Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern says he hopes the U.S. Congress will approve President George Bush's proposals for immigration reform. Mr. Ahern, in Washington Friday, said the proposals would mean a great deal to many Irish men and women.

The Ulster Orchestra is offering an early February special of "two soloists for the price of one". As part of the Orchestra's current Brahms Concerto series, two internationally-renowned soloists will be playing Brahms's Double Concerto as the Orchestra bids a temporary farewell to the Ulster Hall (Friday 9 February).

NCR Self-Checkout: First installation in new supermarket near Dublin

Daniel Hope, one of the shining stars in the current crop of young international virtuoso violinists, comes to Belfast's Ulster Hall this week. The young British violinist with a dazzling career has just this week been signed up as an exclusive artist by the famous 'yellow label' (Deutsche Grammophon) - bucking the recent trend of record companies shedding their artists.

The Ulster Orchestra has won the overall Arts Award at the eighth Arts & Business NI Awards, sponsored this year by Allianz. The Orchestra won the category for its nurturing of arts business partnerships and its skills in developing new and innovative partnerships.

The Ulster Orchestra has learned with great sadness of the death in Paris of conductor János Fürst. He was 71 and had been ill for some time.