Peter Flanagan

Robin Smith obituary England and Hampshire cricketer nicknamed the Judge admired for his fearless and powerful batting

He was one of my two favourite players growing up. Just awful.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...

Trump says Venezuela airspace to be closed Move comes after military build-up by US forces in region

Trump says Venezuela airspace to be closed on.ft.com/44F3q2e

So, does Slot make it to January?

Coalition ‘budgeting like there’s no tomorrow’, warns fiscal watchdog Ireland is ‘flying blind’ without the medium-term spending plan promised in programme for government

The Irish budget was last month but ifac has now had its say: Coalition ‘budgeting like there’s no tomorrow’, warns fiscal watchdog

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Trump Administration Said to Discuss Taking Stake in Intel The Trump administration is in talks with Intel Corp. to have the US government potentially take a stake in the beleaguered chipmaker, helping support the company’s effort to expand domestic manufacturing, according to people familiar with the plan.

The Trump administration is in talks with Intel to have the US government potentially take a stake in the beleaguered chipmaker, helping support the company’s effort to expand domestic manufacturing

More importantly, has anyone IDed his watch

I mean, sure. But I've plenty of cricket sources. The Athletic's USP was local coverage of most US sports teams in one place. Not anymore alas.

Irish economy expands by almost 10% as exporters rush to beat tariff deadlines CSO figures show economy, as measured by GDP, expanded by 9.7 per cent in the first quarter

"The value of goods exports for the period was 44.1 per cent higher than a year earlier."

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Department of Finance to wind down special bank shareholdings unit Group oversaw State shareholdings in banks after financial crash, wind down of IBRC and working out of Nama

End of an era, you might say: Irish Department of Finance to wind down special bank shareholdings unit

www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Trump Extends Deadline for 50% Tariffs on EU to July 9 President Donald Trump said he would extend the deadline for the European Union to face 50% tariffs until July 9 after a phone call with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Classic.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Everything's fine

This is a hell of a way to discover that the Windows 95 noise was a Brian Eno composition.

Bloomberg Terminal outage support thread How then shall we live?

Essential reading for those of us without access to the terminal this AM www.ft.com/content/8167...

‘I soon regretted not putting on pants’: Unwelcome early-morning callers arrived at my door, demanding £1,000 Bailiffs hired by local authorities prefer payment before breakfast - especially at the weekend

This is a very good, and revealing, piece on the state of bailiff culture in the UK these days. Mad stuff. www.irishtimes.com/world/uk/202...

Initial probe into cause of power outages in Spain & Portugal today suggests fault rather than cyberattack, according to the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA). “For the moment the investigation seems to point out to a technical/cable issue,” a spokesperson for the agency tells me.

Intel flicks at job cuts in its earnings release. It "is taking actions to drive better, more efficient execution across the business. The plan includes streamlining the organization, eliminating management layers and enabling faster decision-making.'

HSBC fired investment bankers on bonus day and gave them no bonuses Lender is taking a tougher approach to costs under new chief executive Georges Elhedery

Something very Joe Pesci in Goodfellas about this story:
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

Gardaí investigate vandalism attack at Trump golf links, Doonbeg Greens dug up by small group who also planted Palestinian flags on course in apparent act of protest

Gardaí investigate vandalism attack at Trump golf links, Doonbeg

www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/20...

Don't knock "amid" - it's one of the greatest words in the English language...

www.wsj.com/us-news/insi...

Season 1 of The West Wing has come to life

Dublin docklands office block let to WeWork to sell for knockdown €50m Dublin docklands office block to sell for 53% less than 2018 value

Dublin commercial property market is fine. Totally fine.
www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

That 1959 shot might be the greatest rugby pic I’ve ever seen

It's February, 6c in Dublin with a real feel of 2c, and I just had a wasp in the kitchen. Totally normal...

Diageo weighs Guinness sale amid drinks brands review Drinks giant is grappling with sliding demand for its wider products and falling share price

In non-Storm Eowyn news: www.irishtimes.com/business/202...

POLITICO Pro: Bloomberg offers climate cash to UN amid Trump cutbacks The move by billionaire Mike Bloomberg comes in response to President Donald Trump's move to pull funding for U.N. climate programs.

Scoop here — Mike Bloomberg will offer to fund the UN's climate body amid Trump cutbacks

subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...

Opinion | How the biggest rock band in the world disappeared R.E.M. taught Gen X it’s better to fade away than to burn out.

Really enjoyed this. The notion of Stipe and the rest of REM as pensioners is pretty confronting if I'm honest.

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/int...

Andrew Slade, FT journalist, 1963-2025 Talented but unassuming news editor who was universally admired in the FT newsroom

Lovely, if obviously sad, obit

Andrew Slade, FT journalist, 1963-2025 on.ft.com/4fPT2aJ

God Bless 6 Music's 90s Forever

Andersen Consulting brand set for resurrection A 1990s name makes a comeback with help from George Shaheen, who led it for more than a decade

The Andersen Consulting brand is returning and I am here for it www.irishtimes.com/business/202...