotal role in realizing a digital Pakistan. Shaza Fatima said that the administration is endeavoring to deliver exceptional stable and rapid internet connectivity.

She emphasized that Pakistan’s position in the UN’s e-governance development index had ascended by fourteen points. She stated that we are one of two Asian countries that have advanced from the medium tier to the top tier of digital e-governance, characterizing this as a notable accomplishment.

The Minister of State further asserted that Pakistan has made significant advancements in cyber security, attaining a premier rank in this field.

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