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US Judge Rules Google’s Online Search Monopoly Illegal
In a landmark decision, a US judge has ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain its monopoly on online search and related advertising, dealing a significant blow to Alphabet, Google’s parent company. This decision could have far-reaching implications for how major technology companies conduct business.
The lawsuit, filed by the US Department of Justice in 2020, focused on Google’s control of approximately 90% of the online search market. It is part of a broader effort by US antitrust authorities to enhance competition in the tech industry through several lawsuits against big tech companies.
This case poses a potential existential threat to Google and Alphabet due to their dominance in the search and online advertising sectors. The penalties Google and Alphabet will face are yet to be determined, with fines or other remedies to be decided in a future hearing. The government has requested “structural relief,” which could theoretically involve breaking up the company.
US District Judge Amit Mehta noted in his 277-page opinion that Google paid billions to ensure its search engine remained the default on smartphones and browsers. “Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly,” Judge Mehta stated.
In response, Alphabet announced its plans to appeal the ruling. “This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available,” the company said in a statement.
Federal antitrust regulators have also filed lawsuits against other Big Tech companies, including Meta Platforms (owner of Facebook), Amazon, and Apple, accusing them of maintaining unlawful monopolies.
The ruling follows a 10-week trial in Washington, DC, where prosecutors accused Google of spending billions annually to secure its position as the default search engine across platforms, such as Apple, Samsung, and Mozilla. The US government alleged that Google typically pays over $10 billion annually for this privilege, which provides access to user data critical for sustaining its market dominance.
Google’s defense argued that users are drawn to their search engine because of its usefulness and that Google invests in improving it for consumers. “Google is winning because it’s better,” said Google’s lawyer John Schmidtlein during closing arguments. He also contended that Google faces significant competition from other search engines like Microsoft’s Bing and specialized sites and apps used for specific searches, such as restaurants and flights.
In his ruling, Judge Mehta concluded that being the default search engine is “extremely valuable real estate” for Google.
News
Anthony Joshua’s driver charged over a tragic road accident
Anthony Joshua’s driver has been formally charged following a tragic road accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two members of the boxer’s team, as authorities move forward with legal proceedings.
Police confirmed that Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was arraigned on Friday at the Sagamu Magistrates’ Court in Ogun State in connection with the incident, which also left the former heavyweight champion injured.
The crash occurred on Monday along the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway near Sagamu, when a Lexus SUV conveying Joshua and his entourage collided with a stationary truck. Joshua was travelling as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Sadly, Joshua’s long-time personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The loss has been deeply felt within Joshua’s camp and the wider boxing community.
Joshua himself sustained injuries in the crash and was taken to hospital for treatment. He was discharged on Wednesday after receiving medical care and has since been recovering.
Prosecutors filed four charges against Mr Kayode, including causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care and attention, and driving without a valid driver’s licence. The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 (approximately £2,578), while he was remanded pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The magistrate adjourned the case until 20 January, allowing the legal process to continue in an orderly manner as investigators and the court work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the accident.
Images from the scene showed Joshua being assisted from the damaged vehicle, underscoring the severity of the collision.
News
Trump Issues Strong Warning as Global Attention Focuses on Iran’s Unrest
US President Donald Trump has issued a firm warning to Iran’s leadership over its handling of ongoing protests, saying the United States would not stand by if peaceful demonstrators were violently targeted. His remarks have drawn sharp responses from senior Iranian officials, even as international concern grows over the situation on the ground.
In a brief message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump cautioned Iran’s authorities against using lethal force on protesters. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go,” he wrote, without elaborating on what form any potential US response might take. The statement underscored Washington’s stated support for the rights of peaceful protesters and added to the mounting diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
The warning came amid reports that at least six people were killed on Thursday, as protests entered nearly a week of demonstrations across the country. The unrest has been driven largely by worsening economic conditions, including rising prices and broader frustrations over livelihoods. Despite the tensions, protests have continued to draw attention from the international community, with calls for restraint and dialogue increasing.
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Teenagers Among the Missing as Swiss Bar Fire Tragedy Unfolds
Teenagers as young as 16 are among dozens of people still unaccounted for following a devastating fire at a bar in Switzerland, a tragedy that has shaken families across Europe while emergency services continue intensive rescue and identification efforts.
One of the most distressing aspects of the incident is the age of many of those affected. A large number of the dead and injured are teenagers and young adults who had gathered to celebrate New Year’s Eve at Le Constellation, a venue well known for attracting a youthful crowd. The bar was popular with tourists, seasonal ski workers and local residents, and with the legal drinking age set at 16, it had become a familiar meeting place for young people in the area.
More than 24 hours after the fire, uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on families. Parents from several countries are still searching desperately for their children, while survivors—many of them very young—have begun recounting the traumatic scenes they witnessed, experiences they say will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
Among those still missing are six Italian teenagers. The mother of one of them, Giovanni Tamburi from Genoa, has made an emotional public appeal on social media, asking for assistance in tracing her son. She says the last contact she had with Giovanni was a New Year’s message sent shortly after midnight. Since then, his phone has remained unanswered.
Giovanni had been at the bar with friends, several of whom managed to escape the blaze. Despite contacting hospitals across the region, his mother has so far been unable to find any information about his whereabouts, reflecting the agonising uncertainty faced by many families.
Swiss official Stéphane Ganzer has provided updates to French broadcaster RTL, seeking to clarify conflicting reports about the scale of the tragedy. Earlier statements attributed to the Italian foreign ministry had suggested that as many as 47 people may have died in the fire. Responding to these figures, Ganzer said he was “surprised,” noting that they did not align with the information available to Swiss authorities.
According to Ganzer, around 40 fatalities have been confirmed so far, while between 80 and 100 people are believed to be seriously injured and in urgent need of medical care. He stressed that the situation remains fluid, with emergency teams and medical staff working continuously as more information becomes available.
Ganzer also highlighted the critical condition of many burn victims, explaining that individuals suffering third-degree burns over 15% of their bodies face a significantly higher risk of septicaemia, which could increase the likelihood of further fatalities in the hours and days ahead.
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