in the news today

Protesters clash with police on the streets of Mar del Plata, Argentina, during a series of marches and rallies.
(Photo: Chico Sanchez / EPA) | image hosted by truthout.org

Rioting Erupts as Bush Visits Argentina
A hemispheric summit meant to help create jobs and spread democracy throughout the region opened yesterday with large-scale anti-US demonstrations and deep divisions among participating nations about the Bush administration's expanded free-trade agenda.

9 Nights of Rage
Nearly 900 vehicles were torched and 250-plus people arrested as French police desperately battled the country's worst rioting for decades, which has now raged for nine consecutive nights.

Wilkerson Points Finger at Cheney on Torture
Colin Powell's former Chief of staff, Lawrence Wilkerson, stated bluntly that it was Vice President Dick Cheney's office which triggered abuse of Iraqi prisoners with word that filtered down to soldiers in the field that interrogations were not providing needed intelligence. Now, Cheney goes one step further, by appealing to Republican senators this week to allow CIA exemptions to a proposed ban on the torture of terror suspects in US custody.

Judge tosses a blanket on topless protest - Breasts Not Bombs told nudity not part of free-speech rights
Sacramento -- A federal judge denied on Friday a request from a group of Mendocino women who wanted to protest topless on the grounds of the state Capitol. U.S. District Judge Garland Burrell said the group made no compelling argument that showing their breasts constitutes free speech. "Being topless is not inherently expressive" speech, Burrell said. The group, Breasts Not Bombs, had scheduled a protest for noon Monday. The California Highway Patrol threatened to arrest anyone who went topless.
see also: previous - breasts-not-bombs.html