A halt to Northern Ireland Protocol checks and discussions to tackling the cost of living are among the top news stories on Thursday.
The Irish Times reports Government ministers are set to examine ways to offset cost of living increases, alongside comments from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney in which he warns a stop to checks on goods going between the North and Britain would constitute a breach of international law.
Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner's lead image is of Roy Keane amid reports he may be considering a return to Sunderland as manager. The paper also carries the story of gardaí identifying a suspect following an attack on a woman in Cork at the weekend.
The Echo reads: 'Patrick's Day is back', reporting Cork city's parade, which will return for the first time in two years, will "kickstart a bumper weekend".
The Irish Daily Mail leads with 'Three pay hikes for Watt in 10 months', reporting on increases to the Department of Health's secretary general Robert Watt's salary of "close to €300,000". The paper also carries a picture of Irish actor Cillian Murphy, alongside his former Peaky Blinders co-star, Helen McCrory, almond with Murphy's remarks that filming of the hit series has been difficult following McCrory's death.
For all the top news, sport and features - plus Ireland's only daily puzzles pullout - pick up the Irish Daily Mail, or click on https://t.co/7yQSg4uXrF pic.twitter.com/4Uroz4xaed
— The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) February 3, 2022
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The Irish Daily Star reports Declan Haughney, who is accused of deception by attempting to withdraw his dead uncle's pension, has also been charged with shoplifting having appeared in court on Tuesday.
Thursday’s front page pic.twitter.com/B5lbHCefwt
— Irish Daily Star (@IsFearrAnStar) February 3, 2022
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Meanwhile in the UK, the imminent announcement of government support to ease soaring household energy bills leads Thursday’s front pages.
The Times, Financial Times and The Daily Telegraph report British chancellor Rishi Sunak is set to announce a raft of measures, including council tax cuts and loans to energy firms, to ease the financial burden facing millions of families as a result of Ofgem raising the energy price cap by 50 per cent.
TIMES: Millions of families to get cuts in council tax #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/cmerVXfbvj
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) February 2, 2022
Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Thursday 3 February https://t.co/JmK43GV25x pic.twitter.com/qtSTbDsWBR
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) February 2, 2022
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:
'Sunak splashes out to ease bills crisis'#TomorrowsPapersToday
Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/i0qeunNjmD— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 2, 2022
According to the Daily Mail, the cap is set to rise by about £650 (€780), which the Daily Mirror says could result in an extra £53 (€64) on monthly household bills.
Thursday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/PJkYbdez3O
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) February 2, 2022
Tomorrow's front page: D-Day on prices agonyhttps://t.co/kALPnvYIdv#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/k4xXE1DLim
— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) February 2, 2022
Meanwhile, The Guardian and The Independent report pressure is rising on Boris Johnson as more Tory MPs call on the British prime minister to resign amid the fallout from the Downing Street parties scandal.
Guardian front page, Thursday 3 February 2022: Pressure on PM as more Tory MPs call for him to go pic.twitter.com/5Gkij2r4nX
— The Guardian (@guardian) February 2, 2022
Tomorrow's @independent front page #tomorrowspaperstoday To subscribe to the Daily Edition https://t.co/koJc3LN1ax pic.twitter.com/RoViovABBU
— Thair Shaikh (@ThairShaikh) February 2, 2022
Elsewhere, the Daily Express, Metro and Daily Star lead with Mr Johnson issuing a warning to Vladimir Putin over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Tomorrow's front page: A tragic gamble! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/RUOZ56fiJx
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) February 2, 2022
Thursday’s front page:
PUTIN GIVES BORIS A BUZZ#tomorrowspaperstoday #BBCPapers #skypapers pic.twitter.com/fkuXp7pooS— Metro US (@MetroUS) February 2, 2022
Tomorrow's front page: Gagging for lost laughs #tomorrowspaperstoday
Read here: https://t.co/LIlt3Wgzzi pic.twitter.com/wAyCRJi5FJ— Daily Star (@dailystar) February 2, 2022
And the i says the UK government’s “levelling up” plan has come under fire for “lacking ambition and funds”.
Thursday's front page: No more funding to 'level up' UK #TomorrowsPapersToday
Latest from @RichardVaughan1 @janemerrick23 @HugoGye: https://t.co/cHNoTRVRs1 pic.twitter.com/YJNVi98fRC— i newspaper (@theipaper) February 2, 2022
