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☆ Northern Ireland police confident militants have officers' data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A police officer stands guard on the steps of Stormont Parliament in Belfast, Northern Ireland, January 16, 2017. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File PhotoBELFAST, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Northern Irish police are confident that militant groups are in possession of details of officers it accidentally shared publicly last week, the region's police chief said on Monday. The accidental data leak is hugely sensitive in Northern Ireland, where officers are still sporadically targeted by dissident groups in bomb and gun attacks, despite a 1998 peace deal largely ending three decades of sectarian violence. "We are now confident that the workforce dataset is in the hands of dissident republicans," Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne told a news conference. He added that he was confident the UK government stood ready to provide additional funding for protecting its workforce or staff if needed.

Persons: Clodagh, Constable Simon Byrne, Sinn, Gerry Kelly, Byrne, Amanda Ferguson, Padraic Halpin, Alistair Smout Organizations: REUTERS, Northern Irish, " Police Service of Northern, Irish, Thomson Locations: Belfast , Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, " Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast

☆ Flutter's US bet drives first half profit 76% higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Dublin-based company said this made it the first online betting operator to turn a profit in the U.S and it did so six months ahead of schedule. Analysts at JPMorgan also noted a more cautious outlook on Australia, where Flutter's first half revenues fell by 1%. The U.S. profits contributed to reported EBITDA of 765 million pounds across the group, versus the 731 million pounds forecast by eight analyst polled by Refinitiv. Flutter and broadcaster Fox Corporation (FOXA.O) said last month it would close the FOX Bet sports betting platform. That would eclipse the record full year earnings of 1.4 billion pounds Flutter posted during the COVID-19 online betting boom of 2020.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jefferies, Paddy Power, Padraic Halpin, Louise Heavens, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan, PokerStars, Ireland, Refinitiv, FOX Bet, Fox Corporation, Thomson Locations: Dublin, U.S, Australia

☆ Fans bid seaside farewell to Sinead O'Connor with songs, flags and flowers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A hearse carrying the coffin of late Irish singer Sinead O'Connor passes by during her funeral procession where fans line the street to say their last goodbye to her, in Bray, Ireland, August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneBRAY, Ireland, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Thousands gathered outside Sinead O'Connor's former seaside home on Tuesday to bid farewell to the outspoken Irish rock star, some singing along to hits blasted from a vintage Volkswagen camper van, others showering her hearse with flowers. Crowds gathered along the seafront at Bray, just south of Dublin, clapped and cheered as O'Connor's coffin passed in a hearse. Irish President Michael D. Higgins and prime minister Leo Varadkar joined O'Connor's family at a private funeral service, state broadcaster RTE reported. "Sinead O'Connor was a very sensitive soul but was very strong for other like her," said Kelleher, 30, who moved to Dublin from New York with her husband Stephen last year.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Sinead O'Connor's, O'Connor, clapped, Bob Marley's, Gemma Byrne, I'm, Sinead, Pope John Paul II, Michael D, Higgins, Leo Varadkar, Tiana Kelleher, Leon, Kelleher, Stephen, Padraic Halpin, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, Volkswagen, VW, RTE, Thomson Locations: Irish, Bray , Ireland, Clodagh Kilcoyne BRAY, Ireland, London, Bray, Dublin, Drogheda, Co, Wicklow, New York

☆ Northern Irish police accidentally share names of all officers
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Police officers stand outside the Grand Central Hotel, where U.S. President Joe Biden is staying, as he visits Northern Ireland, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File PhotoBELFAST, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Northern Ireland's police force accidentally shared the names and work locations of every member of staff on Tuesday in a data breach it said would be of "significant concern" to officers who are often targeted by militant groups. The information was publicly available on the requestor's website for around two-and-a-half hours before being removed, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said. However, officers' data is especially sensitive in Northern Ireland as many "go to great lengths and do everything possible to protect their police identity and role," the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, the representative body for officers, said in a statement. While a 1998 peace deal largely ended three decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, police officers are still sporadically targeted by dissident groups in bomb and gun attacks.

Persons: Joe Biden, Clodagh, Chris Todd, Todd, Amanda Ferguson, Padraic Halpin, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Grand Central Hotel, REUTERS, Police Service of Northern, Police Federation, Northern, Thomson Locations: Northern Ireland, Belfast , Northern Ireland, Northern, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast

☆ Meta to seek user consent for targeted ads in the EU
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

EU flag and Meta logo are seen in this illustration taken, May 22, 2023. Meta said the change is to address a number of evolving regulatory requirements in the region and stems from an order in January by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, Meta's lead EU regulator, to reassess the legal basis on how it targets ads. Once this change is in place, advertisers will still be able to run personalised advertising campaigns to reach potential customers and grow their businesses. Meta added that it would share further information on how the process will work in practice over the coming months following further engagement with regulators. A spokesperson for Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, which is the lead privacy regulator for many of the world's largest technology companies within the EU, said it had received correspondence from Meta on the matter.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Meta, Meta's, Padraic Halpin, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters Connect DUBLIN, European Union, Facebook, Ireland's Data, Data, Meta, Thomson Locations: Switzerland

☆ Aircraft lessors set for June 2024 trial over Russia insurance claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photoDUBLIN, July 31 (Reuters) - Some of the world's largest aircraft lessors and insurers are aiming to be ready to go to trial in June 2024 over contested insurance claims for aircraft stuck in Russia, a lawyer for one of the lessors said on Monday. Those steps include finding a venue large enough for the 180 attendees Smith said were expected at the trial each day. Justice Denis McDonald told a packed hearing last month that no court in Ireland was large enough to hear the case. The world's biggest aircraft lessor, Irish-based AerCap (AER.N), is pursuing its insurance claims through London's High Court. AerCap's Chief Financial Officer said on Monday that it continued to have discussions with Russian insurers on a potential settlement regarding some of its aircraft stranded in Russia.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Lessors, Kelley Smith, Avolon, Smith, Denis McDonald, we're, Peter Juhas, Padraic Halpin, Mark Potter Organizations: SMBC Aviation, REUTERS, BOC Aviation, HK, CDB Aviation, Nordic Aviation Capital, Carlyle Aviation Partners, world's, Thomson Locations: Russian, DUBLIN, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, London's

☆ Bank of Ireland raises full-year forecasts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, July 31 (Reuters) - Bank of Ireland (BIRG.I) raised its full-year guidance on Monday and expects net interest income in the second half of the year to be marginally higher than the first when a 68% year-on-year jump drove a more than doubling in profits. The bank reported a 1.2 billion euro ($1.1 billion) first-half underlying profit before tax versus 435 million euros a year ago when it was still operating in a negative interest rate environment. The European Central Bank has since lifted borrowing costs by a combined 425 basis points. Ireland's largest lender by assets said its business income for the rest of the year is expected to be broadly in-line with the first half, when it rose 23% and that its full year return on tangible equity (ROTE) would be similar to the 18.5% posted in the first half. ($1 = 0.9083 euros)Reporting by Padraic Halpin, Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Padraic Halpin, Louise Heavens Organizations: DUBLIN, Bank of Ireland, European Central Bank, Thomson

☆ Accenture to cut 890 jobs from Irish operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBLIN, July 31 (Reuters) - Accenture plans to cut around 890 jobs from its Irish operations, representing some 13% of its workforce there, as part of a round of global jobs announced in March, the IT consulting firm said on Monday. Accenture is one of the largest foreign multinational employees with over 6,500 staff in Ireland. Accenture said its business in Ireland continued to perform strongly and that it remained firmly committed to it. The 19,000 job cuts the company announced in March amounted to about 2.5% of its global workforce. Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Padraic Halpin, David Evans Organizations: DUBLIN, Accenture, European Union, Thomson Locations: Ireland, European

☆ Privacy group challenges Ryanair's use of facial recognition
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, July 27 (Reuters) - Digital rights group NOYB on Thursday filed a complaint against Ryanair (RYA.I), alleging that it is violating customers' rights to data protection by using facial recognition to verify their identity when booking through online travel agents. NOYB, led by Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems, filed the complaint with Spain's data protection agency on behalf of a complainant who booked a Ryanair flight through the Spanish-based online travel agency eDreams ODIGEO. The low-cost carrier said the steps are required to manage the passenger's booking, online check-in and to comply with safety and security requirements. NOYB has successfully launched privacy challenges against some of the world's largest multinational companies across the European Union under the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), introduced in 2018. NOYB alleged that Ryanair's verification procedures are not valid under the GDPR because it does not provide comprehensible information about the purpose of the "intrusive process."

Persons: NOYB, Max Schrems, eDreams ODIGEO, Padraic Halpin, Louise Heavens Organizations: DUBLIN, Ryanair, Irish, European Union, Data Protection, Thomson Locations: Austrian, Spanish

[1/3] A man looks at an artwork depicting Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who died at the age of 56, known for her chart-topping hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U', in Dublin, Ireland, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Damien StoranDUBLIN, July 27 (Reuters) - Ireland on Thursday mourned the death of Sinead O'Connor, the singer who was remembered for a stirring voice that stopped people in their tracks on stage and told uncomfortable truths off it. O'Connor, best known for the 1990 chart-topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U", died on Wednesday aged 56 after police found her unresponsive at an address in London. "My mam rang me last night and she said did you hear about Sinead and she didn't even have to say the second name. She gave two fingers to the church, who at that time in the 90s had such a hold over Ireland.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Damien Storan DUBLIN, O'Connor, Michael D, Higgins, Sinead, Michelle Beatty, Una Mullally, O'Connor's, Pope John Paul II, Stephen Faloon, Graham Fahy, Padraic Halpin, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Metropolitan Police, Dublin, Ireland, Irish Times, Thomson Locations: Dublin, Ireland, London, Bray , County Wicklow

[1/5] Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on stage during the Carthage Jazz Festival in Tunis April 4, 2013. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File PhotoDUBLIN, July 26 (Reuters) - Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer known for her stirring voice, 1990 chart topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" and outspoken views, has died at the age of 56, Irish media quoted her family as saying on Wednesday. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. However, it was track six on the follow-up album, "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got", that catapulted O'Connor to global fame. O'Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, though continued to perform under the name Sinead O'Connor.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Zoubeir, Brash, – O'Connor, Sinead, O'Connor, Prince, Pope John Paul II, Leo Varadkar, Nua, Shuhada, Padraic Halpin, Graham Fahy, Suban Abdulla, Kylie MacLellan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Carthage Jazz Festival, REUTERS, RTE, YouTube, Catholic, Twitter, U.S, Thomson Locations: Carthage, Tunis, Irish, Ireland, Dublin, Glenageary, London

[1/5] Irish singer Sinead O'Connor performs on stage during the Carthage Jazz Festival in Tunis April 4, 2013. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi/File PhotoDUBLIN, July 26 (Reuters) - Sinead O'Connor, the Irish singer known for her stirring voice, 1990 chart-topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" and outspoken views, has died at the age of 56, Irish media quoted her family as saying on Wednesday. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. 'PROTEST SINGER'Sinead Marie Bernadette O'Connor was born in the affluent Dublin suburb of Glenageary on December 8, 1966. O'Connor converted to Islam in 2018 and changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat, though continued to perform under the name Sinead O'Connor.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Zoubeir, Brash, – O'Connor, Sinead, O'Connor, Prince, Pope John Paul II, Michael D, Higgins, Sinead Marie Bernadette O'Connor, Nua, Shuhada, Dave Fanning, Padraic Halpin, Graham Fahy, Suban Abdulla, Amanda Ferguson, Kylie MacLellan, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Carthage Jazz Festival, REUTERS, RTE, Church, Irish, Channel, Thomson Locations: Carthage, Tunis, Irish, Ireland, Dublin, Glenageary, London

☆ Reactions to the death of singer Sinead O'Connor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

IRISH-AMERICAN DANCER MICHAEL FLATLEY"Dear Sinead, I pray your troubled soul is at peace. IRISH PRIME MINISTER LEO VARADKAR"Really sorry to hear of the passing of Sinead O'Connor. Her music was loved around the world and her talent was unmatched and beyond compare. IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER MICHEAL MARTIN"Devastated to hear of the passing of Sinead O'Connor. Rest In Peace, Sinead you are home with your son I am sure."

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, MICHAEL D, HIGGINS, MICHAEL FLATLEY, Sinead, TIM BURGESS, MICHEAL MARTIN, HUMZA YOUSAF, Shuhada, CONOR MCGREGOR, MARIAN KEYES, Kylie MacLellan, Suban Abdulla, Padraic Halpin, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Irish, RTE, LEO, AMERICAN, ICE, SCOTTISH FIRST, UFC, Thomson Locations: Ireland

☆ Fed's Bostic says rates will probably rise if inflation moves from target
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, June 29 (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve will have to increase rates if prices growth moves away from target or inflation expectations start to move in "a difficult way", Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic said, while adding that neither was happening right now. Earlier this month, the Fed refrained from boosting its federal funds target rate for the first time since it started raising rates in March 2022, leaving it at between 5% and 5.25%. Bostic said there are undoubtedly scenarios where that could happen, but they are unlikley. The U.S unemployment rate has crept up to 3.7% but is lower than the 4% rate Fed policymakers estimate is consistent with a fully employed American workforce. Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by Mark Potter and Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Raphael Bostic, Jerome Powell, Bostic, we'll, Powell, Padraic Halpin, Mark Potter, Chizu Organizations: DUBLIN, Federal, Atlanta Federal Reserve, Irish Association of Investment, Thomson Locations: Atlanta

☆ Ireland bolsters data watchdog's powers, privacy activists cry foul
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, June 28 (Reuters) - Ireland bolstered its powerful data regulator's ability to stop the sharing of information during its inquiries into global tech companies amid criticism from opposition parties, privacy activists and non-governmental organisations. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) is the European Union's lead regulator of many of the world's largest technology companies due to their EU headquarters being based in Ireland, and has levied billions of euros worth of fines under the bloc's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), introduced in 2018. The DPC had sought the powers in order to ensure fair procedure, he said. "To be clear nothing in this amendment will prevent a complainant from speaking out about the nature of their data privacy complaint. The European Consumer Organisation, European Digital Rights group and Amnesty International also spoke out against the bill.

Persons: Max Schrems, James Brown, DPC, Johnny Ryan, Catherine Murphy, Padraic Halpin, Grant McCool Organizations: DUBLIN, Data Protection, Irish, of Civil Liberties, European Consumer Organisation, European Digital Rights, Amnesty International, Social Democrats, Thomson Locations: Ireland, European, Austrian

☆ EU to meet on U.S. data transfer pact in mid-July - lawyer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, June 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission is due to finalise a new data transfer pact with the United States by mid-July, a lawyer for Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), the bloc's lead regulator for many big tech firms, said on Monday. The European Union and United States agreed in March 2022 on the new mechanism to safely transfer EU citizens' personal data to the U.S. after Europe's top court threw out the two previous data transfer frameworks because of concerns about U.S. intelligence agencies accessing Europeans' private data. The two sides have since been working through the detail and Catherine Donnelly, a lawyer for the DPC, said the Irish regulator understood the pact will be presented to the College of Commissioners, the Commission's collective decision-making body, by mid-July. The social media giant said it expects the new pact to be fully implemented before it has to suspend transfers. Reporting by Padraic Halpin, additional reporting by Foo Yun Chee in Brussels, editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Catherine Donnelly, Meta, Denis McDonald, Padraic Halpin, Foo Yun Chee, Christina Fincher Organizations: DUBLIN, European, Data, European Union, United, College of Commissioners, Facebook, Irish High Court, Thomson Locations: United States, Dublin, Europe, Brussels

☆ ECB's Makhlouf undecided about rate rise beyond July
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBLIN, June 24 (Reuters) - European Central Bank governing council member Gabriel Makhlouf said on Saturday that while some colleagues already feel further interest rate rises will be needed beyond July, he is prepared to wait and look at the evidence. "On the evidence that we have at the moment, it does look like, in July, there will be another 25 basis point increase. Some colleagues do feel that we're likely to need further rises in the autumn. I'm just prepared to look at the evidence," Makhlouf told the Irish Independent in an interview. Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gabriel Makhlouf, I'm, Makhlouf, we're, Padraic Halpin, Toby Chopra Organizations: DUBLIN, Central Bank, Irish Independent, Thomson

☆ Irish 'bad bank' NAMA eyes boost to 4.5 billion euros surplus
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Set up in 2009, the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) used 32 billion euros ($35.10 billion) of debt to rid banks of 74 billion euros worth of risky property loans following a banking collapse. The Irish government also had to pour tens of billions of euros more into the country's ailing banks, some of which still collapsed. NAMA had raised its forecast surplus almost every year since 2015 following a surge in demand for Irish real estate. It had a residual portfolio worth 500 million euros at the end of 2022, its annual report published on Thursday said. McDonagh added that 400 apartments from the 1,800 units NAMA had funding approved a year ago fell through after demand from investors in the private rented sector "almost disappeared" in the rising interest rate environment.

Persons: NAMA, Brendan McDonagh, McDonagh, Padraic Halpin, Jane Merriman Organizations: DUBLIN, National Asset Management Agency, Thomson Locations: Ireland

☆ UK minister says talks to restore Northern Ireland government moving slowly
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Britain's Northern Ireland minister said on Tuesday talks to restore the province's devolved government were moving slowly because there was a lack of clarity on the right legislative approach to end the impasse. Northern Ireland's devolved executive collapsed in February last year when the Democratic Unionist Party pulled out in protest at Britain's post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union. They then also rejected a revised deal, the Windsor Framework, reached last February. The British government is in talks with the DUP on restoring the power-sharing system but Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris declined to be drawn on the details of how those talks were going. Speaking separately in Dublin, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy said that while there is real interest from U.S. companies to invest in Northern Ireland, they want to see how that Windsor Framework is implemented.

Persons: Chris Heaton, Harris, Northern Ireland Joe Kennedy, Kennedy, Alistair Smout, Padraic Halpin, Jonathan Oatis, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Northern, Democratic Unionist Party, European Union, DUP, Heaton, Good, Northern Ireland, Windsor, Thomson Locations: Northern Ireland, Northern, Windsor, London . London, United Kingdom, Dublin, U.S, British, Ireland, Stormont, London

☆ Irish fintech Wayflyer renews debt line as clients focus on security of funding
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, June 14 (Reuters) - Irish fintech Wayflyer has renewed a $300 million debt line with J.P. Morgan (JPM.N), a step it said underscores the security of its finance base as clients focus more on the source of revenue-based lenders' funds after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Corbett declined to disclose the new terms but said that while all debt is now more expensive, the renewed line likely gives Wayflyer the most competitive cost base in the market. Corbett said deteriorating macroeconomic conditions forced it to take a more conservative stance in the second half of the year. Wayflyer cut its workforce by 40% to 300 last November in response, but continues to operate in 12 markets. Wayflyer's revenue is up around 30% year-on-year so far in 2023, Corbett said, with demand in the U.S. "still extremely strong."

Persons: Wayflyer, Morgan, Aidan Corbett, Corbett, Padraic Halpin, Conor Humphries Organizations: DUBLIN, Silicon Valley Bank, Wayflyer, Bank, Reuters, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Silicon, J.P, Europe, U.S

But some researchers and environmental groups - supported by companies claiming to be able to help solve the problem - say airlines have done too little to handle the issue. According to such experts, research shows that non-CO2 emissions can actually be more harmful than carbon emissions. New European Union rules on emissions trading that will come into force in 2025 will force airlines to track and report their non-C02 emissions. Airlines have pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, mainly by adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), scarce alternative fuels made from renewable sources - like biofuels or synthetic fuels - that are used to power aircraft. Based in Cambridge, England, SATAVIA says that by focusing so heavily on carbon emissions, the industry will be paying more money for a solution that could take years to have an impact.

Persons: Roger Teoh, SATAVIA, Adam Durant, Padraic Halpin, Tim Hepher, Aurora Ellis Organizations: International Air Transport Association, Imperial College London, New, Union, Airlines, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Istanbul, Paris, contrails, Cambridge, England

☆ Meta hit with record $1.3 bln fine over data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The fine, imposed by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), came after Meta continued to transfer data beyond a 2020 EU court ruling that invalidated an EU-U.S. data transfer pact. It tops the previous record EU privacy fine of 746 million euros handed by Luxembourg to Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) in 2021. "Without the ability to transfer data across borders, the internet risks being carved up into national and regional silos," Meta said. Europe's top court, the European Court of Justice, threw out the two previous pacts over concerns about U.S. surveillance. Unless U.S. surveillance laws gets fixed, Meta will likely have to keep EU data in the EU," he said in a statement.

☆ Meta hit by record 1.2 bln euro fine by EU over U.S. data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] A security guard stands watch by the Meta sign outside the headquarters of Facebook parent company Meta Platforms Inc in Mountain View, California, U.S. November 9, 2022. REUTERS/Peter DaSilvaDUBLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Meta (META.O) was hit on Monday with a record 1.2 billion euro ($1.3 billion) fine by its lead privacy regulator in the European Union for its handling of user information and given five months to stop transferring users’ data to the United States. The fine imposed by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) concerned Meta's continued transferring of personal data and topped the previous 746 million euro record EU privacy fine by Luxembourg on Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) in 2021, according to a DPC statement. Reporting by Padraic HalpinOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ryanair posts near record FY profit, summer demand robust
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Ryanair (RYA.I) on Monday posted a near record profit of 1.43 billion euros ($1.57 billion) in the year to end-March and said it was cautiously optimistic that profits would rise modestly in the next 12 months, with summer demand notably robust. The low cost carrier flew a record 168.6 million passengers in the year through March 31, beating its previous annual record of 149 million reached before the pandemic. Ryanair hiked its after-tax profit forecast to 1.325 billion to 1.425 billion euros in January after stronger than expected Christmas traffic and fares. The final number compared with a forecast of 1.398 billion euros in a company poll of analysts. It made a loss of 355 million euros in the previous pandemic-hit financial year and the turnaround came close to topping the record 1.45 billion euro profit Ryanair made in the year to March 31, 2018.

☆ Sinn Fein sweep past unionist rivals again in Northern Ireland local elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Amanda Ferguson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BELFAST, May 20 (Reuters) - Irish nationalists Sinn Fein followed up last year's historic Northern Ireland Assembly victory by overtaking their unionist rivals by a wide margin in council elections on Saturday to become the biggest party at local level for the first time. It is the latest political milestone for the former political wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) who want to leave the United Kingdom and form a united Ireland. The left-wing party also comfortably leads opinion polls in the Republic of Ireland ahead of national elections due in 2025. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), until last year the biggest party at local and regional level, had 118. The poll also marked the first time a Black person was elected to office in Northern Ireland, with Maasai woman Lilian Seenoi-Bar winning a seat for the nationalist SDLP.

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