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September 4, 2013
Putting Psychology to Work in the Public Sector
Three new books offer public officials insights into how people make judgments — and how institutions can make better decisions.
May 4, 2012
Baltimore Police Chief Bealefeld to Retire in August
Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld announced Thursday night that he will retire after 31 years with the police force, reports the Baltimore Sun.
April 26, 2012
Report: Favorability Ratings for State, Local Gov't Remain Positive
A new report from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press finds that Americans continue have more favorable views of their state and local government, contrasting greatly with their views on the federal government.
April 12, 2012
Tax Incentives Report: Half of States Not Evaluating Their Efficacy
Half of the states and Washington, D.C. do not have effective methods for evaluating tax incentives for economic development, according to a new report by the Pew Center on the States.
March 8, 2012
Chicago Suburb Considers 'Redbox for Readers'
Libraries in areas like LaGrange, Ill., are considering implementing self-service kiosks, potentially making media available to patrons, even after hours.
January 31, 2012
Connecticut Gov. Malloy on His Fixes for Budgets, Benefits, Jobs
Budget holes, public sector benefits and job creation: these are issues everyone governor is grappling with. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy has made considerable progress on each of them, explaining his approach during a lunchtime keynote speech Tuesday.
January 26, 2012
No Second Term for N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue
North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue's campaign committee released a statement Thursday afternoon that she will not seek a second term.
January 25, 2012
Report: American Press Freedom Declines Due to Occupy Arrests
The United States has dropped 27 spots in Reporters Without Borders 10th annual World Press Freedom Index, now ranking at 47th in the world for press freedom.
November 30, 2011
Gabe Klein Pursues a Pedestrian-Friendly Message in Chicago
After instituting new bike lanes and one of the nation's largest bikeshare programs in D.C., Klein hopes to have similar success as Chicago's new transit chief.
September 30, 2011
Fighting for Union Equality in Wisconsin
Even though Gov. Scott Walker left public safety employees out of his attack on unions, the president of the Madison fire fighters union protested as if it were his own.
August 31, 2011
Florida's Unlikely Emergency Management Director
Many are watching to see how former Wal-Mart executive Bryan Koon will adapt his private-sector knowledge to aiding the Sunshine State.
July 29, 2011
Director of D.C. Lottery Attempts to Go Online
Washington, D.C., hopes to roll out the nation's first online intrastate casino. Buddy Roogow is leading the way.
July 15, 2011
Dealing with Disruptive Change in the Public Workforce
How can employees and managers address and benefit from changes in government? Patrick Ibarra, a former city manager and now workforce consultant, provides insight on how to keep employees focused and engaged.
July 11, 2011
Employing the Unemployed After A Disaster
U.S. Department of Labor grants help fund efforts like the Missouri Disaster Recovery Jobs Program, which provides temp jobs to those unemployed due to tornadoes and floods.
June 30, 2011
Ohio Lt. Governor's Job Is a Balancing Act
Mary Taylor is the only deputy to also serve as the state insurance commissioner, a position she balances along with heading up a regulatory reform commission.
May 31, 2011
Orange Beach, Ala., Mayor Works to Bring Tourists Back
Mayor Tony Kennon has pushed for bigger beach cleanup efforts, faster settlement of claims and larger marketing budgets to bring visitors back to Alabama's Gulf Coast.
May 10, 2011
Talking to Local Gov About Transparency
A recent transparency conference provided one Virginia local official the opportunity to explain the challenge governments like his face in embracing transparency initiatives.
April 19, 2011
What State is Next for Prize-Linked Savings Programs?
Credit union officials in Rhode Island are having discussions on a potential PLS pilot, while a few states are considering legislation allowing for such programs.
March 31, 2011
States Considering Prize-Linked Savings Programs
Credit unions want permission to award cash and prizes to customers who save.
March 31, 2011
New York State's Medicaid Director Suggests Cuts
Jason Helgerson, formerly Wisconsin's Medicaid director, came to New York to help control costs.
March 7, 2011
NYC Building Permits To Feature Quick Response Codes
Square codes on building permits allows passersby to learn more about construction via their smartphones.
February 28, 2011
Oakland, Calif. Elects First Female, Asian-American Mayor
Former City Councilmember Jean Quan hopes to make her office more accessible and transparent.
February 17, 2011
City of Maricopa Profiles Local Businesses for TV and YouTube
Featuring Maricopa business owners through city channels provides credibility and publicity, and encourages citizens to buy local.
February 16, 2011
Video: O'Malley, Sebelius and Zandi at Outlook 2011
Maryland Gov. O'Malley, Sec. Sebelius, and economist Mark Zandi shared their fiscal and political forecasts at the 2011 Outlook on the States and Localities conference. Their remarks are now available online.
February 14, 2011
AZ Permits for Overweight Trucks Expedite Crossings at Border
An Arizona Department of Transportation pilot allows produce trucks from Mexico to enter the state with more cargo, helping expedite crossings.
February 7, 2011
Utah Bill Proposes Community Service for Medicaid Pilot
The Utah Legislature is considering a bill that would set up a pilot program requiring unemployed Medicaid recipients to provide community service in order to receive benefits.
February 1, 2011
Big Things Ahead for Nebraska's Speaker
Mike Flood, a lawyer and broadcaster, leads the nation's only unicameral Legislature.
January 31, 2011
Can Dimmer Highway Lights Save Energy and Still Save Lives?
This is the question the Maryland State Highway Administration hopes to answer with a one-year pilot program.
January 24, 2011
Offering Valet in Downtown Carolina Cities
To entice more people to enjoy downtown restaurants and attractions, Charleston, S.C. is pursuing a year-long valet pilot program. Chapel Hill, N.C., currently operates a similar valet parking program.
January 1, 2011
Local Coders Help Improve Government Functions
There's a new breed of software developer helping local government.
November 2, 2010
Foursquare and 2010 Political Data
Could Foursquare predict voter sentiment and election results? A few online projects are testing how the location-based social platform can be utilized for election and political coverage.
November 1, 2010
States' Regulation on the Gadsden Flag
Is flying the "Don't Tread on Me" flag a protected nod to America's past? Some states' laws are unclear.
October 28, 2010
Scottsdale Librarians Call Ghost Hunters, Attracting Visitors
As part of their adult programming, the Scottsdale Public Library invited local investigators to search for paranormal activity. What librarians found was an increase in interest and visits.
October 28, 2010
Foursquare and 2010 Election Data
A couple of online projects are trying Foursquare to test how the location-based social platform can be utilized for election coverage.
October 21, 2010
A Less Traditional Format for Boulder's Meetings
Would constituents be more likely to attend meetings on upcoming city projects if they knew that pumpkin painting, concerts or pancake breakfasts would be offered? Boulder, Colo., city officials think so.
October 1, 2010
States Take a Closer Look at Interstate Tolling
States stuck with maintaining federal highways are paying more attention to the potential of interstate tolls.
September 30, 2010
Los Angeles and Beijing Partner to Battle Congestion
Two cities, notorious for their traffic congestion problems, propose a partnership to share resources and research on how to combat these issues.
September 22, 2010
A Simple Way to Explain Health Care Reform
Does thinking about health care reform make your head hurt? A video by the Kaiser Family Foundation makes things easy.
September 1, 2010
New York Illegal Sublet Law Affects Vacation Rentals
A clarification in New York's housing laws targets illegal hotel operators -- and apartment owners.
August 12, 2010
Enrolling Childless Adults in Medicaid
A report from the Kaiser Family Foundation can help states prepare to enroll and care for childless adults that will be eligible for Medicaid in 2014.
August 4, 2010
Finding Public Officials' Salary Info
If citizens wanted to find out how much money their public officials make, just how easy is it for them to find this information?
July 30, 2010
Seattle Tackles Broadband
Seattle is considering building its own fiber-to-the-home network. Should the city get involved when its residents are already connected?
July 30, 2010
Taking a Swipe at Card-Swiping Fees
A growing source of profit for card companies took a hit in Vermont.
July 28, 2010
Wireless Takes San Francisco to Court
A new city ordinance requiring retailers to display how much radiation cell phones give off is causing quite a stir with the wireless industry.
June 30, 2010
Protecting Student Test Scores From Recruiters
A new Maryland law prohibits schools from sending test scores to military recruiters. It might protect student privacy, but prevent career discovery.
June 1, 2010
Paying for Lost Time
What is the responsibility of states to innocent people wrongly convicted of a crime?
June 1, 2010
'Race' Deja Vu
If the education news you read over the last 24 hours sounds familiar, it's because of a January and June deadline for Race to the Top.
May 27, 2010
Growing Green Jobs for Vets
Training veterans in urban forestry provides them with job skills and a potential career. It also helps Denver get a little closer to its goal of planting 1 million trees.
May 20, 2010
Nashville's ReBuild Clinics
Nashville residents affected by flash floods have a day dedicated for meeting with a team of volunteer advisers on how to create a rebuilding and recovery plan.
May 19, 2010
Ethics Codes: Too Long? Too Short?
Does the length of an ethics code affect how much it can help public employees? An assistant city manager in California responds.
May 10, 2010
Scanning Drivers Licenses at the Polls
Scanning driver's license bar codes to check-in voters could minimize the amount of time waiting at the polls.
May 6, 2010
Solving Two Problems with One Program
A partnership in Maine could help repair homes and provide disadvantaged workers with career training.
April 29, 2010
Groceries at the Library
Libraries are evolving to offer a wider variety of services, including grocery ordering and pick up.
April 22, 2010
Safeguarding Delivery Workers
Restaurant delivery workers have a potentially dangerous job, often traveling by themselves, sometimes late at night. In New York City, there have been reports of...
April 15, 2010
Searching for Cybersecurity Talent
The Obama Administration says that an unsecure digital infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks could pose big problems for the country's national security. To recruit individuals with...
April 8, 2010
Blowing Up Bridges?
If your county needs to demolish a major structure but doesn't have the funds to do so, where can commissioners turn? One Pinellas County, Florida...
April 6, 2010
Millennials, Internships and Government
Last week, Governing's Public Workforce newsletter writer, Heather Kerrigan, and I were throwing around some potential story ideas to cover this summer. One topic ...
April 1, 2010
Judges and Truancy Teams
Truancy, or unexcused absences from school, can be an early indicator of potential troubling behaviors. In Maryland, truants at select schools may be able to...
March 31, 2010
Guns on Campus
After the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy and in the wake of the recent University of Alabama in Huntsville shooting, people who study or work on a...
March 30, 2010
Race to the Top's First Round Winners
The U.S. Department of Education announced the first winners of Race to the Top, the $4.35 billion grant program encouraging states to make big reforms ...
March 7, 2010
Ohio A.G. Protects Small Biz
In Ohio, if a small business had a problem with dishonest vendors or unfair practices, they had few options to make things right. The state's...
March 1, 2010
Stopping Overdoses with a Spray
Saving someone from a drug overdose could be as easy as administering a nose spray. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced last week that...
February 23, 2010
Online Metrics for Government Sites
Governments have performance data to judge the efficiency of the programs they put in place. Naturally, online sites have metrics too. How soon will that ...
February 22, 2010
Two Years of High School, then College?
Traditionally, U.S. high school students complete four years of coursework before they receive their degree and enroll in college courses. But according to the...
February 16, 2010
A British Take on 'The Next Age of Government'
Last month, when I spoke to e-communications firm Delib founder Chris Quigley (who filmed a short documentary about President Obama's Open Government memo one ...
February 8, 2010
Rules for Engagement
As more and more state and local agencies use social media as a tool to share news and updates, many Web managers suggest having a...
February 1, 2010
Cross-Checking for Sales Tax
County leaders in Georgia are concerned that not all businesses are submitting sales taxes. In these tough economic times, counties need all the revenues they...
February 1, 2010
Rushing to Pay for Education Reform
The week before Jan. 19, 2010, was a busy one for Tim Webb, Tennessee's commissioner of education. Webb and his aides were in meetings and briefings in...
February 1, 2010
Cancer-Causing Phones?
Andrea Boland is worried about cell phone safety, but unlike a lot of state legislators, her focus is not talking or texting while driving. Instead,...
January 25, 2010
Faith in Disaster Prep
If a disaster strikes your community, who or what would you consult in order to save your family? If you live in San Mateo County,...
January 21, 2010
Open Government: One Year Later
One year ago, President Obama released his Open Goverment memo, encouraging more transparency. How much progress has been made one year later? Chris Quigley, founder ...
January 11, 2010
Trial by YouTube?
The federal trial in which California's Proposition 8 will be challenged is controversial for two reasons: the legal issue and the broadcasting issue at stake. A...
January 5, 2010
Public Records in a Box
On Facebook, both seasoned users and newbies may struggle with what to put in the little box below the profile picture that says "Write ...
January 4, 2010
Going for the Green
Sometimes the best way to get individuals or agencies to change for good is to create a little healthy competition. In Virginia, competitions help state...
December 31, 2009
Is Social Media a Friend or Foe of Government?
Jeffrey Horne wasn't new to social media. He liked using Facebook and Twitter to keep up with friends and had dabbled some in blogging. Early...
December 31, 2009
Move over Highway Gothic, Make Way for Clearview
You may not really notice it, but the fonts used on the signs you read have a huge role in how you receive information. If ...
December 18, 2009
'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Finalist #3
For our final entry in the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas government-poem contest, an entry from Colorado: 'Twas the ...
December 17, 2009
The Winner of the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, B&G Edition
Photo courtesy of pugetsoundphotowalks, Creative Commons. Here at Governing, we wanted to have a little fun for the holidays. So we posted a government-themed holiday ...
December 10, 2009
'Twas the Night Before Christmas -- B&G Edition
Photo courtesy of alsandro, Wikimedia Commons. In lieu of a Question of the Week that we usually post on Facebook and LinkedIn (requires sign-in and ...
December 7, 2009
Phoenix Helps Seniors Catch a Cab
The Phoenix Dial-A-Ride program is a city-run program that helps transport senior citizens and people with disabilities. But demand from first-priority ADA-eligible passengers has increased,...
December 1, 2009
High on Government
I've been traveling around the country, photographing people and places for GOVERNING, for almost a year now. The obvious location to make pictures of dedicated ...
November 23, 2009
Mix Sugar Beet Molasses and Salt Brine, Sprinkle Over Roads.
Many roadway authorities are looking for ways to cut down on the costs to prepare and clear lanes during winter storms. Last week's Idea Center...
November 16, 2009
Gifts that Give Back to the State
Washington State is looking to narrow its budget gap and one way the state is trying to do so can be seen at malls this...
November 9, 2009
Checking Newborns for Health Care
A recent New Jersey mandate requires all children to have health insurance. Hospitals statewide are encouraged to enroll uninsured newborns in the state's free or...
November 2, 2009
Tracking Ballots via E-mails and Texts
This year, the city and county of Denver sent out 344,000 ballots for a mail-only election on school board representatives and an auto impound ordinance. To...
October 31, 2009
Georgia Clears a Path for Legal Adoption of Embryos
A new law in Georgia makes it the first state to clear a legal path for adopting human embryos in much the same way as...
October 26, 2009
Cutting Consumption at the Citywide Yard Sale
Photo courtesy of C-Ali, under a Creative Commons license. This past June, Palo Alto, California, hosted its first citywide yard sale, designating a day when...
October 22, 2009
Mayors on Playgrounds
St. Petersburg, Florida Mayor Rick Baker was one of the mayors that nonprofit KaBOOM! recognized for creating and updating city playgrounds. Photo courtesy of KaBOOM!...
October 18, 2009
One Town's Goal: Add More Years to Lives
There are a few places that are recognized as "blue zones" for having a large number of centenarians -- among them Okinawa, Sardinia, and Loma...
October 15, 2009
Tweet Advisory
Need real-time road updates? Unsure if you should boil water -- just to be safe? Check the news, but you may want to check Twitter...
October 7, 2009
Green Certification for Tourism
The next time you visit Montauk, New York City or the Finger Lakes, it may be easier to dine or sleep greener. Within the last...
October 5, 2009
Economic Competitiveness Teams in Louisiana
In 2008, Louisiana was ranked #22 in Site Selection magazine's Top State Business Climate Rankings, a huge jump from being unranked in 2007. To help strengthen municipalities' ability...
October 1, 2009
Green Economies State-by-State
Many economists say that there could be a jobless recovery in the next few years, but development of green economies in the states could create...
September 29, 2009
Story Behind the Story On Hiatus This Week
Over the last few days, Governing's office has been buzzing over our Managing Performance conference in Atlanta this week. In lieu of another installment ...
September 27, 2009
Free Phones for Paratransit Passengers
Paratransit passengers in Delaware took over 850,000 rides on DART (the state's transit system) in FY 2008. Many of these riders cannot afford the costs of a...
September 21, 2009
Trading Tourism Tips and Ad Space
New York City and London receive a glut of visitors from the other's country. Last year, over 1.3 million U.K. travelers visited New York City....
September 14, 2009
Mediating Ike
One year ago, Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast, damaging homes and pushing homeowners to file claims with insurance companies. But filing claims also comes...
August 31, 2009
Tweaking Tabs on License Plates
In St. Louis, a common problem for motorists and law enforcement is the theft of license plate tabs. In the past, the state of Missouri...
August 26, 2009
Niagara Falls, By Way of Boston
In this installment of Story Behind the Story, correspondent Rob Gurwitt learned just how much someone would travel to see both sides of Niagara Falls. ...
August 25, 2009
Trekking through Niagara Falls
GOVERNING's design director David Kidd and c orrespondent Rob Gurwitt traveled to the Niagara Falls region for a September story comparing the economic conditions ...
August 23, 2009
A Teacher's Idea Puts Administrators in the Classroom
Broward County Public Schools started school this week, and some surprising figures are expected to take their turn at the chalkboard. This year, administrators that...
August 17, 2009
More Envelopes for Unused Meds
GOVERNING recognized Maine's Safe Medicine Disposal for ME Program as a way for the state to prevent unused medications from entering the water supply or...
August 13, 2009
Brad Pitt: Most Eligible ... Mayor?
This morning on the TODAY show, Ann Curry interviewed Brad Pitt, and she asked if he would consider running for mayor of New Orleans. Most ...
August 10, 2009
Pinpointing Billboards
Thousands of billboards stand amidst Colorado's landscapes. Ensuring that these billboards comply with...
August 3, 2009
Hide that GPS, Please
The next time you see a police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina, walking through a parking lot, don't automatically assume he or she is ready...
July 27, 2009
Quieter, Safer Ambulances
Ambulances often travel to the location of an accident with sirens blaring and lights flashing, even if the EMTs are responding to a serious but...
July 20, 2009
Tracking Drug Trends at the Water Treatment Plant
If public health and law officials want to learn about how prevalent drug use is in their community, they may want to start their investigation...
July 16, 2009
Former Officials: Beware of Comments Amplified via Facebook
Lots of Facebook users share things on their own and on others' profiles, like how much they can't wait for the new Harry Potter ...
July 13, 2009
Checks for Crab Licenses
Photo illustration by fishfoot, available under a Creative Commons license. This year has been the first year since 1994 that Maryland's blue crab population has been...
July 6, 2009
A Winning Idea at the Airport?
Las Vegas' McCarran International and Reno-Tahoe International airports have had slot machines for years. In the past year, public officials in jurisdictions outside of Nevada...
June 29, 2009
Designing Healthier Neighborhoods for Kids
Photo by richardmasoner, available under a Creative Commons license. Nearly a third of all children are overweight, often caused by factors such as poor nutrition...
June 22, 2009
Ballot Measures in Citizen-Speak
This video from the 2008 press conference after Oregon's first Citizens' Initiative Review highlights representatives from the panel explaining why they support or oppose Ballot Measure 58....
June 15, 2009
An Oasis in the Food Desert
Food deserts, areas with many fast-food outlets and few shops to buy healthier foods like fruits and vegetables, often contribute to higher obesity and diabetes...
June 11, 2009
2009 Webby for Best Government Site: "Making Infrastructure Sexy"
This week, the 13th annual Webbys were awarded to Web sites that exemplify the best on the Internet each year. The distinctive aspect of the ...
June 8, 2009
Click for Property Tax Info
Up until 1996, the federal government provided local property tax information from across the country, but publishing that information stopped due to budget cuts. Today, the...
June 1, 2009
Talk Show Helps Deadbeat Dads
This interview from FOX 2 News in Detroit features Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree explaining how he decided to impose a new punishment for delinquent...
May 22, 2009
California's Budget Isn't a Game. Oh Wait. Yeah, It Is.
Nobody envies the position California's lawmakers are in. They have a $21.3 billion hole to fill. But do those of us who aren't state ...
May 18, 2009
Parks and Rec Online
Nothing can ruin a trip to the local park like broken equipment, graffiti or loose dogs. An online program in use in San Francisco and...
May 11, 2009
Phoning Fares In
Fifty-one percent of Americans have said that they could not give up their cell phones -- and why would they? Mobile phones have gone beyond...
May 7, 2009
Zigzag for Pedestrians
Courtesy of Virginia Department of Transportation In the U.S., motorists are used to obeying straight painted lines along roads to guide them in driving...
May 4, 2009
Bringing Down the Noise
Photo by Solo, with others, available under a Creative Commons By Attribution license. There are many benefits to living in a college town: employment opportunities,...
April 30, 2009
Plug In and Drive
Many automakers are in the process of creating their own versions of the 21st century electric car, and cities and states are looking to the...
April 27, 2009
A Home in the Twin Cities
To reduce vacancy rates and promote city living, the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, partnering with home-ownership and community advocates, created an online home...
April 22, 2009
Revitalizing Neighborhoods by the 'Book'
Neighborhood revitalization and preservation is one of Virginia Beach's priorities. Through its PREmier Homes and Neighborhoods program, the city hopes to cultivate community ownership of...
April 22, 2009
A Tree (and Fruits and Veggies) Grow in Detroit
What exactly is growing in Detroit right now? A little digging finds that urban gardens have and are taking root in the Motor City. The ...
April 19, 2009
Chicago at Your Fingertips
O'Hare's Terminal 2 is now home to two technology lounges where visitors can explore the city's skyline, Millennium Park and other popular views with the touch...
April 15, 2009
Home Sweet Job
Southwest Virginia wants its natives to consider staying home--and coming home--for job opportunities. Return to Roots, a three-year-old Web site funded by a grant from...
April 12, 2009
Blight Riders
Across the country, counties and towns are receiving funds from the Neighborhood Stablization Program that is part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act Congress...
April 9, 2009
Municipal Government as Must See TV
A few people at Governing are anticipating tonight's premiere of NBC's "Parks and Recreation," a mockumentary about a deputy director of ... ...
April 8, 2009
Government on Two Wheels
Paris and Washington, D.C. are two cities, among others, known for their bike-sharing programs. Austin, Texas, has implemented a similar program--but this one is...
April 1, 2009
Sharing States
Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin (left) and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota (right) think their neighboring states can work together to improve efficiency...
March 29, 2009
Windows on Transparency
In addition to complying with President Obama's mandate that governments receiving economic stimulus funds must document how the money is spent, some states are creating...
March 27, 2009
Asphalt with a Side of Chicken
Fast-food chain KFC is offering to fix four cities' pothole problems in a public-private partnership designed to help advertise the freshness of the restaurant's ...
March 25, 2009
Bucks in the Backyard
With Florida losing jobs and tax revenue, an alliance including the Florida League of Mayors, the Florida Press Association, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and...
March 23, 2009
Lose the Local Newspaper, Get Re-elected?
Over the weekend, Time magazine highlighted a new study from Princeton that may predict what could happen to a city if one of its daily ...


text:
We crowdsource Millennium 1 Solutions's maternity, paternity and parental leave policies, based on Millennium 1 Solutions's employee reviews and anonymous tips from Millennium 1 Solutions employees.
Millennium 1 Solutions Maternity and Paternity Leave Policies
Millennium 1 Solutions offers. This information is based on anonymous tips submitted by employees.
Business Services: Staffing & Outsourcing Maternity and Paternity Leave
How many weeks of paid maternity, unpaid maternity, paid paternity and unpaid paternity leave do employers in the Business Services: Staffing & Outsourcing industry offer?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Use these brushes to convert vector shapes into decorative pennant flags with one click!
Great for web or graphic design (adverts, posters, brochures, magazines, catalogues, invitations, menus).
To use the brushes simply draw a line with any of Illustrator's drawing tools then apply the brush by clicking on an icon from the brushes tab.
A corner and end tile is included as part of each brush.
The ready-made shapes shown in the preview image are included in the pack along with the workings for each brush. These can be customised.
AI file back-saved to CS
Layered PSD of the preview objects included for Photoshop users.
Instructions, hints and tips included.


text:
Emboldened by Rush Limbaugh's public apology over the weekend to a law school student whom he had called a "slut" and a "prostitute," critics of the radio talk show host are intensifying their online campaign against his advertisers.
The apology, they said, was a signal that the campaign was working. On Sunday, a seventh company, ProFlowers, said that it was suspending all of its advertising on "The Rush Limbaugh Show" despite his apologetic statement a day earlier.
For now, the ad boycott is uncomfortable but not crippling for Mr. Limbaugh, who is estimated to make $50 million a year and whose program is a profit center for Premiere Radio Networks, the company that syndicates it. The program makes money both through ads and through fees paid by local radio stations, and while it often has sparked outrage during more than two decades on the air, efforts at ad boycotts in the past have had no measurable effect. Liberal groups and activists, however, hope that this time is different.
Mr. Limbaugh has been roundly criticized for talking at length about the sex life of Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown University law student who testified in support of the Obama administration's requirement that health insurance plans cover contraceptives for women. For three straight days he lambasted her, before saying in a statement Saturday afternoon that he did not intend to attack her personally. "I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation," he said.
By the time he apologized, online protesters had been organizing for days on social networking Web sites and liberal hubs like Daily Kos. They called on companies like ProFlowers to remove their ads from "The Rush Limbaugh Show" and appeared to be having some success, as companies like Sleep Train said they had suspended advertising.
One such company that had been a longtime sponsor of Mr. Limbaugh's, Carbonite, said it would reconsider its ad spending; after the apology was issued, it announced that it would suspend its ads anyway. "We hope that our action, along with the other advertisers who have already withdrawn their ads, will ultimately contribute to a more civilized public discourse," the company's chief executive, David Friend, said.
Mr. Limbaugh's critics dismissed his apology as having been forced by the advertiser pressure. Reflecting those feelings on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the Democratic National Committee chairwoman, said, "I know he apologized, but forgive me, I doubt his sincerity, given that he lost at least six advertisers."
Eric Boehlert of the liberal media monitoring group Media Matters for America predicted on Sunday that the apology would not "stop the pressure that's being applied to his advertisers."
"His comments were so egregious, naturally advertisers will have doubts about being associated with Limbaugh's brand of hate," Mr. Boehlert said in an e-mail message.
Premiere's parent company, Clear Channel, deferred questions to Premiere, which declined to answer questions about the effect of the ad boycott or the widespread anger at Mr. Limbaugh.
In a statement, Premiere — best known for conservative talk shows — said it was committed to giving listeners access to a broad range of opinion and commentary. "The contraception debate is one that sparks strong emotion and opinions on both sides of the issue," the company said. "We respect the right of Mr. Limbaugh, as well as the rights of those who disagree with him, to express those opinions."
It has not been easy for Mr. Limbaugh's opponents to figure out all of his show's sponsors: several lists, some inaccurate, are floating around the Web. Mr. Limbaugh's own Web site appeared to have no actual advertisers on Sunday, only ads for its own online store of products.
Limbaugh's noon to 3 p.m. show is the single most popular conservative talk show in the country.
Monday's show will be Mr. Limbaugh's first chance to address the advertiser dust-up, since they were just beginning to withdraw when his show was in progress on Friday. The complaints are coming from some of the same liberal activists who persuaded advertisers to boycott Glenn Beck's television show on Fox News in 2009 after Mr. Beck called President Obama a racist. Hundreds of companies eventually asked Fox to keep their ads off Mr. Beck's show, and the show ended last year.
The company that withdrew on Sunday, ProFlowers, had been inundated with angry Twitter messages from opponents of Mr. Limbaugh. In a statement, it said, "We do not base our advertising decisions to align with any particular political view or opinion, as our employees and customers are as diverse as the U.S.A. Mr. Limbaugh's recent comments went beyond political discourse to a personal attack and do not reflect our values as a company."
For the most part, the other advertisers involved have also stuck to scripts that distance themselves from Mr. Limbaugh's comments — betting, it would appear, that short statements will suffice.
Quicken Loans and Citrix, a maker of Internet software, are among the companies that have announced, on Facebook and Twitter, the removal of ads from Mr. Limbaugh's show.
When another company, LegalZoom, a seller of online legal document services, was asked for further comment on Sunday, a spokesman sent along a statement that read, "LegalZoom has decided to terminate all current and future advertising with 'The Rush Limbaugh Show,' effective immediately. Our company does not in any way support or endorse the recent comments of Mr. Limbaugh."
Later that day, a LegalZoom executive accidentally copied a reporter on an e-mail to her colleagues. It read, "We may need to prepare additional Q.& A.'s if this situation does not settle down soon."


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Plenty of interesting information came out of the NFL owners meetings today in Chicago, including sources leaking to ESPN some potential parts of the new collective bargaining agreement that owners and players are negotiating.
Among the items of note is that players with four years of accrued experience would receive unrestricted free agent status. This was the case in previous CBAs dating back to 1993, but was temporarily changed last year when the league operated under "re-opened" CBA rules, which made players with 4 and 5 years experience restricted free agents before reaching unrestricted status.
So let's say the new CBA reverts back to form, whenever the final deal is reached. How will it affect the Broncos?


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Red Sox - 011 001 400 - 7 15 2 Blue Jays - 001 000 100 - 2 7 0Clay Buchholz pitched eight strong innings (8-6-2-2-7, 108), Daniel Nava went 4-for-5, with three doubles and three runs scored, and Adrian Gonzalez (3-for-5) and David Ortiz (2-for-3) each drove in two runs.
In his last five starts, Buchholz has a 3.98 ERA.
Ortiz began the scoring with his 13th home run, a shot to left-center in the second inning.
In the third, Nava doubled with two outs and Gonzalez singled him in. Nava began the sixth-inning rally, as well. He singled, Gonzalez doubled, and Ortiz walked, loading the bases. Jarrod Saltalamacchia - the only Sock without a hit - grounded into a fielder's choice, and Nava scored (3-1).
Ryan Sweeney doubled to open the seventh, and after two were out, he scored on Scott Podsednik's single (4-1). The Sox put the game away in short order: Nava doubled (5-1), Gonzalez singled (6-1) and Ortiz singled (7-1).
The Blue Jays scored their runs on two solo home runs. ... Scott Atchison pitched the ninth inning.
Podsednik, CFThe Red Sox are on a short three-game road trip north of the border. The Blue Jays (27-24) finished a three-game sweep of the first-place Orioles and are 2 GB both Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The Red Sox (26-25) are 3 GB. According to run differential, the Blue Jays are the top team in the AL East. Toronto won two out of three against the Red Sox earlier this season (April 9-11).
Nava, LF
Gonzalez, 1B
Ortiz, DH
Saltalamacchia, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Sweeney, RF
Aviles, SS
Punto, 2B
Boston will play with a short bench tonight, but may make a decision on Dustin Pedroia's right thumb this weekend. Or they may not. Bobby Valentine: "No one new is coming with us [to Toronto]. We have a plan. We don't want to put the plan in until we need to. I suspect before the weekend is over there will be another infielder, but maybe not."
Pitchers for this weekend (both games at 1 PM):
Saturday: Felix Doubront / Kyle Drabek
Sunday: Daniel Bard / Drew Hutchison


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Right, so for those of you who don't know, PAX East took place from the 6th of April to the 8th, during which, a new gameplay demo for Assassin's Creed III was shown. While the demo has not yet hit the internet, screenshots and information about the demo have been released to the general public.
Here's the demo from a story point of view:
It takes place in 1775 during the battle of Bunker Hill, with Connor's mission to assassinate a British official named John Pitcairn, who is also a Templar. As the battle commences, Connor moves throughout the American ranks trying to reach Pitcairn who was at the peak of a hill. Dodging cannon-fire, Connor decides to take a different, more indirect path towards Pitcairn, through the trees. Continuing on his way, Connor comes across a group of Redcoats. Proceeding to slaughter them, Connor continued on towards the British camp. Once there, Connor located Pitcairn and made his way towards him, before using his tomahawk to kill him.
A nice little demonstration. Seeing as the time span of the game is from 1753 to 1783, looks like this was somewhere in the middle, leaning more towards the end.
From a gameplay point of view, from the demo we learn that:
- Connor has a different moveset from Ezio and Altaïr. For example, the player can choose to slide under a low hanging branch or vault over it.
- Tree gameplay has been shown in-depth, how Connor moves through the trees and how he uses the branches to traverse gaps and such. It was also stated by the developer that the tree climbing mechanism was made to be very realistic and not "Tarzan like".
- The hidden blade is in the game and will continue to play a large part in the game, putting to ground the rumors that said the tomahawk would replace the hidden blade.
- Demonstration of Ubisoft's new and more powerful game engine that allows them to portray up to 2,500 NPC's on screen at one time.
- Demonstration of the new and more fluid combat mechanisms. Multiple-counters were shown as well as a feature that allows Connor to take an enemy hostage, and use him as a human shield.
- The hidden gun will also make a reappearance.
- New gadgets were also shown in action like the rope dart, which Connor uses to string up his enemies.
- New stealth elements have been added. For example, while walking slowly, Connor will automatically move stealthily such as ducking into bushes and staying behind cover. Something known as a Stalking Zone, similar to a hiding spot was unveiled but the details are a bit unclear.
That's about all that was shown in the PAX East 2012 demo, and I'm not sure if the demo will be shown online. Lastly I leave you with some screenshots taken from the demo.
Posted on:14:56, April 7, 2012 (UTC)
Source: OnLiveFans Gamehounds


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In terms of the most rock-and-roll things a band could do, getting on stage early and starting your show ahead of schedule ranks pretty low. But that's what happened last night when Guns N' Roses appeared before the Governors Ball Festival audience in New York 15 or so minutes in front of their scheduled start time. Bon Jovi would be proud!
Wearing a black cowboy hat and a mischievous grin, Axl Rose commanded the show with not just one bang, but a series of them: very bright and very loud fireworks shot into the night sky behind the stage as the Hall of Fame band ripped through the songs that they've been ripping through for some 25 years now. Much of the crowd, judging by their hair-rock outfits and the color of their wristbands, bought their festival tickets mainly just to see Guns N' Roses, and they were not disappointed. Beers were slammed, red bandanas were worn, and "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City," "Live and Let Die" were played. The fireworks display (and thus our ear drums) were given a break when Axl hopped on the piano for "November Rain," but the fiery light show returned for GNR's show-ending "Sweet Child O' Mine."
Meanwhile, playing against the L.A. rockers was co-headliner Nas, who took the stage at the other end of the festival grounds. There was speculation that the Queensbridge king might play the entirety of his seminal Illmatic (which by now should just be titled The Seminal Illmatic), and he fanned those flames by opening with that album's "NY State of Mind." But the set ended up spanning his career, touching on songs from nearly all 11 of his studio albums. When time came for Nas to perform "Cherry Wine," the Amy Winehouse-featuring collaboration off of 2012's Life Is Good, he and his entourage poured some on the ground for all their lost ones. "RIP Amy Winehouse," Nas said into the mic as the song ended.
Earlier in the day, a much younger New York rapper, Azealia Banks, walked away with one of Saturday's best sets. Wearing a glowing, creatively revealing orange-and-pink dress, the no-album artist raved up the hometown crowd with Lil Kim-like intensity. 2011's enduring "212" drove the crowd predictably mad, but it wasn't until the Harlem Shake came on that things really got nuts. Mired in about 7,603 feet of mud, thanks to Friday's sky-fall, the crowd made the dance really come alive despite (or perhaps because of) the quicksand-like conditions.
Repping the West Coast later in the day was Kendrick Lamar, who's practically a festival veteran at this point. He excelled as always, and was even able to sing "Backseat Freestyle" without being completely drowned out by singalong fans. Between him, Banks, and Nas, Gov Ball definitely has been nailing the rap game.
And in that theme, tonight will bring about headliner Kanye West, which raises a lot questions. Will he play new Yeezus songs? Who else will join him on stage? How will he avoid getting mud on his Air Yeezys? Come back for tomorrow's recap to find out.
Additional reporting by Ahmed Fakhr and Emem Offong.
Read more:
Nine Inch Nails' new single 'Came Back Haunted' arrives: Hear it here!
|Complete Coverage


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Three Maine School Systems to share $100,000 in EPA Rebates to Reduce School Bus Emissions
Release Date:05/02/2019
Air Quality Awareness Week is April 29 - May 3, 2019
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U.S. EPA Honors Nine 2019 ENERGY STAR Partners of the Year in Massachusetts
Release Date:04/09/2019
Proposed Settlement Resolves Clean Air Act Claims Between EPA and South Portland, Maine Facility
Release Date:03/25/2019
Proposed Settlement Resolves Clean Air Act Claims Between EPA and Greenfield Mass. Facility
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EPA Awards $541,000 to Massport to Replace Diesel Equipment at Boston Logan Airport
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EPA Recognizes Massachusetts Organizations for Reducing Food Waste
Release Date:12/17/2018
EPA awards more than $570,000 to reduce diesel emissions in New Bedford Harbor to protect health
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EPA Healthy Community Grants Will Help Protect Health in Mass.
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New England's Warm Summer Leads to Slight Increase in Air Quality Alert Days
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Twin High Ocean View Room with BalconySee all rooms
Enjoy Newcastle's best and most expansive ocean views from your Twin High Ocean View Room at NOAH'S. Located on Levels 4,5 & 6 these rooms have floor to ceiling glass windows and overlook spectacular Newcastle Beach. NOAH'S provides complementary wifi and parking (subject to availability) to all in-house guests. All rooms are Non-smoking


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Bruce Katz
Bruce Katz is the director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University and the co-author of The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism.
This week, The Atlantic Cities has partnered with the Brookings-Rockefeller Project on State and Metropolitan Innovation to explore local solutions to national problems. You can find the rest of the series here.
For too long, state leaders have crafted economic development plans that act like regions don't matter. Resources have been spread thin across states, with decisions based on politics rather than pragmatism. Such efforts have produced lackluster results at best; the repeated failure to build on individual regions' distinctive assets represents a series of opportunities missed.
Across the United States, a handful of governors and state legislatures have come to the realization that state economic development efforts must be attentive to the particularities of regions and metropolitan areas. These leaders are working with their regions to craft and implement innovative bottom-up economic development strategies that prize local knowledge and regional strengths over something-for-everyone approaches of the past.
In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is implementing a truly regional approach to economic development. He established 10 Regional Economic Development Councils and tasked them with developing strategic plans that leverage the particular economic strengths of each. Each Regional Economic Development Council is a public-private partnership that brings together key stakeholders from local government, business, academia and elsewhere. [Full disclosure: Bruce Katz served as a member of the review panel for the economic development plans of the New York Regional Economic Development Councils.]
These councils were given just over three months to create strategic plans that articulated a vision for regional economic development, outlined the implementation process, identified available resources, and established performance metrics. These strategic plans were then judged by a panel of experts, who selected the winning plans and determined how much state funding each region would receive.
Four regions won the title "best plan" in the competition, which came with a state investment of just over $100 million each. Western New York will use these funds to support growth in eight key industry sectors, making targeted investments in workforce development, increased innovation and commercialization, smart growth infrastructure and downtown revitalization. North Country included an emphasis on high-tech and traditional manufacturing and green energy production as well as investments in area railways, broadband access and medical research. Central New York will invest in biotech research, agribusiness, advanced manufacturing and research and development efforts. Long Island's plan included investments in its innovation economy, community revitalization infrastructure and developing a workforce capable of meeting the needs of its growing high-tech sector.
New York isn't the only state working to bolster regional economic development efforts. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's Jobs4TN plan aims to strengthen the state economy by establishing regional "jobs base camps" to support regional economic development planning, prioritizing key industry clusters, investing in innovation through the INCITE initiative, and streamlining business regulations.
In Colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper issued an executive order requiring each of the state's counties to create an economic development plan, to be rolled up into fourteen regional plans that then will constitute the state's economic development overall plan. Nevada is embarking on a new economic development agenda that prioritizes unified vision, smart regional sector growth and diversification through innovation. In each of these locales, leaders are establishing new models for state economic development that aim to inspire collaboration and innovation from the bottom up.
"For the first time," Gov. Cuomo said in a statement, "we are putting the power of the state government behind the innovation of our people, giving them the tools to rebuild our economy."
In an era of austere federal funding for urban public transportation, light rail seemed to make sense. Did the little trains of the 1980s pull their own weight?
A growing number of startups are pitching technologies to "solve" urban problems. So it matters when they can't even name their own local representatives.
Livability indexes can obscure the experiences of non-white people. CityLab analyzed the outcomes just for black women, for a different kind of ranking.
The pioneering festival marketplace was among the most trendsetting urban attractions of the last 40 years. Now it's looking for a new place in a changed city.
A different kind of wealth distribution in 17th-century Amsterdam paved the way for its quintessential home design.


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Credit Application for Loan or Lease at Lakeland Chrysler Dodge Jeep
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To get going, fill out our financing application and our financial experts will review your information. While our experts are at work, come down to our Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM dealership at 2875 Mall Hill Dr. or continue browsing our online inventory of new and used Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM cars. If you have questions about the financing process you can use our contact form or call us.
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Before Andrea Petkovic, the best tie the tennis world had to dancing was Monica Seles' frightening stint on Dancing With the Stars. We all remember how that turned out, right?? Petkovic's moves are refreshing – just like her personality. We took awhile to warm up to the German, but watching her fight her way past Maria Sharapova was enduring, and now the dancing seems a little more appropriate, eh?
More: Courtney Nguyen's USAToday piece on the dancing Petko | Petkorazzi on YouTube
And: Aussie ladies: Ekaterina Makarova outfit no-no gets Mariana Alves outta her chair | TSF Vault: Alves
Tags: mariana alves


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Thin 1/4" UNF Nyloc Nut. Quarter inch diameter nylon insert lock nut. Unified Fine Thread. This nut is far thinner than standard and is quite often used on hang gliders.
5/16" UNF Nyloc Nut. Quarter inch diameter nylon insert lock nut. Unified Fine Thread.
Ball-lock pins or 'Pip-pins' are used on many gliders for quick attachments, such as base-bar pins or nose catch pins. More complex, than the simple wizz pins but very fast, neat and reliable to use. Different lengths are available. Please make sure you understand the 'working lengths' so that you order the correct...[more]
Book your glider in now. The booking fee is knocked off the price of the strip down when the total is calculated.
8mm diameter hole Nyloc nut. M8 Nyloc nut with blue insert.
Top of Upright bolt for Amour gliders. Often bent on heavy landings, and a good thing to check if you have to replace an upright.


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I'm looking for a solving procedure for this type of exercises.
If $[x]$ represents the floor of $x$, solve the equation:
Choose the correct answer:
a) {$\frac{4}5$}
b) {$\frac{3}4$}
c) {$\frac{7}{15}$,$\frac{4}5$}
d) {$\frac{6}{15}$}
e) {$\frac{1}{2}$,$\frac{3}4$}
f) {$\frac{1}{2}$,$\frac{4}5$}
Can someone please explain how I can solve this equation? Thank you very much!
ps. I asked a similar question, unfortunately, the same method doesn't seem to work.


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News round-up, 21 August 2009
21 August 2009
Another Friday means a new IYA2009 news round-up. If only everything in life were this predictable.
Readers of the IYA2009 updates will have read a story about The World At Night exhibiting astronomical images at shopping centres across the U.S. The magazine Astronomy has gotten in on the action by writing a blog entry with the marvellous title "Popularizing the heck out of astronomy". The author, Bill Andrews, outlines the idea and then offers his support, stating why he thinks it's a good idea. Nicely done, Bill Andrews. oneindia also has an offering about this story, including a quote from project director and skilled photographer Babak Tafreshi.
Next, news from Pakistan. The Nation has run a story about the Perseid meteor shower. It specially plugs The Society of the Sun, and a star party at their Jati Umra headquarters. The same website also has a slightly more depressing story about the Pakistan International Airlines Planetarium at Chauburji being rather run-down and neglected. Says the article, "The deplorable and outdated standards of imparting knowledge and entertainment are proved by the fact that no innovation or up-gradation has been introduced since its inauguration in 1987." That's a bit insulting to the designers of 1987.
The Missouri University of Science and Technology is opening its observatory doors to the public on 28 August. Their 16-inch telescope will be used to look at the Moon and Jupiter and probably some other things too.
KeremeosReview.cooooom! They've been harkin' on about The Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory holding an open house to help the public learn about radio astronomy, as part of IYA2009. It's happening on 26 September, so you have officially been given plenty of notice.
New snippet! Kingston This Week has some short text - and a photo! - about astronomers from the Royal Military College, Queen's University, Canada, volunteering to help the public view celestial sights though telescopes in Market Square.
The Southgate Amateur Radio Club have a scoop about a troop of Swiss girl and boy scouts planning an interview with space people. Apparently the Scouts will ask astronauts on board the International Space Station questions such as "What is dangerous in space?", "Do you feel homesick?", and "Is your family in fear?" Pretty intense stuff, the astronauts had better be prepared. Wow, the Scouts are even going to make a telescope out of a drain. Swiss Scouts are the best!
Ok, one more. MyNews.in is encouraging people to organise astronomy events to get the public, and in particular young people, interested in science. Says the article, "According to Wikipedia, IYA 2009 is a year-long celebration of astronomy, taking place in 2009"-great investigative journalism there!
We're all done here. Until next week, of course.
Search IYA2009 Updates
National Nodes: 148
Organisational Nodes: 40
Organisational Associates:33
National Websites: 111
Cornerstone Projects: 12
Special Task Groups: 11
Special Projects:16
Official Products:8
Media Partners:22


text: hey guys, i am going on a trip to florida in april and was going to rent a board, but i got the chance to buy a used board for only a little bit more than renting one for a few days would be. It is a channel islands rob machado signature series 6' 4'' by 18 7/8'' by 2 3/8''.(It also came with fins, traction pad, leash, and board bag) I was just wondering what size rider and what types of waves this board is for. I just couldn't find this board online (probably an older model) so any info on it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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Militant Leader Killed In Northern Afghanistan
A leader of the Jundullah militant group has reportedly been killed in northern Afghanistan.
Hasib Siddiqi, spokesman for Afghanistan's National Security Directorate, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on October 17 that Mullah Shamsuddin, also known as Qari Zubair, and another militant commander Qari Asad were killed in an air strike the previous day.
Siddiqi said Zubair was involved in plotting the assassinations of senior government officials in northern Afghanistan.
Afghan intelligence says the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan operates in Afghanistan under the name Jundullah.
Several people have been apprehended in Tajikistan who authorities say were members of Jundullah.
It was unclear exactly where the two militants were killed. Some Afghan officials have said the two were killed in the Baghlan Province while others said they were killed in the Takhar Province.
With additional reporting by RFE/RL's Tajik Service
See all News Updates of the Day
At Least 20 Wounded After Grenades Thrown At Afghan Wedding Party
Afghan officials say at least 20 people have been wounded after unknown assailants threw grenades at a wedding party in the southestern province of Khost.
Investigation are under way into the incident that occurred in the town of Alishir, provincial government spokesman Talib Mangal said on January 26.
The motive behind the attack is not yet known, Mangal added.
There was no immediate responsibility for the attack, which happened late on January 25.
Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bystander was killed and four other civilians were wounded when a police vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in the capital, Kabul, police said on January 26.
The vehicle was destroyed in the blast, which occurred on the evening of January 25, Interior Ministry spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but the Taliban often targets Afghan security forces.
With reporting by tolonews.com and RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan
Trump Says Taliban Must Curb Violence For Meaningful Afghanistan Talks
U.S. President Donald Trump told Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani that there cannot be meaningful negotiations until the Taliban significantly reduces its violence, the White House said in a statement on January 22.
"Trump reiterated the need for a significant and lasting reduction in violence by the Taliban that would facilitate meaningful negotiations on Afghanistan's future," the White House said. Trump had been in Davos attending the World Economic Forum.
Officials Say U.S. Drone Strike Killed 10 Civilians In Western Afghanistan
A U.S. drone strike earlier this month in the western Afghan province of Herat that apparently targeted a militant group also killed at least 10 civilians, including three women and three children, an Afghan rights official and a council member said on January 22.
The Afghan official said the strike took place in the district of Shindand on January 8. Five other civilians, including two children, were wounded, said the official, who is on Afghanistan's Human Rights Commission. He was speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters.
The Afghan military and U.S.-led forces did not immediately comment. But provincial council member Wakil Ahmad Karokhi said the strike also killed 16 militants from a Taliban splinter group, including its commander, known as Mullah Nangyalia.
The commander's funeral the following day was held in the Herat provincial capital's Guzargah neighborhood, and was attended by dozens of militants.
Karokhi said the attack was a "huge mistake" because Mullah Nangyalia's group had been a useful buffer against the Taliban in Shindand, taking up arms with his fighters against the insurgents "when no one else would do it" and leaving the area's civilians in peace.
The Taliban controls nearly half of Afghanistan, and continue to launch attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, even as it has given U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad a document outlining an offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan.
With reporting by AP
Ex-Army Interpreter Accused Of Spying For Iran Goes On Trial In Germany
A trial for a German-Afghan national suspected of spying for Iranian intelligence is set to commence on January 20 in the city of Koblenz in Germany.
Identified as Abdul Hamid S. according to Germany privacy laws, the 51-year-old former interpreter and adviser for the German armed forces, or Bundeswehr, was arrested a year ago in the Rhineland region of western Germany and accused of providing information to Iranian intelligence for many years.
Prosecutors specifically accuse him of passing on 19 classified documents to Iranian intelligence.
Iran has denied ever having contact with the former military consultant.
The suspect's 40-year-old spouse has been charged as an accessory but has not been detained.
A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry has told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle that the suspect's arrest was an attempt by "enemies" of Iran to sabotage the Islamic republic's relations with the EU.
German magazine Der Spiegel has reported that he had access to sensitive information, including possible details of troop deployments in Afghanistan, and that he worked for Iran's MOIS intelligence agency.
The Bundeswehr is known to use native speakers to accompany troops on patrol in Afghanistan to facilitate communication with locals.
News agency dpa reported that the trial will be conducted behind closed doors and is scheduled to last until March 31.
Based on reporting by Deutsche Welle, dpa, and Der Spiegel
Afghan Officials: Taliban Kills Six Members Of Same Family
The Taliban has killed six members of the same family, including an infant girl, in a remote village in the country's north, Afghan officials say.
The Taliban denied involvement, saying the attack on January 18 was triggered by a personal dispute.
However, local Afghan officials said January 19 the family was sentenced to death by the Taliban for immoral acts before being shot dead, said Jawed Bedar, a spokesman for Faryab Province's governor.
The infant girl's mother and twin sister survived, but both of the child's legs had to be amputated, Bedar said.
Afghan security forces deployed to the village early January 19 and helped evacuate the two survivors to the hospital.
Bedar said the Taliban attacked the government troops when they arrived. Three Taliban members were killed in the ensuing gun battle.
The Taliban now controls or holds sway over approximately half of Afghanistan.
With reporting by AP
Pakistan FM Qureshi Urges U.S. To 'Remain Engaged' In Rebuilding Afghanistan
Pakistan's foreign minister said during his visit to Washington that the United States should remain engaged in Afghanistan even if it eventually pulls its troops out of the war-torn country.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on January 17, cautioned Washington not to return to a policy of neglect of Afghanistan in the manner seen after 1989, when Soviet troops pulled out under pressure from U.S.- and Pakistan-backed Islamic guerrillas.
"Do not repeat the '80s," Qureshi said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"Even if there is a successful agreement, challenges will remain there, so the United States and its friends and coalition partners will have to have a more responsible withdrawal," he said.
"They should remain engaged -- not to fight, but to rebuild," he said.
U.S. forces have been in Afghanistan since their 2001 invasion to drive out the Taliban following the September 11 terror attacks in the United States. The Taliban controlled Afghanistan at the time and harbored Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his desire to remove the estimated 13,000 U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan in America's longest war.
Over the past year, Islamabad has helped facilitate the talks between U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad and the Taliban in Qatar, where the militants have a political office.
But the talks have repeatedly stalled, with Washington calling on the group to reduce violence, among other things.
Earlier in the day, Qureshi said in a video message that the Taliban has shown "willingness" to reduce violence in Afghanistan, calling it a "step toward" a peace deal between the militant group and the United States.
Pakistan was the main backer of the former Taliban regime and maintains contacts with the extremists.
The Taliban militants have given Khalilzad an offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan that would last between seven and 10 days, AP reported, citing Taliban negotiators.
"They are pragmatic and not foolish. They are also fatigued," Qureshi said of the Taliban.
With reporting by AFP, dpa, and AP
Two Children Killed By Bombs In Northern Afghanistan
KABUL -- Two children have been killed and at least eight other people wounded after two bombs went off near-simultaneously in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif, officials say.
Adil Shah Adil, the spokesman for Balkh Province's police chief, said the blasts took place on a road in the provincial capital on January 14.
Those killed in the explosions were aged 14 and 10, the spokesman said.
The wounded included civilians and a member of the Afghan security forces.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but the Taliban has stepped up attacks in Balkh Province and elsewhere in northern Afghanistan in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, an improvised explosive device attached to a vehicle exploded in Mazar-e Sharif, killing a local resident and wounding at least two others, according to police.
With reporting by AP and Tolo News
Severe Winter Weather Claims More Lives In Afghanistan
Nineteen people have been reported killed as a result of extreme winter weather in parts of Afghanistan, officials said.
Officials told RFE/RL on January 12 that the victims were killed the previous day in Herat, Kandahar, and Helmand provinces amid heavy snowfall and low temperatures.
The overall death toll from this year's cold snap now stands at 24, and officials cautioned it could rise further.
Temperatures fell to minus 12 degrees Celsius in parts of the country on January 11.
"We are now expecting more cold waves in the coming weeks," Mohammad Nasim Muradi, head of the forecasting section of the government meteorological service, told Reuters.
Heavy snow has closed many major roads since the beginning of the year, including the Salang Tunnel and the Kabul-Kandahar Highway.
With reporting by Reuters
Two Afghan Pilots Killed In Military Helicopter Crash
KABUL -- Two Afghan Air Force pilots have been killed after their helicopter crashed in the western province of Farah, the Defense Ministry says.
The helicopter and its crew were delivering supplies to Afghan security forces when it crashed early on January 8 due to a technical fault, the ministry said in a statement.
In a separate incident, the Defense Ministry said a helicopter made an emergency landing in the eastern province of Paktia, also as a result of a technical fault.
The ministry said nobody was hurt in the incident, but Reuters news agency quoted a local police spokesman as saying that 10 people, including himself, were injured.
With reporting by Reuters
Pompeo Defends Soleimani Killing, Accuses Iran Of Hurting Afghan Peace Effort
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has rejected suggestions that Iran's top military commander was on a "diplomatic" mission when he was killed by a U.S. air strike near Baghdad last week.
"Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order -- Qasem Soleimani -- had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?" Pompeo told a press briefing on January 7.
"We know that wasn't true," he added, responding to remarks by Iranian officials that the slain major general was attempting to conduct peace talks in Iraq.
Pompeo reiterated U.S. President Donald Trump's view that Soleimani, who headed Iran's elite Quds Force, was in the process of orchestrating attacks on Americans and others in the region.
The state secretary also said that Iran was "actively working" to undermine the peace process in Afghanistan and that Tehran had relationships with the Taliban and other militant groups there.
"Iran has refused to join the regional and international consensus for peace, and is, in fact, actively working to undermine the peace process by continuing its long global effort to support militant groups there," Pompeo said.
Meanwhile, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted that he had discussed the "latest security developments in the region" with U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
"We both agreed that it's time for urgent #de-escalation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran," he wrote.
U.S. Ambassador Leaves Kabul After Two-Year Tenure Ends
The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, John Bass, left Kabul on January 6 as his two-year tenure at the post ended.
The U.S. State Department says Washington is appointing a charge d'affaires to serve as a temporary replacement for Bass until a new ambassador is agreed upon.
In a statement, the State Department said Bass "skillfully advanced the Trump Administration's goal of reaching a political settlement in Afghanistan that ensures terrorists can never again threaten the United States from Afghan soil while leading a large diplomatic mission in the face of numerous security threats.''
The on-again off-again talks between the United States and the Taliban currently appear to have stalled.
The latest problem in the talks appears to be the issue of what a cease-fire or reduction of violence might look like if Taliban fighters agree on a truce.
In a tweet bidding Afghanistan farewell, Bass said he hoped "leaders and citizens" across Afghanistan will "find strength in unity, put aside their differences, and work together to negotiate a political settlement with the Taliban."
"Afghans and this beautiful country deserve nothing less," Bass said.
The departure of Bass from Afghanistan comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States since a U.S. air strike in Baghdad on January 3 killed Iran's top military general, Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Bomb Blast In Northern Afghanistan Kills One Civilian, Wounds Two Others
An explosion during the morning rush hour in the northern Afghan province of Balkh has killed a local resident and wounded at least two others, police said, adding the victims were civilians.
The blast was caused by an improvised explosive device attached to a vehicle, Balkh police spokesman Adel Shah told RFE/RL on January 4. He said the bomb went off near a public bathhouse in the provincial capital, Mazar-i Sharif.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast.
The incident comes a day after the Interior Ministry reported that 2,219 civilians were killed and 5,172 were wounded by Taliban militants during 2019.
"Taliban fighters often carry out terrorist assaults on civilian populations," Marwa Amini, a spokeswoman for the ministry said on January 4, adding that killing civilians is "tantamount to a war crime."
The Taliban has in the past said that most civilian casualties in Afghanistan were caused by Afghan security forces and international troops.
Prominent Afghan Comedian Asif Jalali Dies Of Heart Attack
Asif Jalali, a well-known Afghan TV actor who gained renown for his political satire and stand-up comedy, has died in the Afghan capital, Kabul.
Sabir Mohmand, a spokesman for the Ministry of Information and Culture, told RFE/RL that Jalali died on January 1 of a heart attack, but provided no further details.
Sayeed Rahmani, the head of the Afghan National Theater, said Jalali was born in 1957 in northeastern Afghanistan.
Jalali hosted several shows on local Afghan broadcasters, including the popular program Shabkhand ("Evening Laughter").
His comedy blazed a trail in Afghanistan, where political satire was a new phenomenon after years of tightly constrained media programming, and long-standing fears of angering religious conservatives.
"The aim of my comedy is to challenge the wrongs in my society," he told the BBC in a profile that aired in 2011, "so that if they see a minister, they think he is rubbish. My other aim is to make people laugh."
Film director Latif Ahmadi told the dpa news agency that Jalali started his artistic career in commercials some 13 years ago. He also appeared in the famous Afghani drama Bulbul, in which he played the love interest of a female character.
His death surprised many across Afghanistan, and some of his fans took to social media to honor him.
"Jalali did God's work by making us laugh," Saad Mohseni, who heads the group that owns local broadcaster TOLO TV,said on Twitter.
There was no immediate word on survivors. Dpa reported that he had five children.
With reporting by dpa
Taliban Attacks On Afghan Security Forces Leave Dozens Dead
At least 26 members of Afghanistan's security forces were killed in a new wave of Taliban attacks in northern Afghanistan, local officials said on January 1.
The insurgents claimed responsibility for all the attacks.
In northern Kunduz Province, at least 10 Afghan officers were killed and four others wounded in an attack on a police checkpoint in the district of Dashti Archi late on December 31, the head of the provincial council Mohammad Yusouf Ayubi said.
In Balkh Province, the Taliban killed nine police officers in an attack on their checkpoint. The fate of four other policemen who were at the checkpoint was unknown, said Mohammad Afzel Hadid, head of the provincial council.
In another attack on December 31 seven members of the security forces were killed in a gun battle with the Taliban, according to Jawad Hajri, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said 10 Taliban fighters were also killed.
Earlier this week, the Taliban said it has no intention of declaring a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan.
"In the past few days, some media have been releasing untrue reports about a cease-fire... The fact is that, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has no cease-fire plans," the Taliban said in a December 30 statement.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and dpa
Pakistani Taliban Commander Reportedly Killed In Afghanistan
A key commander of the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been shot dead at a refugee camp in southeastern Afghanistan, a Pakistani security source and a tribal elder have told RFE/RL.
A security official in the South Waziristan tribal district, in northwestern Pakistan, who requested anonymity said Qari Saifullah Mehsud was killed in his residence in the Gulan refugee camp overnight on December 28-29.
Daud Mehsud, a tribal elder at the camp, told RFE/RL on December 30 that the two gunmen had been "guests" at the TTP commander's home for several days before they killed him and fled.
A provincial police spokesman, Haider Adil, confirmed a killing but did not confirm the identity of the victim. He said a "criminal" case had been launched.
Mehsud was buried in the Gurbaz district of Khost Province at around 3 p.m. local time on December 29, the tribal elder added.
The TTP has not issued any statement.
Qari Saifullah Mehsud had fled the Pakistani military offensive in North Waziristan in 2014.
He had worked as a TTP spokesman in Kurram tribal district as well.
Taliban Attack Kills 17 Pro-Government Militia In Northern Afghanistan
A Taliban attack in Afghanistan's northern Takhar Province has killed 17 local militiamen, local officials said on December 29.
The attack apparently targeted a local militia commander who escaped unharmed, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar Province said.
The area is currently under the control of government forces, the spokesman added.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.
On December 28, 10 Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on a military base in southern Helmand Province.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by dpa and AP
Ten Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack On Military Base In Helmand
Ten Afghan soldiers were killed in a Taliban attack on a military base in the southern province of Helmand, officials said on December 28.
A powerful explosion first hit an army checkpoint late on December 27, followed by an hours-long gunbattle, provincial spokesman Omar Zawak said.
The attack also wounded four soldiers, he said.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yusouf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack, saying the group also seized weapons and ammunition.
The insurgents have a strong presence in Helmand Province.
The Taliban has increased its attacks in recent days against Afghan Army bases and checkpoints across different provinces.
Last week, six Afghan soldiers were killed when a suicide bomber detonated a car laden with explosives outside an army compound in northern Balkh Province. Militants then stormed the compound.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack.
On December 23, an American soldier was killed in combat in northern Kunduz Province.
The Taliban claimed it was behind a fatal roadside bombing that targeted American and Afghan forces in Kunduz.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Scores of Afghan civilians have also been killed in crossfire or by roadside bombs planted by militants.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Kidnapped Afghan Peace Marchers 'Released Without Harm'
Twenty-seven Afghan peace activists who were kidnapped by the Taliban in the country's west have been freed "after being held by the militants for 45 hours," an official has said.
The activists from the People's Peace Movement (PPM) were released "without harm," PPM spokesman Bismillah Watan Dost said on December 26. He didn't provide further details.
There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.
The activists were kidnapped in the Bala Buluk district of Farah Province while traveling from the neighboring province of Herat, the PPM and Farah officials said.
Farah police had said efforts were under way to track the kidnappers. A PPM member also said tribal elders in Farah were to negotiate with the Taliban to release the abducted activists.
According to the PPM, the activists were in the middle of a fresh round of rallies, traveling around the country to spread a message of peace and urging all sides of the conflict in Afghanistan to agree upon a cease-fire.
The group said this was the fourth time the militant group had abducted PPM peace marchers.
The most recent incident was in June, when the Taliban detained 25 peace activists who traveled to the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in an attempt to meet with militants and plead with them to seek peace. They were released several days later.
The PPM attracted international attention last year with its peace marches across Afghanistan and in Kabul during which they warned about the record levels of violence across the country.
The movement has always claimed to be an impartial movement, only advocating for peace in the war-torn country.
Based on reporting by Tolo News and dpa
Suicide Car Bomb Hits Afghan Army Compound
At least six Afghan soldiers have been killed in a powerful suicide car bombing that targeted a military compound in the country's northern Balkh Province in the early morning of December 26, officials say.
After the bomber detonated the explosives-packed car, a group of militants stormed the compound, the Defense Ministry said in a statement, calling the assault a "terrorist attack."
At least three soldiers were wounded in the explosion and the ensuing fighting between the militants and Afghan security forces.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, but the ministry and local officials blamed it on the Taliban.
Munir Farhad, a spokesman for the Balkh provincial governor, said clashes inside the compound continued for several hours before the attackers were repelled.
It comes two days after the Taliban stormed a checkpoint in Balkh's Dawlat Abad district, killing seven Afghan soldiers.
Six other members of the security forces -- three soldiers and three intelligence agents -- were wounded in that attack on December 24.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by AP and Tolo News
Officials: 27 Afghan Activists Abducted By Taliban During Peace March
Twenty-seven Afghan activists from the People's Peace Movement (PPM) have been abducted by the Taliban during a peace march in the country's west, the group's leaders and local officials said on December 25.
Iqbal Khaibar, a PPM leader, said the activists were kidnapped in the Bala Buluk district of Farah Province while traveling from the neighboring province of Herat.
Dadullah Qani, a member of the Farah provincial council, confirmed the incident.
Farah police said efforts have begun to track the kidnappers.
There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.
The activists were in the middle of a fresh round of rallies, traveling around the country to spread a message of peace and urging all sides of the conflict in Afghanistan to agree upon a cease-fire, the PPM said in a statement.
The group said this is the fourth time the Taliban has abducted PPM peace marchers.
The most recent incident was in June, when the Taliban held 25 peace activists who traveled to the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in an attempt to meet with the militants and plead with them to seek peace. They were released several days later.
The PPM attracted international attention last year with its peace marches across Afghanistan and in Kabul during which they warned about the record levels of violence across the country.
The movement has always claimed to be an impartial movement, only advocating for peace in the war-torn country.
Based on reporting by dpa and Tolonews.com
Seven Afghan Soldiers Killed In Taliban Attack
At least seven Afghan soldiers have been killed in a militant attack on an army checkpoint in the northern province of Balkh, the country's Defense Ministry said.
Six other members of the security forces -- three soldiers and three intelligence operatives -- were wounded in the "enemy" attack in Balkh's Dawlat Abad district on December 24, the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said the checkpoint was manned by both the Afghan Army and the National Directorate of Security.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack that occurred around 4:30 a.m. local time.
Taliban militants continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, as well as government officials -- even as the group holds peace talks with a U.S. envoy tasked with negotiating an end to the military conflict in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by AP, tolonews.com
Pentagon Identifies Soldier Killed By Roadside Bomb In Afghanistan
The Pentagon has identified a 33-year-old soldier from New Jersey as the U.S. victim in a fatal roadside bombing in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz Province.
The U.S. military on December 23 said Sergeant 1st Class Michael Goble of Washington Township died in the blast that has been claimed by the Taliban militant group.
Goble's unit was engaged in combat operations in Kunduz, when he suffered fatal injuries, the Pentagon said. No further details were provided.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said they killed "a U.S. force member and injured an Afghan commando" in Kunduz.
Goble's death was the 20th by a U.S. service member this year in Afghanistan. More than 2,400 Americans have died in the nearly 18-year conflict.
Taliban militants continue to carry out attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. troops even as they hold peace talks with a U.S. envoy attempting to end America's longest war.
Hundreds of Afghan civilians have also been killed in the crossfire or by militant bombs.
Some 20,000 foreign troops -- 12,000 to 14,000 from the United States -- are in Afghanistan as part of a U.S.-led NATO mission to train, assist, and advise local troops.
U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to end the conflict and pull U.S. troops out of the country to fulfill a campaign promise he made in 2016.
U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met with Taliban leaders in Qatar and, at times, has appeared close to reaching a cease-fire deal with the extremist group.
However, Trump in September canceled a secret meeting in the United States that was to include Taliban leaders after the militant group carried out a car bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including a U.S. soldier.
Negotiators from both sides have since resumed talking, but no further progress has been reported.
Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters
U.S. Service Member Killed In Afghanistan, Pentagon Says
A U.S. service member has been killed in action in Afghanistan, the U.S. military reports.
Officials gave no further details in the announcement on December 23, and the name of the service member was withheld pending notification of family members.
AFP reported that the Taliban militant group had claimed responsibility for the attack on the U.S. service member.
In a WhatsApp message to the news agency, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said insurgents "blew up an American vehicle in Char Dara district of Kunduz" late on December 22.
At least 20 foreign service members have been killed this year in Afghanistan, and more than 2,400 U.S. forces have died in the nearly 18-year conflict.
Some 20,000 foreign troops -- 12,000 to 14,000 from the United States -- are in Afghanistan as part of a U.S.-led NATO mission to train, assist, and advise local troops.
U.S. forces also carry out counterterrorism operations against Islamist militant groups, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to end the conflict and pull U.S. troops out of the country to fulfill a campaign promise he made in 2016.
U.S. special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has met with Taliban leaders in Qatar and, at times, has appeared close to reaching a cease-fire deal with the extremist group.
However, Trump in September canceled a secret meeting in the United States that was to include Taliban leaders after the militant group carried out a car bombing in Kabul that killed 12 people, including a U.S. soldier.
Negotiators from both sides have since resumed talking, but the Taliban has to date rejected negotiations with the Afghan government, seeing it as a puppet of foreign powers.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
U.S. Defense Chief Says He's Fine With Afghan Troop Reduction 'With Or Without' Peace Deal
U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper on December 15 said he wants a drawdown of soldiers in Afghanistan "with or without" a peace deal, while voicing confidence that the head of the NATO mission in the country could carry out current tasks with fewer numbers.
The administration of President Donald Trump may announce a troop reduction of around 4,000 soldiers before the end of the year year, according to U.S. media.
There are an estimated 12,000 to 13,000 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan at any given time, depending on troop rotations.
Esper told reporters that Austin Miller, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and U.S. forces, "is confident that he can go down to a lower number" of soldiers, according to AFP.
Miller "believes he can conduct all the important counterterrorism missions and train, advise, and assist" the Afghan Army, Esper said.
The defense secretary added that he would like to see a political agreement sealed between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end the 18-year war.
U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad last week resumed talks with Taliban negotiators in the Qatari capital, Doha, where the insurgents maintain a political office.
"But I think we can [reduce the number of troops] with or without that political agreement," Esper said.
Meanwhile, on the same day, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) reiterated Trump's wish to reduce the number of troops to 8,600 during a visit to Kabul.
'"If President Trump decides in the next few weeks to reduce our forces below the 12,000 we have, I could support that," he said.
"The Afghan security forces are getting more capable," said Graham. "As they achieve capability, the number of U.S. forces necessary can go down."
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Roadside Bomb Kills 10 From Same Afghan Family
A roadside bomb exploded in the Afghan eastern province of Khost, killing at least 10 civilians traveling in a vehicle, officials say.
Interior Ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said the blast occurred in the district of Ali Sher On the morning of December 17.
The casualties included three children, two women, and five men, Rahimi said.
Talib Mangal, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said they were all members of one family who were traveling to Logar Province to attend a funeral.
Rahimi blamed Taliban militants for the bombing.
The militant group did not immediately comment.
The United Nationals Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has said it is "gravely concerned about the unprecedented levels of violence" harming Afghan civilians.
UNAMA recorded 2,563 deaths and 5,676 injured in the first nine months of this year.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
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text: There can't be many trained horticulturists with a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 as eye-catching as Jamie Durie 's. The energetic Australian got his showbiz start in his teens as an exotic dancer in a troupe called Manpower Australia ("I was the lead performer and designed the sets and costumes," he says). But plants, Durie says, "have always been my passion." He went on to found his landscape-design firm, which has offices in Sydney and Los Angeles, where he creates residential gardens for clients like Charlize Theron and Anne Heche, and commercial projects from Singapore to Dubai. This year, his HGTV show The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie enters its fourth season. "My mission is to reconnect people with nature through design," says Durie, who recently launched an iPhone gardening app . "My goal is to inspire people to fall in love with gorgeous plants and put them in the ground." Click here to see the gallery for "Shortlist: Jamie Durie."


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Director-General on Official Visit to Kazakhstan
From 22 to 24 August, the Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, where she will participate in the International Forum devoted to the official launch of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022).
This International Decade, under the leadership of UNESCO, will build on the 2010 International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures – an initiative that Kazakhstan co-sponsored, which UNESCO led.
The Director-General will participate in the opening and closing sessions of the Forum, alongside the Chairperson of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO, Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Idrissov, the UN Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Nassir al-Nasser, and the Director General of ISESCO, Abdulaziz Altwaijiri. The Director-General will also take part in the Plenary Session, entitled "Rapprochement and Dialogue as the Major Source for Building Peace and Attaining a Sustainable Future".
While in Kazakhstan, the Director-General will present the UNESCO Diploma for the Alakol Biosphere Reserve, added to UNESCO's World Biosphere Reserve Network in 2013.
In Kazakhstan, the Director-General will sign an agreement establishing a UNESCO Chair on Ethnic and Religious Tolerance at the Eurasian National University.
Irina Bokova will also designate the world famous boxer, Serik Sapiyev, as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Sport.


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What I did on my summer vacation
The girls and I were lucky enough to spend a week at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Indiana earlier this month - and we had a blast! We went fishing and swimming in the lake where I grew up fishing and swimming, with Papa teaching the girls the correct way to thread a bee moth (or wax worm) onto the hook...something every city girl three and under needs to know.
We also visited the Exotic Feline Rescue Center, less than an hour from my hometown, which my family and I never knew existed until this month. It was incredible! You can see how close we were to the big cats - I still can't believe we were within fingertips of these enormous animals. The one in the picture directly below weighs more than 650 pounds - definitely more than Deirdre and I combined. (Perhaps that's why she's flinching a bit at being in such close proximity!)
The guy in the next picture is Rodney, who was a real sweet heart. When I told him I wanted to scritch his tummy, he literally rolled over like this. Cute, huh?
And this last picture is my gal Zoe, the one who stole my heart. She will, ahem, be receiving a Gorman Family sponsorship this fall. Seriously, she will.
Of course, we weren't fooled by how lovable these cats appeared. We saw over 100 big cats in the 30-45 minute walking tour we took, and it became very clear that these cats were not to be messed with.
Without a doubt, the girls had a great week, and I did, too. Of course, the most important thing I did on vacation...was rest. My mom and dad went to great lengths to make sure I got my 2 hour nap each afternoon. There were a couple of days when we pushed our nap time a little later than normal - and I was quickly reminded of how detrimental that can be. You know how it goes - you're on vacation, you're doing fun things, you're going fun places - you just lose track of time. But letting an extra 30 or 40 minutes of fatigue creep in really wasn't worth it. Thankfully, I recovered after the requisite nap, but I just don't like getting overtired. It's interesting - while the girls seem to catch a second wind, I just dwindle deeper and deeper into exhaustion-ville. Thankfully, it's a place of which I'm not a permanent resident!
Learning from my mistakes (which is the most important part of living with lupus), I made sure that we ratcheted our naps back to the standard 2pm. And a good thing, too. On one of the last days, my mom had an emergency doctor's appointment (although she's fine now...thank you for your concern), and my parents were gone for an entire afternoon. But the Gorman girls rallied, and Deirdre and Bernadette watched movies and/or slept for over two hours, respectively. I had one of the best naps of the week - but I'm not fooling myself into thinking that I no longer need a babysitter. It would be easy to make such a conclusion - but I'm not a new lupite on the block. Sometimes, things don't go quite so smoothly.
And although I'm sure Zoe would be a fine nanny, I think we'll stick with the standard neighbor-girl variety babysitter!


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White Castle's New Slyder-Scented Candle
In honor of National Hamburger Month, White Castle is adding a new product to its Crave Store and select White Castle restaurants (on May 3): a Slyder-scented candle in a ceramic holder shaped like a Slyder cardboard sleeve. To make the candle, White Castle teamed up with Laura Slatkin, "queen" of home fragrances and founder/owner of custom candle company Candela Group. The candle will cost $10 and net proceeds will benefit Autism Speaks (of which Slatkin is a board member of).
Does it smell like beef and onions? A comment on food blog The Hot Dish says it smells more like buttered popcorn. We'll find out later when the candle comes out. [via Jacob H.]
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.