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☆ SoftBank Loses $6.2 Billion in Quarter as WeWork Weighs on Investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Megumi Fujikawa | Eliot Brown | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SoftBank was WeWork’s biggest backer since it started investing in 2017. Photo: Kentaro Takahashi/Bloomberg NewsTOKYO— SoftBank Group sank deeper into the red in the July-September period as it reported write-downs related to the bankruptcy of office-sharing company WeWork and technology shares stayed under pressure amid rising interest rates in the U.S. The Japanese technology investor posted a net loss of 931.1 billion yen, equivalent to $6.2 billion, for the quarter ended Sept. 30. That is compared with a 477.6 billion yen loss in the April-June quarter and 3.034 trillion yen profit a year earlier, when it unwound its stake in Alibaba Group Holding .

Persons: SoftBank, Kentaro Takahashi Organizations: Bloomberg News TOKYO — SoftBank, U.S, Alibaba

☆ Ant Group wins approval to release AI products to Chinese public
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

People stand at the booth of Ant Group at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Ant Group has received Chinese government approval to release products powered by its "Bailing" artificial intelligence (AI) large language model to the public, a spokesperson for the Chinese firm said on Monday. Unlike other countries, China requires companies to submit security assessments and receive clearance before releasing AI products to the public. The financial affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group (9988.HK) in September unveiled a finance-specific AI model and started testing consumer and professional apps for the products. Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Christian SchmollingerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Florence, Brenda Goh, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Ant Group, Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Alibaba, HK, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Huawei, Tencent among top cybersecurity patent holders as China fosters own tech, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese companies have gained ground in global patent holdings in the cybersecurity technology sector amid growing U.S.-China tensions, according to a report from Nikkei Asia on Sunday. Chinese firms such as Huawei and Tencent accounted for six of the top 10 global patent holdings in the cybersecurity technology sector as of August, based on data compiled by Nikkei in cooperation with U.S. information services provider LexisNexis. The report said that U.S. computer manufacturer IBM came out top with 6,363 patents followed by Huawei and Tencent with 5,735 and 4,803 patents respectively. Among the top 10 include Alibaba's financial arm Ant Group in sixth place with 3,922 patents, as well as Alibaba Group Holding with 3,122 patents, the Nikkei said. This comes as escalating tensions between the U.S. and China have pushed the latter and its homegrown firms to seek self-reliance in science and technology.

Organizations: Nikkei Asia, Huawei, Nikkei, LexisNexis, IBM, China Investment Corp, U.S Locations: China, U.S, Beijing

Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall Group did not respond to a request for comment. This year's Singles Day event is also the first since Alibaba Group split into six business units. This view is supported by recent polls on social media where the majority of respondents said Singles Day was no longer necessary. Meara He, a 21-year-old student from Wenzhou, says she often shops using Douyin live-streams and this year, "doesn't care" about Singles Day as much. "In the past I would wait for Double 11 (Singles Day) and do some shopping, but this time I just plan to buy products that I need," she said.

Persons: Alibaba, Pinduoduo, Josh Gardner, Alibaba's, Ashley Dudarenok, AlixPartners, Douyin, Melody Zhao, Casey, Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh Organizations: PDD Holdings, Kungfu, Tmall, Administration, Market, ByteDance, Alibaba, Suisse, Industry, Hua Gui Food Group, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HK, China, Wenzhou, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ Chinese tech giant Alibaba launches upgraded AI model to challenge Microsoft, Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alibaba called Tongyi Qianwen 2.0 a "substantial upgrade from its predecessor," which was introduced in April . China's biggest cloud computing and e-commerce player announced Tongyi Qianwen 2.0, its latest large language model (LLM). A LLM is trained on vast amounts of data and forms the basis for generative AI applications such as ChatGPT, which is developed by U.S. firm OpenAI. Tongyi Qianwen 2.0 "demonstrates remarkable capabilities in understanding complex instructions, copywriting, reasoning, memorizing, and preventing hallucinations," Alibaba said in a press release. The Hangzhou-headquartered company also announced the GenAI Service Platform, which lets companies build their own generative AI applications, using their own data.

Persons: Alibaba, Tongyi Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, U.S, Tuesday, Microsoft, OpenAI, Amazon Locations: Shanghai, Hangzhou, China

The logo of NVIDIA as seen at its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California, in May of 2022. Nvidia's stock fell to as low as $392.30, down 4.7%, to the lowest level since mid-June. "The stock is getting oversold," said Tom Plumb, chief executive and lead portfolio manager at Plumb Funds, which has Nvidia as one of its largest holdings. "Previously, Nvidia has said this is not going to have a short-term impact but it's more in the long term. "These new export controls will not have a meaningful impact in the near term," the Nvidia spokesperson said in a statement.

Persons: Tom Plumb, Plumb, Biden, Thomas Hayes, Chibuike Oguh, Stephen Nellis, Amruta, Lance Tupper, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: NVIDIA, Handout, REUTERS, Nvidia Corp, Nvidia, Alibaba, HK, Baidu, U.S . Commerce Department, Wall, Nasdaq, Plumb Funds, Beijing, Great, Thomson Locations: Santa Clara , California, China, U.S, Iran, Russia, New York, San Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ China's cyberspace regulator summons Alibaba's Quark, Netease CC over vulgar content
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of Alibaba Group is lit up at its office building in Beijing, China August 9, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 30 (Reuters) - China's cyberspace regulator on Monday fined the Alibaba-owned (9988.HK) Quark platform 500,000 yuan ($68,342.42) for hosting and promoting vulgar content. The regulator also ordered Netease's (9999.HK) livestream platform Netease CC to suspend the broadcast of some types of dance content for seven days due to vulgar content, the Cyberspace Administration of China said in a statement. Quark said it attaches great important to the matter and relevant illegal content has been banned on the platform, China's state-backed Securities Times reported. ($1 = 7.3161 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Beijing Newsroom, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Netease's, Quark, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, HK, Quark, Cyberspace Administration, Securities Times, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING

SHANGHAI, Oct 23 (Reuters) - E-commerce giant Alibaba Group (9988.HK) said it will be offering huge discounts as it gears up for its annual Singles Day shopping extravaganza - an indication that Chinese consumer confidence remains at a low ebb. The event - which begins on Tuesday and despite its name now stretches over several weeks - will offer over 80 million products at their lowest prices this year, it said in a statement. Tmall will also compare prices on products in real time with other e-commerce platforms in China and tag products with the lowest price, it said. Alibaba did not disclose how much in subsidies and coupons it plans to offer in total this year but added that Taobao and Tmall had committed an "unprecedented" amount of investment. The company last year did not announce the sales tally for the event for the first time, saying only that the total amount was in line with 2021.

Persons: Alibaba, Tmall, Xi Jinping, Brenda Goh, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Alibaba, HK, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China

☆ China's Singles Day sales festival wraps up with e-commerce giants reporting sales growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group (9988.HK) reported that its Chinese e-commerce platforms Tmall and Taobao recorded "positive" year-on-year growth over this year's Singles Day sales period, which wrapped up at midnight on Saturday. Meanwhile competitor JD.com (9618.HK) said its festival GMV (gross merchandising volume) hit a "record high" over the sales period. A Bain and Company report released last week found that 77% of the 3,000 consumers it surveyed had planned to spend less or the same on Singles Day compared with last year. Though several consultancies were predicting Singles Day GMV growth across platforms would reach anywhere from 14% to 18% - returning to double-digit growth for the first time since the pandemic - the final sales picture will take longer to energe. Colour cosmetics, traditionally a strong performer throughout the Singles Day sales period, were expected to struggle this year as make-up demand remains low almost a year after China lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Persons: Taobao, JD.com, Alibaba, Bain, Casey Hall, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Alibaba, HK, PDD Holdings, Company, Nike, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China

☆ Beijing takes 'golden share' in a Tencent subsidiary, records show
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A man rides an electric bike past the Tencent headquarters in Nanshan district of Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 2, 2022. Tencent, the world's largest video game company and the operator of the WeChat messaging platform, declined to comment. Shenzhen Yayue Technology, whose business involves information technology and internet services, was previously 100% owned by a Tencent subsidiary before the stake change took place on Wednesday, according to Qichacha. The Financial Times first reported Beijing's plan to acquire a golden share in a Tencent subsidiary earlier this year. In the case of ByteDance, the Chinese government took a board seat in Beijing ByteDance Technology with its 1% stake.

Persons: David Kirton, Ma, Josh Ye, Brenda Goh Organizations: REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, HK, Shenzhen Yayue Technology, Oc, China Internet Investment Fund, Alibaba, Reuters, Financial Times, Beijing ByteDance Technology, Thomson Locations: Nanshan district, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, HONG KONG, Shenzhen Yayue, TikTok, Beijing

☆ JD.com shares hit record low, banks cut Q3 growth target on retail slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of JD.com is seen at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. The brokerages and banks including Citi, Daiwa and Jefferies, which issued notes to clients on Thursday and Friday with the revised estimates. Shares in JD.com, which is also China's largest home appliance retailer, closed at their lowest level since their June 2020 debut. Citi Research lowered its revenue assumption for JD.com by 3.4% and 4.3% for the third and fourth quarter, saying that it now estimates 0.8% and 1.3% growth respectively. JD.com is China's leading online platform for sales of digital and electronics products, such as mobile phones and domestic electrical appliances.

Persons: Florence, JD.com, Nomura, Sophie Yu, Donny Kwok, Brenda Goh Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Rights, Citi, Daiwa, Jefferies, Citi Research, Alibaba, HK, PDD, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, HK, Hong Kong, United States, JD.com, BEIJING, HONG KONG

☆ India's central bank imposes penalty on Paytm Payments Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 12 (Reuters) - India's central bank said on Thursday it has imposed a penalty of 53.9 million rupees ($647,762.58) on Paytm Payments Bank for non-compliance with some provisions, including Know Your Customer (KYC) directions. According to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Paytm Payments Bank had failed to identify beneficial owners of entities on-boarded by it for providing payout services. It also did not monitor payout transactions and carry out risk profiling of entities availing payout services, among others. The RBI had last year barred Paytm Payments Bank from taking on new customers and ordered a comprehensive audit of its IT systems, citing "material" supervisory concerns observed in the bank. Paytm Payments Bank had also breached the regulatory ceiling of end-of-the-day balance in certain customer advance accounts that were availing payout services, the central bank said in a statement.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Antfin, China's, Ashish Chandra, Sohini Goswami Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Paytm Payments Bank, Reserve Bank of India, Bank, Google, HK, Thomson Locations: India, Paytm, Bengaluru

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 28, 2023. Top ranking Fed officials indicated rising yields on long-term U.S. Treasury bonds could steer the central bank from further increases in its short-term policy rate. Megacap stocks Microsoft (MSFT.O), Alphabet (GOOGL.O), Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Amazon.com (AMZN.O) added between 0.2% and 0.4% in premarket trading. All three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher on Monday, with energy (.SPNY) leading gains as supply worries ignited by Middle East tensions sparked a rally in crude oil prices. Rivian Automotive (RIVN.O) added 4.1% on a report that UBS upgraded the EV maker's stock to "buy" from "neutral".

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Raffi Boyadjian, Atlanta's Raphael Bostic, Neel Kashkari, Mary Daly, Christopher Waller, Israel, John Riccitiello, J.P.Morgan, Shashwat Chauhan, Ankika Biswas, Arun Koyyur, Shounak Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, PepsiCo, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Federal, Columbus, Peoples, Microsoft, Nvidia, XM, Traders, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Dow e, Rivian, UBS, EV, Alibaba Group, PDD Holdings, Baidu, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Gaza, Minneapolis, Wells Fargo, Beijing, Bengaluru

☆ Morning Bid: 'Remarkable' US markets surf crosscurrents
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., September 28, 2023. Stock futures are higher once again ahead of the bell today. As cash Treasury markets returned from Monday's Columbus Day holiday to a week of heavy long-term debt auctions, they were also greeted with rekindled optimism about the Federal Reserve's policy rate trajectory. Ten-year U.S. Treasury yields are set to kick off Tuesday's U.S. trading day at some 4.65% - almost a quarter of a percentage point below the peak set just after Friday's blowout September jobs report. Elsewhere, PepsiCo (PEP.O) edged 0.8% higher ahead of the beverage maker's third-quarter results and Unity (U.N) jumped 6.4% after the video-game software maker said its CEO John Riccitiello would retire.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Mike Dolan, Lorie Logan, Logan, Philip Jefferson chimed, John Riccitiello, Christopher Waller, Neel Kashkari, Mary Daly, Raphael Bostic, Ed Osmond Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Columbus, Federal, Dallas Fed, Treasury, Monetary Fund, IMF, World Bank, Fund, HK, Bloomberg, Alibaba, Baidu, PepsiCo, Reserve, San Francisco Fed, Atlanta Fed, PepsiCo NFIB Consumer, Reuters Messaging, Thomson, Reuters Locations: New York City, U.S, Israel, Marrakesh, China, Beijing, Minneapolis, San

☆ Once dubbed a 'zombie' index, this Asian stock market is trying European-style trading to reinvent itself
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Structured certificates are financial instruments issued by a third party, that are based on underlying assets — their returns depend on the performance of the asset, which can be a single stock or an equity index. Singapore began offering listed structured certificates on Aug. 30, with its inaugural issue being one linked to Hong Kong-listed shares of Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group Holding . "So tech names, Hong Kong names, U.S. names, Japanese names. SGX's move to broaden its equity-linked product base "could drive incremental market interest," including offering depository receipts and structured certificates, Wickramasinghe told CNBC. Structured certificates are more more popular in Europe, as investors there are "broadly speaking, very yield focused," Syn told CNBC.

Persons: Roslan RAHMAN, ROSLAN RAHMAN, Roslan Rahman, Thilan Wickramasinghe, Michael Syn, CNBC's, Serene Cai, Tharman, Wickramasinghe, Syn, Adam Reynolds, Reynolds Organizations: Getty, Afp, Singapore Exchange, CNBC, Inside Venture, Saxo Markets Locations: Singapore, AFP, Asia, Hong Kong, SGX, Pacific, Europe

☆ Alibaba to list its logistics unit Cainiao as part of historic shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Alibaba plans to list its logistics unit Cainiao on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Chinese e-commerce giant said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday. Alibaba said the Hong Kong Stock Exchange has confirmed that the Cainiao listing may go ahead. Founded in 2013, Cainiao is a logistics network that helps Alibaba fulfil deliveries placed on its e-commerce platforms both in China and abroad. Delivery speed is a point of competition among Chinese e-commerce firms. As well as Cainiao, Alibaba is also looking to list its cloud computing business, though it has not officially filed for a spinoff.

Persons: Alibaba, Cainiao, JD.com, Daniel Zhang, Eddie Wu, Zhang, Wu Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: Shanghai, Cainiao, China

[1/2] People visit the booth of Alibaba's logistics unit Cainiao at the 2021 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 3, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 26 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group (9988.HK) on Tuesday kicked off its restructuring with a plan to list its logistics arm Cainiao in Hong Kong that would make the unit the first to be separated since the Chinese e-commerce giant announced its break-up six months ago. U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba pared early premarket trading losses following Tuesday's announcement and were down 0.4% at $86.86 by 1037 GMT. Alibaba in late March announced its biggest restructuring in its 24-year history. In the months since, the company has approved a process to start external financing for its international commerce arm and was also looking to list its cloud unit.

Persons: Florence Lo, Alibaba, Cainiao, Dealmakers, Jack Ma, Daniel Zhang, Brenda Goh, Ayushman, Varun, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, Alibaba, HK, Tuesday, Smart Logistics Network, Reuters, Intime, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Cainiao, Hong Kong . U.S

☆ Cainiao IPO: Alibaba's logistics business will go public in first IPO from the new-look tech giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Anna Cooban | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Alibaba said Tuesday that it would spin off Cainiao, its logistics arm, in what will be the conglomerate’s first initial public offering since it announced a sweeping revamp of its business earlier this year. Cainiao will remain a subsidiary of Alibaba. Founded in 2013, Cainiao operates a global logistics network and provides delivery services for Alibaba and other firms. Alibaba is now beginning to follow through with the most ambitious restructuring in its 24-year history, under new leadership. Cainiao’s listing could provide a much-needed boost to Hong Kong’s beleaguered IPO market.

Persons: London CNN — Alibaba, Cainiao, Alibaba, Eddie Wu, Perris Lee Organizations: London CNN, Alibaba, Cainiao Smart Logistics Network, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, CNN Locations: Hong, Hong Kong, Dealogic

The capability, which Intel showed off during a software developer conference held in Silicon Valley, could let businesses and consumers test ChatGPT-style technologies without sending sensitive data off their own computer. It is made possible by new AI data-crunching features built into Intel's forthcoming "Meteor Lake" laptop chip and from new software tools the company is releasing. Intel said on Tuesday that it was building a new supercomputer that would be used by Stability AI, a startup that makes image-generating software. China's Alibaba Group Holdings (9988.HK) is using its newest central processors to serve up chatbot technology, Intel said. If Intel Chief Gelsinger can make AI "so that anyone can use it, that creates a much bigger market for chips – the chips that he makes," Hutcheson said.

Persons: Arnd, Taylor Swift, Pat Gelsinger, Gelsinger, Sachin Katti, Dan Hutcheson, TechInsights, Hutcheson, Stephen Nellis, Max Cherney, Peter Henderson, Lincoln, Josie Kao Organizations: Intel Corporation, REUTERS, JOSE, Intel, ., Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Nvidia, Stability, Alibaba, Holdings, Meta, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Davos, Switzerland, California, Silicon Valley, HK, San Francisco, San Jose , California

☆ Alibaba tells Erdogan it plans to invest $2 billion in Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Shopping trolley is seen in front of Alibaba logo in this illustration, July 24, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsISTANBUL, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (9988.HK) has told Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan it plans to invest $2 billion in Turkey. Michael Evans, president of Alibaba, made the comments in a meeting with Erdogan, according to a statement from the company's Turkish unit. Evans also said Alibaba has invested $1.4 billion in Turkey through its unit Trendyol, one of Turkey's best known e-commerce platforms, the statement said. Erdogan is in the United States to attend the 78th session of the U.N. General Assembly.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Tayyip Erdogan, Michael Evans, Alibaba, Erdogan, Evans, Trendyol, Caglayan Cetin, Daren Butler, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Alibaba, Holding, HK, Turkish, General, Istanbul, Thomson Locations: Rights ISTANBUL, Turkey, Turkish, United States, Ankara

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 29, 2023. SoftBank's Arm Holdings gained 6.5% after a stellar Nasdaq debut on Thursday, rekindling hopes of a turnaround in the initial public offering (IPO) market. U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba Group Holdings , JD.com , PDD Holdings (PDD.O) and Xpeng rose between 0.1% and 1.6%. ET, Dow e-minis were up 85 points, or 0.24%, S&P 500 e-minis were up 6 points, or 0.13%, and Nasdaq 100 e-minis were down 4.5 points, or 0.03%. Reporting by Ankika Biswas and Shristi Achar A in Bengaluru Editing by Vinay DwivediOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Lam, Taiwan's TSMC, Stellantis, rekindling, Russ Mould, AJ Bell, Ankika Biswas, Shristi, Vinay Dwivedi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Ford, Motors, UAW, Dow, Nasdaq, Lam Research, KLA Corp, Reuters, Ford Motor, General Motors, United Auto Workers, Chrysler, SoftBank's Arm Holdings, Nvidia, there's, Therapeutics, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Traders, Federal Reserve, University of, Alibaba Group Holdings, PDD Holdings, Dow e, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ Starbucks' former CEO Schultz to retire from board
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Deborah Mary Sophia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks during his book tour in Seattle, Washington, U.S., January 31, 2019. In March, Schultz defended himself and the company against allegations of "union busting" at a U.S. Senate committee hearing. Schultz, 70, stepped down as CEO in March after he returned to the helm for the third time. He oversaw a major revamp in technology at Starbucks' stores during his latest stint, doubling down on equipment and employee training to improve service. Other members on the board include Microsoft (MSFT.O) CEO Satya Nadella and former Domino's Pizza (DPZ.N) boss Richard Allison.

Persons: Howard Schultz, Jason Redmond, Schultz, Stephens, Joshua Long, Wei Zhang, Zhang, Satya Nadella, Richard Allison, Deborah Sophia, Sriraj Organizations: Starbucks, REUTERS, U.S, Wall Street, Alibaba, Alibaba Pictures, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington , U.S, U.S, Bengaluru

NEW YORK (AP) — Longtime Starbucks leader Howard Schultz is stepping down from the company's board of directors, the coffee chain announced. Schultz is credited for transforming the Seattle-based business into the coffee giant it's known as today. His departure from the board is “part of a planned transition,” the company said Wednesday. In recent months, Starbucks and Schultz also came under fire over allegations that the company violated labor laws amid workers' unionization efforts. The National Labor Relations Board previously charged Starbucks with hundreds of labor law violations, including firing labor organizers and illegally closing unionized stores.

Persons: —, Howard Schultz, Schultz, Laxman Narasimhan, Wei Zhang, Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: ”, Starbucks, Alibaba Group, Vermont Independent, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, National Labor Relations Board Locations: Seattle, China, American, Vermont

☆ Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz steps down from board of directors
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Starbucks announced Wednesday that Howard Schultz is stepping down from its board of directors – but the former chairman’s name will be sticking around. Though Schultz is retiring, Starbucks is giving him the title of “lifelong Chairman Emeritus.”Schultz is stepping down as part of a planned transition, Starbucks said in a statement. He previously stepped down as CEO in March, as employees at stores across the nation moved to unionize. That was Schultz’s third time serving in the CEO role. Then, in April 2022, Johnson stepped down and Schultz took over the coffee giant as interim CEO.

Persons: Howard Schultz, –, Schultz, ” Schultz, Sheri, Wei Zhang, Zhang, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Jack Ma, ”, Laxman Narasimhan, “, Kevin Johnson, Johnson, Narasimhan Organizations: New, New York CNN, Starbucks, Alibaba, Alibaba Pictures, Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, Amblin Partners, Jack Ma Foundation, Starbucks Workers Locations: New York, China, Oleato

Alibaba Group sign is seen at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Alibaba said on Wednesday it would open its artificial intelligence model Tongyi Qianwen to the public, in a sign it has gained Chinese regulatory approval to mass-market the model. He was replaced by newly installed Alibaba Group CEO, Eddie Wu. In an internal letter to Alibaba staff on Tuesday, Wu said that AI would be at the centre of Alibaba Group's future strategy. Alibaba first unveiled Tongyi Qianwen in April, saying at the time that the AI large language model, which is similar to ChatGPT, would be integrated into all business applications.

Persons: Aly, Alibaba, Daniel Zhang, Eddie Wu, Wu, Tongyi Qianwen, Casey Hall, Tom Hogue Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Rights, Cloud Intelligence Division, Zhejiang University, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, United States, DingTalk, Alibaba

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