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“It's downright offensive” was the sentiment echoed by Manhattan protesters Tuesday complaining of the New Yorker cover painting the Obama's as terrorists at a press conference at the magazine's headquarters. The event was called by State Senator Bill Perkins. “It was offensive to the values that New Yorkers have, it was offensive to the values that Americans have, and it is beyond just an insult,” said Perkins.

Barack Obama’s sizeable opinion-poll lead among Hispanics over John McCain was reflected in the reaction to their speeches to the 5,000 participants in the National Council of La Raza’s annual conference here July 11-15. “Obama spoke to all the important issues to our community. It was a very good speech that helped connect him to the Latino community,” said Raul Yzaguirre, who served as NCLR’s president from 1974 to 2005.

Former Congressman Joe Kennedy, Venezuelan ambassador Ricardo Alvarez and Citgo President Alejandro Grarado kicked off the second phase of the Venezuela-Citgo Community Assistance program at the home of Shirley and Claude Braxton. Through the Energy Efficient Lighting Program compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) will be distributed to low-and middle-income homes. This program supplements the Citgo-Venezuela Heating Oil program that provides winter fuel assistance for more than 1.2 million U.S. households during the past two years. The Braxtons are recipients of Citgo’s reduced-rate home heating oil.

Three United Nations agencies have warned of a decline in Palestinian living standards, with a new report showing that high food prices and falling incomes are forcing families to manage with less and lower quality food.

The drama is intensifying around California’s budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Last week the Legislature’s Budget Conference Committee announced a counterproposal to roll back many of the draconian cuts to health, education and social services proposed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The people of Ireland voted resoundingly against the Lisbon Treaty in a popular referendum vote June 13. The vote was 53.4 percent “No.” Opponents of the pact said the vote demonstrated the strong will of the Irish working people to reject a treaty that serves only the interests of big business and the military.

CHICAGO — “Can you imagine a federal law that promoted community schools — schools that serve the neediest children by bringing together under one roof all the services and activities they and their families need?

The nation’s capital played host to over 10,000 elected delegates of the National Education Association’s 87th annual representative assembly July 1-6. Teachers, educational support and administrative personnel were joined by thousands of other allied professionals and trade unionists and guests at what was billed as the world’s largest democratic deliberative body.

The assembly’s festive atmosphere did not diminish the fact that teachers were acutely aware that public schooling and its future is a main item on the nation’s domestic agenda, especially in this presidential election year.

Brazil, the world’s 10th largest economy, has adopted an increasingly assertive role in world politics as it promotes Latin American unity, justice for the poor world especially in regard to food supplies, and Brazil’s place in the global market economy. The recent travels of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president since January 2003, make the point.

The National Theater in central Baghdad was packed with an enthusiastic audience waving the Iraqi flag and red banners, July 12. The event, organized by the Iraqi Communist Party, was a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the July 14, 1958.