After fine weather and the warmest temperature of 2024 on Thursday, it is raining in Belfast and set to be so for most of the day.

Tomorrow is the marathon, and it is set to be cloudy and cool, perhaps good conditions for running. It is the largest marathon entry in the event's 42 years. But not everyone is reconciled to it now taking place on a Sunday.

With the cold weather mostly behind us, not many people are thinking of buying heating oil but it is a good time to do so.

In politics, the Labour Party has sidestepped a concern that military veterans of the Troubles have about a return to biased anti state investigations if they form a government.

In politics, the former Ulster Unionist politicians David McNarry, David Campbell, Lord Kilclooney, Jim Wilson and Bob Stoker appeal to the unionist party leaders for agreed candidates in the coming election.

In opinion, Dean Godson has said that more needs to be done to challenge republican revisionism while Danny Kennedy writes that the coroner fell short in the Kingsmill massacre inquest and an inquiry is now needed.

This week I was in Dublin at the Royal Irish Academy, and then in London for the Society of Editors conference, where Rishi Sunak spoke and I really do believe there is government support for a free press unlike in some countries.

Incidentally, this day last week in London I took this long video clip of the point near Trafalgar Square where a vast pro Palestinian parade past pro Israeli protestors.

Back home, in football here are the Cliftonville manager and his Linfield counterpart speaking ahead of today's sold-out cup final.

Enjoy your reading and your day,

Ben