What's next for Paul Allen's big investments? It's not clear

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What's next for Paul Allen's big investments? It's not clear

2018-10-19 05:10 Last Updated At：10:40

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropy, some of it eclectic and highly speculative.

Allen died on Monday. What happens to those commitments now? Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure.

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FILE- In this Nov. 6, 2004, file photo, Paul Allen, chairman of Charter Communications and co-founder of Microsoft looks in the air while making remarks during the ceremonies and presentation of the $ 10 million check and the trophy, on the left, to Scaled Composites as part of the Ansari X Prize. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJames A. Finley, File)

Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropy, some of it eclectic and highly speculative.

FILE- In this June 21, 2004, file photo project designer Burt Rutan, left, and sponsor Paul Allen watch the approach and landing of SpaceShipOne after a trip to suborbital space at Mojave, Calif. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoReed Saxon, File)

His investment company, Vulcan Inc., said Allen "thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them."

FILE- In this Oct. 15, 2018, file photo students walk out of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer, File)

FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, file photo a portrait of Paul Allen stands on a wall at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)

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Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropy, some of it eclectic and highly speculative.

His investment company, Vulcan Inc., said Allen "thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them."

FILE- In this Oct. 15, 2018, file photo students walk out of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2003 file photo, Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder for the dedication of the Paul G. Allen Center for Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoJohn Froschauer, File)

FILE- In this Monday, Oct. 15, 2018, file photo a portrait of Paul Allen stands on a wall at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. Prior to his death on Monday, Allen invested large sums in technology ventures, research projects and philanthropies, some of them eclectic and highly speculative. Outside of bland assurances from his investment company, no one seems quite sure what happens now. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson, File)

Allen never married and had no children, and details of his estate aren't known.

His investment company, Vulcan Inc., said Allen "thoughtfully addressed how the many institutions he founded and supported would continue after he was no longer able to lead them."

The company declined to discuss specifics but said there are no imminent changes planned for the number of institutions and programs that he lead and funded.

Philanthropy experts say Allen was a non-traditionalist who put his stamp on his giving.

US envoy to UN visits Nagasaki A-bomb museum, pays tribute to victims

2024-04-19 20:20 Last Updated At：20:31

TOKYO (AP) — The American envoy to the United Nations called Friday for countries armed with atomic weapons to pursue nuclear disarmament as she visited the atomic bomb museum in Nagasaki, Japan.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who became the first U.S. cabinet member to visit Nagasaki, stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy amid a growing nuclear threat in the region.

“We must continue to work together to create an environment for nuclear disarmament. We must continue to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in every corner of the world,” she said after a tour of the atomic bomb museum.

“For those of us who already have those weapons, we must pursue arms control. We can and must work to ensure that Nagasaki is the last place to ever experience the horror of nuclear weapons,” she added, standing in front of colorful hanging origami cranes, a symbol of peace.

The United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. A second attack three days later on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more people. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and its nearly half-century of aggression in Asia.

Nagasaki Gov. Kengo Oishi said in a statement that he believed Thomas-Greenfield's visit and her first-person experience at the museum “will be a strong message in promoting momentum of nuclear disarmament for the international society at a time the world faces a severe environment surrounding atomic weapons.”

Oishi said he conveyed to the ambassador the increasingly important role of Nagasaki and Hiroshima in emphasizing the need of nuclear disarmament.

Thomas-Greenfield's visit to Japan comes on the heels of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit to the United States last week and is aimed at deepening Washington's trilateral ties with Tokyo and Seoul. During her visit to South Korea earlier this week, she held talks with South Korean officials, met with defectors from North Korea and visited the demilitarized zone.

The ambassador said the United States is looking into setting up a new mechanism for monitoring North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Russia and China have thwarted U.S.-led efforts to step up U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its ballistic missile testing since 2022, underscoring a deepening divide between permanent Security Council members over Russia’s war on Ukraine.

She said it would be “optimal” to launch the new system next month, though it is uncertain if that is possible.

The U.N. Security Council established a committee to monitor sanctions, and the mandate for its panel of experts to investigate violations had been renewed for 14 years until last month, when Russia vetoed another renewal.

In its most recent report, the panel of experts said it is investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023 valued at approximately $3 billion, with the money reportedly being used to help fund its weapons development.

The United States, Japan and South Korea have been deepening security ties amid growing tension in the region from North Korea and China.

What's next for Paul Allen's big investments? It's not clear

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