On 25 June, a small 12ft boat slipped up the Shannon estuary and within the hour attracted the attention of two helicopters, two assault craft and a police riverboat. The occupants - two men and a woman - were not engaged in drug or people smuggling, or even in a spot of illegal fishing. 'We held up our sign so that the river police could read it clearly,' said former Irish army officer Ed Horgan. What it said was 'Bush Go Home', and given that the President of the United States was at that moment flying in to land at Shannon airport it was perhaps inevitable that the three should be escorted under armed guard to Ennis Court House, where they were charged with breaching public order.

A RIOT TOOK PLACE IN CENTRAL ATHENS LAST NIGHT, ONE DAY BEFORE THE END OF OLYMPICS. ATHENS, Greece - A small group of self-proclaimed anarchists hurled firebombs at police patrolling in central Athens early Sunday, authorities said. No injuries or damage were reported. Police said the attack happened at 3 a.m. in the tourist area of Monastiraki near the Acropolis, where police forces have been positioned for the past few weeks to secure the Athens Olympics. Officers used tear gas to push back the anarchists, who then retreated after throwing rocks and setting fire to trash cans along the road. A small "battle" continued in the streets of Psiri till 4 a.m. The incident came after two days of street rallies by anti-globalization and leftist groups in protest of a planned visit this weekend by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. On Saturday, the State Department said Powell had canceled his visit. Greece has spent a record $1.5 billion on security to protect the first Summer Games held since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The games' closing ceremony is Sunday night.

Anybody ever wondering why activists don't want to talk to the mainstream press. Here is an example of why; with the New York Daily News approaching a new height of slander. Highly amusing though to the activist audience who can clearly spot the lies - not so funny though for the people named in the article or the unknowing frightened public! read e.g. Jaggi Singhs counter statement here: http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=04/08/27/3719245

Portugal has refused permission for a Dutch "abortion ship" to enter its territorial waters. The government said the group operating the trip planned to hand out pills to end early unwanted pregnancies - a procedure prohibited in Portugal. The vessel leased by pro-choice group Women on Waves is staffed by a doctor, a gynaecologist and a nurse. The ship has stopped in other Catholic countries with restrictive abortion laws such as Poland and Ireland.

Forget the medal count for the Olympic Games continuously being revised for positive drug tests. When it comes to the stray dogs of Athens…the numbers don’t add up either.