On foot of Amnesty International's latest report, Undermining Global Security: the European Union's arms exports, An Phoblacht looks at the lax legislation that allows states, businesses and brokers to cash in on conflict and death around the world. Two weeks ago, we looked at Spain's military, security and police training package with Colombia, the sale of German rifles to the repressive Nepalese security forces and the British exports to China. Free article

- Councils split on democracy The four new Sinn Féin elected councillors on Donegal County Council made history at their first council meeting, when they successfully challenged Fianna Fáil's 14 elected councillors, along with two Blaneyite 'Independents'. In a council of 29 members, these 16 had combined in a pact to monopolise all 180 council positions to be filled at the council AGM, and dictate council business. Free article

8 July 2004 Free article

Seven-year delay for Irish TV funds - East Derry MLA Francie Brolly said last Thursday that the delay in getting the resources from the £12 million fund for Irish language television and radio programming was a result of willful incompetence. The commitment to fund Irish programmes was made in 1998, however it will be 2005 before the allocated money is made available. Free article

A loyalist band based in the Monkstown area on the outskirts of North Belfast is at the centre of controversy over its links with the UVF. The band, which was photographed last Thursday 1 July carrying loyalist paramilitary flags at a Somme commemoration march in East Belfast, is to be the subject of a Parliamentary Question at Westminster. Free article

The Parades Commission has come under fire for allowing an Orange Parade to pass along the Crumlin Road and past the Ardoyne Shops in North Belfast next Monday 12 July. Free article

A roundup of sectarian attacks in the past week. • A 25-year-old Catholic employee of Belfast's Mater Hospital has been told by the PSNI that he is under threat of death from loyalists. • A group of students, returning home from a night out in Derry city centre, were set upon by a loyalist gang armed with sticks. • North Antrim Sinn Féin Councillor Oliver McMullan is accusing Independent Unionist Councillor Jack McKee of "going out of his way to justify the unionist paramilitary threat" made by loyalists against a Larne woman. • A Catholic pensioner escaped serious injury after a loyalist gang hurled a rock through the bedroom window of her Newry home. Free article

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has described as "disgraceful" the Taoiseach's confirmation during Questions in the Dáil today that the government had not sought full official and working status for the Irish language during its EU presidency. Free article

• Clones Town Council elected Sinn Féin Councillor Debbie Moore as Leas Meara Bhaile (Deputy Mayor) at its recent AGM. Moore was first elected onto the council in 1994 and has since proven herself an able and efficient public representative. She played a key role in ensuring the party's increased representation from three to four seats on the nine-member council in the June local elections. Free article

Sinn Féin Chairperson Mitchel McLaughlin on Monday described the postponement by the British of inquiries into the killings of Rosemary Nelson, Robert Hamill and Billy Wright as "just the latest delaying tactic". Free article