Sarasota, Florida - Only a week after the US House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment baring flag burning two teens Scott A. Baber, 18, and Brian A. Richard III, 18, were arrested on allegations of lighting up six US flags. The police were called because many of the flags were attached to people's homes in the subdivision of Bent Tree where the pair lived. Police claim to have caught them in the act of attempting to torch an automobile and confessed to be anarchists. They face several counts of arson, criminal mischief and possession and manufacture of a fire bomb. A judge set bail at $101,120 for Baber, who was described in police reports as a lookout, and $402,120 for Richard. Barber has been released but Richard is still in jail.

Bil'in, Palestine - At least 6 demonstrators were injured by Israeli soldiers who fired on them with rubber bullets during a protest against the separation wall being built by Israeli to separate it from the Palestinians. A dozen Israeli and foreign protesters where also arrested. The town of Bil'in is center of many "anti-apartheid wall" demonstrations like yesterday's which was organized by Anarchists Against the Wall and included hundreds of people occur on a weekly basis.

Milan, Italy - An Italian judge has ordered the arrest of 13 people connected to the CIA for the illegal abduction of imam Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, who was taken against his will off a Milan street on Feb. 17, 2003 and thrown into an unmarked white van. He was then taken to Egypt by way of a U.S. air base in Aviano, Italy and another in Ramstein, Germany. In Egypt he was tortured by authorities who suspected he was involved in terrorist activities. Predictably, US authorities declined to comment on the matter, with a CIA spokesperson saying: "We're not even not commenting. We're saying: if we have anything to say, we'll get back to you."

Los Angeles, California - New evidence in the wrongful death trial of the Notorious B.I.G. implicates the corruption-ridden LAPD. The case remains unsolved five years after the infamous Bad Boy rapper's fatal slaying. Family members of Biggie Smalls, whose legal name is Christopher Wallace, believe that former LAPD officers Rafael Perez and David Mack are responsible for the murder. This theory is supported by an unnamed informant and possibly an incriminating video tape. The two officers are currently serving 14 year prison sentences for a bank robbery.

Lusby, Maryland - President Bush has called for a new round of nuclear power plants, to be constructed with the aid of federal money, while visiting an existing facility in Maryland. The Administration has already launched a $1 billion initiative to help underwrite the costs of new plants. For the plan to proceed Congress will have to pass new energy legislation first proposed by the Bush White House in 2001. No reactors have been constructed since the Three Mile Island meltdown disaster in 1979.

Washington D.C. - Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey had his department-issued unmarked police car stolen from outside his home while away at a counter-terrorism conference.n The vehicle contained police uniforms and riot gear.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - People took to the streets of Philadelphia calling for safe and natural foods today in a protest which ended in the death of one police officer. Undercover police officers attempted to clear the streets outside of a bio-technology convention when one officer, Paris Williams suffered a fatal heart attack. Dozens of demonstrators were arrested throughout the day. Pictures

Chiapas, Mexico - One of Mexico's most popular armed rebel groups known by the Spanish-language acronym EZLN or more commonly as Zapatistas, has put it's forces on "red alert." The reasons for the action are unclear. The last time such an alarm was called was in 1997 when Mexican troops massacred 45 people in the village of Acteal. The Zapatistas are a left-wing indigenous group who have been demanding autonomy from Mexico since new years day 1994 when they first made themselves known.

Ulsan, South Korea - Japan announced Monday on the opening day of the International Whaling Commission in South Korea that it will step up it's efforts to kill minke whales in the name of "science." Japan, along with Norway Iceland and some small Caribbean nations are expected to kill more than 1,550 of the animals despite a worldwide ban.

Cop Watch

• New York, New York - Two uniformed narcotics detectives assigned to the parade duty have been suspended without pay after getting drunk and groping women during the Puerto Rican Day parade. Edmond Olivacce, 37 and Bernard Dixon, 36 who were caught on video tape may face criminal charges.

• Florence, South Carolina - Prosecutor Jay Hodge has asked state agents to charge former police officer Donnie ''Bubba'' Grimsley with assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and misconduct in office. Grimsley was fired along with Darren Miles after they were caught on video severely beating an unarmed motorist during a traffic stop earlier this month.

• Holly Hill, South Carolina - Former police officer, Mark Wright, has been arrested and charged with four counts of misconduct in office for demanding sexual favors from women in exchange for not writing them tickets between 1998 and 2004.

Shenyou, China - Hebei Guohua Power, a state-owned electric company hired 100 thugs to drive peasant farmers off their traditional lands so that they can build a storage facility. Six villagers and one attacker was killed in the riot which was captured on video.

Tikrit, Iraq - Army Staff Sgt. Alberto B. Martinez of Troy, NY, has been charged with two counts of premeditated murder in connection with the deaths of two of his superior officers. On June 7 Capt. Phillip T. Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis E. Allen were killed in an explosion which is now thought to be the second reported fragging incident since the invasion began.

Toronto, Canada - Members of the Montreal artist collective Socially Acceptable Terrorist Acts (Action Terroriste Socialement Acceptable, or ATSA, in French) has set up an outdoor installation consisting of a burned out SUV in Dundas Square. The group staffed a table nearby which distributed information outlining some of the connections between automobiles and environmental pollution and war.

Baldwin Park, California - The City Council has passed a restrictive anti-protest ordinance in the face of continued rallies by a hate group whose previous events have been marred by violent clashes between them and counter demonstrators. The anti-immigration group, Save Our State, has condemned the ordinance which eliminates the right to free speech although ironically they are are not affected by it as they have failed to attract "more than 35 people" to their demonstrations, which would now legally require them to obtain a permit. Pro-immigration counter demonstrators would be subject to the new ordinance as their numbers have been in the hundreds.

Berlin, Germany - Hundreds of people resisted riot police as they attempted to evict one of Berlin's few remaining alternative living and cultural centers: Yorck 59. Squatters barricaded themselves inside the building in an effort to halt the eviction and make it as difficult as possible for police. Other supports smashed up corporate store fronts and occupied another nearby building which police later evicted.

Palo Alto, California - Anarchist Action rallies to preserve public space and upstages the mayor in Lytton Plaza where business interest would like to create a more sterile environment.

Alimos, Greece - A group of youths firebombed the offices of Greece's ruling New Democracy party.

Indianapolis, Indiana - 21 of the 24 individuals who were arrested at the state capital protesting the proposed "NAFTA Super Highway" Interstate 69 extension last week have already had their charges thrown out of court. Two of the three remaining demonstrators still face felony charges.

Greve, Denmark - A previously unknown anti-border anarchist group: "Borderless Beate Action Group" has claimed responsibility for firebombing the Immigration Minister Rikke Hvilshøj's car and garage. The fire spread from the garage to the house where Minister Hvilshøjv was with her family. They were able to escape without injury. Ms Hvilshøj is responsible for implementing some of the most restrictive immigration policies in all of Europe.

Athens, Greece - Anarchists fire bomb yet another police vehicle.

Flathead County, Montana - Plum Creek Timber: the same company which has invoked the ire of environmentalists for destroying sensitive ecosystems from Oregon to Maine has now inspired its own truckers to idle their rigs and refuse to deliver logs until they have a satisfactory contract.

Tarouba, Trinidad - Residents of Tarouba blockaded roads with burning tires and debris to protest the lack of road maintenance and vowed to do so again if the streets are not repaired soon. Protesters said that the roads where damaged by heavy machinery the government had brought through the village three years ago. Some of the holes had been filled with an oily black mix which liquefied and spread over the town during the hot summer months.

London, England - Four peace activists have been convicted of Criminal Damage after they dug graves on the lawn of the "Ministry of Defence" in protest of Britain's involvement in the Iraq war. The four have been fined £80 - 416 each and were ordered to pay court costs of £200 per person.

La Paz, Bolivia - Bolivian President Carlos Mesa has submitted his resignation for the second time in three months amidst a haze of teargas and the sound of dynamite blasts. Miners and Indigenous protesters have been in the capital for the past four weeks manning barricades and attempting to lay siege to the Government Palace.

Athens, Greece - A police car parked outside a repair shop was significantly damaged after two molotov cocktails were thrown inside.

Bagdhad, Iraq - A riot broke out at the ever notorious US run Abu Ghraib prison after an escape attempt was thwarted overnight. Inmates, many of whom are forced to sleep outside due to overcrowding despite the extreme summer weather, broke lights and generators, and pelted soldiers with stones. The uprising was put down by a rapid response unit and according to the Army, prisoners and soldiers only suffered minor wounds.

Faslane, Scotland - Protesters shut down a Trident's nuclear submarine base by breaching the outer security perimeter in a surprise demonstration. 12 anti-nuclear campaigners forced the HM Naval Base Clyde to temporarily close for the second time this year, before being arrested. Demonstrators plan to return in far greater numbers on Monday July 4 on the eve of the G8 summit in nearby Gleneagles, Perthshire.

Athens, Greece - Anarchists set fire to seven CCTV cameras over the weekend in a series of coordinated attacks. A number of banks were also firebombed causing "extensive damage."

Earth First!

• Fairfield, Maine - A Wednesday action and rally in Maine left the Plum Creek Timber Company office adorned with painted slogans such as "Maine is not for sale," "Scum Creek" and "2nd growth, not 2nd homes." Also the company's sign was removed. The protesters decried the company's plans to "develop" 426,000 acres of wilderness around Moosehead Lake. There were no witnesses to the vandalism and no arrests have been made.
  
  

• Indianapolis, Indiana - A rally against the proposed "NAFTA Super Highway" Interstate 69 extension by Roadblock Earth First! saw the Statehouse spray-painted with anti-NAFTA slogans. 24 people were arrested about a block away from the action and forced to kneel handcuffed on the sidewalk. Police did not know who left the graffiti and charged everyone with disorderly conduct. One woman was tasered by police while trying to get away and was subsequently charged with battery on a police officer and resisting arrest.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - Just a month after occupying the Supreme Court Building, Kyrgyzstani protesters where forcibly ejected by a mob working in conjunction with police who then secured the building. The demonstrators were unable to hold them back with molotv cocktails and other projectiles. The country was rocked by massive revolutionary demonstrations last February which toppled the government. The opposition party has since attempted to fill the power vacuum and put down any further revolutionary activity declaring the revolution over.