Orange Group’s Board of Directors has issued a statement reasserting its full confidence in CEO Stéphane Richard, who was placed under formal investigation for fraud last week.

The investigation relates to Mr Richard’s previous role working for the French government; it’s been alleged he was involved in agreeing a €285 million arbitration payment to businessman Bernard Tapie that was inappropriately high.

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, has called on European MPs to end mobile roaming charges.

In a statement, she said “I want you to be able to go back to your constituents and say that you were able to end mobile roaming costs. I want you to be able to say that you saved their right to access the open internet, by guaranteeing net neutrality. I want you to be able to say we took real action on cybercrime and other threats.”

Michael Bowman of voanews.com writes:

Top executives of American technology giant Apple faced intense questioning from U.S. lawmakers about the company's use of off-shore entities that allow it to shield billions of dollars in global profits from federal taxes. Apple’s chief executive admitted to no wrongdoing, but urged an overhaul of the U.S. tax code.