While different regulators usually cooperate with each other and share notes, they could still decide to block the deal.
The merging parties will no doubt take comfort from the CMA clearance although they will also know that the different regulatory agencies do not always operate in complete lock-step with one another, Alex Haffner, competition partner at U.K.-based law firm Fladgate, via statement .
The CMA's decision will likely serve to
address criticism over the way it's stopped mergers in
the past, particularly deals involving American companies.
The CMA's decision will likely serve to
address criticism over the way it's stopped mergers in
the past, particularly deals involving American companies.
The clearance decision is a
useful riposte to allegations, which
have taken on particular prominence recently in the light of Microsoft/Activision acquisition, that the CMA is anti-tech or unduly stifling economic growth in the sector, Alex Haffner, competition partner at U.K.-based law firm Fladgate, via statement .
In reality though, the ‘fundamentals’
of this deal means that the CMA’s assessment was far less controversial than in other tech-based cases given in particular
iRobot’s low market-share, Alex Haffner, competition partner at U.K.-based law firm Fladgate, via statement
Reba McEntire is set to host the 59th ACM Awards this week on Amazon's Prime Video. The iconic singer spoke to THR all about her big return to Country Music's Party of the Year, new music, her new TV show, 'Reba' hitting Netflix and much more ahead of the ceremony that streams live on Thursday, May 16.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 03:09Published
The 'Legally Blonde' prequel series is officially a go at Amazon! Original 'Legally Blonde' star Reese Witherspoon was on deck to announce a series order for the show during Amazon's first-ever upfront presentation. The actress is set to executive produce the show from creator Laura Kittrell. The show, titled 'Elle,' will tell the origin story of Elle Woods as a 1990s high schooler.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:14Published
We're getting a first look at season 2 of 'The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power.' Prime Video dropped a teaser trailer, premiere date and story description for the sophomore season of its 'Lord of the Rings' drama series during Amazon's inaugural upfront presentation in New York City. The season will return fans to J.R.R. Tolkien's Second Age, and promises to show "the ascending evil presence of Sauron as he continues his vengeful quest for complete power."
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:20Published
‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series , Ordered by Amazon.
‘Legally Blonde’ Prequel Series , Ordered by Amazon.
A series order for 'Elle' was announced on
May 13, according to 'The Hollywood Reporter.'.
The prequel series will tell Elle Woods' origin story
as she navigates high school in the 1990s.
'Elle' follows Elle Woods in high school as we
learn about the life experiences that shaped
her into the iconic young woman we came to
know and love in the first 'Legally Blonde' film, Via series synopsis.
Reese Witherspoon will executive produce with her Hello Sunshine media company.
Witherspoon issued a statement
about the development.
I truly couldn’t be more
excited about this series!, Reese Witherspoon, via statement.
Fans will get to know how Elle Woods
navigated her world as a teenager with
her distinct personality and ingenuity,
in ways that only our beloved Elle could
do. What could be better than that? , Reese Witherspoon, via statement.
I’m extremely grateful to the
incredible teams at Prime Video
and Hello Sunshine — along with
our amazing writer Laura Kittrell —
for making this dream of mine
come true. 'Legally Blonde' is back!”, Reese Witherspoon, via statement.
Vernon Sanders, head of television for
Amazon MGM Studios, also issued a statement.
One of the most quotable,
iconic, and beloved characters
that is ingrained in the fabric of
Hollywood history has to be
Elle Woods, and we are honored
to bring her origin story to our
global Prime Video customers, Vernon Sanders, head of television for
Amazon MGM Studios, via statement.
Casting for the teenage Elle character
has yet to be revealed.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
We won't be headed back to Cousins Beach this summer, season three of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' has been delayed. Amazon revealed during its upfront presentation that the third season of the popular series will not air until 2025. This news comes after season one of the series premiered in June 2022, and season two debuted in July 2023.
Credit: The Hollywood Reporter Duration: 01:09Published
ConocoPhillips , to Buy Marathon Oil.
ConocoPhillips , to Buy Marathon Oil.
On May 29, ConocoPhillips agreed to
acquire Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valued at $17 billion, CNBC reports.
The agreement will provide ConocoPhillips with
an additional 2 billion barrels of U.S. inventory.
This acquisition of Marathon Oil further
deepens our portfolio and fits within our
financial framework, adding high-quality,
low cost of supply inventory adjacent to our
leading U.S. unconventional position. , ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance, via statement.
ConocoPhillips' market cap will
exceed $150 billion due to the deal.
As an independent producer, ConocoPhillips will now be on the same scale as some big-time players, CNBC reports.
For example, the company will become larger than BP but still be smaller than Shell, according to Andrew Dittmar, M&A analyst at Enverus.
For example, the company will become larger than BP but still be smaller than Shell, according to Andrew Dittmar, M&A analyst at Enverus.
While the deal is likely to face FTC scrutiny, the fact that Marathon's assets encompass multiple basins supports regulatory approval, Dittmar said. .
Once the deal is complete,
ConocoPhillips anticipates share buybacks worth $7 billion within the first year.
After three years, that number is
expected to grow to $20 billion.
ConocoPhillips' larger rivals,
Exxon Mobil and Chevron, announced
blockbuster deals as well last year.
ConocoPhillips' larger rivals,
Exxon Mobil and Chevron, announced
blockbuster deals as well last year
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
FTC to Decide , Whether Noncompete Agreements , Should Be Banned.
After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports. .
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
Approximately one in five Americans, spanning minimum wage workers to CEOs, are subject to noncompete agreements, the FTC estimates. .
The Biden administration says that these types of agreements hurt workers by decreasing wages.
The White House also argues that these
agreements harm the U.S. economy because entrepreneurship isn't allowed to freely flourish. .
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan issued a statement when
the proposed ban was initially introduced.
The freedom to change jobs is
core to economic liberty and to
a competitive, thriving economy, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Noncompetes block workers from
freely switching jobs, depriving
them of higher wages and better
working conditions, and depriving
businesses of a talent pool that
they need to build and expand, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Businesses argue that noncompete agreements are essential for safeguarding investments and proprietary information.
Those businesses also question whether
the agency has the power "to regulate
such agreements," NPR reports. .
If the FTC votes to issue a final rule, enforcement wouldn't occur for 180 days,
and legal challenges would likely ensue.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen clarified her intentions to cooperate with Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia in a live debate in the Parliament, haunted by the ghosts of the far-right parties that did not participate for lack of a top candidate for the June elections.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:54Published
Nicola Procaccini, co-chair of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, predicts a centre-right European Commission following the upcoming EU elections.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:15Published
An abrupt shift to the political right is likely to mean the next head of the European Commission will be a conservative — but the right-wing camp is affected by many political rifts, some, almost insurmountable, exclusive Euronews superpoll shows.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:23Published
The next EU Commission will have to cope with a legacy of debt accummulated out of necessity by its predecessor in response to the Covid crisis and the Ukraine War. Instruments are in place to both control debt and invest in the future, but challenging times lie ahead.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 00:56Published
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
Microsoft Makes $1.5 Billion , Investment in Leading , UAE Technology Firm.
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
'The Independent' reports that Microsoft has announced
a $1.5 billion investment in a leading United Arab
Emirates-based artificial intelligence firm. .
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The deal, overseen by the UAE's powerful national security
adviser, will see Microsoft president Brad Smith join
technology holding company G42's board of directors.
The UAE's national security adviser,
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the
current chairman of G42's board of directors. .
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal “was developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”.
In a statement released on April 16, Microsoft
said the deal “was developed in close consultation
with both the UAE and U.S. governments.”.
G42, which runs data centers in the Middle East
and elsewhere, has built the world's leading
Arabic-language AI model, Jais. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
According to Microsoft, G42 will move its
AI applications and services over to the U.S.
tech giant's cloud computing platform. .
The deal will also look to bring digital infrastructure
to regions that G42 has already established
a presence, including the Middle East and Africa.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
'The Independent' reports that G42 previously cut ties with
Chinese hardware suppliers to limit U.S. concerns that
the company was closely tied to the Chinese government.
Prior to Microsoft's investment, the company
reportedly faced allegations of spying for its
connection to a mobile phone app identified as spyware.
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government. .
The tech company also faced accusations
that it gathered genetic material from
U.S. users for the Chinese government.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
US Government Emails With Microsoft , Were Stolen by Russian Hackers.
On April 11, American officials confirmed
that emails sent between Microsoft and
U.S. government agencies have been
stolen by Russian hackers, CNN reports. .
According to Eric Goldstein, a senior
official at the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), .
those emails may have included login information like usernames and passwords.
At this time, we are not aware of any
agency production environments that
have experienced a compromise as
a result of a credential exposure. , Eric Goldstein, a senior official at the U.S. Cybersecurity
and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), via CNN.
Even though there is currently no evidence that the stolen credentials have been used to compromise federal computer systems, .
CISA described the occurrence as an "unacceptable risk to agencies.".
As a result, the agency released an "emergency directive" on April 11 ordering those potentially affected by the hack to bolster their defenses. .
The hack was first revealed by
Microsoft in January, but it has gotten more serious as new details continue to emerge.
CNN reports that the U.S. has
previously linked the hackers in question
to Russia's foreign intelligence service. .
A Microsoft spokesperson
issued a statement on April 11.
As we shared in our March 8 blog,
as we discover secrets in our
exfiltrated email, we are working
with our customers to help them
investigate and mitigate, Microsoft spokesperson, via CNN.
This includes working with CISA on
an emergency directive to provide
guidance to government agencies, Microsoft spokesperson, via CNN
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
NYC’s AI Chatbot Has Been , Telling Businesses to Break the Law.
New York City's AI chatbot was created to help small business owners, but it's been dispensing concerning advice, AP reports. .
For example, many small business owners have
been given inaccurate information about local policies or been encouraged to break the law.
However, the city is not removing
the chatbot from its official website.
Instead, it has provided a disclaimer stating that the chatbot may "occasionally produce incorrect, harmful or biased" information.
Critics say that the situation highlights
the dangers of AI being used by
governments without proper guardrails.
They’re rolling out software that
is unproven without oversight, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
It’s clear they have no intention
of doing what’s responsible, Julia Stoyanovich, computer science professor
and director of the Center for Responsible AI
at New York University, via statement.
There’s a different level of trust that’s
given to government. Public officials need
to consider what kind of damage they can
do if someone was to follow this advice
and get themselves in trouble, Jevin West, a professor at the University of Washington and
co-founder of the Center for an Informed Public, via statement.
Microsoft, which powers the chatbot, said it
is working with the city "to improve the service
and ensure the outputs are accurate and
grounded on the city’s official documentation.".
On April 2, Mayor Eric Adams said that
letting users find issues with the chatbot is just part of sorting out the new technology.
Anyone that knows technology knows this
is how it’s done. Only those who are fearful
sit down and say, ‘Oh, it is not working the
way we want, now we have to run away from
it all together.’ I don’t live that way, Mayor Eric Adams, via statement.
Julia Stoyanovich, a computer science professor and director of the Center for Responsible AI at New York University, referred to Adams' approach as "reckless and irresponsible," AP reports.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
After a long delay, Germany’s parliament has been reported to have approved an advance payment for the acquisition of Israel’s sophisticated Arrow-3 air defence system in a deal worth almost four..
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