Below is the first paragraph of the graphic account -in text and images- of the aftermaths of a suicide bombing in Iraq.

The photographer, Zoriah, -who you may be familiar with through earlier posts- has since had his embed assignment cancelled by the Marine Corps for posting the blog on his site, which includes pictures of dead soldiers.

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Shell are starting the dredging operation to begin laying the offshore part of the production pipeline to pump the raw gas from the Corrib field to their installation at Bellanaboy. The project has been criticised for separating the planning aspects of the offshore pipeline from the nine kilometres of onshore production pipeline which they want to cross the bog landscape and special areas of conservation around Rossport, county Mayo.

The company have not got planning permission for route of the onshore pipeline, but are pressing ahead with the offshore pipe.

Natural Resaources Minister Eamon Ryan, who once supported the local community in their fight against Shell's scheme, has made no statement in reaction to the Department of Transport's announcement (below). read full story / add a comment

Lionbridge stalls the court and tries to defend its actions as the case gets more political. read full story / add a comment

Yesterday Choice Ireland picketed the WRC on Dorset street - they intend to picket every Saturday (1pm) this month to highlight "the lies, bullying, and manipulation of the WRC". read full story / add a comment

In a move which is shocking in its cynicism and casual brutality the HSE in Laois, and I assume nationally, has stopped a free taxi service which had enabled parents with children in foster care to visit their children once a week. This attack on a marginal group with many health and social disadvantages is a clear indication of how theGovt intend to make the poor pay for its recession. The old , the sick and the poor yet again. We must organise to defend basic social services against these slash and burn tactics. read full story / add a comment

Organise! and the WSM picketed Starbucks in Belfast city centre today from 12 to 1 pm. Despite the miserable weather around 12 people joined the picket and leafleted passers by and potential customers outside the coffee shop. At the start of the picket 3 people had gone inside to leaflet customers and staff. There was a very positive response to the picket however one person was falsely accused of assaulting a Starbuck's member of staff after leafleting staff and customers inside. read full story / add a comment

Despite Israeli and International court rulings to the comntrary the Israeli army continues to build the Apartheid Wall, promotes the expansion of settlements and shoots live bullets, rubber bullets and tear gas at protestors or indeed anyone they decide to target. Mairead Maguire reports from Bil'in. read full story / add a comment

MP Peter Pilz (Green Party) Visits Martin Balluch in Prison
Directly followed by a press conference outside the entrance to the prison

Today MP Peter Pilz visited DDr Martin Balluch in the Josefstadt
prison in Vienna. He described how he had to pass through three
security checks before being able to speak to Martin over a telephone
and see him through a glass screen. Their conversation was overheard
and documented by a prison official. At a press conference directly
after the visit Mr Pilz told the press that he now had an inkling as
to what it's like to be locked up on remand.

The opportunity to put questions to the Green Party Minister was
seized by members of the press.

MP Pilz's main contention is that, despite the Public Prosecution's
accusations collapsing like a house of cards, so much so that not much
is left over apart from the ominous paragraph 278a (criminal
organisation), the 10 animal protectionists are still imprisoned.

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GW Bush is in the process of having a sewage plant named after him in San-Fransisco, other Presidents get librarys or hospitals. read full story / add a comment

Two bus loads of Archaeologists arrived at Tara this morning for a Tour of the Hill. read full story / add a comment

The special torture techniques used by the CIA, US military, Special Access Programme (SAP) teams, and interrogation 'contractors' at Guantanamo, Abu Graib and elsewhere, were developed from Chinese torture techniques used during the Korean War, including so-called Brain-Washing. read full story / add a comment

Scottish Human Rights lawyer Aamar Anwar, who faced contempt of court charges over statements he made on behalf of his client Mohammed Atif Siddique, convicted last year of “terrorism” as a result of activities on the internet, has been found not guilty. read full story / add a comment

The new Australian Labor government claims it is fulfilling its election promise by removing Australian troops form Iraq, with a welcome home parade in Brisbane last weekend.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/29/australia.iraq read full story / add a comment

On May 19th Dublin City Council announced that the Public Private Partnership regeneration deal it had with McNamara/Castlethorn Construction to develop St Michael's Estate will not go ahead as planned. read full story / add a comment

A commemoration was held at Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny, on 27th and 28th June for George Brown who died fighting for the Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War at the Battle of Brunete in 1937. read full story / add a comment

Hi,

We officially formed the National Animal Rights Association one year ago, on 1st July 2007.

As a look back on what we've done, we've put together a ''Year in Review'' report below.

Thank you so much to everyone involved!

Laura Broxson read full story / add a comment

Another protest was organised outside the Pearl Brasserie restaurant (20 Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2), on Saturday 28th June. read full story / add a comment

A step backwards for a one time Minister For Justice. Does he have a concience after all.? read full story / add a comment

As you may be aware the Galway Alliance Against War has a new initiative aimed at instigating an inspection process for aircraft believed to be involved in the unjustifiable and illegal process of the' renditioning' of unconvicted and uncharged people who are 'suspected' of being terrorists. As part of this initiative the recruitment process involves signing a letter which declares that the signatory is opposed to the practice of renditions and will undertake to prevent the practice by supporting a process of inspections of the suspected aircraft. The text of the letter and the current signatories may be read here- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/88150

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Several hundred people took part in a protest in Cork city centre yesterday (Saturday) to protest at ongoing cuts in hospital services in the region. read full story / add a comment