News emerged in Cork yesterday about an assault on a school secretary in her office. The Fórsa member was left unconscious. The union issued this statement, which was picked up in the Irish Mirror.

While correspondent Brian Lube takes to the Irish Times letters page to warn us that remote work puts us all in peril of our jobs being off-shored, the lesser-spotted news stories emerging from last week's World Economic Forum in Davos is that AI is going to create lots of jobs. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, claimed the technology heralded higher pay and more jobs ("jobs, jobs, jobs") for 'plumbers, electricians and steelworkers.'

However, while most of the senior tech bros made positive grunting noises about AI last week, PwC said only one in eight CEOs recently surveyed by the global advisory firm believed AI ⁠was lowering costs and delivering more elusive revenue. "And questions remain about what business model can make up for AI's enormous expenses."

Elsewhere, the BBC asks can a local authority do five days' work in four? and John McManus describes the Bar Council as "a trade union in fancy dress." While it's high on playful rhetoric, McManus conspicuously fails to distinguish between a trade union and a guild.

Your Zen this morning was top of the charts this week in 1966. In its favour it has a suggestion of sunshine, which might come in handy today.

Have a great day. Stay dry.

NS