An American woman journalist was kidnapped in Baghdad on Tuesday, and authorities are searching the city ​for her, two police officials said. The Iraqi interior ministry ‌confirmed the abduction of a female journalist but did not disclose her nationality. Police officials who declined to be named later identified ​the victim as Shelly Kittleson. A State Department official said the US was aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, adding that Washington had previously issued a ​warning. The police officials ⁠said Kittleson was seized by four men in civilian clothes and taken in a vehicle.

Intel, the chipmaker aiming to restore its manufacturing prowess, agreed to pay $14.2bn (€12.4bn) to buy back half of a plant in Ireland that it had previously sold to Apollo Global Management. The transaction will be financed with cash on hand and the issuance of about $6.5bn (€5.7bn) in new debt, Intel said in a statement on Wednesday. Apollo had paid $11.2bn (€9.7bn) for 49% of what became a joint venture — a business that took ownership of a factory called Fab 34 in 2024. The deal raised cash that Intel said it needed for new production technology at the facility and others in the US. It currently uses manufacturing techniques called Intel 4 and Intel 3.

King Charles's Easter Sunday guest list is set to be on the sparse side this year amid the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The Royal Family's Easter Sunday service is typically only attended by members of The Firm and their engaged or married partners. Once inside, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were given hot cross buns to enjoy as part of the holiday celebrations. Meanwhile, neither Andrew nor Sarah Ferguson are included in the royal Easter guest list this year. Meghan Markle has never attended a Royal Easter service, while Harry has not been seen at the traditional festivities since 2019.

Newspapers accused of phone hacking against Prince Harry and other public figures have 'established complete defences' against the claims, their lawyer told the High Court yesterday. Associated Newspapers, which publishes both titles, has denied the allegations and insisted its journalists relied on legitimate sourcing for information. During his closing speech at the end of the 11-week trial, Antony White KC, for the newspapers, said: 'We submit that Associated has established complete defences of all of the claims.' Mr White said: 'What that exercise showed was a dearth of documents that support the claimants' case.' During his evidence, Mr Burrows repeatedly denied he had ever worked for the Daily Mail or MoS.

Potential flooding and stormy conditions this Easter weekendMet Éireann has sent out a weather warning advisory ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, with potential for some unsettled weather. It looks to be very mixed over the Easter period, with a mobile Atlantic flow affecting the country, with some stormy conditions possible on Saturday. There is potential for severe west to southwest gusts, and a strong chance of coastal flooding. Areas in the west and north coasts will be vulnerable to flooding, especially in low-lying locations.ÉireannThere are expected to be strong onshore winds, and when these combine with high waves, this may cause wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas. Warnings over the next few days are likely to be issued by Met Eireann, with a High Tide Advisory coming into effect from Friday to Monday.

Late buses and trains behind majority of passenger complaints about public transport servicesMore than 61,000 gripes were received by the National Transport Authority about Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin BusPunctuality tops list of complaints against country's main transport providersKeith Kelly Today at 06:30Poor punctuality was the leading complaint by passengers who used the main public transport services last year.

Former minister, Ceann Comhairle and dad of ‘Father Ted’ star – the life and times of Rory O’HanlonMonaghan man combined his GP duties with being a frontbench TDThe late Rory O'Hanlon. Photo: Tom BurkeJohn Downing Today at 06:30For an ageing generation, Doctor Rory O’Hanlon is best remembered as “Father Dougal’s father”, harking back to the star of the 1990s Father Ted television series, his comedian son, Ardal O’Hanlon.

The use of srambler bikes on public roads is to be banned under new legislation. Photograph: An Garda SíochánaNew regulations needed to fully implement a ban on the use of scrambler motorbikes in public places will come into effect on Friday. There were renewed Government efforts to develop the regulations to help enforce the existing ban on scramblers on roads and in parks after the death of 16-year-old Grace Lynch in January. The new regulations are to be known as Grace’s Law in her memory. Grace Lynch died after being hit by a scrambler as she used a pedestrian crossing in Finglas in January.

‘I don’t think so’ – Bertie Ahern says he can’t see Gerry Hutch winning Dublin Central seatFianna Fáil have not won a seat in the constituency since Mr Ahern's departure from politics in 2011Bertie Ahern says Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has no chance of winning Dublin Central by-electionAisling Moloney Today at 06:30Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern does not believe Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch will win the by-election in Dublin Central.

A dog that fell 55m down a waterfall with its owner a week ago was successfully rescued by a group of volunteers. It's believed Molly initially fell in a different location but hiked to where Ms Johnston had last been and survived by eating possums. An emotional video showed Molly running to jump to Ms Johnston, who sat on the ground and cried as they hugged. The team at Precision Helicopters were glad to see the pair together again and wished Ms Johnston a quick recovery. 'I'd say she'll heal up a lot better now,' Ms Newton said.

Rossie supporters gathering to take place in ManhattanA large contingent from south Roscommon will be expected to form part of a substantial number of supporters heading for New York next weekend for the county's opening match in this year's Connacht Senior Football Championship. And Club Rossie has released details of a big event due to take place in the Big Apple ahead of the match, which takes place on Sunday, April 12 (3pm local time, 8pm Irish time). On Friday, April 10 at the 5th & Mad Sports Bar in Manhattan, former Roscommon stars Derek Duggan, Paul Earley and Donal Ward (as well as some other special guests) will take part in on-stage interviews with Roscommon commentator Willie Hegarty. Attendees will also be treated to footage from classic Roscommon matches of the past, as well as finger food, a house DJ, several auctions and raffle prizes. The event is due to take place at 7pm and admission is €45.

Singling out the UK, the US president rebuked countries for refusing to “get involved” in the American-Israeli war against Iran, suggesting they learn “how to fight”. Nato partners have been reluctant to help reopen the critical waterway, through which 20pc of the world’s oil typically travels. Later yesterday, Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, reiterated Mr Trump’s criticisms of the UK’s refusal to send warships. The Israeli military said yesterday it completed a wave of strikes targeting 20 weapons manufacturing sites and a research and development site in Iran. Meanwhile an American journalist was kidnapped yesterday in Baghdad and Iraqi security forces are pursuing her captors, Iraqi officials said.

Nigella Lawson left Bake Off fans in stitches with a cheeky post as she smouldered in a selfie with Paul Hollywood. 'The Great British Bake Off is more than a television programme, it's a National Treasure – and it's a huge honour to be entrusted with it.' Nigella has also received Dame Prue's approval, who said: 'I'm thrilled that Nigella is to experience brilliant Bake Off. Prue later revealed she decided to leave the Great British Bake Off out of 'a desire to work less and play more'. Speaking to The Spectator, she said: 'I have been dithering for years about when to stop judging The Great British Bake Off.

Brits are facing greater financial pressure due to elevated mortgage rates, increasing petrol and diesel prices and forecasts of another jump in energy and food costs. Separate estimates of the average price of petrol and diesel are being published daily by the RAC. The RAC's latest figure for the average price of a litre of unleaded petrol as of Tuesday is 152.8p, an increase of 20p since the Iran conflict began. Mr Macheras cited how United Airlines said jet fuel prices have more than doubled in three weeks – and if such a trend continues, its annual fuel bill would hit $11billion. Speaking about jet fuel supplies, Business Secretary Peter Kyle told Times Radio: 'We have no supply chain issues at this moment at all.

Irish egg producers are currently receiving “20 cents per dozen behind the EU average”, according to Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) poultry chair Brendan Soden. Even existing poultry farmers are retiring or diversifying and moving away from egg production because the returns and security are not there. “At the minute, the premium between barn and free range eggs is only around 4c per dozen,” Mr Soden said. Irish producers do not have these contracts and are “completely exposed on that front”. The IFA poultry chair said they would be seeking long-term contracts between retailers and the wholesalers the Irish farmers supply, to offer producers security going forward.