A central component of liberal democracy, free speech faces challenges from all directions, from Islamist death sentences to the ‘no platform’ movement in universities, writes TP O’Mahony

Country trio the Dixie Chicks are desperate to be asked to perform for US troops in Iraq in an effort to prove once and for all they're not unpatriotic.

The Dixie Chicks are planning to turn their 2005 tour into a travelling creche because there will be seven kids under the age of four travelling with the new mums.

The two most successful artists at the Academy of Country Music Awards continued their winning ways, with Alan Jackson capturing album of the year for Drive, as well as a video honour, and Brooks & Dunn being named top vocal duo.

A member of Texas-based band Dixie Chicks said she received death threats after the group spoke out against the Iraq war and US President George Bush.