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Intel’s CEO steps down
Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has stepped down after three years in charge at the chipmaker, following pressure from the US firm’s board of directors.
Gelsinger has said he will retire from Intel — where he spent most of his career — effective immediately. This follows a meeting with the company’s board, which reportedly gave him the option to retire or be removed, Bloomberg has reported.
Gelsinger rejoined Intel as CEO in February 2021, taking over from Bob Swan in an effort to turn around the chipmaker’s fortunes after Intel had lost ground to rivals, including Nvidia.
In a tweet confirming his departure, Gelsinger said: “Leading Intel has been the honour of my lifetime. I am forever grateful for the many colleagues around the world who I have worked with as part of the Intel family and can look back with pride at all that we have accomplished together. Thank you all!”
With Gelsinger out, Intel’s chief financial officer, David Zinsner, and Intel Products CEO, Michelle Johnston Holthaus, will temporarily serve as co-CEOs while the board searches for his replacement.
UK govt eyes donation cap to limit billionaire influence on elections amid Musk rumours
The UK government could cap political donations after reports emerged that tech billionaire Elon Musk is eyeing a $100 million donation to the Reform UK party.
Musk, who was a significant presence during the recent US Presidential Election, is reportedly a big fan of Reform leader Nigel Farage. He has expressed a strong dislike for current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer through his social media platform X.
Musk and Farage share ties to presidential-elect Trump, and Farage has hinted at Musk’s potential financial and ideological support, describing him as “supportive” of his policy positions.
Although no formal financial arrangement has been confirmed, the prospect has ignited debates over the role of international billionaires in domestic politics.
UK ministers are considering capping political donations to curb foreign influence, a reform potentially spurred by reports of Musk’s pledge.
Proposals under review suggest limiting annual donations from individuals and corporations to £100,000 ($127,000). This cap would aim to prevent undue influence by wealthy donors and foreign entities, but it could significantly impact the funding of major political parties.
Microsoft faces £1bn class action case in UK over software prices
Microsoft could be forced to pay over £1 billion in compensation to UK businesses if it loses a class action case claiming it overcharged companies for its Windows Server software.
According to reports, regulation expert Maria Luisa Stasi has filed a complaint with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal on an opt-out basis.
The lawsuit alleges that UK businesses are forced to pay more to license Microsoft’s Windows Server software on rival firms’ clouds than to license its own Azure platform.
This would theoretically allow Microsoft to lock businesses into its Azure platform, making it harder to switch to other hyperscalers.
Starlink told to cease operations in Namibia
The Namibian communications regulator has ordered Elon Musk’s satellite comms provider, Starlink, to cease operations in the country until the relevant licences are granted.
Starlink, part of SpaceX, provides mobile communications in remote areas through satellite connectivity. It currently operates in several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Benin, South Sudan, Eswatini, and Sierra Leone.
The firm said it had applied for a licence in Namibia, but the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) is currently reviewing the application.
In a statement, CRAN said it had found Starlink operating a network in the African country, prompting the regulator to send Musk a cease-and-desist order. SpaceX has yet to comment on the situation.
Telegram signs up to IWF child safety scheme
Following a controversial year which saw its founder placed under arrest, messaging app Telegram has announced it will work with an internationally recognised body to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
For years, Telegram has refused to engage with schemes such as the Internet Watch Foundation, which aims to detect and remove CSAM and to prevent its spread.
However, Telegram, used by around 950 million people worldwide, has announced a u-turn, saying it will join the IWF.
In a statement, the IWF called the move “transformational.”
“By joining the IWF, Telegram can begin deploying our world-leading tools to help make sure this material cannot be shared on the service,” said Derek Ray-Hill, Interim CEO at the IWF.
Earlier this year, Telegram founder Pavel Durov was arrested in Paris, accused of failing to moderate extreme content.
This occurred in August, and French judges have since barred the billionaire from leaving the country pending further investigations.
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