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☆ Andreessen Horowitz to open first office outside the U.S. in London in bet UK will become crypto hub
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Andreessen Horowitz is opening its first office outside of the U.S. in London, the venture capital firm announced Monday. Sriram Krishnan, an ex-Twitter employee who joined Andreessen Horowitz as a general partner, will relocate to London to head up the firm's office there, Quintenz said. Andreessen Horowitz also plans to launch its first crypto startup school in the U.K. in a bid to identify future talent in the crypto and Web3 space. Andreessen Horowitz has been one of the most active investors in crypto and Web3, backing startups ranging from the crypto-based sports collectibles trading game Dapper Labs to nonfungible token marketplace OpenSea. Andreessen Horowitz was not an investor, but several rival firms, including Sequoia, were.

Persons: Coinbase, Andreessen Horowitz, Brian Quintenz, Sriram Krishnan, Quintenz, ‘ Organizations: U.S, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, CNBC, Twitter Locations: Silicon, Airbnb, Coinbase, London, U.S, United States, FTX, Sequoia

☆ OPEC+ working against 'uncertainities and sentiment,' Saudi energy minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

RIYADH, June 11 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said on Sunday that the latest OPEC+ agreement involved comprehensive reform, but that the alliance was also working against "uncertainities and sentiment" within the market. "That is why we had this agreement," Prince Abdulaziz said at the Arab-China business conference in the Saudi capital Riyadh, when asked what was necessary to achieve market stability. "But also we are working against something called uncertainties and sentiments," he said. (This story has been refiled to fix the spelling of the minister's name in paragraph 1)Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Maha El Dahan; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Prince Abdulaziz, Aziz El Yaakoubi, El, Alex Richardson Organizations: Saudi Arabia's Energy, Thomson Locations: RIYADH, China, Saudi, Riyadh

☆ China warns Europe against official ties with Taiwan ahead of minister's visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/IllustrationBEIJING/PRAGUE, June 9 (Reuters) - China urged Europe on Friday not to have any official exchanges with Taiwan or support "independence forces" ahead of a planned trip to the continent next week by Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky confirmed Wu was due to visit Prague next week, saying on Friday state officials were not expected to shift from their existing policy towards Taiwan. Taiwan, which is claimed by China, has no formal diplomatic ties with any European country except the Vatican. Asked about the visit on Friday, Czech Minister Lipavsky said he had "been informed" about Wu coming to Prague. In January, then-Czech President-elect Pavel and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen spoke by telephone shortly after his election, in a diplomatic coup for Taiwan that infuriated China.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joseph Wu, Jan Lipavsky, Wu, Petr Pavel, Lipavsky, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Pavel, Tsai Ing, Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Liz Lee, Robert Muller, Ben Blanchard, Simon Cameron, Moore, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan Foreign, Reuters, Foreign Ministry, Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, PRAGUE, China, Europe, Taiwan, Joseph Wu . Czech, Prague, Vatican, Beijing, Czech, Czech Republic, Brussels, Slovakia

But Mr. Sunak is not expected to press for a free-trade agreement between the two nations. Earlier this year, with Mr. Biden’s urging, Mr. Sunak resolved a trade dispute with Northern Ireland, a move seen as positive by Mr. Biden’s administration. But British officials stressed ahead of Thursday’s meeting that Mr. Sunak intends to focus on expanding the economic connections between the two countries. Asked whether this was now a broken promise, Mr. Sunak rejected that assertion, telling Sky News that it reflected a changed macro economic situation after 2019. In reality, any prospect of a comprehensive deal faded some time ago, but political opponents seized on Mr. Sunak’s words on Thursday.

Persons: Biden, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, ”, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden’s, ” Mr, we’ve, We’ve, Keir Starmer Organizations: British, White House, Trade, Union, Washington, Airbus, Boeing, Thursday, Sunak’s Conservative Party, Sky, United, Mr, Labour Party Locations: Britain, United States, Northern Ireland, “, Ukraine

☆ Mexico foreign minister's departure primed to spark more resignations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Dave Graham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez also plans to resign next week to focus on his own presidential bid, two government sources told Reuters. If MORENA's board decides that on Sunday, then interior minister Lopez and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, two other top contenders, would need to resign, Lopez Obrador said at a regular press conference. Lopez Obrador made the remark after observing that more contenders could follow Ebrard's lead in the next few days. Supporters of Ebrard argue his post does not allow him to focus as much on domestic issues as Sheinbaum and Lopez. Lopez Obrador did not immediately name a replacement for Ebrard, who is due to step down next Monday.

Persons: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Marcelo Ebrard, Ebrard, Lopez Obrador, Adan Augusto Lopez, Mario Delgado, Lopez, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Ricardo Monreal, MORENA, Dave Graham, Diego Ore, Stefanie Eschenbacher, Matthew Lewis, David Gregorio, Grant McCool Organizations: MEXICO CITY, Foreign, Regeneration, Reuters, Mexico City Mayor, Thomson Locations: MEXICO, Ebrard

☆ Pakistan's embattled Imran Khan faces blackout on local media
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) asked television licensees to ensure that "hate mongers, rioters, their facilitators and perpetrators" are "completely screened out from media". Khan has long been the most televised politician in Pakistan, with his speeches and gatherings getting wall-to-wall coverage and widespread viewership. The military has not responded to a request for comment on that allegation by Khan. Khan himself was arrested on charges of graft but released two days later after courts deemed the manner of his detention illegal. "We cannot be mentioned on television," said Khan, who now regularly speaks through his party's YouTube channel.

Persons: Imran Khan, Khan, Dissanayake, Gibran Peshimam, Charlotte Greenfield, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, YouTube, South, Amnesty International, Thomson Locations: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan

☆ UK PM Sunak signals support for defence minister's NATO bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised his defence minister Ben Wallace as "fantastic" and admired around the world on Monday, suggesting he was firmly behind a bid for him to become secretary-general of the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. Asked about Wallace's candidacy, Sunak told a news conference: "On NATO, Ben is a fantastic defence secretary. There is a general conversation around this among world leaders and I'm sure it will continue." We have been a leader in NATO operations, are perceived as a thought leader." Reporting by Sarah Young and Elizabeth Piper; editing by Alistair Smout and Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Ben Wallace, Sunak, Joe Biden, Wallace, Ben, Mette Frederiksen, Sarah Young, Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Kate Holton Organizations: British, NATO, U.S, Danish, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain, NATO, Washington, British, United States, Ukraine

☆ Belgian Prime Minister De Croo briefly knocked out in bike fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, June 4 (Reuters) - Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo fell from a bicycle and briefly lost consciousness but hospital tests revealed no lasting effects, national news agency Belga reported. The incident happened when De Croo, 47, was on a bike ride with his son late on Saturday afternoon near his home in the Flanders region, according to Belga, citing the prime minister's office. De Croo lost consciousness for a few moments and was taken to hospital for checks, Belga reported. In a video message posted on social media on Sunday, De Croo said he was now back home. The accident was not expected to affect the premier's schedule for the coming week, Belga said.

Persons: Alexander De Croo, Belga, De Croo, Croo, Andrew Gray, Frances Kerry Organizations: Belgian, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Flanders

☆ Factbox: Turkey's new government: key figures in Erdogan's cabinet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Following are descriptions of key figures in the cabinet:MEHMET SIMSEK - FINANCE MINISTERFormer economy chief Simsek has been appointed as treasury and finance minister. He was highly regarded by financial markets when he served as finance minister and deputy prime minister between 2009 and 2018. HAKAN FIDAN - FOREIGN MINISTERFidan was appointed as foreign minister, replacing Mevlut Cavusoglu, who was one of the longest serving top Turkish diplomats. ALI YERLIKAYA - INTERIOR MINISTERAli Yerlikaya was appointed as interior minister and replaced Suleyman Soylu, who kept his position since 2018. Yerlikaya, 55, served as governor of provinces of Gaziantep, Tekirdag, Agri and Sirnak before.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, MEHMET SIMSEK, Simsek, Merrill Lynch, HAKAN FIDAN, Fidan, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Erdogan, YASAR, Yasar Guler, Hulusi Akar, CEVDET YILMAZ, Cevdet Yilmaz, Ali Yerlikaya, Suleyman Soylu, Yerlikaya, Burcu Karakas, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer Organizations: FINANCE, U.S, Embassy, National Intelligence Organisation, MIT, Turkish Army, Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency, Kurdistan Workers Party, AK, Turkish, Commission, ALI, Ece Toksabay, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Ankara, Oslo, Syria, Iraq, Istanbul, Yerlikaya, Gaziantep, Tekirdag

☆ Japan PM Kishida says his son to quit as aide after 'inappropriate' behaviour
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Kishida told reporters that Shotaro Kishida would step down as his secretary from Thursday, saying the change was due to "inappropriate" behaviour at the official residence. A weekly magazine last week published photos of the younger Kishida and relatives apparently pretending to hold a news conference at the podium where the prime minister usually stands. "His behaviour at a public space was inappropriate as someone who is in an official position as political aide. I suspect (Kishida) appointed someone who is not capable (of being the) prime minister's aide to the post," Osaka was quoted as saying. Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama, Mariko Katsumura, Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by David Dolan and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

South Korean companies do not disclose the unit prices for their weapons, which are often sold with support vehicles and spare parts. That will include building South Korean arms on license in Poland, officials in Seoul and Warsaw said. "It may work for some countries at very, very low volume," he added of Polish-brokered South Korean weapons sales, discussing challenges the joint operation might face. The 2022 arms deal began with South Korean companies signing a framework agreement with the Polish government. Seoul has since approved at least some South Korean weapons components for use in Ukraine.

SEOUL/TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - North Korea has notified Japan of a plan to launch a satellite between May 31 and June 11, a Japanese coast guard official said on Monday. North Korea informed the Japanese coast guard of the planned launch, the coast guard official told Reuters, confirming earlier reports by public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media. The Japanese prime minister's office urged North Korea to refrain from the launch and said it would work closely with allies. "We strongly urge North Korea to refrain from launching," the prime minister's office said on Twitter, adding it would cooperate "with relevant countries such as the U.S. and South Korea". North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in May inspected a military satellite facility, North Korean state media KCNA reported.

This photograph taken on October 20, 2022 shows a replica of the Big Ben Tower at the Londoner Casino resort at the Cotai Strip in Macau. They can now do the same in Macao, the so-called Las Vegas of Asia. The Londoner Macao, a British-themed luxury casino resort in the Chinese gambling hub, held its grand opening ceremony on Thursday. You can't get better spa experience, you can't get better food experience," Las Vegas Sands CEO Robert Goldstein told CNBC on Thursday. The Londoner Macao casino resort and the Venetian casino resort, along the Cotai strip in Macau, China.

Persons: Eduardo Leal, EDUARDO LEAL, Ben, David Beckham, we've, Robert Goldstein, Goldstein, Wonderland, Beckham Organizations: AFP, Getty, Afp, Vegas Sands, CNBC, Downing, Fountain, Las Vegas Sands, Sands, The Plaza Macao, Hotel Macao, Bloomberg, Macao, Guard Locations: Macau, Asia, Macao, Vegas, British, Westminster, Shaftesbury, London, Las, Venetian Macao, Parisian Macao, Italy, France, England, Paris, China, Buckingham, Hong Kong

☆ Portugal moves closer to banning Chinese suppliers from 5G
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Sergio Goncalves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LISBON, May 26 (Reuters) - Portugal's cybersecurity council CSSC has issued a resolution that could formally bar telecom operators from using Chinese equipment in their high-speed 5G mobile networks as well 4G platforms on which the new technology is based. The CSSC is the prime minister's consultative body and its document, dated May 23, is another blow to efforts by Chinese technology giant Huawei (HWT.UL) to enter the 5G market in Portugal and possibly extend existing contracts. Portugal's existing 5G networks are not standalone and still largely based on 4G technology and equipment. Its opinion is based on an undisclosed report that evaluated the safety of equipment in public electronic communications networks involving 5G technology. Reporting by Sergio Goncalves Editing by Andrei Khalip and Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Wagner boss attacks Russia's defense minister, says his daughter and son-in-law live in luxury while thousands are sent to die in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The head of the Wagner Group singled out the daughter and son-in-law of Russia's defense minister. Yevgeny Prigozhin was criticizing Russia's elite for sheltering their kids from the war in Ukraine. In an interview with Russian political strategist Konstantin Dolgov, Yevgeny Prigozhin called out Russia's elite for not sending their children to fight in Ukraine, The Times of London reported. Prigozhin directly called out the daughter and the son-in-law of Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu, according to reports. Prigozhin has previously targeted Stolyarov, threatening in February to have his men bring him to train to fight in Ukraine.

☆ Analysis: Pakistan in uncharted territory as army seeks to vanquish Imran Khan
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks to the members of the media at his residence in Lahore, Pakistan May 18, 2023. There has never been that kind of challenge to Pakistan's military, which has held sway over the country since independence in 1947 with a mixture of fear and respect. The 1971 fall of Dhaka in what was then East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh after defeat by arch-enemy India has been the lowest point for Pakistan's military since 1947. Khan was released by court order two days after his arrest, but his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party now faces the ire of the military. "The military's power comes from its ability to deploy force, not popularity - Pakistan's generals like being liked but they like being in control even more," he said.

☆ UK PM Sunak speaks to ethics adviser over minister's speeding offence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman meet with the local community and police leaders in Rochdale, Britain April 3, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Nobel/PoolLONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to his ethics adviser regarding the handling of a speeding offence by his interior minister, his spokesperson said on Monday, after calls for an investigation into whether she broke ministerial rules. Opposition parties have called on the prime minister to investigate whether Braverman breached the ministerial code over her handling of the speeding incident. "The prime minister believes in proper process so that's why he's availing himself of the information whilst he has had a conversation with the independent adviser," Sunak's spokesperson told reporters. Sunak reappointed her less than a week later in one of his first acts as prime minister.

India's antitrust body in October fined Google $275 million in two cases, which involved abusing its dominant position in the Android operating system market, and pushing developers to use its in-app payment system. "The ministry has to take action," Chandrasekhar said. India's competition watchdog has begun another inquiry into Google after Tinder owner Match Group (MTCH.O) and many startups alleged that a new service fee system Google uses for in-app payments breaches the competition commission's October decision. Google has previously said the service fee supports investments in the Google Play app store and the Android mobile operating system, ensuring it can distribute it for free. About 97% of India's 620 million smartphones run on Android, and the company counts India as a critical growth market.

☆ OpenAI launches ChatGPT app for iOS, Android coming soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

OpenAI launched a ChatGPT iPhone app on Thursday, its CTO Mira Murati said on Twitter. In screenshots on Apple's App Store, OpenAI says that the app can answer questions such as, "what are unique custom birthday gifts ideas for my coffee-loving mom" or how to politely decline an invite to a concert. ChatGPT was previously available online on OpenAI's website, as well as through an application interface used to build third-party apps. Apple's App Store has previously hosted several apps that use OpenAI's software, but none were from OpenAI itself. The app is free, although it includes a $20 per month in-app purchase through Apple for ChatGPT Plus, OpenAI's subscription that offers additional features.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and federal and state regulators attended the session in February, according to a statement from the health ministry that did not mention cough syrups. A source with knowledge of the matter said the policy change could mean increased oversight of India's $41 billion pharmaceutical industry, which is the world's largest supplier of generic medicines. Increased testing of cough syrups as well as of raw materials for drugs in general is one of the steps being considered, said the source. India has acted against a second Indian company whose cough syrups were linked to the deaths of 19 kids in Uzbekistan, including the arrest of three of its employees. Indian health officials have expressed concern that the incidents of contaminated syrups will harm its pharmaceutical industry.

☆ Indonesia communications minister arrested for graft
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA, May 17 (Reuters) - Indonesian authorities on Wednesday arrested a senior cabinet minister on corruption charges in a case they said caused more than half a billion dollars in state losses. Johnny G. Plate is the fifth minister in President Joko Widodo's administrations to be charged with corruption. Johnny was arrested "as a user of the budget and as a minister", said AGO official Kuntadi, without detailing the minister's specific role. Another official Ketut Sumedana said the minister allegedly violated Indonesia's corruption law, which carries a maximum life sentence. According to global graft watchdog Transparency International, Indonesia dropped four points on its corruption perception index last year to 110 out of 180 countries.

☆ Lebanon strikes deals to get more oil from Iraq
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIRUT, May 16 (Reuters) - Lebanon has agreed deals to secure more fuel supplies from Iraq, the two countries said on Tuesday, as Beirut battles to produce more power to help it emerge from years of economic crisis. Iraq has also agreed a commercial deal to provide 2 million metric tonnes of crude per year to its neighbour, Fayad said. Under the heavy fuel oil deal, first agreed in July 2021, Iraq provides the Lebanese government with the fuel in exchange for services including health care for Iraqi citizens. Lebanon then swaps the heavy fuel oil for gas oil that it can use at its power stations, which have operated for decades at partial capacity but have almost de facto shut down during a financial crisis that has hit the state's ability to buy fuel. Fayad said the two million tonnes of crude under the commercial deal would also be swapped.

☆ ChatGPT mixes up Japan's digital transformation minister with the country's prime minister, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

ChatGPT mixed up Japan's digital transformation minister with the country's prime minister. AI-powered products like ChatGPT are known to make errors, a point of concern for many experts. Japan's digital transformation minister, Taro Kono, says ChatGPT mixed him up with the country's prime minister. Japan's prime minister has been Fumio Kishida since 2021. Kono has never been the prime minister but was once seen as a favorite in the 2021 leadership race.

☆ There may be more 'Chinese police stations" in Canada, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TORONTO, May 14 (Reuters) - There may be more "Chinese police stations" operating in Canada, the Public Safety Minister told a Canadian TV station on Sunday, months after police said they were investigating whether two community centers in Montreal were being used to intimidate or harass Canadians of Chinese origin. Earlier this month the Canadian Press reported the centers were operating normally, despite the minister's statements that all secret stations in Canada have been shut. Last week Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei after an intelligence report accused him of trying to target a Canadian lawmaker critical of China's treatment of its Uyghur Muslim minority. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has been under pressure to clamp down on suspected Chinese interference and call a public inquiry into the matter. Trudeau said last week Canada "will not be intimidated" by Chinese retaliation.

☆ Microsoft agrees to buy electricity generated from Sam Altman-backed fusion company Helion in 2028
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Photo courtesy HelionMicrosoft said Wednesday it has signed a power purchase agreement with nuclear fusion startup Helion Energy to buy electricity from it in 2028. "This is the first time that I know of that a company has a power purchase agreement signed," Holland told CNBC. The potential of fusion is "unbelievably huge," Altman told CNBC. As of Tuesday, this is still his largest investment ever, Altman told CNBC. Carbon-free energy includes hydro, nuclear and renewables for Microsoft, a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC.

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