Maher assumed the position of non-executive chair at Web Summit following her departure as CEO last year, a role she transitioned into to lead National Public Radio (NPR). In addition to her responsibilities at Web Summit, she chairs the non-profit Signal Foundation, known for its encrypted messaging service, which gained notoriety when it was used by members of President Donald Trump’s administration during military planning in Yemen. This incident came to light when the editor of Atlantic magazine was inadvertently included in a group chat.
Trump supporters, who have long criticized NPR for perceived left-leaning biases, have now turned their attention to Maher’s involvement with Signal. Their discontent is compounded by Maher’s previous remarks about Trump, labeling him a “deranged, racist sociopath,” and her advocacy for restricting free speech, which she celebrated when Trump was removed from social media, stating it was “satisfying to de-platform fascists.” With Trump recently returning to X, he retweeted a post questioning Maher’s position at Signal, suggesting a security breach within the app aimed at undermining the White House. However, national security adviser Mike Waltz has acknowledged the error was his own, indicating that the focus should shift from Maher to him.
Gordon ‘Hardie bucks’ glass is full to the brim
Gordon Hardie, a 61-year-old Cork native, may not be a household name in Ireland, but his financial compensation certainly places him among the top earners. Last year, Hardie took the helm as CEO of O-I Glass, a prominent American glass container manufacturer with a global workforce of approximately 23,000.
In a recent SEC filing, O-I Glass disclosed Hardie’s remuneration details. His base salary stood at 6,522 (€682,322), complemented by stock awards nearing .5 million, culminating in a total compensation package of .46 million. Additional benefits included ,374 for personal use of the company jet and ,645 for his relocation expenses from Ireland to Ohio, which covered temporary living costs, car rentals, and 1 for ‘destination services’ to assist with his transition.
UL explains Y it’s flounced off X
Nearly two years have passed since Elon Musk rebranded Twitter as X, with the domain name officially changing to X.com last May. However, the company has only recently completed the necessary paperwork at the Companies Registration Office in Dublin, where its European headquarters are located. Consequently, ‘Twitter International Unlimited Company’ has now been renamed ‘X Internet Unlimited Company’.
This rebranding comes too late for the University of Limerick, which announced its decision to cease posting on X last week. The university cited a “sustained decline in engagement, concern regarding the accuracy of performance data, an ongoing EU regulatory review, and the proliferation of toxic content” as reasons for its departure. The university emphasized that this decision aligns with its commitment to safeguarding its online community and its team members. Nevertheless, UL remains open to reconsidering its stance should X significantly improve its content moderation practices and user experience in the future.
A Belgian’s love letter to Ireland
Explaining uniquely Irish phenomena such as The Late Late Show, the Barack Obama Plaza, and the saga of Shergar to foreigners is no small task. Peter Vandermeersch, CEO of Mediahuis Ireland, has taken on this challenge. His company publishes this newspaper and the Irish Independent.
Vandermeersch, who has authored books on figures like François Mitterrand and Bill Clinton, has been captivated by Ireland since relocating here in 2019. He describes his experience as a blend of admiration and bemusement, noting, “Sometimes I am astonished, other times I am appalled. But I am always trying to understand.” His upcoming book, written in Dutch and titled “Ierland. Guinness, God en Google,” will feature over 100 stories about the Irish, addressing both lighthearted topics such as sea swimming and tea drinking, as well as serious issues like the Magdalene laundries, abortion referendums, and the Famine. Vandermeersch aims to create a narrative that encompasses history, politics, arts, business, sports, and culture, hoping to inspire readers to discover, understand, and perhaps fall in love with this remarkable island.
Wrong signal: Donald Trump shoots the messaging app instead of the messmaker
Maher assumed the position of non-executive chair at Web Summit following her departure as CEO last year, a role she transitioned into to lead National Public Radio (NPR). In addition to her responsibilities at Web Summit, she chairs the non-profit Signal Foundation, known for its encrypted messaging service, which gained notoriety when it was used by members of President Donald Trump’s administration during military planning in Yemen. This incident came to light when the editor of Atlantic magazine was inadvertently included in a group chat.
Trump supporters, who have long criticized NPR for perceived left-leaning biases, have now turned their attention to Maher’s involvement with Signal. Their discontent is compounded by Maher’s previous remarks about Trump, labeling him a “deranged, racist sociopath,” and her advocacy for restricting free speech, which she celebrated when Trump was removed from social media, stating it was “satisfying to de-platform fascists.” With Trump recently returning to X, he retweeted a post questioning Maher’s position at Signal, suggesting a security breach within the app aimed at undermining the White House. However, national security adviser Mike Waltz has acknowledged the error was his own, indicating that the focus should shift from Maher to him.
Gordon ‘Hardie bucks’ glass is full to the brim
Gordon Hardie, a 61-year-old Cork native, may not be a household name in Ireland, but his financial compensation certainly places him among the top earners. Last year, Hardie took the helm as CEO of O-I Glass, a prominent American glass container manufacturer with a global workforce of approximately 23,000.
In a recent SEC filing, O-I Glass disclosed Hardie’s remuneration details. His base salary stood at 6,522 (€682,322), complemented by stock awards nearing .5 million, culminating in a total compensation package of .46 million. Additional benefits included ,374 for personal use of the company jet and ,645 for his relocation expenses from Ireland to Ohio, which covered temporary living costs, car rentals, and 1 for ‘destination services’ to assist with his transition.
UL explains Y it’s flounced off X
Nearly two years have passed since Elon Musk rebranded Twitter as X, with the domain name officially changing to X.com last May. However, the company has only recently completed the necessary paperwork at the Companies Registration Office in Dublin, where its European headquarters are located. Consequently, ‘Twitter International Unlimited Company’ has now been renamed ‘X Internet Unlimited Company’.
This rebranding comes too late for the University of Limerick, which announced its decision to cease posting on X last week. The university cited a “sustained decline in engagement, concern regarding the accuracy of performance data, an ongoing EU regulatory review, and the proliferation of toxic content” as reasons for its departure. The university emphasized that this decision aligns with its commitment to safeguarding its online community and its team members. Nevertheless, UL remains open to reconsidering its stance should X significantly improve its content moderation practices and user experience in the future.
A Belgian’s love letter to Ireland
Explaining uniquely Irish phenomena such as The Late Late Show, the Barack Obama Plaza, and the saga of Shergar to foreigners is no small task. Peter Vandermeersch, CEO of Mediahuis Ireland, has taken on this challenge. His company publishes this newspaper and the Irish Independent.
Vandermeersch, who has authored books on figures like François Mitterrand and Bill Clinton, has been captivated by Ireland since relocating here in 2019. He describes his experience as a blend of admiration and bemusement, noting, “Sometimes I am astonished, other times I am appalled. But I am always trying to understand.” His upcoming book, written in Dutch and titled “Ierland. Guinness, God en Google,” will feature over 100 stories about the Irish, addressing both lighthearted topics such as sea swimming and tea drinking, as well as serious issues like the Magdalene laundries, abortion referendums, and the Famine. Vandermeersch aims to create a narrative that encompasses history, politics, arts, business, sports, and culture, hoping to inspire readers to discover, understand, and perhaps fall in love with this remarkable island.