In recent months, some have warned tensions over the Brexit deal's impact on Northern Ireland could cause the collapse of the entire trading relationship that's been in place since the UK left the EU. Others fear a long freeze in relations between the two. But Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin tells us the "mood music" surrounding negotiations has improved. With UK Brexit Minister Lord Frost and EU Commission Vice-President Maros Šefčovič due to meet later in Brussels, Mr Martin insists there is "serious intent" to solve the difficulties over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The protocol is the element of the Brexit deal designed to avoid the need for border posts and checks on the island of Ireland, which it's feared would threaten the peace process. It created a new trade border within the UK, meaning goods such as meat and eggs taken to Northern Ireland from Great Britain are checked to ensure they meet EU product standards. Some Northern Irish politicians, including DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, say this harms trade. But Mr Martin argues Northern Ireland benefits from having access to both the European and UK markets. He says the EU "sincerely" wants to engage but nonetheless warns the UK against acting unilaterally. The UK government previously suggested it could trigger a clause allowing the suspension of any part of the Brexit deal. In turn, the EU could respond by imposing tariffs.

People have become afraid to say what they think for fear of being "cancelled", while left-wing activists have "hijacked" social media. At least, that's the view of Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries. In her first TV interview since being appointed two months ago, she tells us she does not plan "to charge out on a culture war battle". And she suggests when using social media "we just need to tone down the condemnation and the judgement, and evaluate and engage a little bit more". Our culture editor Katie Razzall says this will "raise eyebrows" given Ms Dorries' reputation as "a politician who shoots from the hip, who has previously got into fairly heated Twitter rows with detractors".

Every parent knows the cost of school uniforms, not least those who have to buy from designated suppliers. Government research from 2015 suggests buying all uniform items from the High Street saves almost £50 on average. Now Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi is announcing legally binding guidelines he says will make uniforms "far more affordable". They will mean parents in England must be allowed to buy some uniform from High Street shops, while second-hand items should be made available. Many schools had already tried to reduce costs, in line with voluntary guidelines. Education unions welcomed the strengthening of these obligations, although child poverty campaigners say more action is needed. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, eligible parents can apply for grants to help them cover uniform costs.

Several papers focus on the government's decision to scrap the HS2 rail line to Leeds, with the Guardian's headline - "betrayal of the north" - reflecting the frustration of the scheme's proponents. For the i, it's a "train wreck". Under the headline "HS2-faced", the Daily Mirror counts 60 pledges from Conservative ministers to complete the high-speed rail link before declaring it "a pack of lies". The Daily Express, however, talks about a "great rail revolution", saying the government's alternative investment plans will "level up" the UK. It's among papers to lead on Home Secretary Priti Patel criticising the EU over the "mass migration crisis" in the English Channel.

Did you hear about the cat who turned up 10 years after going missing from its owner's narrowboat? No-one quite knows where Big Ginge has been but he's finally been delivered back to his owners. And you can read about an extraordinary rescue effort that resulted in a group of Afghan girl footballers being flown to the UK. It's quite a tale, involving an unlikely cast of characters, including a Jewish aid organisation, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian-West.

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