AER Lingus has launched a big “pay day” sale as bank accounts bounce back after Christmas – but you will need to be quick to grab a bargain.

Holidaymakers can enjoy amazing deals with up to €40 off return fares to Europe, €20 off return fares to the UK, and flights to North America from just €199.

Getty

The offer is valid from now until midnight on January 31.

And you can fly to top European destinations from February 24 to May 31.

There are a number of seats to hotspots including Tenerife, Lanzarote and Malaga up for grabs.

For those planning a weekend city break, save €20 on return flights to the UK.

And Aer Lingus has you covered with flights to thrilling North American destinations starting at just €199.

Whether you’re seeking adventure or a memorable city break, there’s something for everyone. Experience the dazzling lights of Las Vegas, the vibrant culture of Toronto, or the architectural wonders of Chicago.

With fares reduced for a limited time, don’t miss your chance to discover the iconic skyline of New York or the historic charm of Washington DC with the Aer Lingus Pay Day Sale.

The valid travel period for the US flights is from February 24 to March 15.

Separately, holidaymakers can start booking their big summer trips with Aer Lingus’ game-changing scheme.

The Irish airline is now taking €1 deposits on any holidays.

This includes both flights and accommodations, along with transfers if you include them in your booking.

The airline has just two requirements when using this method.

To book your holiday from €1:

1. Select a holiday with Aer Lingus flights to any European Sun or City destination.

2. Travel must be 10 weeks or more from the booking date.

The new scheme allows you to secure your booking for the best price, without having to pay upfront.

Regardless of the number of people heading away on the holiday, you just pay €1 per person to book it.

After the €1 deposit has been paid, your holiday is booked.

Your flights, accommodation and transfers are all confirmed.

You just have to pay the balance before you travel.

According to Aer Lingus T&Cs, you can:

• Book with €1 deposit before 31 December 2024 and pay your second deposit of €150 per person on 1 February 2025 with the final balance payable 10 weeks before travel.

OR

• Choose the flexible monthly payment options to pay by installments.

If the departure date for your holiday is within ten weeks of booking, you pay 50 per cent of the total price at the time of booking, and the remainder four weeks before you travel.

But there is a warning.

In the frequently asked questions part of the website, the airline warned what happens if you cancel your holiday.

They said: “Even though you pay us €1, we are booking your complete holiday and you are committed to pay for the holiday as per our terms and conditions.”

Those hoping to book using this method need travel insurance, as it is part of the terms of the holiday.

You must confirm your travel insurance at the time of booking.

If you have your own travel insurance, you must advise the airline of the policy details.

CHINA’S cheap AI app DeepSeek has rocked the tech world by soaring past ChatGPT as the global race to superintelligence hots up.

DeepSeek surged to the top of Apple’s App Store in the UK, US and China after its launch on Trump’s inauguration day, challenging America’s crown as undisputed AI kings.

AFP

Getty

Reuters

The blistering popularity has rattled tech experts and free-speech advocates, and was branded “AI’s Sputnik moment” by Donald Trump’s adviser Marc Andreessen.

The software is fitted with sinister features, such as its refusal to answer certain political questions about China and its leader Xi Jinping.

DeepSeek is a large language model that can generate human-like responses to prompts, just like the famous ChatGPT.

The app is powered by AI software called DeepSeek-V3, which its researchers claim was developed for less than $6million.

This is much less than the billions international competitors have spent on their own software, though the figure has been disputed by others in the industry.

The company boasted their app has “performance on par with” ChatGPT when it comes to maths, coding and writing responses.

Andreessen warned: “Deepseek R1 is one of the most amazing and impressive breakthroughs I’ve ever seen.”

AI models are powered by advanced chips, and since 2021 the US government has restricted the sale of these to China in order to stunt progress.

To get around the supply problem, Chinese developers have been collaborating and experimenting with new approaches.

This process has led to models that require much less computing power than before and that can be produced far more cheaply.

Alexandr Wang, CEO of San Francisco-based Scale AI, said the breakthrough must be a “wake-up call for America”.

He bought a whole page advert in The Washington Post last week imploring the president to “win the AI war”.

Trump has already emphasised his ambition to secure America as the “world capital of artificial intelligence” during his inauguration speech and announced a $500billon “Stargate” AI investment last week.

The Chinese government has announced much less investment in AI funds – just $8.2billion, according to the South China Morning Post.

Rex

AFP

US analysts are disturbed by the Chinese’s advance after shares in American-based AI companies, such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Meta, dropped on Monday morning.

Vey-Sern, a technology adviser, told the BBC that DeepSeek could “potentially derail the investment case for the entire AI supply chain, which is driven by high spending from a small handful of hyper-scalers”.

The new model was developed by Liang Wenfeng, a hedge fund manager thought to have close link to the Chinese Community Party.

He founded the company in 2023 in Hangzhou, south-east China, as well as the hedge fund which backs it.

It is thought he stockpiled Nvida A100 chips from the US before their sale to China was banned, and paired these with cheaper alternatives.

DeepSeek is not the only Chinese AI company on the heels of the US.

Alibaba launched its own QwQ model in November and is making fast progress.

Companies including Huawei are working to produce Chinese-made chips so that the country is not reliant on the US supply.

AFP

OWEN BINKS needed strong maths skills to keep tally of how many jobs he had after university.

Now he is using his quick arithmetic to keep score at the oche. 

https://www.instagram.com/binksowen/

https://x.com/BinksOwen

Getty

https://www.instagram.com/binksowen/

Binks is still only 27 but rattled through a whopping 21 different jobs between leaving uni and an all-important phone call four years ago.

That included a stint on the trolleys at Sainsbury’s, recruitment consulting and dealing with customers who had just had car crashes.

He received a bell from darts tournament organisers Modus Super Series offering him a job.

And not only has it given him settled employment.

But it also means he is rubbing shoulders with Luke Littler – and even got a selfie with Ed Sheeran. 

Binks told the BBC: “Modus asked me, ‘Can you leave your job and be a full-time referee for us?’ 

“I was like, ‘Yes, absolutely’ – so I quit my job on the spot.

“I knew that’s what I wanted to do and I’ve been living my dream ever since.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS

“I’ve got a lot to thank them for because that call changed my life.”

Binks has ADHD – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – which meant he found office-based jobs tricky, especially as he missed key details from drivers after their accidents. 

However, he has channelled his ADHD to help him in darts officiating – where he can combine his “hyperfocus” and his quickfire mental maths. 

Binks has marked scores and acted as a spotter at the World Darts Championship – telling TV directors which camera to switch to for the next shot.

He was on stage with Littler as he marked scores for the Nuke’s win over Michael van Gerwen at the 2025 Dutch Masters.

And he will be involved in the upcoming Premier League Darts season as both a marker and spotter.

But the best part of his job is umpiring matches. 

He added: “I’ve always been good at mental maths, but you need darts maths to be an expert in this field.

“A lot of it is knowing the patterns, although you have to be on your toes for someone like Luke Littler who sprays around the board.

It’s such a privilege. I get the best seat in the house to watch the best players. It’s the greatest sport on earth.

Owen Binks

“When I was growing up I was always in trouble at school, being the class clown and getting sent out.

“It really helps when you have a hyper-focus on the thing you love. For me, that’s darts numbers – how random is that?

“Maybe it does help becoming obsessed with that and knowing my game to the best I can.”

Binks, from Colchester, managed to meet Sheeran at Alexandra Palace at the recent world champs won by Littler and even got a selfie with the award-winning singer – taking a cheeky swipe at his beloved Ipswich Town. 

But after so many jobs following the completion of his studies, Binks was certainly counting his blessings as he helped play his part in one of sport’s best events.

He added: “It’s such a privilege to be up on stage as there’s no better crowds than the crowds at Ally Pally.

“The best thing is I get the best seat in the house to watch the best players in the world do the most amazing things.

“It’s definitely a sport. It’s the greatest sport on earth.”

https://www.instagram.com/binksowen/

https://www.instagram.com/binksowen/

https://www.instagram.com/binksowen/

Instagram / binksowen

The post Mom’s Diary (2016) Episode 424 appeared first on MyAsianTV.

The post Mom’s Diary (2016) Episode 423 appeared first on MyAsianTV.