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REUTERS/Dado RuvicMay 17 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) is set to face a record European Union privacy fine related to data transfer of Facebook's EU users to U.S. servers for failing to comply with a warning by a top EU court, two sources familiar with the matter said. The penalty will be higher than the previous record 746 million euros ($821.20 million) fine for Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), according to the sources. Meta declined to comment, while the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) and the European Commission did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. EU regulators led by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon have been finalising a ban on the legal tool used by Facebook to transfer European user data because of concerns U.S. intelligence agencies could access the information. Europe's highest court ruled in 2020 that an EU-U.S. data transfer agreement was invalid, citing surveillance concerns.

☆ Fed's Mester says not yet at point where it can 'hold' rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, May 16 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said on Tuesday that she does not think the U.S. central bank is at a point yet where it can hold interest rates steady for a period of time, given how stubborn inflation is. However, four U.S. central bankers on Monday signaled they see interest rates staying high and, if anything, going higher, given inflation that may be slow to improve and an economy showing only tentative signs of weakness. "When we get the policy to that rate, I think we're going to be holding for a while in order to make sure that the interest rate is coming back down. So I don't put it in terms of a pause, I put it in terms of a hold. At this point, given the data we've gotten so far, I would say no."

Europe's biggest low-cost carrier said it was placing a firm order for 150 of the largest version of Boeing's narrow-body jet family, known as the 737 MAX 10, with options for another 150. The deal delivers a boost to the 737 MAX, Boeing's best-selling jet whose deliveries have been depressed by a two-year safety crisis and post-COVID disruption. "Boeing wanted us to step up the scale and size of the order even to get the discounts that we [got]." Boeing Chief Executive Dave Calhoun countered during a press conference that no premium was high enough for the jet, in a jovial back-and-forth. On Monday, Reuters first reported that Ryanair was close to a major deal for Boeing jets.

Ryanair said the order would allow it to almost double its traffic to 300 million passengers per year by March 2034 from the 168 million flown to the end of March this year. On Monday, Reuters first reported that Ryanair was close to a major deal for Boeing jets. But its boss pledged not to overpay for the 30 extra seats, telling Reuters in March he could also order more of the existing 200-seat 737 MAX 8200. Ryanair said the deal was worth $40 billion at list prices, though experts note typical discounts run at more than 50%. "Ryanair operates a 737 fleet and is pretty locked in," with Airbus (AIR.PA) sold out for years and China years away from being to supply the West, Agency Partners analyst Nick Cunningham said.

☆ Ryanair set to order jets from Boeing, burying hatchet after price spat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

PARIS, May 9 (Reuters) - Ireland's Ryanair (RYA.I) is set to bury the hatchet with its exclusive supplier and place a multi-billion-dollar order for Boeing jets on Wednesday, ending an 18-month spat over prices. Boeing (BA.N) said it would make a "major announcement" at 1300 GMT, but gave no further details. The 737 MAX sells for up to $131 million at list prices but typical discounts run at more than 50% and details of final pricing are confidential. But the bond between Ryanair and Boeing loosened following the pandemic as low-cost carriers expanded markets. But he has pledged not to overpay for the 30 extra seats, telling Reuters in March he was also looking at more orders of the 200-seat 737 MAX 8200.

☆ Ryanair close to placing major Boeing order -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, May 8 (Reuters) - Ryanair (RYA.I) is close to signing a major new aircraft order with Boeing (BA.N), two people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The multi-billion-dollar deal for a three-digit quantity of 737 MAX jets could be announced as early as Tuesday, they added, asking not to be named. Boeing and Ryanair declined to comment. Europe's largest budget carrier halted negotiations for at least 100 Boeing 737 MAX jets plus as many options in a pricing dispute some 18 months ago. He said Ryanair was now considering the 200-seat 737 MAX 8200 and the 230-seat 737 MAX 10.

☆ AIB upgrades guidance after 70% jump in first quarter income
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SummarySummary Companies Bank increases FY net interest income guidance by 10%New savings products to be introduced in H2CFO comfortable with market consensus for 2024, 2025DUBLIN, May 4 (Reuters) - Ireland's largest mortgage lender AIB (AIBG.I) revised its full year guidance upwards across the board on Thursday after its total income jumped 70% year-on-year in the first quarter due to record increases in official interest rates. The bank said it expects net interest income of 3.3 billion euros this year versus the 3 billion guided in March, increased its net interest margin forecast to above 2.70% from 2.40% and forecast 2023 return on tangible equity (ROTE) to be a high-teens percentage. A 215 million euro direct share buyback last week cut the government's stake in the bank to 53%. The bank's net interest margin (NIM), a key metric showing the profitability of its lending, rose to 2.78% in the first quarter versus 1.45% a year ago when it was still operating in a negative interest rate environment. AIB Chief Financial Officer Donal Galvin said the market consensus for NIMs of 2.40% and 2.50% in 2024 and 2025 seemed reasonable.

DOONBEG, Ireland, May 4 (Reuters) - Donald Trump said on Thursday he will "probably" attend an ongoing civil trial in New York where he is accused of rape and defamation, repeating his denials of the allegations during a visit to his Irish golf resort. Trump also denied the accusation in a deposition video played on Wednesday for a Manhattan federal jury, as Trump sought to defend himself without testifying in person. The trial has so far run for six days and is expected to extend into next week. Denying the allegations in his deposition video, Trump accused Carroll of making up the story to drive sales of a 2019 memoir in which she made her claims public. Reporting by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; Editing by Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Flutter Q1 revenues jump 29% as U.S. races ahead, UK bounces back
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Padraic Halpin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Led by its Fanduel brand, Flutter maintained its leading 50% share of the U.S. sports betting market after revenue jumped 92% year-on-year on a constant currency basis. UKI revenue had fallen sharply in the same period last year, partly due to the impact of measures to curb gambling addiction. Chief Executive Peter Jackson put about half the growth down to product improvements and said competitors belatedly adopting safer gambling measures may also have helped Flutter outperform the market, which he estimated was flat year-on-year. Revenue also rose 69% on a constant currency basis in its international division, where Flutter said the recently acquired Italian gaming operator Sisal performed exceptionally well. The Dublin-based firm forecast in November that Fanduel's revenue would jump to around $15 billion over the long term - twice Flutter's entire revenue last year.

☆ Avolon agrees $4 bln deal with Boeing for 40 737 MAX jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBLIN, April 27 (Reuters) - Global leasing giant Avolon said on Thursday it had agreed terms for a commitment to order 40 Boeing (BA.N) 737 MAX aircraft in a deal worth over $4 billion at current list prices. Avolon, the world's third largest aircraft leasing firm, said the new jets are scheduled for delivery from 2027 to 2030 and will increase the overall size of its owned, managed and committed fleet to 870 aircraft. "Our commitment with Boeing reflects our confidence in the long-term outlook for the aviation sector. It will also support our airline customers who are looking to plan beyond the robust post-COVID traffic recovery and prepare for future growth, while also reducing their carbon emissions," CEO Andy Cronin said. Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Flutter welcomes new UK gambling laws as 'significant moment' for sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, April 27 (Reuters) - Flutter , the world's largest online betting company, said it welcomed the planned publication on Thursday of long-awaited British government proposals to crack down on problem gambling. "We welcome the publication of the White Paper, which marks a significant moment for the UK gambling sector. Whilst we will need to review the detail of the proposals once published, we believe proactive change will lead to a better future for our industry," Chief Executive Peter Jackson said in a statement. Jackson added that the Paddy Power, Betfair and Sky Bet owner had already introduced "industry-leading" safer gambling controls, including mandatory deposit limits for customers under 25, reducing online slots staking limits to 10 pounds per spin and investing in safer gambling operational capabilities. Reporting by Padraic Halpin; editing by Sarah YoungOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Irish government staff advised to remove TikTok from work devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, April 21 (Reuters) - The state body responsible for advising the Irish government on cyber security recommended on Friday that staff at government departments and state agencies not use Chinese-owned video app TikTok on official devices. A number of Western countries including Britain, the U.S. and other European Union member states have barred TikTok over security concerns. The issue here rather is what we can’t rule out is happening," NCSC director Richard Browne told national broadcaster RTE. TikTok runs a number of its European operations from Dublin, including data privacy and protection. It announced last month that it would open a second data centre in Ireland and reduce the transfer of data outside of the EU.

☆ Irish data regulator warns against rushing into chatbot bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"It needs to be regulated and it's about figuring out how to regulate it properly," Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) Helen Dixon told a Bloomberg conference, saying the debate extended to thousands of ChatGPT equivalents. "For the Irish data protection commission, where we are at is trying to understand a little bit more about the technology, about the large language models, about where the training data is sourced." "So I think it's early days, but it's time to be having those conversations now rather than rushing into prohibitions that really aren't going to stand up." Dixon added that the issues around Generative AI span far beyond data protection and include copyright and defamation concerns. "We also want to contribute to broader discussions about the risks and about other areas of law that converge in AI," she said.

☆ Focus now on how UBS positions itself going forward - BlackRock vice chairman
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Philipp Hildebrand,Vice Chairman of BlackRock, speaks during a news conference with Swiss Economic Minister Guy Parmelin (not pictured), as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue in Bern, Switzerland October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannLONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - The Swiss government has done a 'very good job' with Credit Suisse's rescue given circumstances, but the question now is how the takeover settles and how UBS positions itself going forward, Philipp Hildebrand, BlackRock's vice chairman said on Thursday. "The question now will be how does this settle, and how does UBS position itself going forward, given quite intense political discussions in Switzerland around competition, around size, and many other issues," Hildebrand told a Bloomberg conference in Dublin. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is a major shareholder in UBS. Reporting by Yoruk Bahceli and Padraic Halpin; editing by Dhara RanasingheOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ British, Irish PMs open to Good Friday Agreement reforms when time right
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Amanda Ferguson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoyneBELFAST, April 19 (Reuters) - The Irish and British prime ministers said on Wednesday that they were open to considering reforming Northern Ireland's Good Friday peace accord, but that any debate could only happen when the powersharing government underpinning it was restored. That, coupled with the rise of the Alliance party, which identifies as neither nationalist or unionist, has sparked calls for an overhaul of a political architecture that the largest unionist party, the DUP, has boycotted for more than a year. "I think it's the shared view of the British and Irish government that there is a conversation that needs to happen about reforming the Good Friday Agreement. No agreement should be set in stone forever," Varadkar told reporters after an event to mark 25 years of the peace accord. "I urge you to work with us to get Stormont (Northern Ireland's assembly) up and running again," Sunak told unionist politicians.

☆ Northern Ireland recognises women who helped bring peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Amanda Ferguson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"There wouldn't be a Good Friday agreement to celebrate today if it were not for the women of Northern Ireland," Clinton said, to applause from the audience. The peace accord largely ended 30 years of violence between mainly Catholic nationalist opponents and mainly Protestant unionist supporters of British rule. Other recipients included Ireland's first female president, Mary Robinson, Northern Ireland's first female first minister, Arlene Foster and Lyra McKee, a journalist who was killed in 2019 during an outbreak of the sporadic violence that still exists. "I was amazed that my name was among such an illustrious group of women," Avila Killmurray, a co-founder of the Women's Coalition, said at the ceremony. "However it's really nice because I worked mainly with women in local communities and I think very often their contribution over the years doesn't go recognised enough."

☆ 'Mayo for Sam!' Biden delights Irish ancestors with sporting shoutout
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The proud Irish-American, wrapping up a nostalgic three-day visit to Ireland with a rally in the County Mayo town that his great-great-great-grandfather left for the United States in 1851, got the biggest cheer of the night with three parting words: "Mayo for Sam." Ireland's hugely popular national sports of Gaelic football draws capacity crowds of up to 82,000 for the finals each year. Mayo for Sam! Mayo for Sam!" Biden told the Irish and American flag waving crowd, raising his fist in the air.

☆ Tearful Biden meets priest in Ireland who gave son last rites
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] U.S. President Joe Biden reacts before a plaque with his son Beau's name as he visits Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, April 14, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueBALLINA, Ireland, April 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden broke down in tears on Friday after a chance meeting at an Irish church with the priest who performed the last rites on his son Beau, a priest who accompanied Biden during the visit said. Beau Biden, the president's eldest son, died in the United States in 2015 from brain cancer. "He (President Biden) wanted to meet him straight away, he dispatched a secret service agent to go and find him. Biden, who is wrapping up a three-day trip to Ireland, later visited a nearby County Mayo hospice where he broke ground at its construction in 2017.

☆ Biden Irish tour moves to Dublin for parliamentary address, castle banquet
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] U.S. President Joe Biden holds a toy Air Force One as he meets with U.S. embassy staff families in Dublin, Ireland April 12, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueDUBLIN, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden, a proud Irish-American, took his three-day tour of Ireland to Dublin on Thursday for an address to parliament and a banquet at Dublin Castle as his focus shifted from Northern Irish peace to celebrating his heritage. It feels like I'm coming home," Biden told journalists on Wednesday afternoon as he toured Carlingford Castle, near the home of one of the Irish branches of his family. Biden will be guest of honour at a banquet at St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle on Thursday evening, an honour previously given to Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President John F. Kennedy. Biden will be accompanied for some of his Dublin engagements by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is visiting Ireland before travelling to Vietnam and Japan.

☆ Intel leaks: Biden says US 'getting close' on investigation
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The number of documents leaked is likely to be over 100. Biden, on a three-day tour of Ireland, said he was not overly concerned about the leak. "There's a full blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they're getting close but I don't have an answer," Biden told reporters. "I'm not concerned about the leak, I'm concerned that it happened but there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of." A South Korean presidential official said on Sunday the country was aware of reports about the leaked documents and planned to discuss "issues raised" with Washington.

☆ Irish regulator has month to make order on EU-US Facebook data transfers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, April 13 (Reuters) - Ireland's data regulator has one month to make an order on blocking Facebook's transatlantic data flows, European Union regulators said on Thursday. EU regulators led by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) Helen Dixon have been finalising a ban on the legal tool used by Facebook to transfer European user data because of concerns U.S. intelligence agencies could access the information. Dixon, who is lead regulator for Facebook parent Meta (META.O) because its European headquarters are in Ireland, last month said the ban could be in place by mid-May. While the statement did not say what the decision was, Dixon has said other regulators had not disputed her order to ban the data transfer mechanism. Officials have said a new EU-U.S. data protection framework, which aims to offer EU citizens the same level of data protection as under European law, may be ready by July.

Ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley greet U.S. President Joe Biden next to Joe Kennedy upon Biden's arrival at RAF Aldergrove airbase in County Antrim, Northern Ireland April 11, 2023. Ahern said he knew from experience that "knocking heads together" did not usually work in Northern Ireland and that Biden should point out the obvious case that, in any democracy, institutions of parliament were essential. Biden will travel later on Wednesday to County Louth - midway between Belfast and Dublin - where his great-grandfather was born. Biden will meet relatives from another side of his family in the western county of Mayo on Friday. Writing by Padraic Halpin; Additional reporting by Conor Humphries; Editing by Peter Graff and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden heads to Northern Ireland at delicate political juncture
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Conor Humphries | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BELFAST, April 11 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden arrives in Belfast on Tuesday at a delicate political time in Northern Ireland as he helps mark the 25-year anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed there. Biden was expected to meet representatives from five Northern Irish parties in advance of his speech at Ulster University but was not planning to pressure them, a senior administration official said. Biden, who will float the possibility of closer investment ties between the U.S. and Northern Ireland to try to encourage an end to the impasse, clashed with the British government at times during the Brexit talks, drawing a rebuke from the DUP. Britain's MI5 intelligence agency recently increased the threat level in Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to "severe" - meaning an attack is highly likely. "Since (Jonh F.) Kennedy there hasn't been as Irish American a president as Joe Biden and we're really looking forward to welcoming him home," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday.

☆ Petrol bombs thrown at Northern Irish police on eve of Biden visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDONDERRY, Northern Ireland, April 10 (Reuters) - A number of masked people attacked police with petrol bombs and other objects at a parade opposing the Good Friday peace accord in Londonderry, police said on Monday, a day before U.S. President Joe Biden visits Belfast. A Reuters photograph showed four young people in the mainly Irish nationalist area of Creggan throwing petrol bombs at an armoured police vehicles, which was covered in flames on one side. "Our officers have come under attack in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an un-notified Easter parade. Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement that largely ended three decades of sectarian bloodshed in Northern Ireland. Reporting by Clodagh Kilcoyne, writing by Padraic Halpin in Dublin; editing by John Stonestreet and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Irish PM seeks to restore Northern Ireland power-sharing within months
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBLIN, April 9 (Reuters) - Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar pledged on Sunday to intensify efforts with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak to restore power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and hopes to break the deadlock there in the next few months. London has said it will not renegotiate any part of its the new agreement. The latest suspension of the assembly is casting a shadow over Monday's 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Northern Ireland on Tuesday to mark the peace accord that ended three decades of bloodshed. Power-sharing has collapsed a number of times for different reasons since its introduction as part of the peace deal, each time being restored after long political talks.

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