Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Jeffrey Donaldson speaks to the media during a press conference at Hinch Distillery, Temple, Northern Ireland. Unveiled on the fourth anniversary of the UK’s departure from the European Union, the agreement eases some of the border checks imposed because of Brexit that unsettled Northern Ireland’s delicate political balance and sparked a political crisis. It also makes legal tweaks designed to reassure unionists that Northern Ireland’s position in the UK is secure. Sinn Fein member Michelle O'Neill smiles during a press conference at parliament buildings, Stormont, Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly then can meet to elect a speaker, followed by the nomination of a first minister and a deputy first minister.

New data from award-winning digital marketing agency LOCALiQ UK has revealed 81.3% of businesses don’t think Artificial Intelligence will lead to redundancies. From the survey, around 40% of businesses said they’ve used AI and a further 15% planned to use it in the future. Those who have used AI have seen benefits, as 68% reported an increase in the volume of output. The responses on what AI is being used for widely varied, but most used it for campaign optimisation (48%) and written content creation (47%). Nikki Broxup, Marketing Director at LOCALiQ UK, said it’s hard to label an increase in the use of AI as simply good or bad.

A burst of flame erupts as an Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires a round from southern Israel toward the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/GettyIsraeli forces carried out air strikes in Gaza on Wednesday as the militant Palestinian group Hamas studied a new proposal for a ceasefire and the release of hostages held in the enclave. Israeli sources said the framework of a proposed deal involved the release of 35 hostages held by militants in Gaza in the first stage of a truce that would last for 35 days. The Washington Post reported that the ceasefire could be extended, after the release of all civilian captives, to allow for the release of soldiers and the bodies of hostages who have died. A Palestinian man mourns over the body of a loved one at the Ahli Arabi hospital in Gaza City.

Illustration: iStockThe public sector pay deal will go out to union members to vote on in the weeks ahead. So older public servants who joined before 2013 have a particular reason to support the deal. The Government needs money to expand the scale of the public sectorA key driver of the rising public sector pay bill has been increased numbers. Over the same period an additional 75,600 have been hired in the public sector – a rise of not far off one quarter – while the public sector pay bill has gone up by one half. Second, the key political challenge is to deliver better public services in return for a larger and better-paid public sector.

My husband and I have had a joint bank account since we were married 20 years ago. But I do like to spend money on our daughters and I like to get my hair cut every few months and buy clothes each season. I don’t want to stop having a joint account but equally I’m really miserable at how this has come between us. I would suggest having a conversation with your husband about how it makes you feel to have your expenses scrutinised. Recognise the importance that you, as a couple, agree on an amount that feels reasonable for each to spend monthly as ‘personal expenses’.

Karen McAdoo, Marketing Manager Europcar, Joey Carbery and Paul McNeice Head of Country for Europcar Mobility Group Ireland at the new Europcar branch at Diskin Centre, Golden Island, Athlone. Photo: INPHO/Morgan TreacyCompany opens new car rental branch in AthloneEuropcar has opened a new branch in Athlone. It's part of a major expansion of services across the country by the car rental company, as part of a €3m investment. The Athlone branch is located at Unit 3B Diskin Centre, Golden Island, and is one of three new branches opened recently. The company said it is committed to making transport solutions available to even more people across Ireland in 2024, as a sustainable and flexible alternative to private vehicle ownership.

The Dubliner who won the €14.6m Lotto jackpot has made contact to claim the prize. Pic: Stock imageAn online player in Dublin, who became the first Lotto jackpot winner of the year after scooping €14.6m, has finally made contact to claim their prize. The Dublin player, who won last Saturday’s main Lotto Jackpot, is now €14.67m richer and is starting the bank holiday weekend with celebrations as arrangements are made for their prize to be paid. The winning ticketholder will officially become the 7th biggest Lotto jackpot winner in history after purchasing their ticket online. Meanwhile, the National Lottery is urging south Dublin players to check their tickets after a player won just over €200,000 in Wednesday’s Lotto draw.

The first day of February will start sunny and become cloudier as the day progresses, becoming cloudier throughout the afternoon. Some light rain, drizzle and mist can be expected in the western half of the country with Met Éireann also forecasting a steady rise in temperatures throughout the day, reaching 9 to 11 degrees by this evening. Patches of rain, drizzle and mist will continue into the west and northwest tonight and into Friday. Some sunny spells will develop between patchy showers on Sunday with temperatures remaining steady at 10 to 13 degrees. Met Éireann expects little change into Monday, when the forecast currently looks cloudy with patchy drizzle that could give way to more persistent rain in the north later.

For additional information, visit statetheatre.info. For additional information visit carnegieart.org. For additional information, visit warhol.org. For additional information visit geibelcatholic.org. Celtic Connections, presented by River City Brass, comes to The Palace Theatre on Saturday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

The trial will cover around 355km of the network on the M50 (above), M1, M7 and M8 motorways. Instead of having to wait to see a sign, motorists would get real-time information relayed to them from road network operators via an app or an on-board unit. Linked devices will use “on-road connected vehicle technology” to gather and display information about collisions, congestion, stationary vehicles, road works and hazardous weather. In Ireland, the pilot scheme is being run by the Department of Transport and road operators, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). The pilot aims to develop a common system that can be shared between all road operators and road users in every EU state.

In a separate clip, Kim noted that she “wanted to share” her journey with her fans, telling them, “I usually just have this spot, but now I can tell it's going down my leg and up my leg and all up my thigh. So I just know it's time to figure this out.”

By Jonathan McCambridge and David Young, PAHere are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the deal that is set to deliver the restoration of powersharing in the North. The DUP leader says this is the best deal that could be achieved and has persuaded him to end his boycott of the powersharing institutions. The arch Brexiteer claimed the ongoing application of EU law in Northern Ireland was the result of a “spineless, weak-kneed, Brexit-betraying government, refusing to take on the EU and its interference in Northern Ireland”. They insist the Stormont boycott should only end when the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol, and the subsequent Windsor Framework, are scrapped entirely. The DUP leader has hit back, claiming his opponents have delivered a “big blank sheet of nothing” when it comes to removing the Irish Sea border.

Inflation in Ireland fell back again in January after an uptick in December, according to Eurostat. The inflation rate is down on the 3.2pc annual hike recorded December. The Irish figure is from the EU’s Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which does not include mortgage interest repayments. Food prices are still 4.3pc higher than they were a year ago, though the inflation rate is slowing. Last year food price inflation was in double digits.

It also plans legislation to guarantee “unfettered access” for Northern Irish goods to the UK internal market. In a sign that he still has work to do, DUP MPs lined up on Wednesday to criticize the proposals when presented to Parliament by the UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris. “With this package, it’s now time for elected representatives in Northern Ireland to come together to end the two years of impasse,” Heaton-Harris said in Parliament. “Stability is everything, especially to the people of Northern Ireland after all they have been through,” Benn said. Ending the political impasse would be a significant moment in the history of Northern Ireland, which will get its first nationalist First Minister in Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill.

Aliza Blu Doody (5), Levi Jordan (6) and Ivy Walsh (7) with Cristian Dirocie at the launch of National St. Patrick’s Festival. Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillBritish prime minister Rishi Sunak strongly criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar for Ireland’s case against the UK’s legacy act during a telephone call between the two men on Tuesday to discuss the breakthrough at Stormont. The Big ReadFiachra Gallagher writes that for those who remember Ann’s death, January 31st is a painful reminder. Simplex CrosswordCrossword Crosaire CrosswordCrossword Sudoku PuzzleLike this? Get the best content direct to your inbox by signing up to one of our newsletters