The US accused Apple of being a monopoly
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant Apple. The lawsuit — which includes 16 states and the District of Columbia — is the federal government’s most significant challenge to Apple’s reach and influence.
The government argued that Apple violated antitrust laws with practices intended to keep customers dependent on their iPhones and less likely to switch to a competing device. By tightly controlling the user experience on iPhones and other devices, Apple has created what critics call an uneven playing field, where it gives its own products and services access to key features it denies its rivals.
It argued that the tech giant prevented other companies from offering apps that compete with Apple’s products, such as its digital wallet – which could reduce the value of the iPhone. It also said Apple’s policies hurt consumers and smaller companies that compete with its services, and said its practices have resulted in “higher prices and less innovation.”
Backlash: Apple has said that its control over the technology makes iPhones more secure than other smartphones.
What’s next: It’s unclear what impact the suit — which is likely to drag on for years — would have for consumers.
Details: The lawsuit asks the court to stop Apple from engaging in practices such as blocking cloud streaming apps and subverting messages on smartphone operating systems.
Go deeper: Here is the lawsuit.
The Indian opposition is in trouble
Just weeks before a key election, the head of one of India’s leading opposition parties, the Aam Aadmi Party, was arrested yesterday on fraud charges, his supporters said. On the same day, the Indian National Congress – the largest opposition party – said it had been denied access to most of its main bank accounts.
Critics said the moves were meant to disadvantage Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s opponents. As the vote nears, opposition figures say they are facing a wave of problems from the government, including Modi unleashing major investigative agencies against them while shielding defectors to his side.
Voting: It runs for six weeks and is scheduled to begin on April 19.
The Dodgers fired Ohtani’s interpreter
The Los Angeles Dodgers have fired Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter after the baseball star’s representatives accused the employee, Ippei Mizuhara, of using Ohtani’s money to bet at a bookmaker that is under federal investigation.
The details are murky. Ohtani’s representatives called him a “victim of a massive theft,” and a Major League Baseball official said Ohtani, a Japanese slugger, was not currently facing discipline.
Record: Ohtani and Mizuhara were closer than most players and their interpreters. For much of the past seven years, they were rarely seen apart.
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Principles of conversation
Have a healthier relationship with your phone
Logging out may be impossible. Here’s a guide to using your devices in a way that works for you.
Watch your urges. Being aware of the urge to pick up your phone or open social media can awaken the part of your brain that governs self-control and help you curb bad habits.
Stop using on the go. Using devices on the go—going to a meeting, walking a child to school—can keep us from engaging with our lives.
Schedule short breaks. Put technology breaks in your calendar. It might feel weird to schedule something like “take a phone-free walk,” one expert said, but it shouldn’t be if it’s a priority.
Check your environment. Don’t rely on willpower alone. Modify your environment to keep your phone away: Get an alarm clock, delete social media apps, or ask a family member to remind you to put the phone down.
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