Sinn Féin representatives Bairbre de Brún MEP, Mayor of Derry City, Councillor Paul Fleming and Derry City Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn were among a contingent of 50 politicians from 13 different European countries who travelled into the Gaza Strip on Friday, entering the Palestinian region at the normally closed Rafah crossing. The heavily fortified frontier was opened on Friday in order to admit the large number of foreign politicians. Free article

A DOCUMENT marked "Strictly Private and Confidential" was obtained last week by Meath Sinn Féin Councillor Joe Reilly about proposed closures this year of wards at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan. The document outlined the Louth Meath Hospital Group's input into the Regional Development Plan and proposes service reductions to the value of €11.476 million. The proposed ward closures could lead to reductions in the numbers of frontline staff - junior doctors, nurses, paramedics and agency staff. Free article

The Sinn Féin Uladh College Comhairle Ceantair is organising another trip to Dublin from 27 to 29 January, in the wake of last year's successful trip. This year's incarnation is promised to be bigger and better, including some of last year's events and much more. This year's schedule includes a republican historical walking tour of Dublin, a visit to the National Museum, a tour of the Battle of the Boyne site, and of course, social nights. Free article

FEARS for more than 1,200 jobs at Cadbury plants in Ireland after the household name in chocolate was swallowed up by US giant Kraft Foods in a €13 billion takeover this week have been raised by trade union Unite. The union says the news on Tuesday marked "a very sad day for Irish manufacturing and a great traditional company". Cadbury has manufactured in Ireland for 75 years and has three plants, in Coolock and Tallaght in Dublin and Rathmore in Kerry. Free article

THE Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), which owns Ulster Bank, has been urged by the Irish Bank Officials' Association to reconsider its announcement on Tuesday that it is to cut 221 jobs on the island of Ireland as part of a major restructuring programme. The bank met with 196 technology services staff in its Dublin office and 25 in Belfast on Tuesday to tell them that they are to be laid off. Free article

Members of St Comgall's GAA club in Antrim were targeted by sectarian bombers last week. Two crude explosive devices were hidden near the Stiles Community Centre in Antrim Town last Thursday night, 14 January, where members of the St Comgall's squad train. The PSNI described the bombs, which had to be dealt with by British army bomb experts as, "crude", and "non-viable". Free article

This year's Bloody Sunday commemorative events will highlight issues around the Saville Report, which was promised for March this year. A serious concern for the relatives of the victims of Bloody Sunday is that the release of the report may be further delayed. It will first go to the British government and a lot then depends on how quickly the British pass it on. If, for instance, the release is protracted until the next election there could even be a different government involved by the time the relatives have viewed the findings. Free article

Strike notice at Mater Private Hospital, Limerick hospital action intensifies and Element Six rehires sacked staff through agency Free article

BOOK REVIEW 'Free Derry Wall' Compiled By Jim Collins and Adrian Kerr Published By Guildhall Press and The Museum of Free Derry Price £12.95 Free article

A memorial plaque is to be unveiled this Sunday 24 January in Strabane to mark the 20th Anniversary of the death of local teenager Charlie Love, who was tragically killed while attending the Bloody Sunday Commemoration in Derry on 28 January 1990. Free article