DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

Former OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has told allies that he wants a new board and governance structure if he returns to the company. Photo: patrick t. fallon/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSAN FRANCISCO—Two days after Sam Altman was ousted from OpenAI, he was back at the company’s office, trying to negotiate his return. The former chief executive officer entered with a guest badge on Sunday and posted on X: “first and last time i ever wear one of these.”

Persons: Sam Altman, patrick, ” Organizations: OpenAI, fallon, Agence France

☆ Sean Combs and Singer Cassie Settle Abuse Lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Ginger Adams Otis | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nov. 18, 2023 11:48 am ETHip-hop mogul Sean Combs and the singer Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura reached a settlement a day after she filed the lawsuit. Photo: chris delmas/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesHip-hop mogul Sean Combs and the singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura reached a settlement a day after she filed a lawsuit accusing him of physical and mental abuse spanning roughly a decade. The deal was announced late Friday by a lawyer representing Ventura. The terms of the settlement weren’t disclosed.

Persons: Sean Combs, Casandra ‘ Cassie ’ Ventura, chris delmas, Casandra “ Cassie ” Ventura Organizations: Agence France Locations: Ventura

The exact reason for Sam Altman’s firing as CEO of OpenAI remains unclear. Photo: andrew caballero-reynolds/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesOpenAI ’s investors are making efforts to bring back Sam Altman , the chief executive who was ousted Friday, said people familiar with the matter, the latest development in a fast-moving chain of events at the artificial-intelligence company behind ChatGPT. Altman is considering returning but has told investors that he wants a new board, the people said. He has also discussed starting a company that would bring on former OpenAI employees, and is deciding between the two options, the people said.

Persons: Sam Altman’s, andrew caballero, reynolds, Sam Altman, Altman Organizations: Agence France, ChatGPT

☆ Texas Rejects Science Textbooks Over Climate Change, Evolution Lessons
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Sara Randazzo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some board members raised issues with textbooks presenting the scientific theory of evolution or asserting that the U.S. isn’t energy independent. Photo: allison dinner/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe Texas State Board of Education voted Friday to block science lessons published by eight companies from appearing on an influential statewide list of textbook providers, citing problems with the way they depicted climate change and evolution. Some of the 15 elected board members raised issues with a book from publisher Discovery Education because it discussed how the U.S. isn’t energy independent and lags behind other nations in oil reserves. A biology textbook from McGraw Hill won approval only after the publisher agreed to remove some graphics depicting human and primate evolution.

Persons: allison, McGraw Hill Organizations: Agence France, The Texas State, of Education, Discovery Education, McGraw Locations: U.S

☆ Covid’s Biggest Economic Winner Is Running Out of Steam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Paul Hannon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

No other country grew as fast as Ireland between 2020 and 2022, other than Guyana, which saw an oil boom. Photo: paul faith/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesIt was one of very few economies to get a boost from the Covid-19 pandemic. That unusual dividend is now unraveling, in a fresh blow to Europe’s already weakened growth outlook. Home to large U.S. technology and pharmaceutical companies that saw their sales boom during the pandemic, tiny Ireland recorded annual growth of 10.5% on average between 2020 and 2022 while other economies contracted under the effect of lockdowns.

Persons: paul Organizations: Agence France Locations: Ireland, Guyana

☆ The Biden-Xi Truce of the Moment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden greets Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week in Woodside, Calif., Nov. 15. Photo: brendan smialowski/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesPresident Biden met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in California, and the atmospherics suggested a new era of bilateral good feelings. Both sides have reasons at the moment to appear to be getting along better. Mr. Xi needs foreign investment and export markets to offset the real-estate crash and excessive debt that are slowing China’s economy. He’s put Beijing’s “wolf warrior” diplomats in the closet for now, though they could return at any time.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, brendan smialowski, Biden, Xi, He’s Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, Agence France, Getty Locations: Asia, Woodside , Calif, California, U.S

☆ Iran Maintains Steady Expansion of Nuclear Program
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Laurence Norman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, at the U.N. agency’s Vienna headquarters in September. Photo: alex halada/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesIran continued to expand its nuclear program, including its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium in recent months, although it hasn’t accelerated the pace of its production of nuclear fuel amid the current turmoil in the Middle East. In its confidential quarterly report circulated to member states, the United Nations nuclear agency also said Tehran has largely refused to cooperate on several outstanding disputes, including the country’s withdrawal of permission for several European inspectors to continue working there.

Persons: Rafael Grossi, alex halada, hasn’t Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, Agence France, Getty Images, United Nations Locations: agency’s Vienna, Getty Images Iran, Tehran

☆ APEC Summit Biden Aims to Fortify Ties With Asian Nations at Summit in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

Image President Xi Jinping of China spoke to a crowd of U.S. business executives at a dinner in San Francisco on Wednesday evening. “There are hundreds and hundreds of activists —” Crowd: “Go home Xi Jinping!” “— who are coming together from all corners of this nation.” “We are really upset. 1 question for us is: Are we adversaries or partners?” Mr. Xi asked. Mr. Orlins said the Chinese had prepared three versions of a speech Mr. Xi could deliver that night. After Wednesday’s events with Mr. Biden, Mr. Xi picked the friendliest one.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, —, Xi Jinping doesn’t, ”, ” “, Jinping, Josh Edelson, Xi —, Mr, Tim Cook, Larry Fink, BlackRock, Jerry Brown, Elon Musk, ” John L, Holden, Biden, Doug Mills, ” Michael Hart, Jim Wilson, Angus, Gina M, Raimondo, “, Ms, “ I’m, Stephen A, United States — Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, Deng, It’s, ” Mr, Orlins, “ They’re, Jeff Chiu, Biden’s Organizations: Visit, Credit, Agence France, Hyatt Regency, Apple, Boeing, Pfizer, Nike, FedEx, Elon, McLarty Associates, San Francisco . Credit, New York Times, U.S, American Chamber of Commerce, ., Mr, National Committee, United, China Relations, Associated, U.S ., China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, Consulate Locations: China, U.S, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tibet, United States, California, Filoli, San Francisco ., ”, Iowa, Asia, Pacific

While key issues like U.S. sanctions on chip exports remain unresolved, Chinese state media is now striking a different tone, focusing on Xi's smile during past trips to Iowa, fireside chats with its residents, and sharing chocolates with Biden. With official ties still strained, Chinese state media has focused on relations between the people and emphasised the potential for cooperation and importance of the summit for the Asia-Pacific region. Gary Dvorchak, an Iowan considered by Xi an old friend of China, said Xi's fondness for Iowa was genuine but that the Chinese leader also used his ties to the state for propaganda value. “It humanises him and it gives him an ability to show a connection to the American people and bypass the American media,” said Dvorchak. On the Weibo Chinese microblogging site, the most popular hashtag on Thursday still harked back to tension over Taiwan: "China must be and will be reunified."

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Li Mingjiang, Iowans, Gary Dvorchak, ”, Dvorchak, Albee Zhang, Michael Martina, Greg Torode, Robert Birsel Organizations: National Committee, China Relations, China Business Council, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Xinhua, Weibo, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights BEIJING, California, Iowa, Taiwan, China, Singapore, Pacific, Xinhua, Beijing, Washington, Hong Kong

☆ Britain’s Top Court Nixes Plan to Send Migrants to Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Max Colchester | David Luhnow | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The U.K. plan is part of a broader effort by Western countries to cope with a rise in migrants arriving at their borders. Photo: henry nicholls/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesLONDON—A U.K. plan to send some migrants who arrive illegally to live in Rwanda suffered a major setback after a top court said the central African country wasn’t a safe place to house asylum seekers. The ruling scuttles Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ’s marquee policy to curb migration and offers a warning shot to other European nations considering similar plans.

Persons: henry nicholls, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Agence France, scuttles Locations: U.K, Rwanda

☆ Low Platinum Prices Show How Banking on Miners Could Threaten the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Platinum is used to make the electrolyzers that produce hydrogen and the sharp down cycle in South Africa’s platinum mining sector demonstrates the risk that low prices and lack of investment could slow the energy transition. Prices for other commodities have also fallen, while miners have been complaining of rising costs and seem to be limiting their capital expenditures. Photo: michele spatari/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesFor the mining sector, cyclical returns are nothing new. Ray said many South African PGM miners are now selling their output at close to the cost of production, eating away at profitability. “To the extent that PGM prices stay at current levels, I would not be surprised to see more supply-side reaction,” Ray said.

Persons: Waldo Swiegers, ”, Tom Price, michele spatari, We’ve, ” Emma Townshend, ” Townshend, Raj Ray, Ray, ” Ray, ” Implats’s Townshend, Implats, Yusuf Khan Organizations: Bloomberg, Liberum, Agence France, PGM, Times, Business, BMO Capital Markets, Metals Locations: Sibanye, Africa, Johannesburg, Stillwater, South, South Africa, Marikana, U.S, China, Europe, Implats

☆ Taiwan Opposition Parties Unite Against Presidential Candidate China Sees as Threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Joyu Wang | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A deal between two Taiwan opposition parties is expected to bolster their chances against Vice President Lai Ching-te, a leading candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Photo: sam yeh/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesTAIPEI—Taiwan’s two largest opposition parties reached a deal to collaborate in a pivotal election scheduled for early January that has major ramifications for Taiwan’s future and U.S.-China relations. Taiwan’s main opposition Nationalist Party, which favors closer relations with Beijing, said it would work with a third party founded by a former Taipei mayor to run jointly for the 2024 elections. The long-anticipated deal is expected to bolster the opposition’s chances against Vice President Lai Ching-te, a leading candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which has forged tighter ties with the U.S., and is currently leading in the polls.

Persons: Lai Ching Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Agence France, Getty, TAIPEI —, Nationalist Party, U.S Locations: Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei

☆ While All Inflation Feels Bad, Housing Inflation Is the Worst
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Greg Ip | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Since January 2021, home prices have risen 29% and mortgage rates have nearly tripled. Photo: roberto schmidt/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesTwo weeks ago, I asked why Americans were in such a rotten mood when the data said the economy is in such good shape. Inflation, we just learned, eased in October, extending a two-week rally in stocks and bonds. And yet the University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment keeps falling. Many readers offered reasons for their sour mood that had little to do with the economy: the border, crime, President Biden, former President Donald Trump.

Persons: roberto schmidt, Biden, Donald Trump Organizations: Agence France, University of

☆ China’s Retail Spending Picks Up, as Housing Slump Deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Cao Li | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Workers at a logistics center in Hengyang, China, sorting packages for delivery after the Singles Day shopping festival. Photo: str/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesHONG KONG—China’s economy showed modest signs of improvement in October as consumer spending picked up, but the country’s prolonged property slump worsened. Retail sales rose 7.6% compared with the same period last year, when stringent Covid lockdowns kept a tight lid on spending activities, according to data released Wednesday by China’s National Bureau of Statistics. October’s sales accelerated from September’s 5.5% year-over-year growth and topped the 7% expected by economists.

Persons: lockdowns Organizations: Agence France, Getty, HONG, China’s National Bureau of Statistics, September’s Locations: Hengyang, China, HONG KONG

☆ U.K. Inflation Drops Sharply, Likely Ending Rate Hikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Paul Hannon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Despite cooling inflation, the Bank of England last month said it is too soon to think about cutting interest rates. Photo: daniel leal/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesLONDON—The U.K.’s annual rate of inflation fell more sharply than expected in October as household energy prices tumbled, the latest sign that a two-year surge in consumer prices across Europe is running out of steam as the continent’s economy flatlines. News of that decline followed Tuesday’s report of a drop in the U.S. inflation rate and added to investor confidence that the leading central banks are done raising their key interest rates—and are likely to start paring back lending rates in 2024, helping the economy. In the U.S., the inflation rate fell to 3.2% in October from 3.7% in September.

Persons: daniel leal Organizations: Bank of England, Agence France Locations: Europe, U.S

☆ Judge in Trump’s Georgia Case to Bar Release of Sensitive Evidence After Media Leaks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Mariah Timms | Jan Wolfe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee presiding over a recent hearing in Atlanta. Photo: Christian monterrosa/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesATLANTA—The judge overseeing the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and 14 remaining co-defendants said he would soon place new limits on how evidence should be handled, after a defense lawyer admitted to disclosing video clips of witness interviews to a media outlet. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said during an unusual court hearing Wednesday afternoon that he would impose a “protective order,” which would bar defense lawyers from disclosing certain information they get about the prosecution’s case during discovery.

Persons: Scott McAfee, Christian, Donald Trump Organizations: Agence France, Getty, ATLANTA Locations: Fulton, Atlanta, Fulton County

☆ Eric Adams Says ‘We Don’t Do Quid Pro Quo’ for Contributions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( James Fanelli | Jimmy Vielkind | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Eric Adams’s electronic devices were seized last week by federal investigators. Photo: angela weiss/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesNew York City Mayor Eric Adams said he and his aides haven’t exchanged political favors for campaign contributions, offering a broad defense of his conduct in office amid a federal public-corruption probe. Adams, a former police captain, during a press conference Tuesday sought to shift focus from the investigation, in which federal officials are examining whether Turkish money illegally went to the Democrat’s 2021 campaign, people familiar with the matter said.

Persons: Eric, angela weiss, Eric Adams, haven’t, Adams Organizations: Agence France, York City Locations: York

☆ Nepal Bans TikTok, Saying It Disturbs ‘Social Harmony’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Shan Li | Krishna Pokharel | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nepal’s government said last week it would require social-media companies to set up liaison offices in the country. Photo: prakash mathema/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesNEW DELHI—Nepal is banning TikTok over concerns that the video platform is “disturbing social harmony,” joining a growing list of countries that have partially or completely banned the popular Chinese-owned app. Nepal’s cabinet, led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal , decided to ban TikTok on Monday, said Rekha Sharma , the minister of communication and information technology.

Persons: prakash mathema, ”, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Rekha Sharma Organizations: Agence France Locations: DELHI, Nepal

☆ ‘What the Hell Is Going On at the FDIC?’ Lawmakers Grill Agency Chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Rebecca Ballhaus | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenberg appeared Tuesday at a previously scheduled Senate hearing. Photo: stefani Reynolds/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSenators on Tuesday questioned Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg over the agency’s handling of allegations of harassment and discrimination revealed by a Wall Street Journal investigation. “What the hell is going on at the FDIC?” asked Sen. John Kennedy (R., La.

Persons: Martin Gruenberg, stefani Reynolds, ”, Sen, John Kennedy Organizations: Agence France, Getty, Insurance Corp, Wall Street

China detained the executive, named in several media reports as Hiroshi Nishiyama, on suspicion of espionage in March, and he was formally arrested last month. Japan's then foreign minister protested the executive's detention with his Chinese counterpart on a visit to Beijing in April. China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Half the respondents in a recent survey of Japanese companies doing business in China said they would cut investments this year. It's a very difficult point in time to be navigating that as a decision maker, in business or politics," he said.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Xi Jinping, Rahm Emanuel, Hiroshi Nishiyama, Japan's, Xi, Masashi Mizobuchi, Nishiyama, Takeshi Niinami, Niinami, Stefan Angrick, Yukiko Toyoda, Kiyoshi Takenaka, John Geddie, Sakura Murakami, Francis Tang, Laurie Chen, Antoni Slodkowski, Andrew Silver, Lincoln Organizations: Economic Cooperation, Kyodo, drugmaker Astellas Pharma, APEC, Reuters, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japan Association of Corporate, Suntory, Moody's Analytics, Thomson Locations: Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, TOKYO, BEIJING, China, San Francisco, Tokyo, U.S, Japan, Beijing, officialdom, Shanghai

☆ FTX Sues Crypto Exchange Bybit to Recover $953 Million in Cash and Assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Becky Yerak | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Bybit operates one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading exchanges. Photo: karim sahib/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesBankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX has filed a lawsuit against Bybit Fintech and two affiliates to try to claw back assets valued at $953 million that were withdrawn shortly before FTX’s November 2022 collapse. The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., alleges that Bybit’s investment arm, Mirana, “leveraged its VIP connections to pressure FTX group employees to fulfill its withdrawal requests as soon as assets became available.”

Persons: Bybit, karim sahib, FTX, Bybit Fintech Organizations: Agence France, Getty, Bankruptcy Locations: U.S, Wilmington, Del

☆ Israel-Hamas War Biden Says Gaza Hospitals Must be Protected
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Lisa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

The Israeli military did not address specific questions about its actions around the hospital. Credit... Khader Al Zanoun/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesIsraeli officials say Hamas uses hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, as shields for its fighters, including using vast tunnel networks beneath the hospitals. Israeli troops have reached at least two other hospitals in northern Gaza, stepping up their push to empty the facilities, according to Israeli military officials, as fighting around them intensifies. Image People in tent shelters on the grounds of Al-Shifa hospital this month. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment about accusations that it was firing on people trying to leave the hospital.

Persons: Shifa, Jihan, Khader Al Zanoun, “, ” Dr, Nasser Bolbol, Medhat Abbas, ”, Miqdad, Abbas, Dawood Nemer, Bolbol, Israel, Dr, “ I’m, Raja Abdulrahim Organizations: Human Rights, World Health Organization, ., Agence France, Getty, Al, Hamas, International Committee, Staff, Medical, Hospital, Cross Locations: Al, Gaza, Gaza City

☆ South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott Suspends Republican Presidential Campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott speaks to the media following the third Republican presidential primary debate. Photo: Giorgio Viera/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesSen. Tim Scott of South Carolina had hoped his personal story and positive message would be enough to elevate his Republican presidential campaign, but he was unable to catch momentum in a crowded field dominated by former President Donald Trump. On Sunday evening, he withdrew from the race, acknowledging that his strategy wasn’t working. The 58-year-old senator, who had been the only remaining Black candidate in the GOP primary race, made his announcement Sunday on Fox News Channel during an interview with his close friend former Rep. Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.), who was hosting.

Persons: Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Giorgio Viera, Sen, Tim Scott of, Donald Trump, Trey Gowdy Organizations: Republican, Agence France, Getty, GOP, Fox News Channel Locations: Carolina, Tim Scott of South Carolina

☆ This Photograph of Dead Palestinian Children Demands to Be Seen - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Lydia Polgreen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

The photograph tells us nothing about whether or how these children are related. Hundreds of Israeli hostages, including children, are believed to be held in Gaza by Hamas, their families desperate for their safe release. It is a rare thing for mainstream news organizations to publish graphic images of dead or wounded children. There is nothing quite so devastating as the image of a child whose life has been snuffed out by senseless violence. And so the slaughter in Maine reminded me of another image from Gaza, one you may have seen on social media.

Persons: Mahmud Hams, Israel, I’ve, Emmett Till’s, Kim Phuc Phan Thi, Nick Ut’s, “, Biden, ” Susan Sontag, ”, Sontag, photojournalists, Aaron Young, Mohammed Salem, Khan Younis, Inas Abu Maamar, Saly, Mary, Jesus, Bashar al Organizations: Palestinian Hamas, Agence France, Ministry of Health, Times, The Times, Hamas, Oslo Accords, Reuters Locations: Al Aqsa, Deir al, Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Mahmud, Vietnam, Syrian, Turkey, Europe, Oslo, ”, Bosnia, Sarajevo, Maine, Khan, Khartoum, Russian

☆ The Low-Wage Pay Surge Is Over, Threatening the Consumer Boom
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Amara Omeokwe | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

More workers are seeking jobs, and the economy is feeling the impact of the Federal Reserve’s fight against inflation. Photo: frederic j. brown/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesLow-wage workers were the labor market’s surprise winners of the past few years. As employers clamored to hire from a limited pool of workers, Americans in lower-paying industries gained leverage to obtain some of the largest pay raises and perks. More workers are seeking jobs, and the economy is feeling the impact of the Federal Reserve’s campaign to combat inflation. That has resulted in slower wage growth overall, but particularly at the lower end of the pay scale.

Persons: frederic Organizations: France, Federal

Search resuls for: "AGENCE FRANCE"

25 mentions found