The Irish Times reckons public spending will move centre-stage in the election next week, and that business leaders are now looking for investment in better public services.

Meanwhile, the pension age issue is coming up on the outside (the Journal adds some colour here), and don't bet against crime unexpectedly featuring strongly in campaigns as yet another killing hits the headlines.

Elsewhere, Sinn Féin got in a bit of bother, and some farmers spent yesterday dispensing useful lessons in how NOT to win friends and influence people.

Nurses are set to get backdated allowances worth over two grand, while Northern Ireland's health service strike has been suspended after unions negotiated what looks like a good deal.

As the Stateside impeachment charabanc moved to the Senate, this interesting piece from the Guardian warns Democrats that Trump's gang is preparing all-out war if they select Bernie Sanders to run for the White House.

And Zen today celebrates birthday-boy Alfred Wainwright, the quirky Lancastrian local government officer who walked the English Lake District in his spare time and published the standard seven-volume pictorial guide to the fells in the 1960s. Here he is talking about his beloved Haystacks. An inspiration to the Kilimanjaro generation!

Set your sights high this weekend.

Bernard