Microsoft suffers major blow to its bid for Activision Blizzard

The US watchdog the Federal Trade Commission has asked a judge to block Microsoft from closing in on a $69 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard – the company that makes ‘Call of Duty’ and many other big names. The U.S position on the deal is now closer to that taken by the UK regulator. The issue hangs on claims the sale would give Microsoft's Xbox exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo consoles and Sony's PlayStation out in the cold. Also in the U.S, America's biggest bank, JPMorgan Chase, has agreed in principle to settle a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of victims of the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The case was brought by one victim on behalf of hundreds of other women and girls abused by the disgraced financier. The bank is facing a bill of around $290mn. And – you may have heard of ‘greenwashing’ – but have you heard of the new phrase…green-hushing’? We find out why companies are suddenly starting to keep their green credentials to themselves.