Israeli media is reporting that Hamas has agreed in principle to the US peace plan which was presented to Israel and Arab countries this week.

The plan would allow Palestinians to remain in Gaza and reform the Palestinian Authority in a departure from previous US deals. The reports come after another bloody night in Gaza.

Fresh overnight strikes have killed dozens, according to medics in Gaza, but there is renewed hope today as Israeli media is reporting Hamas has agreed in principle to the Trump administration’s latest peace plan.

Leaked details suggest it is a significant departure from previous US deals.

Reports say that Palestinians would be allowed to remain in Gaza and the Palestinian Authority would be reformed.

During that process, Gaza would be run by local technocrats overseen by a new international body and Hamas would be completely disarmed.

Read more:
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West Bank: Tales of the dispossessed
‘Unacceptable’ to ignore human crisis in Gaza – Obama

Police officers in Northern Ireland are to be deployed around popular night-time settings such as pubs and clubs in a bid to identify predatory behaviour targeting women.

Project Vigilant is an initiative which has been used by a number of police forces in England to combat violence against women and girls.

The PSNI said it would involve the tactical deployment of both plain-clothed and uniformed officers within night-time economy settings.

Officers have recently received training from Thames Valley Police for the operation, which will see them intervene when they identify behaviour of concern.

Detective Chief Insp Leah Crothers said: “We are actively seeking out good practice from across the UK and have recently had Thames Valley Police over to Northern Ireland to train our tactical officers to enable us to deploy the successful Project Vigilant initiative.

“We want to make our night-time economy settings as safe as possible and a hostile place for predatory behaviours.”

The PSNI is marking the third year anniversary of its action plan tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Between the start of 2019 and July 31st, 2025, 36 women and girls across Northern Ireland were killed by men.

Until the end of August 2025, police have made 5,042 arrests under new legislation aimed at tackling domestic abuse, stalking and non-fatal strangulation.

They have also put in place four stalking protection orders using new legislation.

The force said there had been on average 84 arrests each month for the domestic abuse offence, 19 arrests each month for the offences of stalking and threatening and abusive behaviour and 76 arrests each month for non-fatal strangulation.

In the 12 months to July 2025 there were 21,729 VAWG offences recorded, a reduction of 4 per cent compared with the previous 12 months.

There have been 21 Walk and Talk events, which see neighbourhood teams meeting local women and support groups to hear their concerns.

Active bystander training has also been rolled out across the force.

Ms Crothers said: “We remain committed to doing everything we can to prevent harm, call out unacceptable attitudes and behaviours and protect women and girls wherever they live – in towns, cities and rural communities.

“Over the last three years we have spent a significant amount of time working with partners like the Department of Justice and The Executive Office developing our action plan, and more recently a public-facing campaign, Power to Change, to help address misogyny and other behaviours that we know can escalate to criminality.”

She added: “We have always been clear that it will take a societal effort to make a real change.

“But as a police service we have an opportunity to lead the way and to do so we have to be willing to look inwards to our own organisation and challenge our own attitudes and behaviours.

“This is why we have launched this year a mandatory internal training package for our officers and staff to reflect on how they can play an even greater part in making our organisation and wider society a more inclusive and safe space.”

The detective said: “Tackling violence against women and girls requires commitment from all – where perpetrators are held to account, communities stand together, and we work with partners to make every space safe.

“This remains our goal.” – PA

The Minister for Finance has said that “no decisions” have been made on changes to the carers allowance in this year’s budget.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said however that “it is a matter that is important to the Government and we are working collectively with regard to that”.

He said how the Government supports carers “has always been a key focus of budgets”.

According to today’s Irish Independent, Budget 2026 will see the income thresholds for carers allowance raised.

It reports that the thresholds will increase by €200 for a single person and €400 for a couple.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is engaged in negotiations with all ministers.

Minister Donohoe, who was attending a Fine Gael conference on small business in Carlow today, also said “no decision” had been made on any individual tax measure.

The conference is also being attended by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeil.

Minister Carroll MacNeil said she met Family Carer’s Ireland this week and “it really is important that the Government supports carers.

“We’re always trying to support people in their homes” she said.

Separately, the Minister for Enterprise has welcomed confirmation from the White House that new US tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals do not apply to countries that have already negotiated trades deals with the Trump administration.

Yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced a suite of new tariff measures, including 100% duties on pharmaceuticals set to take effect on 1 October, casting uncertainty over a previous framework agreement between the EU and the US.

However the EU stressed that its trade deal with the US, reached in July, shields such exports from tariffs higher than 15%.

“It’s important that we now have a very substantial deal with the EU and US,” said Peter Burke.

“It’s the biggest, largest, most important trading relationship on the globe,” he added.

“It was good to see from the US administration last night, the confirmation that the European deal still stands, and that will be the case.

“That gives certainty for so many industries,” he said.