There's plenty of variety in today's stories. French public servants and transport workers were on strike yesterday while, back home, long-time Fórsa member Evelyn Cusack is set to become Met Éireann's head of forecasting.

Fórsa gets space on waste service remunicipalisaton on the Irish Times letters page. And, pending the return of officials who can speak with authority on these matters, yours truly is quoted in reports that Fórsa and Siptu want better training and more resources to deal with high-rise fires.

Elsewhere, the Indo uncovers some 12th century graffiti in Dublin's Dean Street (well worth a look), the docs are up in arms about proposed new rosters, and some trade wars are cranking up.

Though it pains me, I feel I must shame my communications colleagues for failing this week to report the sad death of Brenda Dean (pictured), who was the first woman to lead a major industrial trade union in the UK.

And finally, while I don't want to sound like a Match of the Day pundit in August, I believe we already have a contender for Zen of the year. Here's philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell with wise words on truth, facts and love in a short clip from a 1959 BBC Face to Face interview. Tell Trump if you see him.

Enjoy the weekend.

Bernard