MONDAY

The nation is still pondering the full cultural and political implications of an event in which the force of a chanting crowd persuaded a grim-faced controller to do an about-turn. The 'unbelievable' occasion that German chancellor Angela Merkel refers to is not Simon 'Stasi' Cowell's permission to let Jedward pass through to X-Factor sanctuary last night, but the day 20 years ago when an East German border guard opened the gates and the Iron Curtain was permanently exiled to the dry cleaners. The Taoiseach is there for the 20th anniversary celebrations, enjoying a brief escape from the increasingly Soviet-style grimness of the recession back home, although the symbolic domino-style toppling of a 'wall' of polystyrene slabs may remind him too much of the collapsing Irish economy... It's all confrontation on the now aptly named The Frontline with Pat Kenny under attack as an enraged guest heckles him over his six-figure salary. You can almost read the stonily silent presenter's mind, wondering whether it wouldn't be a good idea to set up a 'Checkpoint Charlie' to screen such guests.

TUESDAY

British prime minister Gordon Brown could benefit from a little editing too. His personal letter to the mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan is filled with spelling mistakes that included getting her name wrong. The Sun is pompously self-righteous about Brown's "gaffe-strewn note" and shows a level of cynicism that would have even Simon Cowell blushing under his tango-tan. In his follow-up apology, the self-confessed 'shy' PM invokes the memory of the death of his baby daughter in an attempt to convince an enraged Jacqui Janes, and his critics, that he's not a dummy when it comes to offering sincere sympathy... Dummies, of the dressmakers' kind, are photographed being removed from the High Court after designer Jen Kelly withdraws his claim that Riverdancers were wearing his gunas without his consent.

WEDNESDAY

More frontline anger as gardaí, ambulance crews, nurses, firefighters and prison officers march in protest to Leinster House. The 3,000 public-service workers are joined by Siptu's Jack 'trophy home' O'Connor under the umbrella Frontline Services Alliance. A 'skeleton' on a stretcher is also ferried to the Dáil: "He was fine when we brought him into A&E," says an ambulance worker from St James's Hospital, "but he wasted away waiting for a bed"... On the other side of the world, kidnapped priest Fr Michael Sinnott is freed unharmed by his €1.35m demanding captors. "A number of them interrogated me about my financial circumstances," says Fr Sinnott of his ordeal. Foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin insists no ransom was paid. Or maybe the rebels discovered their captive was Irish and realised it might be a long wait for that money.

THURSDAY

The Taoiseach is not paying out either as he stressed again yesterday that there will be no annual €200 Christmas bonus traditionally granted to pensioners, the disabled and the unemployed. Today he's enthusing on YouTube about "good solid players who are giving it everything" and "how it's great to see we are in there competing", referring to the Irish football squad's ability, sadly not the government's. But he would have his work cut out convincing Stephen Ireland. The Manchester City player doesn't care about defensiveness, good or otherwise, reiterating his lack of interest in playing for his country.

FRIDAY

Friday the 13th, and details of the upcoming public-sector strike indicate that 24 November will be like Christmas Day – and not in a good way. With schools predicted to be closed and public services on an emergency-only footing, dread over the forthcoming budget ensures the gloom is turned up. Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan says deflation must be taken into account when budget cuts in child benefit, public-sector pay and professional fees are being considered, adding that month-on-month, there has been a 6.6% decline in the cost of living this year. But he's out of tune with shoppers. Earlier in the week came reports that the Irish economy will be down an estimated €810m this year as shoppers increasingly head across the border. Our garlic-chewing finance minister needs to hasten the twilight of his Vat increase last year, driving a stake through that blood-draining 21.5% rate.