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📝 Good afternoon and welcome to Notes on the News. Here’s what you should know today, Jan. 18: Microsoft is buying beleaguered Activision Blizzard in a $75 billion deal, the feds investigate whether an American aircraft manufacturer’s technology made its way to China improperly and the U.S. weighs financial sanctions against individuals in Ukraine who are aligned with Russia. Let us know what you think by replying to this email. Thanks for reading. |
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| Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty is one of the popular game franchises Microsoft would add to its portfolio. PHOTO: RICHARD B. LEVINE/LEVINE ROBERTS/ZUMA PRESS |
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1. Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard, and CEO Bobby Kotick is on his way out. The deal, valued at $75 billion, would make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company by revenue in the world, the company says. Activision’s game franchises include Call of Duty and Candy Crush, while Microsoft has its Xbox console business, Minecraft and Doom. Shares in Activision have been down nearly 30% since last summer amid a workplace misconduct scandal. |
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3. The U.S. might soon impose financial sanctions against pro-Russian agents in Ukraine. That would involve freezing at least four unnamed people’s assets. Russia has been moving more than 100,000 troops as well as military firepower to its border areas. Talk of sanctions comes as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares to meet with Ukranian leaders and the Russian foreign minister in Europe. |
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4. Gilead Sciences is accusing suppliers and distributors of selling fake versions of its HIV medications. In a lawsuit filed in July but unsealed today, the pharmaceutical company alleges that over the past two years, 85,247 bottles worth more than $250 million were sold to pharmacies through a counterfeiting network. They contained bogus pills or real meds with fake documentation or altered packaging, Gilead claims. |
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5. The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack subpoenaed Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis. The longtime adviser and campaign lawyer, respectively, for former President Donald Trump are among four people from whom lawmakers leading the investigation are seeking testimony and records related to the riot. |
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4 — The number of U.S. states that have recovered all the jobs they lost at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Arizona and Texas now join Utah and Idaho on that list. All benefited from population growth, as companies and workers relocated from expensive coastal cities. $24 billion — The size of South Africa’s mining sector, which is facing an uncertain future as companies pull out, citing violent crime and increased business costs. 16% — The share of large and midsize employers that plan to increase their 401(k) contributions or restore a previously stopped match this year, according to the preliminary results of a survey by investment-consulting firm Callan. Employers are looking for ways to hang on to workers and lure job candidates as they compete for talent. |
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| What Everyone Wants To Know |
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| Covid-19 treatment pills developed by Pfizer at a distribution center in South Korea last week. PHOTO: YONHAP/SHUTTERSTOCK |
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Jury selection is set to begin Thursday in the federal trial of three ex-Minneapolis police officers in the murder of George Floyd. Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng are accused of violating Floyd’s civil rights during his May 2020 arrest by willfully failing to aid him. Thao and Kueng also are charged with willfully failing to intervene to stop unreasonable force by Derek Chauvin, the former officer who was convicted of second-degree murder in a state trail last year over his kneeling on Floyd’s neck and back for more than eight minutes. He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison in that case. Last month, Chauvin pleaded guilty to separate, federal civil-rights charges. |
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'Hypermilers' try to milk as much mileage out of their electric vehicles as they can. In some cases, these efficiency-obsessed drivers have found they can squeeze out double what’s estimated, so automakers are turning to these drivers to help allay range anxiety. Among their tips: Avoid sudden acceleration or braking, keep windows closed to avoid drag and drive slowly—sometimes as leisurely as 30 miles per hour. |
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| Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik have been sharing ‘Jeopardy!’ hosting duties this season, which has been dominated by champions on streaks. PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CHAYA HOWELL/THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, JEOPARDY PRODUCTIONS |
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Go watch “Jeopardy!”: You’d be joining millions of viewers who are enjoying the get-the-answer-give-the-question game show, despite the lack of a permanent host since the death of Alex Trebek. Fans love the recent spate of phenomenal contestants, including reigning champ Amy Schneider, and a new executive producer who’s treating the show—now in its 38th season—more like a sporting event, complete with data about players and daily box scores. |
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Today's newsletter was curated by Zlati Meyer in New York, in collaboration with publishing editor Rich Bellis in New York. We hope you’re enjoying Notes on the News. If you would prefer to receive a different newsletter, please check out all your options to keep up with the latest on markets, economics, politics and more. For members, we recommend The 10-Point. |
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