Tensions are extremely high on the nationalist Springfield Road in West Belfast with the news that the Orange Order has rejected a Parades Commission determination for this Saturday's Whiterock Parade. Free article

West Belfast Sinn Féin Assembly member Fra McCann has said that people in the Springfield Road area are angry at the role played by senior SDLP member Joe Hendron in the decision to force the Orange Order parade through their community this weekend. Free article

Republicans from all over Ireland gathered in noticeably increased numbers this year for the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration in Bodenstown, County Kildare. The large crowds were joined by numerous marching bands. The many colourful and imaginative new banners, representing Sinn Féin Cumainn from every corner of the country, reflected the party's continued growth and increasing geographical spread. A colour party of republican former Prisoners of War led the parade from the village of Sallins. Free article

A Sinn Féin delegation led by Party President Gerry Adams MP and including MPs Martin McGuinness and Michelle Gildernew met the British Chancellor Gordon Brown on Monday. Free article

The latest Partnership deal agreed between Government, unions and employers last week is an even worse than many critics expected. As An Phoblacht goes to print the Government has announced a staggering 84% pay rise for directors of state companies, including the directors of Aer Lingus, under threat of privatisation, and An Post, who claim to be unable to pay workers pay commitments made in the last agreement. Last week we reported an 8% increase this year for Eircom directors. Free article

Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD has called on the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to provide the €2.8 million funding needed now to fully implement the recommendations from the Government-commissioned report showing that treatment services for sexual assault victims are on the verge of collapse. Speaking in the Dáil at Leaders Questions on Tuesday, Deputy Ó Caoláin described as "disgraceful" the current situation where victims of sexual assault are not receiving the treatment they need because of staff shortages in existing facilities and because there are too few facilities around the country. Free article

The twelfth man to join the 1981 Hunger Strike was Mickey Devine from Derry. He was the third INLA member to join the 1981 Hunger Strike and had assumed the role of INLA O/C in the Blocks after his friend and comrade, Patsy O'Hara, commenced his hunger strike and he continued in this position even when on the protest himself. Free article

The expulsion of North Belfast gang leaders Andre and Ihab Shourki along with a third man, Alan McClean, by the UDA has raised the possibility of another round of bitter internal feuding between unionist paramilitaries. Free article