Journalists

Watch: How tech could be creating a 1984 scenario – highlights from Wednesday’s Web Summit 

Join us on Independent.ie for highlights each day from the main speakers and talks of the 2018 Web Summit.

'Scary headlines' keep upward pressure on Italian bond yields ahead of EC projections 

Italy led the move higher in euro zone bond yields on Thursday ahead of key economic projections from the European Commission which are expected to highlight that the country's 2019 deficit may be much higher than suggested by Italy.

Tesla appoints new chairperson – effective immediately 

Tesla said board member Robyn Denholm will replace Elon Musk as its chair, more than a month after the billionaire had to step down as the electric-car maker's chairman as part of a settlement with US regulators.

Watch: Facebook, fake news and the rise of robots – highlights from the second day of 2018 Web Summit 

Join us on Independent.ie for highlights each day from the main speakers and talks of the 2018 Web Summit.

Asian shares edge higher, investors brace for US elections 

Asian shares inched up on Tuesday, supported by Wall Street gains although momentum was tempered ahead of the US midterm elections, the first major electoral test of President Donald Trump's big tax cuts and hostile trade policies.

Flipkart CEO Binny Bansal resigned after sexual misconduct claim - source 

The investigation into Flipkart Group chief Binny Bansal that led to his resignation stemmed from an allegation of sexual assault that dates back a few years, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Jameson looking for graduates of 'serious character' to apply for international programme 

Jameson are calling for graduates "with serious character" to become international brand ambassadors for the firm over a three year period.

Euro zone bond yields inch down as China data fans growth worries 

German 10-year bond yields fell from more than two-week highs on Friday, leading a move lower in most euro area debt yields as weak Chinese economic data fuelled concerns about the global growth outlook.

Stores in the UK hit by retail woes as 14 shops close each day 

Around 14 shops are closing on Britain's main streets every day, according to a new study.

EU considering probe into Facebook's European tax arrangements 

The EU is considering a probe into Facebook’s European tax arrangements, with Ireland’s tax treatment of multinationals again in the spotlight, Politico reported.

EU's Donald Tusk grilled as part of investigation into pyramid scheme that cheated thousands of Poles out of their savings 

Donald Tusk, the head of the European Council, was being questioned in his native Poland on Monday as part of a parliamentary investigation into a pyramid scheme that cheated thousands of Poles out of their savings during his time as prime minister.

China's Xi promises to raise imports amid trade row with US 

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised on Monday to lower tariffs, broaden market access and import more from overseas at the start of a trade expo designed to demonstrate goodwill amid mounting frictions with the United States and others.

Two kitchen staff stabbed in violent bust-up at Sony Music HQ in London 

Sony Music said two of its catering staff had been involved in a violent altercation at its UK head office in central London on Friday after police reported two people had been stabbed.

'I hope we're close to a deal that will work for Northern Ireland' - DUP leader Arlene Foster 

The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party Arlene Foster said she hoped the UK and the EU are close to a Brexit deal that will work for Northern Ireland.

Shares rally, dollar eases as Trump report fans US-China trade deal hopes 

Asian shares rocketed to three-week highs on Friday while the dollar softened on a report that US President Donald Trump is taking steps to resolve a damaging trade war with China that has cast a pall over the global economy and financial markets recently.

Donald Tusk responds to Nigel Farage: 'Brexiteers are 100pc responsible for bringing back problem of Irish border' 

European Council President Donald Tusk has responded to comments made by Ukip MEP Nigel Farage to the European, where he dismissed the threat of a hard border in Ireland as a "red herring".

Asia stocks edge up on China stimulus hopes, oil near 2-month lows 

Asian stocks turned up on Wednesday as fresh signs of stimulus from China propped up sentiment despite Wall Street's overnight losses, while crude oil approached two-month lows after Saudi Arabia flagged possible supply increases.

'Great, more people more money' - Saudi crown prince satisfied with 'Davos in the Desert' investment conference 

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday he was satisfied with the Future Investment Initiative conference as he toured the venue.

Poland's biggest construction firm Budimex offers cash incentives to help find employees 

Poland's biggest construction firm Budimex has become the first in its sector to offer cash incentives to anyone who helps it find new workers at a time of the lowest unemployment in decades, the company said on Tuesday.

'Twitter thought I got hacked' - Tesla chief Elon Musk said Twitter had locked his account 

Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said Twitter had locked his account thinking it had been hacked.

European shares fall to lowest levels in nearly two years 

European shares fell to their lowest levels in nearly two years on Tuesday as a new batch of third-quarter earnings failed to offset growing concerns on Brexit, Italy's budget, Saudi isolation, trade wars, Chinese growth and US interest rates.

Asian shares buckle to Saudi anxieties, Italian budget rows 

Asian shares slumped on Tuesday as a cocktail of negative drivers from Saudi Arabia's diplomatic isolation to fresh worries about trade wars whacked sentiment across the region.

EU to decide on Tuesday next steps for assessing Italy's 2019 draft budget 

The European Commission will discuss and decide on Tuesday the next steps in the procedure for assessing Italy's 2019 draft budget, a Commission spokesman said on Monday.

'Truth needs to be found out' - Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser will not attend Saudi investment conference 

Siemens Chief Executive Joe Kaeser said on Monday that he would not attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia, following the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Italy says it's ready to discuss budget with EU authorities 

The Italian government is ready to sit and discuss its budget targets with European Union authorities, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Monday, restating that the populist coalition had no plan to leave the Euro.

Markets Latest: Asia shares rally as China surges on stimulus hopes 

Asian share markets swung into the black on Monday as the promise of more stimulus boosted Chinese stocks for a second session and helped offset geopolitical concerns over Saudi Arabia, Italy and Brexit.

Facebook hires former UK deputy PM Nick Clegg as head of global affairs - FT 

Facebook Inc has hired former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg as head of the social network's global affairs and communications team, the Financial Times reported on Friday.

Jameson distiller programme open to graduates looking to kick-start career in whiskey industry 

Science and engineering graduates are being called on to apply for the Jameson distiller programme before the end of the month.

Microsoft MD Cathriona Hallahan granted inaugural Women Of Concern Award 

The managing director of Microsoft Ireland, Cathriona Hallahan, has been granted the inaugural Women of Concern award.

Hard Brexit could ground UK flights for three weeks but Ryanair would survive - Michael O'Leary 

A hard Brexit could ground UK flights for up to three weeks but would be survivable for Ryanair, Michael O'Leary said ahead of a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels on Wednesday.

Netflix adds seven million subscribers over summer after spring stumble 

Netflix regained its stride with surprisingly strong subscriber growth during the summer after an unexpected stumble during the spring triggered worries its video streaming service was losing its allure.

Danone's global sales growth slows but Europe's warm weather provides welcome boost 

Sales growth at Danone slowed in the third quarter, reflecting falling sales of its infant formula products in China and lost dairy sales stemming from a consumer boycott in Morocco.

Johnson & Johnson edges past profit estimates as demand for cancer drugs offset falling sales of arthritis drug 

Johnson & Johnson reported slightly better-than-expected quarterly profit as demand for its cancer drugs Zytiga and Imbruvica helped offset falling sales of arthritis treatment Remicade.

Investment banks Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs report better-than-expected profits 

Morgan Stanley reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit, driven by higher revenue in its stock trading and equity underwriting businesses.

Germany recalls 100,000 Opel vehicles as part of emissions investigation 

Germany's Transport Ministry said it would order roughly 100,000 Opel vehicles to be recalled as part of an emissions probe, after prosecutors searched the carmaker's offices earlier in the day.

Housebuilder Bellway launch cost savings programme after reporting profit rise of 14pc 

Bellway has launched a cost savings programme to boost margins after reporting a more than 14 percent rise in full-year pre-tax profit and reiterating a warning about future margins.

AstraZeneca halts UK investments due to Brexit uncertainties - Le Monde 

AstraZeneca has suspended investments in Britain due to the lack of clarity over the country's departure from the European Union, the pharmaceutical firm's non-executive chairman Leif Johansson told France's Le Monde newspaper.

Bank of America reports better-than-expected rise in profit as lender reins in costs 

Bank of America reported a better-than-expected rise in quarterly profit on Monday as the second-largest US lender reined in costs, while higher interest rates and loan growth helped offset lower bond trading revenue.

Unseasonably warm weather sparks profit warning from Superdry clothing group 

Superdry has warned its profits will be lower than expected this year after late spells of hot weather impacted sales of its winter clothing.

Imminent breakthrough in Brexit talks reported 'probably not well founded' - Coveney 

Optimism about an imminent breakthrough in Brexit talks reported in newspapers in recent days is "probably not well founded", Minister Simon Coveney told RTE Radio.

Brexit talks positive but still big issues to resolve, UK finance minister says 

Brexit negotiations have changed pace and have become more positive over the past week though there are still some big differences to resolve, British finance minister Philip Hammond said.

Dollar at October lows as weak Wall Street sours sentiment 

The US dollar traded at its lowest level this month against its major peers on Friday as declining US treasury yields and further losses on Wall Street soured sentiment.

China exports surge, creating record surplus with US despite tariffs 

China's vast export engine unexpectedly kicked into higher gear in September, producing a record trade surplus with the United States that could exacerbate the already-heated dispute between Beijing and Washington.

UK needs a referendum to stop Brexit - former PM Tony Blair 

The United Kingdom should call a referendum to allow voters to choose between a no-deal Brexit and staying in a reformed European Union as British politics is deadlocked over the issue, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Thursday.

German bond yields drop, Italy suffers, as markets reel from Wall Street beating 

German government bond yields dropped sharply and Italian debt rose on Thursday as the effects of a brutal selloff on Wall Street spread across the world.

Asian shares steady as global bond sell-off eases; sterling rises 

Asian shares staged a mild rebound on Wednesday after world stocks hit eight-week lows the previous day on worries about global economic growth, although the British pound stayed firm on hopes for a Brexit deal.

Germany plans rules for orphaned British-style companies post-Brexit 

Germany plans to let thousands of small businesses that used European Union freedoms to register under British rules to convert to German companies after Britain leaves the bloc.

Google closes Google+ after data breach of at least 500,000 users 

Google will shut down the consumer version of its failed social network Google+ and tighten its data sharing policies after announcing on Monday that private profile data of at least 500,000 users may have been exposed to hundreds of external developers.

China stocks waver as economic concerns weigh on policy boost 

Shares in China ended Tuesday mixed after wavering through the day on nagging concerns over growth prospects despite Beijing's steps to support the economy and contain the effects of an escalating trade war with the United States.

Brexit uncertainty and unsettled politics pose risk as global growth downgraded 

The potential failure of Brexit negotiations and "unsettled" politics pose a risk to world economic growth, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned.

Revealed: 84pc of our readers could not afford a carbon tax hike in Budget 2019 

A large majority of Independent.ie readers said that they would not be able to afford a hike in carbon tax.

Patrick Grismer appointed as executive VP and CFO of Starbucks 

Patrick Grismer has been appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Starbucks.

Google welcomes court block on claim over data collection from iPhone users 

London's High Court on Monday blocked an attempt to bring legal action against Alphabet Inc's Google over claims it had collected sensitive data from more than 4 million iPhone users although it said the company's actions had been "wrongful".

Ulster Bank owner says RBS’s reputation could take 10 years to recover 

Royal Bank of Scotland's tarnished reputation could take another 10 years to recover from its role in the financial crisis and a string of scandals, the lender's chief executive has warned.

China shares weigh on regional markets despite Central Bank support 

Shares in Asia slumped Monday as China's markets stumbled in their first trading day after a one-week holiday even though Beijing's Central Bank increased liquidity to offset the impact of an escalating trade dispute with the United States.

Revealed: 63pc of our readers pay more for childcare than rent or mortgage 

Almost two thirds of Independent.ie readers stated that their childcare costs were more expensive than their rent or mortgage.

Apple, Amazon deny Bloomberg report on Chinese hardware attack 

Apple and Amazon denied a Bloomberg Businessweek report on Thursday that said their systems had been infiltrated by malicious computer chips inserted by Chinese intelligence agents.

Musk mocks Securities and Exchange Commission as judge demands they justify fraud settlement 

Tesla's Elon Musk on Thursday mocked the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), just hours after a federal judge ordered him and the regulator to justify their securities fraud settlement, which let Musk remain chief executive.

Danske Bank under investigation by US Department of Justice over Estonia accounts 

Danske Bank said on Thursday that it was being investigated by the US Department of Justice about non-resident accounts at its Estonian branch which are at the centre of a €200bn money laundering scandal.

Nissan warns no-deal Brexit will damage British industry 

Japanese carmaker Nissan said on Thursday there will be "serious implications" for Britain's manufacturing industry if the United Kingdom fails to secure a trade deal with the European Union.

House of Fraser woes and extreme weather take toll on Ted Baker 

Fashion chain Ted Baker has become the latest fashion firm to reveal a hit from beleaguered department store chain House of Fraser as it posted lower half-year profits.

Irish banks 'paid €580m to customers impacted by tracker mortgage scandal' 

Irish banks have paid around €580m to customers impacted by the tracker mortgage scandal, according to the Central Bank Governor Philip Lane.

Online study firm to hire 16 

The UX Design Institute is to create 16 jobs over the next 18 months in response to demand for its online course.

Former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato to serve jail sentence for misusing company credit cards 

Former International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato will have to serve a four-and-a-half year jail sentence for misusing company credit cards when he worked at state-owned lender Bankia, Spain's Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday.

'Rolls Royce' of whiskies sold for more than €950,000 at auction 

One of the world's most sought-after whiskies, a 60-year old The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926, was auctioned for a record $1.1m (€952k) on Wednesday.

Watch: British PM Theresa May defends Brexit plan after dancing onto stage 

BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May made an upbeat start to her keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference by shimmying on stage to Abba's Dancing Queen today.

Instagram hit by outage in several cities 

Facebook's photo-sharing social network Instagram was not working on Wednesday for users across several cities, including London, San Francisco and Singapore.

Aston Martin priced at £19 per share in flotation 

Britain's Aston Martin said on Wednesday it had priced its shares at £19 (€21) each in its London stock market debut, giving the luxury carmaker a valuation of $5.6bn (€4.8bn).

'Chuck Chequers' - Boris Johnson calls on Theresa May's party to return to 'traditional values' 

Boris Johnson, one of Britain's most prominent Brexit campaigners, said Prime Minister Theresa May's party had lost its confidence and called on Conservatives to champion the free market to keep the opposition Labour Party out of power.

Italy won't change 2.4pc deficit goal despite EU pressure - Di Maio 

Italy will not change its budget deficit targets despite pressure from Brussels and its European Union partners, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday.

Facebook veteran Adam Mosseri named the new chief executive of Instagram 

Facebook has named Adam Mosseri, a 10-year veteran at the company, as the new chief executive of Instagram.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab: we will not accept two UK customs regimes 

Prime Minister Theresa May's government will not accept two different customs regimes in the United Kingdom after Brexit so the European Union needs to show less dry legalism in talks on Northern Ireland, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Tesla shares jump almost 16pc after Elon Musk settles with SEC 

Shares of Tesla Inc jumped nearly 16pc on Monday after Chief Executive Elon Musk settled with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over charges of misleading investors, heading off moves to force him out.

Aston Martin says stock market debut fully subscribed 

Luxury British carmaker maker Aston Martin said its stock market share offer had been fully subscribed after it tightened and slightly lowered its price range to between £18.50 to £20 per share.

Canada, US reach deal to save NAFTA as trilateral trade pact 

The United States and Canada forged a last-gasp deal on Sunday to salvage NAFTA as a trilateral pact with Mexico, rescuing a three-country, $1.2 trillion open-trade zone that had been about to collapse after nearly a quarter century.

Billionaire CNN founder suffering from progressive brain disorder Lewy body dementia 

Ted Turner, the billionaire founder of cable news channel CNN, says he is suffering from a form of dementia that leaves him exhausted and forgetful.

UK revenue plummets at online bookmaker 888 amid regulatory crackdown 

Online bookmaker 888 has swung to a half-year profit, despite seeing a sharp fall in UK revenue as the firm was stung by a regulatory crackdown on the sector.

Italy's bond yields tumble on budget hopes, Bund yields at new highs 

Italian borrowing costs fell on Tuesday, narrowing the gap with its German peers, on signs that Italy's anti-establishment coalition is likely to reach a compromise over the 2019 budget.

China says US putting 'knife to its neck', hard to proceed on trade 

A senior Chinese official said on Tuesday it is difficult to proceed with trade talks with the United States while Washington is putting "a knife to China's neck", a day after both sides heaped fresh tariffs on each other's goods.

Next warns over no-deal Brexit threats 

Retail giant Next has warned over the threat of port delays and increased tariffs from a no-deal Brexit as it outlined contingency plans for the UK quitting the EU without an agreement in place.

Trade war dents European shares while M&A drives Sky, Randgold up 

The US-China trade war bit again on Monday, denting European stock markets after tariffs from the world's biggest economies came into force and China cancelled planned talks, triggering new fears of a protracted, costly trade dispute.

Uber reported to be in early talks to buy Deliveroo 

Ride-sharing firm Uber is said to be in early discussions to acquire food-delivery company Deliveroo for several billion dollars, according to sources familiar with the plans.

EU leaders to hold extra Brexit summit in November - sources 

European Union leaders decided they will hold an extra Brexit summit on the weekend of November 17-18, diplomatic sources said.

Losses increase at French Connection amid 'difficult trading conditions' 

Fashion retailer French Connection has reported a pre-tax loss of £15.1m (€17m) for the six months to July 31, against losses of £5.9m a year earlier.

Dublin Information Sec: Hunter at Channel 4’s hit series Hunted and 'people hacker' Jenny Radcliffe joins line-up for cyber security conference 

Jenny Radcliffe, aka "the People hacker", and Hunter at Channel 4’s hit TV series Hunted is the latest speaker confirmed for Dublin Information Sec 2018, Ireland’s cyber security conference which takes place on October 15 at Dublin’s RDS.

Sterling falls after report on UK refusal of offer from Barnier over Irish border issue 

Sterling gave up earlier gains and briefly hit the day's lows on Wednesday at $1.3098 after the Times reported that Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May had rejected an improved offer from EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier on the Irish border issue.

SpaceX: Japanese billionaire - fashion guru Yusaku Maezawa - to be first private moon flight passenger 

Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has said that he plans to blast off on the first-ever private commercial trip around the moon and will invite six to eight artists, architects, designers and other creative people on the week-long journey.

Dollar falls for second day as trade war escalates 

The dollar fell for a second consecutive day and the euro gained on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump escalated his trade war with China by imposing 10pc tariffs on about $200bn worth of Chinese imports.

China won't just play defence in trade war, Global Times warns 

China will not be content to only play defence in an escalating trade war with the United States, a widely read Chinese tabloid warned, as President Donald Trump was expected to announce new tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods as early as today.

Asian shares slugged by new US tariff threat 

Most Asian share markets slid on Monday amid reports Washington was about to announce a new round of tariffs on Chinese imports, setting the stage for possible reprisals by Beijing.

London mayor calls for second referendum on Brexit 

London mayor Sadiq Khan has called for another referendum on Britain's European Union membership, saying the prime minister's handling of Brexit negotiations had become "mired in confusion and deadlock" and was leading the country down a damaging path.

Amazon 'pay vet bills after delivery driver knocks over Elizabeth Hurley's dog' 

Actress Elizabeth Hurley has been given a payout by Amazon after her pet dog was run over by a delivery driver, her sister has said.

New green bond will help Ireland develop projects that tackle climate change - Sustainable Nation Ireland CEO Stephen Nolan 

The growing green finance market, and the funding required to bolster projects in the climate change battle, will be on the agenda at Europe's biggest climate-related conference in Dublin this year.

Cyber attacks cost German industry €43bn - study 

Two thirds of Germany's manufacturers have been hit by cyber-crime attacks, costing industry in Europe's largest economy some €43bn, according to a survey published by Germany's IT sector association on Thursday.

250 not out: BoyleSports targets 300 stores in Ireland in expansion push 

Bookmaker BoyleSports opened its 250th store, in Kilcullen, Co Kildare, yesterday, and set a target of reaching 300 stores on the island of Ireland.

Whiskey a no-go: McGregor suffers KO to brand plan 

Conor McGregor has withdrawn his trademark application to register his 'Notorious' moniker for his planned whiskey brand.

INM to host exclusive business of podcasting event PodX 

Are podcasts the new radio? Will audio take over our lives with the rise of smart speakers? And why have podcasts exploded in the last few years?

Revealed: This city has just overtaken London as the world's most attractive financial centre 

New York has overtaken London as the world's most attractive financial centre, a survey said on Wednesday, as Britain's decision to leave the European Union prompts banks to shift jobs out of the city to preserve access to Europe's single market.

Sports Direct chairman Keith Hellawell to step down following AGM 

Keith Hellawell will retire from Sports Direct following Wednesday's AGM. He will be replaced as chairman by David Daly, who is currently a non-executive director of the retailer.

Jean-Claude Juncker's state of the union speech to European Parliament - highlights 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Ryanair cancel dozens of flights after pilots and crew in Germany start one-day strike 

Ryanair is cancelling dozens of flights after pilots and flight attendants in Germany started a one-day strike over pay and conditions, union officials said.

Live Juncker: EU should scrap some national vetos on tax 

The European Union should scrap some national vetos on tax, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

Online firms face EU fine if extremist posts stay up over an hour 

The European Union's chief executive on Wednesday proposed fining Google, Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms if they fail to remove extremist content within one hour.

Ryanair facing strike by pilots and crew in Germany 

German unions are calling on Ryanair pilots and flight attendants to stage a one-day strike on Wednesday, citing what they say is the lack of a satisfactory offer on pay and conditions.

ING's chief financial officer quits following money laundering scandal 

The chief financial officer of Dutch bank ING has resigned following a money laundering scandal that led to a huge fine for the bank.