The Irish Press - News from Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford, Drogheda, Galyway, Ireland and the world

A former nurse made history Wednesday when she was enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman to lead the centuries-old mother church of the world's 85 million-strong Anglican community.

The announced end of AC Schnitzer by the close of 2026 is far more than the disappearance of a well-known tuning brand. It is a warning signal with meaning far beyond the BMW enthusiast scene. When a company that for decades stood for sporty BMW refinement, forged wheels, suspension upgrades, exhaust systems and a distinctly German form of engineering passion can no longer operate its manufacturing and tuning business economically in Germany, the issue is no longer just about one brand. It becomes a question about Germany as an automotive business location. AC Schnitzer therefore turns into a symbolic case: one that reflects weakening competitiveness, a cost structure that has become increasingly hard to carry and a growing public impression that politics is reacting too slowly, too cautiously and too late.That is why the topic strikes such a deep emotional nerve. AC Schnitzer was never merely a supplier of aftermarket parts. The company represented an entire culture of refinement, balancing factory-like elegance with a more rebellious edge. For many BMW fans, it was part of the national automotive landscape: Aachen, BMW, motorsport associations, complete vehicle programs, distinctive forged wheels, aerodynamic components, performance kits and memorable special builds. In that sense, the end of AC Schnitzer is not simply a balance-sheet story. It is also the loss of a piece of industrial identity.The reasons behind the closure are revealing because they expose exactly the chain of problems that German industry has been discussing for years. At the core lies a toxic mix of rising development and production costs, slow approval procedures, intensifying international competition and shifting demand. The most striking point is the complaint about the length of the German approval system. If aftermarket parts reach the market many months after foreign competitors have already launched theirs, a specialist niche player loses precisely what matters most: timing, visibility and margins. On top of that come more expensive raw materials, volatile exchange rates, supplier disruptions, tariffs in important export markets, hesitant consumer spending and the gradual decline of the combustion-engine culture that once fueled large parts of the tuning scene. AC Schnitzer is therefore not describing a single isolated problem, but a concentration of structural burdens.

Senegal have lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the decision to strip them of the Africa Cup of Nations title and hand the trophy to Morocco, the Swiss-based tribunal confirmed Wednesday.

South Africa completed a 3-2 series win over New Zealand on Wednesday as Connor Esterhuizen smacked 75 off 33 balls to set up a 33-run victory in the fifth T20 in Christchurch.

The economic cost of carbon emissions is far higher than previously estimated, said a new study Wednesday that links big polluters to tens of trillions of dollars in climate-related damages worldwide.

The BBC named a former Google executive with no television or journalism experience as its next director-general Wednesday.

An obscure group has claimed to have carried out a clutch of low-level attacks which have rattled the Jewish community in several European cities.

Atle Lie McGrath wrapped up the men's slalom World Cup title on Wednesday as he held off the challenge from a rampant Lucas Pinheiro Braathen to secure the first small globe of his career.

US ski star Mikaela Shiffrin held off Emma Aicher to wrap up the overall World Cup title for a sixth time after Wednesday's season-ending giant slalom.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday named some of the biggest names in US technology to his Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, assembling a roster that includes Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Google co-founder Sergey Brin.

Long queues of cars and motorcycles have built up at petrol stations in DR Congo's sprawling capital Kinshasa over fears of shortages and price hikes after Iran's blockade of a crucial shipping conduit.

US television host Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday described her family's "agony" in her first television interview since her mother was apparently kidnapped nearly two months ago in a case that has gripped the nation.

Iran has received a 15-point plan from the United States to end the Middle East war, Pakistani officials said Wednesday, raising hopes for a diplomatic solution even as Iran said it have fired a volley of cruise missiles at a US aircraft carrier.

The war in the Middle East is impacting numerous economic sectors and not only in the region, both by direct disruptions and rising fuel prices.

Iran said on Wednesday it fired a volley of cruise missiles at a US aircraft carrier, as strikes rained down across the Middle East despite back-channel diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-week war.

Mohamed Salah's long goodbye from Liverpool signals the end of a glorious era and leaves the Premier League giants facing another expensive rebuild.

The ultra-rich principality of Monaco may seem like an odd choice for Pope Leo XIV's first official European overseas trip on Saturday, with its casinos, yachts and anti-ageing treatments.

Artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks increasingly sophisticated and costlier for businesses, reinsurer Munich Re said Wednesday, warning of methods ranging from highly personalised phishing emails to computer-generated, convincing fake identities.

Khalil and his young family are sheltering in a theatre in south Lebanon's Tyre, refusing to leave despite Israeli bombardment on the city that is now almost cut off from the rest of the country.

Millions of Sri Lankans enjoyed a government-ordered extra day off on Wednesday as the island nation battles an energy crisis triggered by the Middle East war.

Hungary's prime minister said on Wednesday that Budapest would phase out gas deliveries to Ukraine, the latest salvo in a bitter feud between the two countries over a damaged pipeline transporting Russian oil.

Oil prices tumbled and stock markets rallied Wednesday on reports that the United States had sent a peace plan to Iran.

The head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Wednesday that he was "ready" to approve the release of more oil reserves if needed to cushion the impact of the Middle East war on global supplies.

The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class is far more than a carefully polished update of a familiar ultra-luxury limousine. It arrives at a moment when Mercedes is sharpening the very top of its portfolio, comprehensively modernizing the S-Class and expanding Maybach into a distinct luxury universe that now stretches from chauffeur-driven saloon to electric SUV and exclusive roadster. That is precisely why this model matters. The new Maybach is meant to feel more digital, more individual and more visibly luxurious, while still preserving the essence that made the name so powerful in the first place: serenity, space, comfort and ceremonial presence.Its exterior already makes that ambition unmistakable. The limousine remains an imposing figure at roughly 5.48 meters in length, yet the revised design pushes its presence even further. The grille grows larger, light becomes a central design instrument, Maybach insignia and other elements take on a more theatrical role, and new wheel designs sharpen the visual stance. Even smaller details, such as projected lettering when entering the car or rose-gold accents inside the headlamps, underline the idea that luxury here is not merely owned but staged. Buyers who prefer a darker, more dramatic interpretation still have that option as well. This is not design built around understatement. It is design built around effect.Inside, Mercedes makes its 2026 understanding of luxury even clearer. The new Mercedes-Maybach S-Class adopts the sweeping Superscreen layout, introduces MB.OS to a Maybach model and combines digital sophistication with a deliberate emphasis on tactile richness. The rear compartment remains the true centerpiece. Executive seating, chauffeur-oriented comfort, generous legroom, larger rear displays and a long list of comfort details create the impression of a private lounge on wheels rather than a conventional car cabin. At the same time, Maybach is moving toward a broader definition of exclusivity. Most telling is the availability of a leather-free interior using linen and recycled polyester. It signals that premium craftsmanship is no longer tied exclusively to traditional opulence, but increasingly to material intelligence, sensory quality and curated individuality.

Iran and Israel traded fresh missile and drone strikes Wednesday, with countries across the Middle East coming under fire as diplomats worked in the background to end the nearly four-week war.

German business morale fell in March as the war in the Middle East puts hopes of a recovery in Europe's struggling top economy "on ice", a key survey showed Wednesday.

Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's shares tumbled more than 20 percent on Wednesday, despite strong annual earnings, as investors fretted over a perceived over-dependence on its wildly popular Labubu dolls.

The European Central Bank has several options for dealing with the Middle East war energy shock, its chief Christine Lagarde said Wednesday, vowing policymakers would not be "paralysed by hesitation".

Iran targeted countries across the Middle East with a fresh volley of missiles Wednesday, hours after US President Donald Trump signalled tentative progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Cameron McEvoy said Wednesday he can "get faster" after breaking one of swimming's oldest world records, but the Australian added it was "crazy" that he had received no financial prize for his exploits.

The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of oil reserves "if and when necessary".

The tiny Caribbean island of Terre-de-Haut boasts pristine turquoise waters and deserted coves. It also has goats, hundreds of them.

The head of the International Energy Agency said Wednesday he was "ready to move forward" with an additional release of oil reserves "if and when necessary".

Even if Hungary's nationalist premier Minister Viktor Orban loses next month's election, it does not mean relief for the country's embattled LGBTQ community, rights activists say.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko began on Wednesday his first official visit to North Korea, with the two countries united by Western sanctions, closeness to Russia and accusations of rights violations.

Halit Krendali peered over the edge of a freshly dug pit in southern Kosovo, desperately hopeful his uncle, missing for nearly 30 years, had finally been found in a mass grave.

Pet lovers eagerly gathered around a container to snap photos of meerkats at a Beijing animal fair, each selling for $320, while nearby a raccoon nervously paced in a cage only slightly bigger than itself.

Iran launched a new missile salvo across the Middle East on Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump's signals that he was eager to talk with Tehran steadied global markets.

Washington sent a peace plan to Iran, US media reported, as Donald Trump voiced optimism Tuesday at ending nearly a month of warfare and Tehran announced that it will let "non-hostile" oil vessels go through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.