Microsoft's cloud business targeted by EU antitrust regulators

EU antitrust regulators are quizzing Microsoft’s (MSFT.O) rivals and customers about its cloud business and licensing deals, a questionnaire seen by Reuters showed, in a move that could lead to a formal investigation and renewed scrutiny of the U.S. software company.

The European Commission has fined Microsoft a total 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) in the previous decade for breaching EU antitrust rules and for not complying with its order to halt anti-competitive practices.

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The company found itself on the EU competition enforcer’s radar again after German software provider NextCloud, France’s OVHcloud (OVH.PA) and two other companies filed complaints about Microsoft’s cloud practices.

"The Commission has information that Microsoft may be using its potentially dominant position in certain software markets to foreclose competition regarding certain cloud computing services," the questionnaire said.

Regulators asked if the terms in Microsoft’s licensing deals with cloud service providers allow rivals to compete effectively.

They also want to know if companies needed Microsoft’s operating systems and productivity applications to complement their own cloud infrastructure offering in order to compete effectively.

Companies also were asked about the differences in license fees and commercial terms between the licensing deals with cloud service providers and another programme in which they package and indirectly resell Microsoft’s cloud services together with their own.

Another focus was potential technical limitations on cloud storage services available on companies’ cloud infrastructure.

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Final One-Day International will be played today in Lahore

The third and final One-Day International between Pakistan and Australia will be played today (Saturday) in Lahore. With the three-match ODI series levelled at 1-1, both the teams will want to produce some dominating performance and clinch the series in the final clash.

Pakistan registered their highest successful run-chase in ODIs and ended their ten-match losing streak against Australia by winning the second ODI. After a setback in the first match, the hosts were desperate to make a comeback, and an excellent performance from the batters helped them level the series 1-1.

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Chasing 349, Pakistan openers Fakhar Zaman (67) and Imam-ul-Haq (106) laid the foundation with a century stand before skipper Babar Azam starred with an 83-ball 114, pushing his side closer to the victory line.

Their top-order batters performance in the series has been a significant plus for Pakistan; Imam has now already scored back-to-back hundreds in both ODIs, and the in-form Azam has also contributed, including a masterclass in the second game. The middle-order batters also played some handy knocks as they successfully took Pakistan across the line after two big wickets of Imam and Babar, but Pakistan will be expecting more from Mohammad Rizwan, who hasn t been able to impress with the bat.

The Pakistani batters success in chasing the total, however, overshadowed all of their bowling shortcomings. Heading into the series decider, there is plenty of room for improvement in the bowling department as they have struggled to pick wickets in both the ODIs. With another similar pitch expected in Lahore for the last ODI, spinners will need to bowl economically. The batters, on the other hand, will want to keep up their good form and put up another dominant batting performance.

Australia, on the other hand, are nowhere behind in producing exceptional performances. Their batters have ticked all the boxes, while their bowlers, especially the spinners have turned up at the right time to keep them in the game. Travis Head s promotion to the top of the order has reaped a lot of benefits for Australia and Ben McDermott following up his half-century in the first ODI with a century in the second, has made the visitors top-order look solid throughout the series.

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Shaukat Tarin on Twitter, FBR surpass its 9 months target by over Rs 240 billion

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin on Friday applauded the nation on the Federal board of Revenue (FBR) surpassing its nine months target by over Rs.240 billion in annual revenue target.

Shaukat Tarin applauded the FBR for surpassing its 9 months target by over Rs.240 billion posting an ever highest growth of 30 percent, he said on his official twitter account.

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At this run rate we are all set to knock down the annual target of Rs. 6.1 trillion, he hoped.

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Tareen group announces to support PMLN

The dissident Jahangir Khan Tareen group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced to support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hamza Shahbaz for the Chief Minister Punjab post.

The decision was taken during a meeting between disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen and PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar in London on Friday night.

Read more: Imran Khan decides whether no-confidence motion gift or global conspiracy.

The PML-N leader in a message on Twitter said that a meeting was held with Jehangir Khan Tareen during which it was decided that Tareen grou will support joint opposition s candidate Hamza Shahbaz for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.

Had fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen.
Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition s candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.
Deeply appreciate support of #JKT and #JKT_Group

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Russia Regrouping for 'Powerful Strikes,' Zelensky Warns

Ukraine s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Russia is consolidating and preparing "powerful strikes" in the country s east and south, including besieged Mariupol, where a new attempt will be made Friday to evacuate civilians from the devastated city.

Russia meanwhile threatened to turn off its gas taps to Europe if payments are not made in rubles, as US President Joe Biden ordered a record release of strategic oil reserves to ease soaring US prices.

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In peace talks this week, Russia said it would scale back attacks on the capital Kyiv and the city of Chernigiv, but Ukrainian and Western officials have dismissed the pledge, saying Moscow s troops were merely regrouping.

"This is part of their tactics," said Zelensky in a late-night address.

"We know that they are moving away from the areas where we are beating them to focus on others that are very important... where it can be difficult for us," he said.

In particular, he warned, the situation in the country s south and east was "very difficult".

"In Donbas and Mariupol, in the Kharkiv direction, the Russian army is accumulating the potential for attacks, powerful attacks," he said.

Washington echoed that assessment, with a senior US defence official saying Russia s focus on Donbas could herald a "longer, more prolonged conflict".

Read more: India warned against warming up to Russia

Military experts believe that Moscow is ditching efforts to advance simultaneously along multiple axes in the north, east and south, after struggling to overcome stronger-than-expected Ukrainian resistance.

Instead it wants to establish a long-sought land link between Crimea, which Moscow occupied in 2014, and the two Russian-backed Donbas statelets of Donetsk and Lugansk.

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Tareen group announces to support PMLN

The dissident Jahangir Khan Tareen group of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced to support Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Hamza Shahbaz for the Chief Minister Punjab post.

The decision was taken during a meeting between disgruntled PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen and PML-N leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar in London on Friday night.

Read more: Imran Khan decides whether no-confidence motion gift or global conspiracy.

The PML-N leader in a message on Twitter said that a meeting was held with Jehangir Khan Tareen during which it was decided that Tareen grou will support joint opposition s candidate Hamza Shahbaz for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.

Had fruitful final round of discussion with Mr Jehangir Khan Tareen.
Mutually concluded that #JKT_Group will support joint Opposition s candidate, Mr Hamza Shehbaz Sharif, for the slot of Chief Minister, Punjab.
Deeply appreciate support of #JKT and #JKT_Group

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Will Elon Musk be able to colonise Mars? Nostradamus thinks not

Famous philosopher Michel de Nostradame commonly known as Nostradamus who is popular for his accurate prophecies predicted that the "light on mars is failing". In his book of prophecies published 450 years ago, Nostradamus is said to have predicted the rise of Hitler, the shooting of John F Kennedy, and the 9/11 attacks. One of these predictions includes his words "light on mars is failing". While SpaceX founder and chief engineer Elon Musk has been working on the idea of colonising Mars by the end of the decade, this prediction…

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