U.S. intelligence says Putin still aims to control all of Ukraine
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influenc...
SoftBank has taken a $2 billion equity stake in Intel, becoming its sixth-largest shareholder as the U.S. chipmaker seeks to recover from mounting losses.
Intel will issue new common shares to accommodate the $2 billion (about £1.57 billion) investment from Japan’s SoftBank, which is acquiring the stock at $23 per share, the companies said on Monday. The move gives SoftBank an equity stake of just under 2%, according to an Intel spokesperson.
The Tokyo-based tech investor will not seek a seat on Intel’s board or commit to buying its chips, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters. SoftBank’s holding will make it Intel’s sixth-largest shareholder, based on LSEG data.
Shares in Intel rose 5.6% in after-hours trading following the announcement, while SoftBank stock fell more than 5% in Tokyo on Tuesday.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said the investment “reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role.”
The deal comes as Intel attempts a turnaround after years of underperformance and strategic missteps that left it lagging in the fast-growing artificial intelligence chip market. The firm reported a loss of $18.8 billion in 2024 — its first annual loss since 1986.
Last week, reports emerged that the U.S. government is considering a 10% stake in Intel following a meeting between Intel’s new CEO Lip-Bu Tan and President Donald Trump. Tan’s appointment has drawn scrutiny over his previous ties to Chinese firms. However, the SoftBank deal is unrelated to that meeting, a source said.
SoftBank has made a series of large-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) related investments in 2025, including a $30 billion commitment to OpenAI and a $500 billion plan for the Stargate U.S. data centre project. On Monday, Taiwan’s Foxconn said it would manufacture data centre equipment with SoftBank in Ohio as part of the Stargate initiative.
SoftBank declined to provide further comment on the Intel deal when contacted by Reuters.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The United States says it is working to secure a renewed ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing cautious optimism that an agreement could be reached early next week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
Iran has called for greater international support in hosting millions of Afghan refugees, warning that it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage the long-term humanitarian burden without a fair sharing of responsibilities.
Ukraine has carried out its first aerial drone strike on a Russian “shadow fleet” oil tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting a growing intensity in Kyiv’s attacks on Russian oil shipping, officials said on Friday (19 December).
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