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Blog entry by Warner Low

EU wants to know if Microsoft will block rivals after Activision deal

EU wants to know if Microsoft will block rivals after Activision deal

BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators are asking games developers whether Microsoft will be incentivised to block rivals' access to "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard's best-selling games, according to an EU document seen by Reuters.

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It has been nearly seven months since the former UFC middleweight champion lost to rival Israel Adesanya in a very close fight - and the 31-year-old Aussie is excited to step back in the Octagon and remind the world why he's the No.1 contender.

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He said: 'We need consistency. For consistency, we have to defend the... rubbish, out of everybody. Let me say it like this. I'm not interested in this short-term diagnosis, 'that was good, that was bad'. No, we have to be good until we are outstanding.'

When pressed on using the word 'rubbish', Klopp responded: 'I wanted to say: 'We have to defend the s*** out of everybody we face', so that's why I used the word 'rubbish'. So, that's what we have to do and that's what we try.'

Everyone then starts to sing 'happy birthday' in German, before continuing in English, Spanish, French and Dutch. Alexander-Arnold has come under huge scrutiny this season following some below-par performances for the Reds. 

Whittaker has only ever lost two fights at middleweight in the UFC and both of them were to his heated rival Israel Adesanya. He believes he can win the third - he just needs to keep running up victories in the meantime to get a title shot.

The EU competition enforcer also asked if Activision's trove of user data would give the U.S. software giant a competitive advantage in the development, publishing and distribution of computer and console games, the EU document shows.

The Star Entertainment Group (TSEG) says it has a plan for "a multi-year transformation of the governance, accountability and capabilities, culture and risk, and compliance management practices of the organisation".

It pledged to take "additional necessary and appropriate action" so the NICC "can be satisfied The Star Sydney has taken sufficient steps, and has bound itself to take further steps, so that it may continue to hold its licence".

Regulators also wanted to know if there would be sufficient alternative suppliers in the market following the deal and also in the event Microsoft decides to make Activision's games exclusively available on its Xbox, its Games Pass and its cloud game streaming services.

Games developers, publishers and distributors were asked whether the deal would affect their bargaining power regarding the terms for pkv Poker selling console and PC games via Microsoft's Xbox and its cloud game streaming service Game Pass.

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Bruce, 61, told the fan to act like a 'grown man' after he was 'shouting and bawling', while the fan claimed Bruce's son, Alex, who is first team assistant coach, raised his middle finger at him from the team bus.

A statement from the commission said The Star had met its deadline to make submissions as to why the regulator should not take disciplinary action against it, and they would be considered before determining its response.

A statement issued by executive chairman Ben Heap on behalf of the board said The Star Sydney accepted the findings of the report, "including the finding of unsuitability" and acknowledged "the gravity of the conduct".

Interim appointments were in place, with changed reporting lines to create better accountability and independence for risk management, "to ensure we move swiftly to strengthen The Star Sydney's operations and risk and controls management".

"We submit that the appropriate action NICC should take is to allow TSEG to continue to operate the licence, under strict supervision and being held accountable to the milestones on the remediation plan."

The company says it has taken "significant and urgent remedial steps, including increased risk, compliance, and security staff, approval of upgrades to surveillance technology as well as permanently exiting junkets and closing the Marquee nightclub".

They asked if such exclusivity clauses would reinforce Microsoft's Windows operating system versus rivals, and whether the addition of Activision to its PC operating system, cloud computing services and game-related software tools gives it an advantage in the video gaming industry.

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