Below is a delayed version of our flagship newsletter, Yassas, Victoria from Techpoint here, Here's what I've got for you today: Bamboo gets US licence, unlocking stock markets for Africans Bamboo, a Nigerian investment app that lets Africans trade U.S. stocks, just a U.S. broker-dealer licence through its affiliate, Bamboo Securities L.L.C. This makes Bamboo the first Nigerian fintech to achieve such a feat, opening up exciting possibilities for retail and corporate investors across Africa. With this licence, Bamboo can now collaborate with African brokers and businesses to offer seamless access to the U.S. stock market. Basically, companies can now partner with Bamboo to give their clients the chance to invest in U.S. stocks, making the global market even more accessible to Africans. Why is this such a big deal? Africa’s wealth management market has long been underdeveloped, with only a fraction of global wealth held on the continent despite its vast population. Bamboo’s move directly challenges this narrative, aiming to democratise investing by making the global stock market accessible to anyone with a smartphone. Since its launch in 2019, Bamboo has been a pioneer in this space, serving over 300,000 users who can now invest in thousands of U.S. and Nigerian stocks. But it’s not stopping there — Bamboo is expanding into remittances with its new app, “Coins by Bamboo,” designed to help Nigerians in the diaspora send money back home quickly and cheaply. Tyme’s $150M push into the big leagues Nubank just into South Africa’s Tyme Group as part of a $250 million Series D funding round, which also saw contributions from M&G Catalyst Fund and existing shareholders. The cash injection will help Tyme expand into Southeast Asia, with plans to set up shop in Vietnam and Indonesia. Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. This investment is a big deal for Nubank — it’s their first move outside Latin America, showing just how hot Africa’s fintech scene has become on the global stage. Tyme Group, which runs TymeBank, has been making waves since its South African launch in 2019, backed by billionaire Patrice Motsepe’s African Rainbow Capital. The bank has already racked up over 10 million customers in South Africa and another 5 million in the Philippines. And by the end of 2023, it even hit its first profit, proving its digital-only banking model works like a charm in emerging markets. Thanks to this new funding, Tyme is now a unicorn (valued at over $1 billion), joining the ranks of South Africa’s tech elite. But Nubank’s involvement isn’t just about the money — they’re now a 10% stakeholder in Tyme. For context, Nubank is the world’s largest digital bank by market value, worth $56 billion since its 2013 launch. Their expertise is expected to give Tyme a major boost as it scales its operations in Southeast Asia. Tyme isn’t stopping anytime soon. After launching GoTyme in the Philippines, they’re gearing up to open a digital bank in Vietnam, already supported by 300 tech staff in the country. Their goal? To crack the top three retail banks in South Africa within three years while making waves in Southeast Asia. This investment also highlights how Africa’s fintech space is growing fast. Revenues are expected to hit $60 billion by 2030, driven by key markets like South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Kenya, with the sector growing at an annual rate of 32%. In short, Nubank’s move into Tyme isn’t just about backing a promising digital bank; it’s a play on the massive potential of emerging markets in Africa and Asia. Exciting times ahead for fintech! Talk of the town is that a South African digital infrastructure company Host Africa is into Nigeria, seeking regulatory approval to acquire GO54 (formerly WhoGoHost) for an undisclosed amount. The deal involves Host Africa taking over everything essential to GO54’s operations — intellectual property, equipment, furniture, contracts, domains, and more. This will allow the company to offer its web hosting, cloud services, and domain registration solutions to Nigerian customers. What’s the deal about? The acquisition is being executed through a Sale of Asset Agreement, which transfers all GO54’s key assets to Host Africa. To make this work, Host Africa has set up a local subsidiary, Host Africa Nigeria Limited, which was registered in October 2024, according to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) filings. This move marks Host Africa’s entry into Nigeria’s fast-growing digital services market — a smart play, given GO54’s track record of steady revenue growth, a diverse customer base, and a solid product portfolio. Why it matters: Host Africa sees GO54 as the perfect way to build an affordable one-stop shop for Nigerians’ digital needs. From retail to enterprise clients, the company plans to make online services more accessible. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has already backed the deal, calling it a win for Nigerian consumers. According to the FCCPC, the acquisition will not only boost local tech talent but also accelerate online adoption across Nigeria. Cassava’s $90M equity funding Cassava Technologies is making big moves with a $90 million equity investment to power its growth in emerging markets. This comes just five months after the company launched its AI unit, focused on improving digital services across Africa. The funding round, led by DFC, Google, and Finnfund, gives Cassava the financial boost it needs to keep pushing its mission to bridge Africa’s digital divide. CEO Hardy Pemhiwa called it a game-changer, saying the investment supports the company’s goal of expanding digital infrastructure in over 30 markets. On top of that, Cassava’s subsidiary, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, locked in $220 million in refinancing for its South African Rand term loan. With backing from Standard Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank, and the IFC, the funding gives them room to grow and enhance their services. Cassava has also streamlined its operations into an all-in-one digital platform, offering broadband, cloud computing, cybersecurity, AI, fintech, and more. This move sets them up to deliver cutting-edge solutions across Africa, the Middle East, India, and Latin America. With Google now on board as a shareholder, alongside longtime partners like Econet Group and British International Investment, the company is gaining serious backing to take its vision global. Between the fresh funding, AI innovation, and plans to close the digital gap, Cassava is doubling down on its mission to connect and transform Africa. In case you missed it What I'm watching Opportunities Have a wonderful Wednesday! for Techpoint Africa.China's First Factory-Based Seawater Hydrogen Production Project Completed At Sinopec Qingdao Refinery
In a surprising move overnight, Microsoft has announced that GitHub Copilot, their AI-powered code completion tool, is now be available to users for free. This decision marks a significant shift in the landscape of software development, breaking down barriers to access and potentially reshaping how developers around the globe work. GitHub Copilot, initially launched in partnership with OpenAI, has been an innovative tool since its inception. It uses machine learning to suggest code and entire functions in real-time, drawing from a vast database of public code repositories. This tool has been particularly lauded for its ability to accelerate coding tasks, reduce errors, and introduce developers to new coding practices. Microsoft’s decision to make GitHub Copilot free comes at a time when the demand for skilled developers continues to skyrocket. In their official statement, Microsoft emphasized that the move aims to democratize access to advanced coding tools: “By removing the financial barrier, we hope to empower developers everywhere, from students to seasoned professionals, to leverage AI in their daily coding tasks. This is about making the technology accessible to all, fostering innovation, and enhancing productivity on a global scale.” The company also noted that this strategy aligns with their broader mission to enhance developer productivity and inclusivity in tech. The immediate reaction from the developer community has been overwhelmingly positive. Developers on social media platforms and coding forums have expressed excitement about the potential for learning, experimentation, and project development without the previous subscription costs. Despite Microsoft’s close working relationship with OpenAI to access their latest models.. CoPilot users have a choice of multiple LLM models. Free users currently have access to GPT 4o (not the latest o1 models) as well as Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Microsoft famously invested $10Billion into OpenAI to have access to their Large Language Models which they clone and run on their own infrastructure. That investment is supposed to be paying dividends, but this move suggests they are not hitting the adoption rates thought paid tiers they’d expect. By exposing users to a freemium model, it will likely be easier to convince users there’s real benefit and time savings on offer here, but only time will tell if they succeed in the upsell. The tech giant also hinted at potential collaborations with educational systems and non-profits to leverage Copilot’s new status for broader educational and community benefits. On a positive note, this step by Microsoft reaffirms their commitment to the developer community but also sets a precedent for how tech giants can use their resources to foster a more inclusive tech ecosystem. As we move forward, it will be fascinating to observe the ripple effects of this decision on software development practices, education, and innovation worldwide. Go try it for yourself on the web and in Visual Studio. GitHub Copilot Free is here. Start using it now in Visual Studio—Completions, Chat, Copilot Edits, smarter debugging, AI commit messages, and more. Learn more:
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AP News Summary at 10:21 a.m. EST
Britain’s lost knocker uppers | Holy Cow! History
As TikTok bill steams forward, online influencers put on their lobbying hats to visit WashingtonThousands of people have descended on the site where former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by an Israeli air strike, after the group allowed access to the area for the first time for a public memorial. The massive crater left by the Beirut strike was lit up in red and festooned with Hezbollah flags. At its centre, torches projected light beams into the night sky. Men, women and children wept at the sight of the crater, while the crowd chanted “At your service, Nasrallah” – a common rallying cry among Hezbollah supporters. Nasrallah led Hezbollah for more than 30 years as it became a formidable force in Lebanon, turning him into one of the most influential figures in the Middle East. A ceasefire deal agreed between Hezbollah and Israel on Wednesday paved the way for the southern suburb where Nasrallah was killed, on 27 September, to be opened to journalists and the public. The militant and political group had previously closely guarded access to the suburb, known as the Dahieh, particularly the place where Nasrallah was assassinated, which was entirely closed off. The Israeli strike that killed the Hezbollah leader was reportedly made up of as many as 80 bunker busting bombs, and it destroyed several residential buildings in Harek Hreik – the neighbourhood that forms the centre of Hezbollah’s operations in Beirut. When the crowd was granted access to the site for the first time on Saturday night, people surged into the open area left by the destroyed buildings and climbed up around the edges of the crater. Many held aloft candles and pictures of Nasrallah, who was 64, while a speech by the former leader played from a sound system. “For these two and half months we have refused to believe that he is really gone,” said Narjis Khshaish, 31, who wept and clutched a candle. “We have all just been waiting to reach this place to receive his blessings,” she said. Moussa Dirani, 57, brought his teenage son to the memorial event. “It is very sad and painful to see this site,” he said. “But the resistance does not stop with Nasrallah, his death gives us power to continue along his path.” The hundreds of Hezbollah flags at the event would “continue to fly high”, said Fida Nasreddine, 34. “We are with Hassan Nasrallah until the last breath,” she said. Nasrallah’s assassination shocked Lebanon and the wider world when the news broke in September. He had rarely been seen in public since Hezbollah’s 2006 war with Israel, and was protected by tight security at all times. He was one of a number of senior Hezbollah figures killed by Israel in air strikes between September and the ceasefire agreement struck on Wednesday. The group had been badly damaged by the assassinations, but the sense of celebration in the Hezbollah-dominated areas of Beirut "cannot be dismissed as insincere", said David Wood, a Lebanon analyst with Crisis Group. "The achievements that Hezbollah has promoted - maintaining its ground operations against Israel, ensuring that tens of thousands of Israelis couldn't return to their homes, and having a severe impact on Israel's economy, I don't think those achievements are nothing, and I think lots of its supporters will see an element of victory in that."
Struggling EV startup Canoo says it has furloughed 82 employees and is idling its factory in Oklahoma while it grasps for the capital needed to survive. The company claims it is in “advanced discussions with various capital sources” to raise emergency funding. The announcement comes just a few days after board member James Chen resigned, and roughly one month after the company saw its chief financial officer and head lawyer depart . Canoo is also facing multiple lawsuits from suppliers over alleged late payments. The new furloughs cap what has been a rough year for the startup. The company has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs and furloughs, and closed the Los Angeles office that used to serve as its headquarters. Canoo’s chief technology officer left in August , and all of the company’s founders are now gone. In the meantime, it has been kept afloat by loans from the venture firm run by its CEO, Tony Aquila. It’s unclear what Canoo was making at its facility in Oklahoma before deciding to pause operations there. So far, the company has delivered electric vans to NASA, USPS, Walmart, and the Department of Defense for testing. But it has failed at its broader ambitions of ramping up manufacturing for other commercial customers. In an unsigned statement, Canoo said: “We regret having to furlough our employees, especially during the holidays, but we have no choice at this point. We are hopeful that we will be able to bring them back to work soon.” Aquila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
As had been rumored in recent weeks, Nebraska wide receiver Malachi Coleman is indeed entering the transfer portal. Head coach Matt Rhule confirmed the news during his weekly media availability on Monday, wishing Coleman the best. Follow us on Facebook Related: Huskers WR Jacory Barney earns Big Ten weekly honor The former Lincoln East High School standout was rated as a four-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite as the top player in the state and a top-65 player in the country. In fact, he even got some run as a true freshman. In five games last season, Coleman had eight catches for 139 yards and a touchdown, showing some big-play ability that got many fans excited. This season, he's been redshirting, but with roster limits taking effect for next year and several other young receivers apparently ahead of Coleman on the depth chart, the Lincoln native is hitting the portal to find a better opportunity. Coleman posted a message on social media, thanking Nebraska’s coaches, players and fans. “I will forever be thankful for the relationships I’ve built, the lessons I’ve learned, and the experiences I’ve had here. Wearing the N and fulfilling my childhood dream of playing for my hometown has been an honor,” his message said. With NCAA regulations forcing the Huskers to carry roughly 45 fewer players starting next year, Rhule said he expects between 30 and 50 guys to enter the portal after the season, although he didn't say anyone else had already left the team. Related: Here are the best PFF grades in Nebraska's win over Wisconsin Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Biden opens final White House holiday season with turkey pardons and first lady gets Christmas tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has kicked off his final holiday season at the White House, issuing the traditional reprieve to two turkeys who will bypass the Thanksgiving table to live out their days in Minnesota. The president welcomed 2,500 guests under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom.” He also sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency. Separately, first lady Jill Biden received the delivery of the official White House Christmas tree. And the Bidens are traveling to New York later Monday for an early holiday celebration with members of the Coast Guard. Formula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 will expand the grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a federal investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti, who has since stepped aside. The 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. US goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer U.S. women’s national team goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher is retiring from international soccer. Naeher is on the team’s roster for a pair of upcoming matches in Europe but those will be her last after a full 11 years playing for the United States. Naeher was on the U.S. team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2019 and the gold medal at this year's Olympics in France. She’s the only U.S. goalkeeper to earn a shutout in both a World Cup and an Olympic final. Bah, humbug! Vandal smashes Ebenezer Scrooge's tombstone used in 'A Christmas Carol' movie LONDON (AP) — If life imitates art, a vandal in the English countryside may be haunted by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Police in the town of Shrewsbury are investigating how a tombstone at the fictional grave of Ebenezer Scrooge was destroyed. The movie prop used in the 1984 adaption of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol” had become a tourist attraction. The film starred George C. Scott as the cold-hearted curmudgeon who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve who show him what will become of his life if he doesn’t become a better person. West Mercia Police say the stone was vandalized in the past week. Megachurch founder T.D. Jakes suffers health incident during sermon at Dallas church DALLAS (AP) — The founder of Dallas-based megachurch The Potter's House, Bishop T.D. Jakes, was hospitalized after suffering what the church called a “slight health incident.” Jakes was speaking to churchgoers after he sat down and began trembling as several people gathered around him Sunday at the church. Jakes' daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts and her husband Touré Roberts said in a statement on social media late Sunday that Jakes was improving. The 67-year-old Jakes founded the non-denominational The Potter's House in 1996 and his website says it now has more than 30,000 members with campuses in Fort Worth and Frisco, Texas; and in Denver. At the crossroads of news and opinion, 'Morning Joe' hosts grapple with aftermath of Trump meeting The reaction of those who defended “Morning Joe” hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski for meeting with President-elect Trump sounds almost quaint in the days of opinionated journalism. Doesn't it makes sense, they said, for hosts of a political news show to meet with such an important figure? But given how “Morning Joe” has attacked Trump, its viewers felt insulted. Many reacted quickly by staying away. It all reflects the broader trend of opinion crowding out traditional journalist in today's marketplace, and the expectations that creates among consumers. By mid-week, the show's audience was less than two-thirds what it has typically been this year. Pilot dies in plane crash in remote woods of New York, puppy found alive WINDHAM, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a pilot and at least one dog he was transporting died when a small plane crashed in the snowy woods of the Catskill Mountains, though a puppy on the flight was found alive with two broken legs. The Greene County sheriff’s office says Seuk Kim of Springfield, Virginia, was flying from Maryland to Albany, New York, when the plane crashed at about 6:10 p.m. Sunday in a remote area. Officials believe the pilot died from the impact. The surviving dog was hospitalized, while a third dog was not located. The flight was connected with a not-for-profit group that transports rescue animals. Warren Buffett gives away another $1.1B and plans for distributing his $147B fortune after his death OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it’s possible that Buffett’s children could die before giving it all away. Buffett said he has no regrets about his decision to start giving away his fortune in 2006. Pop star Ed Sheeran apologizes to Man United boss Ruben Amorim for crashing interview MANCHESTER, England (AP) — British pop star Ed Sheeran has apologized to Ruben Amorim after inadvertently interrupting the new Manchester United head coach during a live television interview. Amorim was talking on Sky Sports after United’s 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Sunday when Sheeran walked up to embrace analyst Jamie Redknapp. The interview was paused before Redknapp told the pop star to “come and say hello in a minute.” Sheeran is a lifelong Ipswich fan and holds a minority stake in the club. He was pictured celebrating after Omari Hutchinson’s equalizing goal in the game at Portman Road. A desert oasis outside of Dubai draws a new caravan: A family of rodents from Argentina AL QUDRA LAKES, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A desert oasis hidden away in the dunes in the far reaches of skyscraper-studded Dubai has drawn a surprising new set of weary world travelers: a pack of Argentinian rodents. A number of Patagonian mara, a rabbit-like mammal with long legs, big ears and a body like a hoofed animal, now roam the grounds of Al Qudra Lakes, typically home to gazelle and other desert creatures of the United Arab Emirates. How they got there remains a mystery in the UAE, a country where exotic animals have ended up in the private homes and farms of the wealthy. But the pack appears to be thriving there and likely have survived several years already in a network of warrens among the dunes.Seibert misses an extra point late as the Commanders lose their 3rd in a row, 34-26 to the Cowboys
EXCLUSIVE: Tim Draper Predicts Bitcoin To Reach $120K By End Of 2024, $250K In 2025EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — If the Giants’ franchise-record 10th straight loss proved anything, it’s that New York could use a young franchise quarterback. Rookie Michael Penix Jr. showed what a young QB can do on Sunday against the Giants, who need to learn from it. The No. 8 overall pick in the draft, Penix played a nearly flawless game in his first career start to help the Falcons thrash the woeful Giants 34-7 in their best performance in weeks. The Giants gambled in 2019 that Daniel Jones would be their franchise QB and it really never panned out. The one exception was the 2022 season, when the No. 6 overall pick had a career year and led New York to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff berth in the first season after Joe Schoen was hired as general manager and Brian Daboll was named coach. The Giants even won a playoff game. With the release of Jones last month, the Giants (2-13) are now a team without a quarterback who can perform at the level required of an NFL starter. Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock have split the last four starts but neither has provided much of a spark for the league’s worst offense. Lock handed the Falcons the game with two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns. To turn things around next season, the Giants must find a quarterback. “I’d say it’s very important,” Daboll said Monday. New York is going to have a high pick in the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in late April. It could even be the No. 1 overall selection. Choosing the right quarterback is going to be hard. There isn’t a can’t-miss choice in 2025 draft and forcing one early would be a mistake. Unless the Giants are convinced that Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe or someone else is the next franchise player, they have have so many needs that it would be better to wheel and deal and fill as many holes as possible. Even if the Giants take a quarterback in the second round, there’s bound to be someone available who has a chance to be better than what they have now. What’s working The calendar. The season ends in less than two weeks. What needs help The franchise is in disarray, and a shakeup appears likely. Daboll’s future as the coach is not bright, considering the current skid and two straight losing seasons. Schoen has to share the blame and so do co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, who hired the GM and coach. Stock up LB Darius Muasau. The sixth-round draft pick out of UCLA has started the last three games since Bobby Okereke (back) was hurt and eventually put on injured reserve last week. Muasau had 11 tackles Sunday along with a quarterback hit and a tackle for a loss. He made the defensive calls after LB Micah McFadden left with a neck injury. Stock down Lock. In his starts, Lock has had three interceptions returned for touchdowns. He also lost a fumble on a strip-sack at Atlanta. Lock sustained a shoulder injury during the game and had an MRI on Monday. Injuries Besides Lock and McFadden, S Jason Pinnock (eye) also left the game. C John Michael Schmitz and RB Tyrone Tracy were evaluated for ankle injuries on Monday. Key number 1 — Thanks to the Raiders’ victory over the Jaguars, the Giants will have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft with two more losses. Next steps For the ninth and final time, the Giants will try to find a way to win at MetLife Stadium. New York is 0-8 heading into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. Its only other winless season at home was in 1974 when New York played at the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Connecticut, while Giants Stadium was being built. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it's possible that Buffett's children could die before giving it all away. He didn't identify the successors, but said his kids all know them and agree they would be good choices. “Father time always wins. But he can be fickle – indeed unfair and even cruel – sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit,” the 94-year-old Buffett said in a letter to his fellow shareholders Monday. “To date, I’ve been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me. There is, however, a downside to my good fortune in avoiding his notice. The expected life span of my children has materially diminished since the 2006 pledge. They are now 71, 69 and 66.” Buffett said he still has no interest in creating dynastic wealth in his family — a view shared by his first and current wives. He acknowledged giving Howard, Peter and Susie millions over the years, but he has long said he believes “hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.” The secret to building up such massive wealth over time has been the power of compounding interest and the steady growth of the Berkshire conglomerate Buffett leads through acquisitions and smart investments like buying billions of dollars of Apple shares as iPhone sales continued to drive growth in that company. Buffett never sold any of his Berkshire stock over the years and also resisted the trappings of wealth and never indulged in much — preferring instead to continue living in the same Omaha home he'd bought decades earlier and drive sensible luxury sedans about 20 blocks to work each day. “As a family, we have had everything we needed or simply liked, but we have not sought enjoyment from the fact that others craved what we had,” he said. If Buffett and his first wife had never given away any of their Berkshire shares, the family's fortune would be worth nearly $364 billion — easily making him the world's richest man — but Buffett said he had no regrets about his giving over the years. The family's giving began in earnest with the distribution of Susan Buffett's $3 billion estate after her death in 2004, but really took off when Warren Buffett announced plans in 2006 to make annual gifts to the foundations run by his kids along with the one he and his wife started, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Warren Buffett's giving to date has favored the Gates Foundation with $55 billion in stock because his friend Bill Gates already had his foundation set up and could handle huge gifts when Buffett started giving away his fortune. But Buffett has said his kids now have enough experience in philanthropy to handle the task and he plans to cut off his Gates Foundation donations after his death. Buffett always makes his main annual gifts to all five foundations every summer, but for several years now he has been giving additional Berkshire shares to his family's foundations at Thanksgiving. Buffett reiterated Monday his advice to every parent to allow their families to read their will while they are still alive — like he has done — to make sure they have a chance to explain their decisions about how to distribute their belongings and answer their children's questions. Buffett said he and his longtime investing partner Charlie Munger, who died a year ago, “saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry.” Today, Buffett continues to lead Berkshire Hathaway as chairman and CEO and has no plans to retire although he has handed over most of the day-to-day managing duties for the conglomerates dozens of companies to others. That allows him to focus on his favorite activity of deciding where to invest Berkshire's billions . One of Buffett's deputies who oversees all the noninsurance companies now, Greg Abel, is set to take over as CEO after Buffett's death. Even after converting 1,600 Class A shares into 2.4 million Class B Berkshire shares and giving them away, Buffett still owns 206,363 Class A shares and controls more than 30% of the vote.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Investor Warren Buffett renewed his Thanksgiving tradition of giving by handing out more than $1.1 billion of Berkshire Hathaway stock to four of his family's foundations Monday, and he offered new details about who will be handing out the rest of his fortune after his death. Buffett has said previously that his three kids will distribute his remaining $147.4 billion fortune in the 10 years after his death, but now he has also designated successors for them because it's possible that Buffett's children could die before giving it all away. He didn't identify the successors, but said his kids all know them and agree they would be good choices. “Father time always wins. But he can be fickle – indeed unfair and even cruel – sometimes ending life at birth or soon thereafter while, at other times, waiting a century or so before paying a visit,” the 94-year-old Buffett said in a letter to his fellow shareholders Monday. “To date, I’ve been very lucky, but, before long, he will get around to me. There is, however, a downside to my good fortune in avoiding his notice. The expected life span of my children has materially diminished since the 2006 pledge. They are now 71, 69 and 66.” Buffett said he still has no interest in creating dynastic wealth in his family — a view shared by his first and current wives. He acknowledged giving Howard, Peter and Susie millions over the years, but he has long said he believes “hugely wealthy parents should leave their children enough so they can do anything but not enough that they can do nothing.” The secret to building up such massive wealth over time has been the power of compounding interest and the steady growth of the Berkshire conglomerate Buffett leads through acquisitions and smart investments like buying billions of dollars of Apple shares as iPhone sales continued to drive growth in that company. Buffett never sold any of his Berkshire stock over the years and also resisted the trappings of wealth and never indulged in much — preferring instead to continue living in the same Omaha home he'd bought decades earlier and drive sensible luxury sedans about 20 blocks to work each day. “As a family, we have had everything we needed or simply liked, but we have not sought enjoyment from the fact that others craved what we had,” he said. If Buffett and his first wife had never given away any of their Berkshire shares, the family's fortune would be worth nearly $364 billion — easily making him the world's richest man — but Buffett said he had no regrets about his giving over the years. The family's giving began in earnest with the distribution of Susan Buffett's $3 billion estate after her death in 2004, but really took off when Warren Buffett announced plans in 2006 to make annual gifts to the foundations run by his kids along with the one he and his wife started, as well as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Warren Buffett's giving to date has favored the Gates Foundation with $55 billion in stock because his friend Bill Gates already had his foundation set up and could handle huge gifts when Buffett started giving away his fortune. But Buffett has said his kids now have enough experience in philanthropy to handle the task and he plans to cut off his Gates Foundation donations after his death. Buffett always makes his main annual gifts to all five foundations every summer, but for several years now he has been giving additional Berkshire shares to his family's foundations at Thanksgiving. Buffett reiterated Monday his advice to every parent to allow their families to read their will while they are still alive — like he has done — to make sure they have a chance to explain their decisions about how to distribute their belongings and answer their children's questions. Buffett said he and his longtime investing partner Charlie Munger, who died a year ago, “saw many families driven apart after the posthumous dictates of the will left beneficiaries confused and sometimes angry.” Today, Buffett continues to lead Berkshire Hathaway as chairman and CEO and has no plans to retire although he has handed over most of the day-to-day managing duties for the conglomerates dozens of companies to others. That allows him to focus on his favorite activity of deciding where to invest Berkshire's billions . One of Buffett's deputies who oversees all the noninsurance companies now, Greg Abel, is set to take over as CEO after Buffett's death. Even after converting 1,600 Class A shares into 2.4 million Class B Berkshire shares and giving them away, Buffett still owns 206,363 Class A shares and controls more than 30% of the vote.
How Cadillac Got Their Spot On The 2026 F1 Grid