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☆ COP28: Exxon Mobil CEO rebuffs IEA criticism of carbon capture strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, reacts at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. "So, you could say that about carbon capture today, you could say that about electric vehicles, about wind, about solar. The future role of carbon capture technology and fossil fuels is a key issue at the conference. Exxon has announced $17 billion of investment in its low carbon business, which includes carbon capture, and has argued that greenhouse gas emissions are the problem causing climate change, not the fossil fuels themselves. Woods declined to provide details of the contracts, but said U.S. subsidies in last year's Inflation Reduction Act of up to $85 a ton for carbon capture and sequestration would make the investments profitable.

Persons: Darren Woods, Carlos Barria, Woods, EVs, We're, Richard Valdmanis, Katy Daigle Organizations: ExxonMobil, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Exxon Mobil, International Energy, Reuters, Exxon, IEA, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Dubai, Gulf of Mexico, United States

☆ Exxon Mobil CEO urges COP28 to focus on reducing emissions — not phasing out fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

There's also an ongoing debate about whether an agreement should center on "abated" fossil fuels, which are trapped and stocked with carbon capture and storage technologies, or "unabated" fossil fuels, which are largely understood to be produced and used without substantial reductions in the amount of emitted greenhouse gases. "We cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels," Guterres said. "The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not everyone is on board with calls to phase out fossil fuels, however. An Exxon Mobil gas station in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 203.

Persons: Darren Woods, There's, Steve Sedgwick, Woods, U.N, António Guterres, Guterres, Phaseout, David Paul Morris, Exxon Mobil's Woods, Tengku Muhammad Taufik, I'm Organizations: UNITED, EMIRATES, Exxon Mobil, United Arab Emirates, United Arab, Exxon Mobil Corp, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty, Exxon, Big Oil, Petronas, Natural Resources, Mobil Locations: Dubai, COP28, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Asia, San Francisco , California, San Francisco, China, UAE, Washington , DC

☆ Biden and Xi are glaringly absent from the UN's climate summit. That doesn't bode well for the world.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

World leaders are gathering in the UAE for the COP28 climate change summit. But President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping of China will be absent. But the leaders of the world's biggest polluting nations — President Joe Biden and China's leader Xi Jinping — will be conspicuous by their absence. AdvertisementA man walks past a COP28 sign during the United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023. Xi and Biden are doing little to signal their commitment to sharing the burden of reducing the climate crisis equally by not attending the summit, say critics.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi, King Charles, Pope Francis, Xi Jinping, LUDOVIC MARIN, Biden, Kamala Harris, John Kerry, Xie Zhenhua, Tom Evans, Evans, Sultan Al Jaber, Kerry Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, White, Sunday, US, Democratic, APEC, BBC, Climate, Business, Sierra Club Locations: UAE, China, United Nations, Dubai, Biden's, Xi, San Francisco

☆ China's Xi tells coast guard to enforce maritime law
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

China's President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Dec 1 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has said the country's coast guard must enforce maritime law and crack down on "criminal activities" to defend China's territorial sovereignty, state media reported on Friday. Xi made the comments as he inspected the China Coast Guard's command office for the East China Sea area and the performance of the coast guard's ships by video, Xinhua news agency reported. "It is necessary to establish and improve the coordination and cooperation mechanism of maritime law enforcement, severely crack down on illegal and criminal activities at sea," Xi said. The Chinese coast guard has had several confrontations with vessels from the Philippines in disputed territorial waters in the South China Sea.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, Ella Cao, Bernard Orr, Christina Fincher, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, East, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights BEIJING, East China, Xinhua, Philippines, South China

☆ Salesforce Keeps Growth Dreams Alive Enough
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Dan Gallagher | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff speaks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco on Nov. 16. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg NewsThere was a time—and not very long ago—that Salesforce would have scoffed at 11% growth. That was then. The cloud software giant’s fiscal third-quarter ended October was the third consecutive period showing revenue growing at that pace year over year. The company also used Wednesday’s report to affirm Wall Street’s projection for 10% growth in the current quarter ending in January—9.8% if not rounding.

Persons: Marc Benioff, David Paul Morris Organizations: Economic Cooperation, Bloomberg Locations: Asia, San Francisco, —

☆ Op-ed: Europe is leaving a void in a multipolar world
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Kevin Klowden | Chief Global Strategist At The Milken Institute | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Russian invasion of Ukraine only three months later served to provide an immediate driver for greater political unity within Europe. China, Russia and even the United States under Donald Trump have expressed dissatisfaction with institutions such as the World Trade Organization, the G7 and the United Nations. watch nowThe void is particularly apparent at the WTO, where the lack of European leadership on trade as the U.S. turned inward is particularly felt. Perhaps nothing shows the consequences of the lack of European strength in preserving these institutions than the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, the combination of a split over Ukraine, and internal divisions within Europe, have prevented any way for Europe to play a key role with China.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Ursula von der Leyenââ, Pedro Sanchez Perez, Klaus Iohannis, Chancellor, Germany, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Dursun, Angela Merkel, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen, Xi Jinping Organizations: European Commission, European, European Union, Anadolu Agency, Getty, World Trade Organization, United Nations, WTO, EU, NATO, APEC Locations: Spain, Romania, Brussels, Belgium, United States, China, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Germany, Moscow, India, Southeast Asia, EU, East, Africa

OpenAI's tender offer, which would allow employees to sell shares in the start-up to outside investors, remains on track despite the leadership tumult and board shuffle, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC. The round and previously reported valuation were jeopardized by Sam Altman's temporary ouster earlier in November, but his return cleared the way for the tender offer to proceed. The extension of the tender offer comes after a rollercoaster couple of weeks for the company. OpenAI's other major backers include Founders Fund, Sequoia Capital and, following the completion of the tender offer, Thrive Capital. Founders Fund will not participate in the tender offer either, a person familiar with the firm said.

Persons: Sam Altman, Josh Kushner's, Sam Altman's, Altman, Satya Nadella, Greg Brockman, OpenAI, Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, Adam D'Angelo, Nadella, — CNBC's Ari Levy, Jordan Novet, Elon Musk Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, CNBC, Microsoft, Employees, Brockman's, Tiger Global, Fund, Sequoia Capital, Bloomberg Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, OpenAI

☆ A year after ChatGPT’s release, the AI revolution is just beginning
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Seemingly overnight, the user-friendly generative AI technology enraptured the globe. It also promised to revolutionize the future of white-collar work — so long as it didn’t cause an AI apocalypse in the process. ‘The world woke up to the AI revolution’And one year since ChatGPT’s public release, the fervor around AI is still at a fever pitch. And AI’s long-prophesied impacts to the labor market is also beginning to emerge, both inside and outside the tech industry. “Many, many, many jobs that are currently done by humans, AI will be able to do,” said Clune, the AI researcher at the University of British Columbia.

Persons: New York CNN —, Sam Altman, ChatGPT, ” Jeff Clune, hasn’t, ” Clune, ”, OpenAI’s, Jakub Porzycki, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, ” Venkatasubramanian, “ It’s, it’s, Venkatasubramanian, Clune, we’re, ChatGPT’s, OpenAI, David Paul Morris, “, CNN’s Kara Swisher, Altman, —, ” Altman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Big Tech, Tech, University of British, CNN, ChatGPT’s, Brown University, Economic Cooperation, Bloomberg, Getty, Microsoft — Locations: New York, University of British Columbia, Krakow, Poland, OpenAI, Asia, San Francisco , California

☆ Top 10 things to watch in Thursday's stock market, including Jim Cramer's Benioff interview
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Ford (F) issues slightly worse full-year guidance: $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. Citi raises Club holding Costco (COST) price target to $585 per share from $530, citing an acceleration of November sales. Ford (F) issues slightly worse full-year guidance: $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. Ford (F) issues slightly worse full-year guidance: $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion. Ford (F) issues slightly worse full-year guidance: $10 billion to $10.5 billion in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) and adjusted free cash flow of between $5 billion and $5.5 billion.

Persons: Marc Benioff, Einstein, Jeff Marks, Charles Munger, Warren Buffett's, Charlie, Peter Arduini, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Andrew Caballero, Reynolds Organizations: Nasdaq, Dow, UAW, General Motors, Citi, Club, Costco, Barclays, Company, NBA, GE Healthcare, Nvidia, Brands, Barrick, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Economic Cooperation, APEC, AFP, Getty Locations: U.S, Asia, San Francisco , California

☆ Salesforce shares jump on better-than-expected earnings report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ari Levy | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Salesforce shares rose more than 8% in extended trading on Wednesday after the cloud software vendor reported fiscal third-quarter earnings that topped analysts' estimates. Here's how the company did:Earnings: $2.11 per share, adjusted, versus the $2.06 per share expected by LSEG$2.11 per share, adjusted, versus the $2.06 per share expected by LSEG Revenue: $8.72 billion versus the $8.72 billion expected by LSEGRevenue increased 11% from $7.84 billion a year ago. In its biggest unit, which provides customer support, Salesforce saw revenue jump 12% to $2.07 billion. Salesforce shares rose to $250 after the earnings report. WATCH: Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff: When I talk to CEOs they are all Slack-first

Persons: Marc Benioff, Salesforce Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, LSEG, LSEG Revenue, Nasdaq, Revenue Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California

☆ China's Xi visits financial hub Shanghai
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai, where he went to several venues and learned about the city's efforts to strengthen its competitiveness as an international financial centre, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Xi made the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday and he inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations and a government-subsidized rental housing community, the report said. Vice Premier He Lifeng, Shanghai's Communist party secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng also accompanied his visit. It was his first visit to the city since November 2020 and comes a year after historic street protests against China's zero-COVID policy broke out in Shanghai.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Cai Qi, Chen Jining, Gong Zheng, Xi's, Premier Li Qiang, Brenda Goh, Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Mark Potter, Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Futures Exchange, Communist Party of China Central Committee, CPC, Communist, Shanghai Free, Trade, Disney, L'Oreal, Premier, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, Shanghai, Xinhua, Minhang

☆ Mexico president asks lawmakers to let US military trainers into Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 17, 2023. The announcement published Tuesday said President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sought permission for 11 U.S. military personnel to take part in a program called "Strengthening the Capacities of the Special Forces of the Defense Ministry." Lopez Obrador has vigorously defended the principle of Mexican sovereignty, passing measures to restrict the ability of U.S. counter-narcotics agents to operate in Mexico. The U.S. troops are expected to arrive in Mexico with their own weapons, ammunition and equipment, the Senate letter added. For his part, Lopez Obrador has been critical of U.S. anti-narcotics officials operating on Mexican territory, accusing U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents of trampling on Mexican sovereignty.

Persons: Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Kevin Lamarque, Lopez Obrador, Lopez Obrador's, Dave Graham, Drazen Jorgic, Franklin Paul, Deepa Babington Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, MEXICO CITY, Mexican Senate, U.S, Special Forces of, Defense Ministry, Special Forces Group, Mexico's Defense Ministry, United States, Drug Enforcement Administration, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, MEXICO, Mexican, Mexico, United States, Mexico City, Jan, Iraq, Afghanistan

Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHOUSTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) Chief Executive Darren Woods is making plans to attend the COP28 climate summit in Dubai next week, two people familiar with the matter said, in what would mark a first for an Exxon CEO, if confirmed. Woods is expected to advocate that reducing carbon emissions should be a priority in addressing climate change, rather than reducing oil production. "We commit to solving the world’s energy and emissions challenges simultaneously," Darren Woods said at the APEC CEO summit earlier this month. Exxon says technology advancements allowed it to join the initiative and that the decision guards no relation with Pioneer's acquisition.

Persons: Darren Woods, Carlos Barria, Woods, Sultan al, Jaber, Exxon's, Matt Kolesar, Sabrina Valle, Sarah McFarlane, Josie Kao, Aurora Ellis Organizations: ExxonMobil, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Exxon Mobil Corp, Exxon, APEC, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, United, Natural Resources, Gas Methane Partnership, Reuters, United Nations Environment Programme, Shell, BP, Conoco, Chevron, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, United Nations, OGMP, Occidental

[1/6] Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks at the opening ceremony of the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, China November 28, 2023. "We are willing to build closer production and industrial supply chain partnerships with all countries," Li told the first China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), adding that the international community needs to be "more wary of the challenges and risks brought about by protectionism and uncontrolled globalisation." The expo, organised by the state-run China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), is Beijing's latest bid to increase foreign investment in China, which has dropped to historic lows. Despite this decrease, China remains an attractive option: a survey conducted by HSBC bank at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) earlier this month showed 45% of firms expect to expand their supply chain in China over the next year. Zhang Shaogang, a CCPIT official who was part of the Chinese delegation at the APEC summit, said last week that 20% of the foreign firms exhibiting at the supply chain expo were U.S.-based, and included Amazon (AMZN.O), Apple (AAPL.O), Tesla (TSLA.O), and Intel (INTC.O).

Persons: Li Qiang, Florence Lo, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Dan Marks, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Zhang Shaogang, Zhang, Eduardo Baptista, Joe Cash, Jamie Freed, Miral Organizations: China International, Chain, REUTERS, Premier, European Union, China Council, Promotion of International Trade, HSBC, China, Royal United Services, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Apple, Intel, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, EU, BEIJING, United States, Ukraine, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Vietnam, U.S, Asia

☆ Vietnam upgrades ties with Japan to highest level
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong speaks as he attends the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Leaders event at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHANOI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam and Japan on Monday officially upgraded their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during a visit by Vietnamese president Vo Van Thuong to Tokyo. Vietnam has designated five other countries as comprehensive strategic partners, including China, India, Russia, South Korea and the United States. Japan is Vietnam's third-largest source of foreign investment and its fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $50 billion last year. Vietnam and Japan, both embroiled in separate maritime disputes with China, in 2020 reached a $348 million Japanese loan agreement for Vietnam to build six patrol vessels.

Persons: Vo Van Thuong, Brittany Hosea, Vo Van, Thuong, Khanh Vu, Ed Osmond Organizations: Economic, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Japan, Honda, Panasonic, Bridgestone, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights HANOI, Vietnam, Japan, Tokyo, China, United States, India, Russia, South Korea

☆ Taiwan's presidential election is a three-way race. These are the parties vying to replace Tsai Ing-Wen.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Candidates from the more established Kuomintang and the smaller Taiwan People's Party could not agree on the leader for a combined ticket. Taiwan's president and vice president are directly elected, serve one term of four years and may be re-elected for one additional term. Taiwan's elections kick off a year that is littered with numerous elections globally at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions as two major wars rage on. The outcome of Taiwan's elections will likely go some way in influencing testy U.S.-China ties and impact security in Asia-Pacific more broadly. These are the three parties contesting Taiwan's Jan. 13 polls to elect a new president.

Persons: Foxconn, Joe Biden's, bookends, Xi Jinping, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Taiwan's Jan Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Apple, Taiwan People's Party, U.S, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, APEC, Taiwan, ., Taiwan's Locations: China, Kuomintang, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Asia, Pacific, San Francisco

☆ Japan's Kishida sends letter to China's Xi - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a summit discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, at the Stanford, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A Beijing delegation of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Japan's ruling party, handed a letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for Chinese President Xi Jinping in a meeting with China's top leadership team on Wednesday, NHK reported. The broadcaster did not say what was in the letter. Komeito representatives and Kishida's office were not available to comment on Thursday, a public holiday in Japan. Yamaguchi and Cai also agreed to work toward a resumption of dialogue between the CPC and the coalition of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito, NHK reported.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Brittany Hosea, Xi Jinping, Natsuo Yamaguchi, Cai Qi, Yamaguchi, Cai, Makiko Yamazaki, Stephen Coates Organizations: Japan's, Economic Cooperation, Stanford, REUTERS, Rights, Komeito, Wednesday, NHK, Communist Party of China, CPC, Central Committee, Liberal Democratic Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, California, U.S, Beijing, Japan, Taiwan

☆ With crises brewing around the world, the US's diplomatic 'special agents' are sharpening old skills and learning some new ones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The State Department relies on its Diplomatic Security Service to protect diplomats around the world. To protect those diplomats, the State Department relies on a little-known but highly capable agency — the Diplomatic Security Service. US State DepartmentAs the State Department's law-enforcement and security arm, the Diplomatic Security Service has been protecting US diplomats at home and abroad since 1916. "Through the council, the State Department can exchange information in real-time with hundreds of private businesses, faith-based organizations, and other US entities," a State Department spokesperson told Insider. Diplomatic Security ServiceFollowing a string of high-profile cyberattacks against government agencies and private businesses, US national-security officials are increasingly focused on cybersecurity.

Persons: —, Anatolii Organizations: Diplomatic Security Service, DSS, Service, UN, Assembly, US State Department As, State, State Department, Mobile Security, Mobile, Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, US Department of State Regional, US, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Publishing, Getty, Operations Command, Foreign Affairs Counter, APEC, Diplomatic Security, State Department's, Department of Homeland Security, Management, Budget Locations: Ukraine, China, Taiwan, State, Virginia, Kyiv, Russia, San Francisco

☆ Who are OpenAI's new board members as Sam Altman returns?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Acquire Licensing RightsNov 22 (Reuters) - ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on Tuesday said it reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO days after his ouster, and also agreed in principle to partly reconstitute the board of directors that had dismissed him. Bret Taylor, formerly co-CEO of Salesforce and Larry Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary, along with Quora CEO and current director Adam D'Angelo will be part of the board, OpenAI said. Here's what we know about them:* Taylor, 43, is an American computer programmer and entrepreneur, who is also a board member at Shopify (SHOP.TO). Taylor will chair the OpenAI board* Summers, 68, is an American economist who has served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001* A professor at Charles W Eliot University, Summers is also President Emeritus at Harvard* Summers is also on the board of Jack Dorsey's Block Inc (SQ.N) and Skillsoft Corp (SKIL.N)* D'Angelo, 39, is an American internet entrepreneur, best known as founder of California-based social question-and-answer website and online knowledge market Quora* A Computer Science graduate, D'Angelo was previously CTO of Facebook for nearly two years till June 2008(Sources: TechCrunch, Reuters reporting and LinkedIn)Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Nivedita BhattacharjeeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Altman, Carlos Barria, OpenAI, Bret Taylor, Larry Summers, Adam D'Angelo, Taylor, Charles, Summers, Jack Dorsey's, D'Angelo, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Anil D'Silva Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, U.S . Treasury, Quora, Treasury, Charles W Eliot University, Harvard, Skillsoft Corp, Science, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, American, Shopify, California, Bengaluru

"i'm looking forward to returning to openai," Altman said in a post on the X social media platform late on Tuesday. Sam Altman attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. OpenAI's previous board consisted of Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner and OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever and Quora CEO D'Angelo, who is part of the revamped board. In a post on X on Tuesday, Shear said he worked "~72 very intense hours" to bring stability - and ultimately Altman - back to OpenAI. When he was out of a job, CEO Nadella said Altman could head a new research team alongside Brockman and other colleagues departing from OpenAI.

Persons: Bret Taylor, Brockman, FRANCISCO, Sam Altman, OpenAI, Larry Summers, Adam D'Angelo, D'Angelo, Altman, Danni Hewson, AJ Bell's, Satya Nadella, Kyle Rodda, Carlos Barria, Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, Ilya Sutskever, Steve Jobs, Greg Brockman, Sunday Altman, Emmett Shear, Shear, Nadella, Jeffrey Dastin, Aditya Soni, Shivani Tanna, Bansari, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sam Holmes, Jane Merriman Organizations: U.S . Treasury, Microsoft, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Reuters, U.S, Thomson Locations: openai, U.S, OpenAI, Asia, San Francisco , California, Valley, San Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ Fiji PM: China likely to collaborate on key port, shipyard project
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Lincoln Feast/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Wednesday the Pacific Islands nation was likely to collaborate with China on a key port modernisation and shipyard project, after discussing it in a meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping. Fiji previously sought Australia's involvement to build a modern ship-building facility at Lautoka, officials and a consultant to Rabuka on the project told Reuters. Rabuka told Fiji's parliament on Wednesday his government was focused on upgrading infrastructure, "particularly the modernisation of port facilities and shipyards". An Australian-based ship design company said Rabuka had earlier sought the involvement of Australia, Fiji's largest aid donor, in the shipyard project. China has been pushing for greater security and trade ties with Pacific Islands countries.

Persons: Sitiveni Rabuka, Xi Jinping, Rabuka, Xi, Stuart Ballantyne, Ballantyne, Vajira Piyasena, Kirsty Needham, Lincoln, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Lincoln, Rights, Fiji Prime, Wednesday, Reuters, APEC, Wednesday Fiji, Fiji Ports, Fiji Ships, Heavy Industry, Pacific, Thomson Locations: Fiji, Suva, China, Lautoka, Australia, San Francisco, Australian, tradespeople, Pacific, Solomon Islands, United States, Papua New Guinea

☆ Mastercard will soon be widely accepted in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The US credit card giant announced Monday that it had received clearance from China’s central bank and the financial regulator to launch a bank card business in China through its joint venture with partner NetsUnion Clearing Corporation (NUCC). Mastercard (MA) will be able to start issuing Chinese yuan-denominated bank cards under its own brand, according to a Sunday statement from the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Mastercard CEO Michael Miebach took part in a CEO summit on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum that Xi and other leaders from across the Pacific were in town to attend. Like other foreign payments providers, Mastercard has campaigned for years to expand its business in China. Previously, it was only authorized to issue co-branded cards, such as those with China UnionPay, the state-owned bank card network.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Michael Miebach, Elon Musk, Tim Cook, Miebach, China UnionPay, Amex Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Mastercard, NetsUnion Clearing, People’s Bank of China, New, San Francisco Bay Area, Economic Cooperation, Apple, American Express, Visa Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Washington, New York, San Francisco Bay, United States, Asia

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Philippines speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. This week's three-day joint air and maritime exercise was a "significant initiative" to boost interoperability between the two, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. It will end in the West Philippine Sea, the name Manila uses for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The joint patrol with the United States showed the Manila was making a stand over the South China Sea, said Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea in Manila, the capital. "It shows that the Philippines is really firming up its posture on West Philippine Sea issues," Batongbacal said.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Carlos Barria, Eugene Cabusao, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, Xi Jinping, Jay Batongbacal, Batongbacal, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, United States, South China, Washington, Institute for Maritime Affairs, Law, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Philippine, Taiwan US, Manila, China, MANILA, Taiwan, Mavulis, Luzon, West Philippine, South, United, Hawaii, United States, China's, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Beijing, South China

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, attends the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. In recent weeks, talks have hit stumbling blocks over the extent to which companies should be allowed to self-regulate. Alexandra van Huffelen, Dutch minister for digitalisation, told Reuters the OpenAI saga underscored the need for strict rules. "Please don't gut the EU AI Act; we need it now more than ever." Reporting by Martin Coulter and Supantha Mukherjee; Editing by Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sam Altman, Carlos Barria, Altman, OpenAI’s, Brando Benifei, ”, Alexandra van Huffelen, Gary Marcus, Martin Coulter, Supantha Mukherjee, Susan Fenton Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, European Commission, EU, Reuters, Microsoft, New York University, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, European, OpenAI, France, Germany, Italy

☆ OpenAI board, Altman in talks for return of former CEO - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. Talks are happening between Altman and at least one board member, Quora CEO Adam D'Angelo, the report said. Altman could return as a director on a transitional board and the talks also involve some investors of the artificial intelligence startup. But things appeared fluid, as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told media on Monday "irrespective of where Sam is, he's working with Microsoft" and that governance at OpenAI needed to change. Other than Quora's D'Angelo, OpenAI's four-person board consisted of Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner and OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever as of Friday.

Persons: Sam Altman, Carlos Barria, Altman, Adam D'Angelo, Greg Brockman, Satya Nadella, Sam, Brockman, Nadella, Emmett Shear, Quora's D'Angelo, OpenAI's, Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, Ilya Sutskever, Akash Sriram, Chavi Mehta, Devika Syamnath, Arun Koyyur Organizations: OpenAI, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Microsoft, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, OpenAI, Bengaluru

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