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Remix4 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 129 diseños de 34 diseñadores freelance.
Logo will be used on the website, business cards, stationary as well as shown on supply members own websites
Source of Supply
No specific tagline but open to suggestions referring to "Single Source"
Desired Color Scheme:
Open to all suggestions
Desired Style:
If possible would like a part of the logo to be used to represent an icon link on supplier websites
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Logo will be used on the website, business cards, stationary as well as shown on supply members own websites.
 Source of Supply is a new project to develop a wide range of product suppliers who manufacture for the export market in Thailand.
As well as develop suppliers own websites, Source of Supply also provides complete supply chain management support to retail customers and will physically handle the products to prepare for shipment.
The company will focus on quality, flexibility and more importantly, providing value added services and support to both the suppliers as well as the retail customers and act as a single point of contact for managing the orders and shipping process.
The logo should try to convey the concept of a single point for all export that supports the entire supply chain - a one stop shop for retail customers ordering from any member manufacturer.
Open to use of the initials SOS as part of the design also.
The domain name for the actual Source of Supply website will be http://www.1-sos.com
We will need the logo in both vector format as well as layered psd or tiff.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.

subset: commoncrawl


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Blown Away
Louis Albano picked up this 1973 back in 1986 and has been constantly upgrading it ever since. And being the Camaro is a real-deal Z28, the numbers-matching drivetrain was carefully removed and put in storage back in 1992 when Louis decided on big-block power. Painted in an 1988 GM Garnet Red with pearl-white stripes, the Camaro fields an LS6 454 big-block that was custom-built by PCHS Racing Engines. The 454 features JE blower pistons, Eagle rods, and a Jesel beltdrive. Topping off the engine is a Weiand 8-71 blower with twin carbs. An MSD ignition system lights the fire while custom 2 3⁄8-inch stainless headers feed into a massive 4-inch exhaust system. Backing this up is a TH400 trans with a 10-inch, 4,500-stall converter. The suspension is all GM with the exception of QA1 coilover shocks.
Budget Built
Being a full-time college student, Scott Young managed to put aside his studies in small increments in order to gradually fix up his 1984 Berlinetta. Fortunately, he's had help from his dad, Glenn, and the pair have been wrenching on the Camaro for the last five years.
"My passion for muscle cars, and more specifically, Camaros, started when I was younger hearing the stories told by my father about his 1967 Camaro RS/SS," remarked Scott. When Scott was on the hunt for a Camaro, he kept spying this 1984, but the lady who owned it didn't want to sell. Well, he was persistent and eventually bought the car for $800 back in 2007.
Scott told us, "At the time of purchase, the car had a 2.8L V-6 with a 200-4R transmission and 3.23 gears. It had a beige interior, bald tires, and very little body damage. Today, the car has a worked-over small-block 350 with ported and polished aluminum heads, Hooker headers, and a Holley 650 carb. The transmission has been upgraded to a 700-R4, and the rearend will be upgraded soon to a 3.73 posi. Besides the engine upgrade, I have also installed a black interior, subframe connectors, fourth-gen Camaro front and rear seats, 1991 Camaro ground effects, and have rewired the entire car from nose to tail."
The car was recently painted and is just about to the "daily driver" state. The project was a challenge, but that was just part of the fun, and Scott can't wait to hit the road this spring.
For many years Canada's Lance Lafonde had a big problem: he owned Mustangs. But recently the clouds parted, angels sang, and Lance saw the proverbial light, which shown down a super-clean 1995 Camaro. It's a base model, but Lance was smitten by the F-body upgrade bug. He's in the planning stages of an LS engine swap and working over the suspension as well. But for now he's just enjoying the ride until the snow starts to fall and the Camaro gets put away for the winter.
First Timer
Douglas Dove has spent five long years getting his 1969 RS to its current pristine state. Over that time, he completely rebuilt the Camaro from the ground up. About the only thing he didn't do was lay down the paint, but he did help prep the body. Under the hood is an LS1 with Hooker headers backed up by a massaged 4L60E transmission out of an 2004 GTO. QA1 coilovers help nail the stance while a Moser 10-bolt gets all the power to the ground. The interior is covered in black leather and was fitted with a killer sound system. Because Douglas did all—well, nearly all—the work himself, it made it all the more rewarding.
Sneak Back
So when does an 2011 SS Camaro equal a new toilet paper holder? Well, it doesn't unless your name is Bob Cavanaugh. As the story goes, Bob and his wife were shopping at Home Depot when she snuck a new paper holder into the basket. Bob didn't think they needed one, but his wife insisted. Flummoxed, Bob retorted that if she got that then he would go buy a new Camaro. Well, his wife called his bluff by proclaiming "Fine, do what you want." Two weeks later Bob floored his wife by coming home with a brand-new 2011 2SS/RS Camaro. We can only imagine that things were a bit frosty around the Cavanaugh household for a while, but according to Bob it was well worth it. Since rolling the Camaro home, he's added a host of aesthetic upgrades including GM ground effects and Foose wheels. Performance-wise, he slid in a bigger camshaft, added Dynatech 1 7⁄8 long-tube headers, tweaked the air induction, and added stronger DSS axles. That's enough goodies to lay down 453 rwhp on a Mustang chassis dyno. And as of now, his wife has no plans to further upgrade the toilet paper holder that started it all.
Submit readers' rides photos and information to email@example.com


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Portland's Flyway
More than 200 bird species live or pass through the Portland metropolitan area each year.
Portland's Urban Migratory Bird Program
Taking Action for Birds
Other metropolitan organizations partner with the City of Portland to enhance our area's habitats for migratory birds. Join them and others in these activities:
Migratory Bird CD
Portland's Migratory Bird Program participants have created an original recording of songs and stories about migratory birds in the Portland area. It is available for purchase at:
or you can purchase it through Portland Parks & Recreation for $12 plus $2 shipping. Contact us at 503-823-3601.
Global Warming affects Gray Jays
The National Wildlife Federation released results of a study that shows a more northern extension of the range of Gray Jays due to global warming. To see the report, go to http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm
Bird-Safe Building Guidelines
New York City Audubon has announced the publication of building guidlines targeted for architects, landscape designers, engineers, policy-makers, and the general public that will help survival of birds in urban environments. The document also describes ways to retrofit existing buildings. Check it out at: http://www.nycaudubon.org/home/BirdSafeBuildingGuidelines.pdf


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Children and adults alike will enjoy taking in the spectacular view of the dramatic confluence of Pittsburgh's three rivers (Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio) from the exhibit gallery with newfound appreciation for our waterways and an understanding of why we all need to conserve water.
Pittsburgh's freshwater rivers are so ubiquitously integrated with the cityscape that it's easy to forget what a precious resource they are and have been historically. With growing populations and the increasing pressures of development, the world is facing a critical water shortage. About 1 in 8 people globally are without clean drinking water. That's something to keep in mind if you have a hard time remembering to turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth!
Even in the United States, demand is greater than supply. Americans consume or use, on average, 150 gallons of water a day. This is compared to 40 gallons in the UK and 22 gallons in China. In the coming years, 36 states will face water shortages. Visitors may also be surprised to learn about the less conventional means in which we use water. Approximately one gallon of water is used to create one 12-oz. plastic bottle of water!
Guests will have the opportunity to learn all about water science and why our rivers matter as they explore The Environment and Conservation, Fluid Dynamics, and the Field Station exhibits!
Careers in Water Science – Do you love learning about our waterways? Then you should explore a career as a water scientist! There are many exciting sub-disciplines of water science. Biologists, physicists, and chemists alike unite to create a better understanding of our waterways. Understanding the science, understanding the issues, and understanding the technologies—available and emerging—will help our region be better prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Water scientists are needed in federal, state, and city governments, as well as private industries and academic institutions. Check out the regional resources page for more information!
This exhibit, located in the Covestro Gallery, is presented by The Colcom Foundation and also supported by:


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Cold Weather: Protect Your Pipes
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials are reminding residents that it's not too late to prepare for the cold weather ahead.
With below-freezing temperatures in the forecast this week, a few simple steps can keep your family safe and your home's pipes from freezing.
Fire officials offer the following tips to prepare your home for winter weather:
1. Prepare your pipes in advance. Remove, drain and store garden hoses used outside. If practical, use an inside valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing pipes just inside your house.
2. Properly winterize automatic landscaping sprinkler systems.
3. Check and monitor any exposed pipes in unheated areas such as basements, garages, attics and crawlspaces.
4. As temperatures drop below freezing, protect indoor sink pipes located along exterior walls by opening under-sink cabinet doors to allow heat to circulate.
5. Consider keeping your thermostat at the same temperature during the day and at night. While temporarily suspending any pre-programmed energy-efficient settings could result in a slightly higher utility bill, it might prevent a costly repair bill if pipes freeze and break.
6. If your pipes break, seek the assistance of a professional plumber and never use a hair dryer or other appliance to thaw frozen pipes – you risk electrocution.
7. If you are going to be away during the cold weather, leave the heat on in your home and set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.
8. Mobile homes are typically more vulnerable to frozen pipes so take proper precautions.
9. Stay informed. Sign up for Alert Montgomery. For information, visit https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov/register.php
Check on your elderly neighbors and friends who may need additional assistance to ensure their safety and always having working smoke alarms in your own home. For more safety tips: www.mcfrs.org/mcsafe.


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Breeding males are striking with black mask, white eyebrow, gray crown, white wing patch, and yellow throat and breast with necklace of black streaks. In fall, their color pattern is more diffuse gray and yellow. Always look for tail pattern from below: basal half is white, tip is black. Forages for insects in forested areas. Travels in flocks with other warblers and songbirds in migration and winter. Winters in Central America.
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Choose a region to view Weekly Bar Chart
Your Online Guide To Birds And Bird Watching
Comprehensive life histories of North American breeding birds
Life histories of all species breeding in Mexico, Central America, and South America


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Events for 1 Dec 2017
Events Search and Views Navigation
All Day
Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion
This exhibition examines the work and legacy of influential Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga, with over 100 pieces crafted by 'the master' of couture, his protégées and contemporary fashion designers working in the same innovative tradition
No Turning Back: Seven Migration Moments that Changed Britain
This exhibition, including works by Spanish artist Roman Lokati, explores seven pivotal migration moments in Britain's migration history. Some brought people together, others moved people apart; all had a profound effect on individuals who lived through them – and on the country as a whole.
El Greco to Goya – Spanish Masterpieces from The Bowes Museum
The Wallace Collection presents El Greco to Goya - Spanish Masterpieces from The Bowes Museum, the first London exhibition of Spanish art from The Bowes Museum in County Durham, including works by Goya and El Greco.
Dali / Duchamp
This unique exhibition examines the relationship between Salvador Dali and the father of conceptual art, Marcel Duchamp. It is the first show dedicated to their friendship and the mutual influence on their work, exploring the common ground, both personal and aesthetic.
The House of Bernarda Alba
The Spanish Theatre Company continues their mission to stage all of Federico García Lorca's plays with a new production of The House of Bernarda Alba, the story of a family of women in 1930s Spain, dominated and repressed by the matriarch Bernarda Alba.
A Tale on The Mile by David Guillén
A Tale on the Mile, the work of Spanish photographer based in Edinburgh David Guillén, is a harmony of original photography and text that explores the personalities and places on one of the most historically vibrant streets in Scotland: The Royal Mile.
Hospitality on the Pilgrim Road to Santiago de Compostela
Hospitality on the Pilgrim Road to Santiago de Compostela is a collection of 48 photographs, taken over a period of 26 years by Manuel G. Vicente.
Saelia Aparicio: Your Consequences Have Actions
Your Consequences Have Actions is Saelia Aparicio's first major exhibition in a public gallery in the UK, bringing together newly commissioned works made especially for The Tetley with a selection of existing works.
Six Spanish artists at No 20
Six Spanish artists show their work at No 20 gallery in association with Galeria Carles Taché from Barcelona: Miguel Ángel Campano, Santi Moix, Javier Pérez, Guillermo Pfaff, Vicky Uslé and Javier Arce.
Animal Mirror, by Eduardo Hurtado & Pablo Capitan
Animal Mirror is a contemporary art project curated by Jesus Alcaide, bringing together the work of Eduardo Hurtado and Pablo Capitan del Rio in a dialogue through performance, drawing and sculpture around Animality.


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Cookout Potato Salad
Instead of using all mayonnaise in the dressing, I used some plain yogurt. It really lightens up the dish and gives it a welcome tang. —Ann Grove, Greenwood, Mississippi
Total TimePrep: 10 min. Cook: 20 min. + chilling
Makes6 servings
- 2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 garlic clove, chopped
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- Optional toppings: chopped hard-boiled large eggs, blanched green beans and salad croutons
- Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 13-18 minutes or until tender. Drain potatoes; cool completely.
- Place potatoes in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt, mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; pour over potatoes and toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, until chilled. Sprinkle with parsley; serve with toppings if desired.


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Get the jump on new items at Anthony's Comic Book Art! Join our mailing list today!
Spectacular Spider-Man #233 p.12 Color Guide Art - Spider Carnage - 1996
"This is a B&W STAT photo copy that a colorist painted over to create the published page. This is color art only, the original pencils and inks aren't on here."
9" x 11"


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Lake Harmony is a reservoir in the Pocono Mountains. It enjoys four distinct seasons, which provide endless fun and a myriad of nature-filled activities that are fun for the whole family. The Pocono Mountains are famous not only for their natural scenic beauty, but for the variety of activities available to visitors. People staying in rental homes near Lake Harmony can spend the day outdoors enjoying nature, and spend their evenings enjoying theater performances and concerts. The choices of holiday rentals are as many and varied as the activities. Whether you are a hiker, biker, skier, snowboarder, botanist or water park lover, Lake Harmony promises a true Pennsylvania mountain experience.
The choice of holiday rentals is endless: an elegant lakefront mountain home with fireplaces is perfect after a long day skiing; a spacious in-town condo rental puts you in the middle of all the action, where you can unwind at a brew pub in the afternoon or enjoy an intimate dinner at an elegant restaurant in the evening; and a rustic rental cottage or chalet is perfect to enjoy a romantic and cozy weekend.
Jack Frost and Big Boulder Ski Mountains will likely be within five minutes of your holiday cottage, so you can ski the slopes, ride a snowmobile, or tube down the mountain. Adventurous visitors who want to try a truly unique winter sport can mush their own dogsled team.
Enjoy the laurel blossoms, daffodils, and native plants exploding in this colorful natural canvas. Leave your lakeshore rental home in the morning and hit the antique shops, specialty stores, and outlet malls. Search for bargains or a gift for that special someone at home.
Your rental cabin will be near many nature trails where you can walk, bike, or go on horseback through the mountains. Tee off at a championship golf course. Rent a canoe and float on the lake and enjoy the wooded scenery and the rushing waterfalls. If you're traveling with kids, you will love taking them to the New Split Rock Water Park.
From your rental home, take the kids riding the rails of America's first steam train. Visit a museum if it is too cold to be outside. Enjoy a game of bocce ball and invite the winner to a nearby pub to sample the local brew. Once you book your holiday rental, you'll find that this delightful Pennsylvania playground will live up to its promises of a wonderful mountain experience.


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Wage and Hour Division (WHD)
Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
Press Releases
Date: December 5, 2011
Contact: Sonia Melendez or Laura McGinnis
Phone: (202) 693-4672 or (202) 693-4653
U.S. Department of Labor
Wage and Hour Division
Release Number: 11-1721-DEN
US Labor Department, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment sign agreement to reduce misclassification of employees as independent contractors
WASHINGTON -- Nancy J. Leppink, deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, and Ellen Golombek, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, signed a memorandum of understanding Dec. 5 regarding the improper classification of employees as independent contractors. Following the signing, Leppink and Golombek hosted a press teleconference during which they discussed how the U.S. Department of Labor and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment will embark on new efforts, guided by this memorandum, to protect the rights of employees and level the playing field for responsible employers by reducing the practice conducted by some businesses of misclassifying employees. This partnership is the 11th of its kind for the U.S. Department of Labor.
"This memorandum of understanding helps us send a message: We're standing united to end the practice of misclassifying employees," said Leppink. "This is an important step toward making sure that the American dream is still available for employees and responsible employers alike."
"Misclassification costs everyone," said Golombek. "It destabilizes the business climate by creating an unlevel playing field and causing responsible businesses to suffer unfair competition. The efforts we will be launching with the U.S. Department of Labor will promote accountability that Colorado employers and employees will welcome."
Employee misclassification is a growing problem. In 2010, the Wage and Hour Division collected nearly $4 million in back wages for minimum wage and overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act that resulted from employees being misclassified as independent contractors or otherwise not treated as employees.
Business models that attempt to change, obscure or eliminate the employment relationship are not inherently illegal, unless they are used to evade compliance with federal labor law. The misclassification of employees as something else, such as independent contractors, presents a serious problem, as these employees often are denied access to critical benefits and protections — such as family and medical leave, overtime compensation, minimum wage pay and Unemployment Insurance — to which they are entitled. In addition, misclassification can create economic pressure for law-abiding business owners, who often find it difficult to compete with those who are skirting the law.Employee misclassification also generates substantial losses for state Unemployment Insurance and workers' compensation funds.
Memorandums of understanding with state government agencies arose as part of the U.S. Department of Labor's Misclassification Initiative, which was launched under the auspices of Vice President Biden's Middle Class Task Force with the goal of preventing, detecting and remedying employee misclassification. Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Utah and Washington have signed similar agreements. More information is available on the U.S. Department of Labor's misclassification Web page at http://www.dol.gov/misclassification.
The mission of the U.S. Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and ensure work-related benefits and rights. To learn more about the FLSA's requirements, call the Wage and Hour Division's toll-free hotline at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243) or visit its website at http://www.dol.gov/whd/.
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.


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Toxic Substances
toxic substances | nutrient pollution | pathogens | invasive species
Toxic substances are chemicals and metals that can cause serious illness or death. They may be poisonous, carcinogenic (cancer-causing) or harmful in other ways to living things. Pesticides, automobile fluids like antifreeze, oil or grease, and metals such as mercury or lead have all been found to pollute estuaries. These substances can enter an estuary through industrial discharges, yard runoff, streets, agricultural lands, and storm drains.
Once consumed by plants and animals, some toxic substances can accumulate in these organisms' tissues. This process is called biomagnification. The insecticide DDT, and the metal mercury, are known to progressively accumulate or build up in the tissues of organisms as they make their way from the bottom of the food web (algae, shrimp, oysters, fish) to the top (osprey, eagles, bears, people).
Sometimes, toxic substances become attached to sediments (sand or mud) that flow down rivers and get deposited in estuaries. Toxic substances that enter the estuary this way often contaminate bottom-dwelling animals like oysters or clams, making them a serious health risk to people who eat them. (USEPA, 1993; USEPA, date unknown).


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Editors Picks: Sept. 2010 Scrapbook Products
Editors' Picks: Scrapbook Products
Looking for the latest and greatest products for your scrapbooking? You'll love using these fabulous patterned papers, stamps, stickers, and more to rev up your scrapbook layouts. Plus, this month, we've discovered an ingenious way to display and store your favorite layouts and decorate your craft room. Check out the following products:
Best Friends by Megan Hoeppner as seen in the September 2010 issue of Creating Keepsakes.
With its liberty floral prints, grids, and polka dots in vivid primary colors, the Hello Sunshine collection from Lily Bee Design will put a spark of sunshine into your layouts. It's perfect for September pages, whether you're scrapbooking your exciting summer or the first day of school.
Your scrap room is where you go to find your creative mojo. Shouldn't the way you display your finished pages inspire you too? Bella Blvd and independent artist Heidi Bohn have the solution: hand-crafted frames specifically created to showcase your 12" x 12" layouts.
- see more scrapbooking products on page 2 -
Appeared in:
|To comment on this article you must be logged in. Not a member?


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The Best New Animated TV Shows of the Last Few Years
List Rules Only shows that premiered Season 1 on or after January 1, 2015.
With so many great TV series currently airing, we're ranking the best animated TV shows since 2015. Our list of the highest rated animated shows of the past three years is ranked by viewers from everywhere, so make sure you vote up the best new animated series on television. What is the best new animated TV show?
Featuring new kids shows, animated superhero shows, adult cartoons, and more, the best recent animated TV shows include Guardians of the Galaxy, Harvey Beaks, Apollo Gauntlet, and Ben 10. While Cartoon Network's We Bare Bears is a great animated show for the whole family, while Netflix's original series F Is for Family should probably be watched without the kids.
Vote up the best new animated TV shows and feel free to add any new animated series missing from the list.


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Find out what's happening in the Alberta arts community. You never know what you'll discover!
- Click the image or the title to view each News story. Click blue buttons or pink tags to browse related stories.
- Disclaimer
- Individuals and organizations posting and/or viewing information on the AFA newsfeed do so at their own risk. The AFA does not guarantee the accuracy of any information posted on the newsfeed. The posting of a listing is not an endorsement by the AFA of the submitting organization or individual, or any organization or individual identified in the listing. The AFA recommends that those viewing the newsfeed conduct their own research of organizations and individuals that post on the website, when listings are related to youth.
- Please review the full AFA news feed Terms of Use.
Work of the Week: "Cats" by Janet Mitchell
Date: Aug 8, 2019
In honour of International Cat Day, this week's Work of the Week is "Cats", by Medicine Hat-born artist Janet Mitchell.
Work of the Week: Beach by John Snow
Date: Jul 26, 2019
If you can't make it to the beach, we're bringing the beach to you with this week's Work of the Week - Beach by John Snow!
Explore the economics of Alberta art
Date: Jul 25, 2019
On April 25, 2019, Statistics Canada released Culture Satellite Account (CSA) updated economic data for the Canadian arts, culture & sport sectors.
"Alberta and the Group of Seven" at Government House
Date: Jul 23, 2019
Did you know there was a strong connection between Alberta and members of the Group of Seven?
Work of the Week: Steer Wrestling
Date: Jul 19, 2019
This week's Work of the Week is Steer Wrestling by Martin Schatz.
Work of the Week: Funny Wheels/Edmonton Street Performers Festival
Date: Jul 11, 2019
This week's Work of the Week perfectly captures the joy and fun the Edmonton International Street Performers Festival brings to audiences!
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Date: Jun 21, 2019
Celebrate the heritage, diverse cultures & incredible achievements of First Nations, Inuit & Métis!
Metro Cinema | Call for Gallery Submissions
Date: May 15, 2019
Metro Cinema is looking for visual artists interested in displaying their work in the historic Garneau Theatre!
Call for Fine Art & Craft for AAC WORKS in Lethbridge
Date: Apr 24, 2019
Allied Arts Council (AAC) Works offers high-quality, locally created, fine art and fine craft.
Deadline: Mar 16, 2020 - 11:45 pm
Alberta country music star wins JUNO
Date: Mar 18, 2019
Congratulations to Alberta recording artist Brett Kissel who won the JUNO for the 2019 Country Album of the Year!


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Minister denounces constant references to Trayvon Martin case
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/kinchlow-mlk-wasnt-about-dividing-america/#4A8PRIFBYexGyscY.99
By Scott Greer
700 Club minister Ben Kinchlow, author of the soon-coming "Black Yellowdogs," says the events surrounding the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech are not the right place to constantly cite the Trayvon Martin case.
"Dr. King and the members of the original march had many more opportunities to talk about some of the specifically racially oriented murders that took place when they marched, but that not is what they focused on. They didn't focus on things that would further divide America, they focused on the things that could bring all Americans together into this situation," Kinchlow told WND.
His comments came on the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington, where over the last few days speakers repeatedly have focused on the Martin case.
In that case, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who had told police he had observed a suspicious character in his neighborhood. He said Martin attacked him and he shot him in self defense.
A Florida jury agreed, acquitting him of second-degree murder charges.
The events in Washington to mark the anniversary began last weekend.
"I don't think it was the appropriate venue to bring up the Trayvon Martin case," Kinchlow stated.
He said he disagreed with Martin Luther King III that the death of Trayvon Martin meant that America allows for the murder of individuals based on the color of their skins.
"Sadly, the tears of Trayvon Martin's mother and father remind us that far too frequently the color of one's skin remains a license to profile, arrest, and to even murder with no regard to the content of one's character," King III claimed.
"I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. King's assessment – that is just not the case," Kinchlow said. "I do not see a situation where murder is allowed just because of the color of one's skin."
The star of the 700 Club added that there was once a time that people got away with the crimes that King described, but those no longer take place and now there is a different source for the violence that plague African-American communities.
"Unfortunately, most of the murders that take place today in African-American communities are committed by young blacks on young blacks," Kinchlow commented.
King III made his controversial speech last Saturday at an event that also included speeches from Al Sharpton, Rep. John Lewis, and the head of the Department of Justice Eric Holder.
Kinchlow's new book "Black Yellowdogs," to be released by WND Books on Sept. 10, exposes explosive historical facts that black leaders, revisionist historians, and left-leaning professors have deliberately hidden or made little effort to ascertain.
Kinchlow, once qualified as a "Black Yellowdog" ("a black American who consistently votes Democratic, period, no matter the issue or candidate"), targets the flawed concept of voting in blind faith for any party or candidate declaring it "a deadly game of follow the leader." As someone who "personally experienced the institutionalized segregation and hardcore racism of the '40s, '50s, and '60s," Kinchlow refuses, as Justice Clarence Thomas suggested, "to have my ideas assigned to me."
Kinchlow dissects the seismic shift in voting patterns of black Americans from the first election where they voted 99 percent Republican in 1876 to 90 percent Democratic in 2000. Beginning with the origins of slavery in the new United States of America, Kinchlow corrects the grievous errors of "TV pundits, ivory towered intellectuals, and 'civil rights leaders'" in their depiction of the Founding Fathers as "bigots, rakes, and hypocrites" through the end of nearly "100 years of suffering for blacks who would be born in America" after the end of the Civil War.
Kinchlow is known throughout the world as the long time co-host of The 700 Club, and the host of the international edition of The 700 Club. Kinchlow served 13 years in the Air Force. He was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Kinchlow founded Americans For Israel, serves as co-host of the Front Page Jerusalem radio show, and is a commentary contributor at WND.
Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/kinchlow-mlk-wasnt-about-dividing-america/#4A8PRIFBYexGyscY.99


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Via Scoop.it – Bounded Rationality and Beyond
The Nobel Prize winner says economics should move beyond the limits of 'rational self-interest.'..Paul Krugman: I think the biggest challenge is that the method that has worked so well for economics is probably close to its limits. Economics has gotten a tremendous amount of mileage about . . . by saying what would a rational, self-interested person do? That has been the core. And for very many things, that has been a very productive way. You learn an enormous amount, and it serves as the basis not just for abstract theories, but for actual empirical analysis of behavior and of policy. But in a way we've sort of done what you can do with that, and more and more the key issues in economics are . . . involve the limits of rationality; involve the places where people don't have the ability to assess all of the data they have where people are . . . don't make rational choices.
Via bigthink.com
The End of Rational Economics? | Paul Krugman | Big Think
Via Scoop.it – Bounded Rationality and Beyond


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Fancy a bloody falafel finger with almond fingernails for a vegan friendly Hallowe'en?
Trick, or more precisely, treating, is not off limits for vegans because of sweets made with animal-based gelatin. There is a growing choice of 'spook-tacular' food for people who do not eat or use animal products.
Sales of vegan and vegetarian food is soaring. Retailer Waitrose & Partners has recently recorded an 85 per cent rise in sales of vegan and vegetarian products, and has expanded its range.
And according to statistics from The Vegan Society, demand for meat-free food increased by 987 percent in 2017. Going vegan was also predicted to be the biggest food trend in 2018.
But what are the food choices for vegans right now, as Hallowe'en looms?
The Vegan Society has hosted a helpful blog entitled 'How to have a spectacular vegan Halloween'.
In it you can learn how from leading vegan food bloggers how to make to make things like 'bloody falafel fingers'. The recipe, from Vegan Richa, consists of baked chick pea split pea falafels with ketchup smeared on to make them look appropriately gruesome.
Other vegan treats for the witching season, include 'apple bites' from the blog Oh She Glows. The apple made mouths looks like something out of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with their slivers of almonds for teeth and jam or nut butter for the tongue.
But what do you do if the children knock on your door and ask you 'trick or treat?'.
Dr Samantha Calvert, head of communications at the Vegan Society said: "A lot of vegans feel they don't want to want to give out things containing gelatin even though the child trick or treating children knocking on their door might not be vegans."
She said it can be difficult searching product information in stores for sweets which don't contain gelatin, which is usually obtained from cows or pigs.
But she highlighted natural sweet maker Goody Good Stuff, which uses a technology that eliminates the need for animal-based gelatin.
They make a range of gluten, lactose and gelatin free sweets from Sour Mix Match and Koala Gummy Beers.
Dr Calvert (left), who has been a vegan for 23 years, said pumpkin pie was also a good option as there is ready made pastry suitable for vegans in supermarkets, plus a choice of appropriate fillings.
She said while online bakers could make you vegan friendly pumpkin pie, your chances of buying a ready made one from a supermarket were pretty slim. She said making them yourself was the cheapest option.
The Vegan Society's timely food blog states: "Halloween is steadily creeping up on us. There are enough ghoulish goings-on at this time of year without throwing additional animal exploitation into the mix, but a vegan lifestyle isn't a reason to miss out on the fun."
Useful website links:


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BEST KEPT SECRET IN CHARLESTON! Enjoy living the Charleston, deep-water, luxury lifestyle in this fabulous,fully-renovated home along the Ashley River! Offering the best of both worlds, this treasure is situated only 6.1 miles from the Charleston International Airport, as well as being located across from the Ashley River Historic Corridor, offering unparalleled views from almost every room of the home! Enjoy the cool breezes from the Ashley River from your porch or dock! Situated in an area so rich in history and nature, this home is also close to Bosch, Boeing, Mercedes, and Volvo. This stunningly beautiful 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath brick home with a shared dock, private floater, on true deepwater, and heated pool, also offers flex space for a mother-in-law suite, an office, & a work-out room
Perfect for entertaining, you will love the open foyer to the living room and grand dining room, allowing seating for 12, overlooking the Ashley River. Beautiful, and recently installed hickory floors are found throughout the home, with carpet found only in the bedrooms upstairs and the lower level of the home. Soaring 10 foot ceilings and 7 inch baseboards are found on the main level, while 9 foot ceilings and 7 inch baseboards are found on the 3rd floor and lower level, giving the entire home a very open feel. The renovated chef's kitchen is only steps away, and boasts of beautiful granite counter tops and plentiful cabinetry. With the intention of capturing and framing the mesmerizing marsh and river views, the kitchen is tinted in a lovely shade of pale indigo, reminiscent of plantation plantings along this historic waterway. This carefully planned kitchen is a culinary delight, offering stainless Kitchen Aid and Whirlpool appliances, a commercial grade custom vent hood over the 5 burner gas cook top, double ovens and convection microwave, a warming drawer, a farm sink, a vegetable prep sink, a touch faucet, instant hot water at the sink, a large granite island with seating, custom tile back splash, under-counter lighting, and dimmer switches on the overhead lights. The breakfast area seats in a sunny bay window with a dry bar and wine refrigerator nearby. Adjacent to the kitchen, is the walk-in laundry room with custom cabinetry, and granite counter tops housing a handy laundry sink. Off of the kitchen, a large office is available, perfect for anyone who requires a private home office, or a hobbyist who is looking for space for their favorite things. Also adjacent to the kitchen, you will see the den celebrates the beautiful views of the water and marsh with a large bank of windows, allowing for a bright and cheery gathering place for family and friends. The custom built-in bookshelves offer plenty of space for your media components for entertainment. The vent-free natural gas fireplace will add warmth and charm on those chilly winter nights. The spacious Master Bedroom is also on the main level, offering access directly to the back deck and 2 large walk-in closets. Double crown molding is found in both the Master bedroom and bath. You will love the renovated spa-like Master bathroom with an Air Tub for hydrotherapy benefits with a hand-held sprayer. The Master Bath also offers both an over-sized tiled and frameless shower with 2 custom shower heads, including a hand-held sprayer. You will see tile flooring and dual vanity sinks with Moen brushed nickel fixtures and custom mirrors. You will love the custom lights and ventilation fan with a programmable timer, so you will never forget to turn off the lights or the fan! Moving upstairs to the 3rd story, you will find an enormous flex space which is currently used as a media room and a play room. It offers walk-in attic storage as well. Down the hall, you will find 3 additional bedrooms, all featuring large walk-in closets with ample storage. One bedroom has a bathroom ensuite with a marble vanity counter top and tiled shower with a custom height shower head along with a hand held sprayer. The other two large bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bath, each with their own private quartz vanity, sharing a tiled shower and water closet. That shower also offers an over-sized tub, custom height shower head and a hand-held sprayer, with brushed nickel fixtures. Both baths upstairs also have a programmable timer for ventilation fans. More walk-in attic storage is available from one of the bedrooms, as well as pull-down attic storage in the hallway. On the lower level, you will find a large area for another media room and/or recreation room, along with a separate work out room and closet. The mother-in-law suite is spacious, offering a cozy sitting area and a closet. There is also a newly renovated full bath with an over-sized shower for your guests or for easy access after a swim in the pool or a day on the boat. The recreation area is "stubbed in" for a kitchenette, and could be added later. Water and electricals are in place to allow for that addition. Beautiful new flooring, friendly to wet feet in from the pool area, has recently been added. From the lower level, walk out to the lovely pool deck, where you can relax and enjoy the recently installed saltwater heated granite pool and hot tub with waterfall. The beautiful lawn surrounding the pool, as well as the front yard, is Zeon Zoysia, Professionally landscaped with a firepit area under the oaks, this yard can accommodate any outdoor gathering comfortably. From there, take a walk out onto the shared floating dock, recently renovated with marine grade wood and polyboard treads at the gangway. Each side allows for 2 boats. There is no less than 8 ft - 10 ft of water at low tide, so you can enjoy taking a boat cruise or fishing trip at any time you would like- no waiting on the tide to change! Oh, the nature and history to be explored from this dock! Spend the day fishing for red fish, trout, and snapper or just enjoy tubing and knee-boarding with the dolphins! Magnolia and Drayton Plantations are located to the South and Middleton Place is located to the North. Waterfowl like heron, egret, osprey and bald eagle are especially plentiful with the Audubon Swamp Garden located just across the way at Magnolia Plantation! As if the natural resources aren''t enough to cause you to fall in love with this home, the best part is that you are close-in to numerous Charleston resources as well! Depending on where you need to go, you can avoid traversing major bridges to commute to work. MUSC in Downtown Charleston is only 16 miles away, the Charleston International Airport is only 6.8 miles away, Folly Beach is only 25 miles away, Tanger Outlets is only 7 miles away, and Palmetto Commerce Parkway is only 5 miles away! The low E, 3/4 in vinyl, argon filled glass Alside windows were replaced in 2017. The HVAC system on the 3rd level was replaced in 2015 (21 seer Lennox) The other 2 HVAC systems, the 15 seer American Standard on main level and 21 seer Fujitsu on the lower level, were both replaced in 2014. The architectural shingle roof, the Hickory flooring, the kitchen and bathrooms, and the heated, saltwater granite pool and hot tub were all replaced/added in 2014. The energy-efficient Rinnai on-demand, tankless natural gas water heater was replaced in 2015. (See a full list of all updates and renovations available in "Documents") No flood insurance is required on this home, which is a great savings! The garage is oversized and extended, with 9 ft doors, allowing for large SUVs, as large as a Ford Expedition, to park inside, and offers 220 volt service. The home is protected by ADT security system, programmable from your smartphone. An irrigation system is in place and the backyard is fully gated by a low-maintenance aluminum "black iron style" fence. What an amazing place to call home! Have it all- fly into town for the weekend and be on your boat in 15 minutes! No stress in traffic, just relax knowing you will be home quickly to enjoy all of the wonderful sights and sounds life on the Ashley River in Charleston has to offer! ~Lender credit available toward buyer''s closing costs and pre-paids with acceptable offer and use of preferred lender.
Dock Facilities
Den,Gas Logs,Gas Connection,One
Ceilings - 9'+,Garden Tub/Shower,Kitchen Island,Ceiling - Smooth,Window Treatments - Some,Walk-In Closets
Patio - Covered,Deck,Dock - Existing,Fence - Metal Enclosed,Dock - Floating,Gutters,Lawn Irrigation,Patio,Pool - In Ground,Dock - Shared,Thermal Windows/Doors,Porch - Front Porch
High,River Access,Riverfront,Riverview,Waterfront - Deep,0 - .5 Acre
LISTED BY Carolina One Real Estate


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Welcome to the webpages of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Acton Parish.
For further information about the Parish, please click HERE.
Our postal address is 5 Berrymead Gardens, W3 8AA. You will find us on High Street, between Town Hall and Horn Lane.
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Massive Investigative Report Documents Kremlin-Linked Shell Companies
An international consortium of investigative reporters has documented a vast network of shady money transfers used by close associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin to funnel more than $2 billion into offshore shell companies.
The information was released on April 3 as part of a massive new report called The Panama Papers, examining scores of world leaders and public officials around the world, and a system of money transfers and secretive corporate registries that enable vast sums of money -- often ill-gotten -- to be hidden away from law enforcement and regulators.
Published simultaneously by multiple news organizations in multiple languages, the materials also link companies controlled by the prime ministers of Iceland and Pakistan, the children of Azerbaijan's president, the king of Saudi Arabia, and many others.
The information stems from millions of e-mails, spreadsheets, corporate records, and others materials leaked from Mossack Fonseca, a Panama-based law firm with representatives in dozens of countries that specialize in setting up shell companies, the report said.
ALSO READ: Giant Leak Of Offshore Records Exposes Crime, Corruption
The leaked data was initially provided to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung. It was then shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, based in Washington, which collaborated with media outlets across the world over the course of a year to organize, analyze, and publish the materials.
Scores Of Top Officials Implicated
A total of 140 leaders and public officials appear in the leaked materials, along with more than 210,000 corporate entities. The materials span nearly 40 years, the report said.
In its accompanying text, the International Consortium, known also as the ICIJ, said many of the complex offshore companies and transactions used were considered legal if used by law-abiding individuals and entities.
But, it said, banks, law firms, and others involved in setting up offshore shell companies often failed to fully investigate clients to ensure they were not involved in illegal activity, tax evasion, or corruption.
One of the report's assertions was that a St. Petersburg musician who is an old friend of Putin's has amassed a $100 million fortune. The man, an accomplished classical cellist named Sergei Roldugin, owns a 12.5 percent stake in a company that dominates the market for television advertising in Russia, the report said, and Roldugin also holds a 3.2 percent stake in Bank Rossiya.
Bank Rossiya, in turn, is controlled by another longtime Putin friend, businessman Yury Kovalchuk, who, along with the bank itself, is under U.S. sanctions for the Kremlin's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula in 2014.
The report said Kovalchuk and his bank used an offshore entity in Cyprus known as Sandalwood to receive up to $1 billion in unsecured loans from a state-controlled bank. Those funds were then used to issue high-interest loans back in Russia, and some of those profits ended up in Swiss bank accounts.
Sandalwood also had financial ties to a ski resort in the St. Petersburg region where Putin's daughter Katerina was married, The Panama Papers reported, and also said Roldugin was a shareholder until 2012.
Russian media have also identified Roldugin as the godfather of Putin's other daughter, Maria.
Numerous other top-level officials in the Russian government were also implicated by the leaked documents. The wife of Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the son of Economic Development Minister Aleksei Ulyukayev, former presidential administration official Ivan Malyushin, Deputy Moscow Mayor Maksim Liksutov, the nephew of Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, the son of Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov, the wife of Pskov Oblast Governor Andrei Turchak, and Chelyabinsk Oblast Governor Boris Dubrovsky were all tied to various offshore companies.
Four members of the Russian parliament were also implicated.
ALSO READ: Panama Leaks Implicate Family Of Azerbaijan's Aliyev
The report's authors said they sought comment from the Kremlin but were refused. Last week, however, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian reporters that foreign reporters were preparing to smear Putin, and he specifically named the ICIJ.
Other heads of state whose names appear directly or indirectly in the report include Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev.
See all News Updates of the Day
Pakistani Christian Woman Seeks Political Asylum In France
Asia Bibi, the Pakistani Christian woman who spent several years on death row after a 2010 conviction of blasphemy, has said she is seeking political asylum in France.
Bibi, 49, said in an interview with France's RTL radio on February 24 that her "great desire was to live in France."
On February 25, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo will bestow an honorary citizenship certificate granted to Bibi by the French capital in 2014, when she was still behind bars in Pakistan.
Last month, Bibi released a memoir in which recounts the nightmare conditions she was subjected to in prison until her release in 2018, amid an international outcry over her case.
The book, Enfin Bible!, was released in French, with an English version due in September.
Bibi was sentenced to death by a court in the central province of Punjab in 2010 for allegedly committing blasphemy in a dispute with Muslim women while working on a farm.
Bibi was only able to depart Pakistan for Canada in May 2019 after being kept in protective custody out of security concerns.
Islamic extremists have threatened to kill her and also urged the overthrow of the government following Bibi's acquittal.
Bibi's case brought international attention to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law, which carries an automatic death penalty.
Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab, was killed in 2011 for defending Bibi and criticizing the misuse of the blasphemy law.
Pakistan's minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated later that year after demanding justice for Bibi.
Based on reporting by AFP and RTL
WHO Urges Countries To Brace For 'Local Outbreaks' Of Coronavirus
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged governments around the world to prepare for local outbreaks of the coronavirus.
The February 1 announcement came as China raised the death toll in that country from the virus to 259. China reported 11,791 confirmed cases of the virus, making it worse than the 2002-03 outbreak of SARS, or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
The WHO earlier in the week declared a global health emergency over the flu-like coronavirus. The organization has expressed concern that some cases outside China could involve human-to-human transmission of the virus.
"Countries need to get ready for possible importation in order to identify cases as early as possible and in order to be ready for domestic outbreak control, if that happens," the WHO representative in Beijing, Gauden Galea, told journalists.
In Geneva, WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that, despite the health emergency declaration, there was "no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade."
On January 31, the United States barred entry to most foreigners who visited China in the last two weeks and introduced other screening measures. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced similar measures on February 1, following such announcements earlier by Japan, Italy, Mongolia, and Singapore.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has criticized the U.S. travel ban as "unkind."
"Certainly it is not a gesture of goodwill," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on February 1.
At least 25 countries have reported cases of infection by the virus, mainly involving people returning from China or who have had contact with such people. No deaths have been reported outside of China.
The Kremlin said on February 1 that Russia would fly out Russians on February 3 and 4 from areas of China most seriously affected by the virus.
Russia also announced on February 1 that it is suspending a tourist visa-free program with China.
An EU evacuation flight from Wuhan was scheduled for February 1.
U.S. tech giant Apple announced on February 1 that it would close all its stores in mainland China at least until February 9 because of the virus.
With reporting by AP, The New York Times, Reuters, and dpa
Bosnia Puts Off Closing Makeshift Migrant Camp 'Until Further Notice'
Bosnian authorities have indefinitely postponed the scheduled closing of a makeshift migrant tent camp in the northwest of the country.
The closing of the Vucjak camp had been scheduled for December 9, following harsh international criticism of the improper conditions hundreds of people are being housed in. The camp is hosting some 600 migrants, according to the Red Cross.
Rade Kovac, the director of the Bosnian Service for Foreigners' Affairs, visited the camp on December 9 and said that the authorities had postponed closing the camp until further notice.
Aid groups have repeatedly warned that the Vucjak camp is located on a former landfill and close to a mine field from Bosnia's 1992-95 war, and has no running water or toilets. Living conditions worsened further after snow started falling last week.
Kovac said the migrants will eventually be moved to one of the reception centers in the Sarajevo Canton. He gave no reason for the postponement, but media reports said the decision was prompted by a lack of proper accommodation at the reception centers.
Bosnia-Herzegovina's security minister, Dragan Mektic, last week announced that the occupants of the camp on the border with Croatia would be relocated to other camps outside the region.
"It was agreed that migrants would be moved early next week from this locality to other reception centers...and that this makeshift camp would be closed," Mektic said in a statement on December 6.
The decision to close the camp came after Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe commissioner for human rights, visited Vucjak last week and warned that deaths would be imminent if the camp were not closed at once. "If we don't close the camp today, tomorrow people will start dying here," she told reporters while visiting the snow-covered camp.
On December 6, Mijatovic told a news conference in the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, that it was now urgent to relocate the migrants and provide them with "decent accommodation."
"Many people lack adequate clothing and footwear,'' she said. "It is inhumane and unacceptable to keep people in such conditions.''
However, some migrants said that despite snow and freezing weather, they will refuse to be moved farther away from the border. Most of the migrants flocked to the northwestern part of Bosnia because they want to continue their journey to Western Europe's more prosperous countries by crossing the border into European Union member Croatia.
On December 7, migrants at Vucjak resumed accepting food distributed by the Bihac branch of the Red Cross, after refusing it for several days in protest at the announced relocation of the camp.
Bosnian authorities have struggled to accommodate thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Migrants enter Bosnia from neighboring Serbia or Montenegro.
NATO To Toast 70th Anniversary As Alliance Seeks To Assert Relevance
NATO, the most successful military alliance in history, is celebrating its 70th anniversary in London during a two-day summit of the alliance's leaders.
The 29 allies will have much to discuss on December 3-4, including NATO's political future amid signs of disunity ahead of talks.
France, Turkey, and the United States are arriving with differing visions for NATO.
U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned why Washington should defend the West and has called on NATO countries to increase defense spending.
That so far has been happening, according to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who said non-U.S. allies will have increased their defense spending by $130 billion since 2016.
Canada, Turkey, and Europe are expected to pledge $400 billion in defense spending by 2024 to further appease Trump.
Meanwhile, Turkey has been criticized for buying a sophisticated Russian air-defense system that are incompatible with NATO's systems and which prompted the United States to threaten sanctions and remove Ankara from its F-35 fighter jet program.
Washington, furthermore, has criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for pursuing a policy to defeat Kurdish fighters in Syria who are considered U.S. allies.
In disagreement with mounting criticism, Ankara has been withholding support for a NATO defense plan for the Baltics and Poland that requires the approval of all 29 members.
"The message to Turkey...is we need to move forward on these response plans and it can't be held up by their own particular concerns," U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told Reuters as he flew to London.
French President Emmanuel Macron last month questioned NATO's central tenet that an attack on one member is an attack against all while saying the alliance is "experiencing brain-death" over the lack of an overarching strategy.
Wariness of Russia's growing military might and expansion is on the agenda, as is a new strategy to monitor the rise in China's military activity.
NATO also will for the first time name space as a domain of warfare, in addition to air, land, sea, and cyberspace.
"We are faced with a paradox," Stoltenberg told Reuters. "Yes, we have some differences, but the reality is that we are doing more together than for many years."
With reporting by Defense News, AFP, and Reuters
Suspected Islamic State Recruiter Arrested In The Maldives
Police in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives have detained a local man who the United States says is a recruiter for the Islamic State (IS) militant group.
Muhammad Ameen, 35, was arrested on October 23 on suspicion of spreading an "extremist ideology," Maldivian police said the following day.
He allegedly mobilized fighters for IS in Syria and Afghanistan.
No further details were provided about the suspect although U.S. authorities last month designated him as a foreign terrorist leader of IS-Khorasan, a group that is reportedly active in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Citing local media, AFP reported that Ameen first sent fighters to Syria, but was now focused on recruiting Maldivians for combat in Afghanistan.
He is also suspected of involvement in an explosion at Sultan Park in the capital of Male in September 2007 in which a dozen tourists were hurt with minor injuries.
Up to 160 Maldivian militants are believed to be held in Syrian detention camps after IS was defeated in the country.
The country's parliamentary speaker and former president, Muhammad Nasheed, said in June that he wants to rehabilitate the imprisoned Maldivians but not without an internationally supervised reintegration program.
The Maldives is a state of 340,000 mostly Sunni Muslims who practice a liberal form of Islam in a nation that relies heavily on luxury tourism for revenue.
Based on reporting by AFP
Disease Fighters To Mark Partial Victory In Polio Eradication Battle
LONDON, -- Global health officials will on October 24 announce a partial victory in the decades-long fight to end polio, with a second of three strains of the crippling virus certified as eradicated worldwide.
The ending of wild polio virus type 3, also known as WPV3, will be the third human disease-causing pathogen to be eradicated in history, after smallpox was declared wiped out in 1980 and wild polio virus type 2 (WPV2) in 2015.
Polio spreads in vulnerable populations in areas where there is no immunity and sanitation is poor. It invades the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours.
It cannot be cured, but infection can be prevented by vaccination, and a dramatic reduction in case numbers worldwide in recent decades has been largely due to intense national and regional immunization campaigns in babies and children.
The last case of polio type 3 was detected in northern Nigeria in 2012, and global health officials have since been conducting intense surveillance to ensure it has gone.
"With no wild poliovirus type 3 detected anywhere in the world since 2012, the Global Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication is anticipated to officially declare this strain as globally eradicated," the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) said in a statement.
The success in ending type 3 means that only type 1 of the wild virus is still circulating and causing infections.
Polio type 1 is endemic in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, but efforts to wipe it out have faced setbacks in the past two years.
After reaching a historic low of only 22 cases of wild polio infection in 2017, the virus has caused 72 cases in Pakistan and Afghanistan already this year -- pushing back yet further the potential date for the world to wipe polio out altogether.
The first target date for ending polio was set in 1988 by the GPEI, a partnership of the World Health Organization, the health charity Rotary International and others, which had aimed to eradicate it by 2000.
GPEI said, however, that this week's declaration of the end of WPV3 was a "significant milestone," while Carol Pandak, director of Rotary's PolioPlus program, said it proves that a polio-free world is achievable. "Even as the polio program addresses major challenges, we're making important headway in other areas," she said.
At Least Two Dead At Greek Migrant Camp Of Mostly Afghans
A riot broke out and at least two fires were set ablaze at an overcrowded refugee camp of mostly Afghan migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos on September 29.
At least two people, a mother and child, were killed, the Athens News Agency reported quoting police sources.
The overpopulated Moira camp is designed to house 3,000 people while four times as many migrants live there either in UN-supplied tents or containers.
"The situation is tense," Lesbos Mayor Stratis Kytelis told AFP.
Local police said the two fires, one sparked outside the camp near an olive grove then inside the compound, broke out within 20 minutes of each other.
Riots ensued as migrants clashed with police in protest at the cramped conditions as they demanded access to the mainland.
"We learned with deep sadness that the lives of a woman and a child were lost in a fire on [Lesbos] today," the Greek unit of the UN's refugee agency said on social media.
Greece admits that it doesn't have the capacity to accommodate so many migrants on the islands and its government has said it will discuss a new asylum law to deal with the migrant crisis.
The country hosts about 70,000 Syrian refugees and migrants who have fled their homeland since 2015.
Minister of State George Gerapetritis said on local television on September 29 that migrants should be sent to camps with humane conditions.
Ahead of the weekend, Citizen's Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis asked for regional governors to share the migrant burden of the country's overcrowded islands.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera, AP, AFP, and Athens News Agency
UNICEF Says More Than 29 Million Babies Born In Conflict Zones In 2018
More than 29 million babies were born last year into conflict-affected areas, including Afghanistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
A report published on September 20 said the statistics meant that more than one in five babies born last year spent their earliest moments in communities affected by "the chaos of conflict, often in deeply unsafe, and highly stressful environments."
"Every parent should be able to cherish their baby's first moments, but for the millions of families living through conflict, the reality is far bleaker," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said.
She said that in many countries, violent conflict has severely limited access to essential services for parents and their babies.
A UNICEF worker in Afghanistan related the story "of my son, 5-year-old Heraab. [He] finds himself in a community where he is constantly exposed to the sounds of explosions, smell of smoke, accompanied by the regular shrieking of sirens, be it police or ambulance, or the persistent honking of cars and motorbikes rushing the injured to hospital."
"He shudders and wakes up at night if a truck passes by with speed, sometimes shaking the windows of our house, thinking it must be another attack," the worker related.
Afghanistan is embroiled in an 18-year civil war since the 2001 invasion by U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban government after it refused to hand over Al-Qaeda terrorists, including Osama bin Laden, blamed for launching the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
A UNICEF staffer in war-torn Yemen said that "some of the young children we see shake with fear, uncontrollably, for hours on end. They don't sleep. You can hear them whimpering, it's not a usual cry but a cold, weak whimper."
"Others are so malnourished and traumatized they detach emotionally from the world and people around them, causing them to become vacant and making it impossible for them to interact with their families."
Yemen's civil war has killed thousands of civilians and caused shortages of food and medical care that have affected millions in what international experts have called a "humanitarian disaster."
A Saudi-led Sunni Muslim coalition intervened in 2015 to try to restore the internationally recognized government ousted from power in the capital, Sana'a, by the Iran-backed Shi'ite Huthis in late 2014.
The Huthis, who deny being a puppet of Iran and say they launched a revolution against corruption, hold Sana'a and most of the biggest urban centers of Yemen.
French Prosecutor Says Knife-Wielding Afghan Suspect In 'Psychotic State'
An Afghan asylum-seeker who fatally stabbed one person and wounded eight others in France was under the influence of drugs and experiencing "paranoid delirium," a regional prosecutor said on September 1 as reported by the AP news agency.
He was in a "psychotic state" during the stabbing and reported hearing "voices" telling him to kill, prosecutor Nicolas Jacquet said.
The suspect started attacking people with a knife on August 31 outside a subway station in the Lyon suburb of Villeurbanne.
A group of passers-by apprehended him before the police arrived.
The 33-year-old suspect's identity wasn't made available to the public and isn't listed on any radicalism watch list. A police search of his residence found two knives and no radical literature.
He has been living at a French center for asylum-seekers and was in possession of a temporary French residency card.
French cities are on high alert following several deadly attacks blamed on Islamic extremists in 2015 and 2016.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
Afghan Man Detained Following Mass Knife Attack In France
Police in France detained an Afghan asylum-seeker after one person was killed and nine others injured in a knife attack near a commuter train station outside Lyon.
Authorities on August 31 described the attacker as a 33-year-old Afghan citizen who had applied for asylum in France and was waiting for a response.
Police said a 19-year-old man was killed and three of the others were in critical condition following what was described as a "frenzied" attack.
"There was blood everywhere," said a woman who witnessed the attack in the town of Villeurbanne.
Authorities said the incident did not immediately appear to be terrorism-related and it was not known if the assailant knew the victims.
French cities are on high alert following several deadly attacks blamed on Islamic extremists in 2015 and 2016.
Based on reporting by AP and AFP
G7 Leaders Gather In France To Discuss Iran, Russia, Amazon Rainforest
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) top industrialized nations are gathering in southwest France for a potentially contentious summit, with Iran's nuclear program and the possibility of Russia's reentry into the group on the agenda.
U.S. President Donald Trump and new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are among the leaders scheduled for the two-day summit beginning on August 24 in the resort area of Biarritz, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Upon his departure from Washington, Trump told reporters that he expected "very productive" talks with his fellow G7 members. He also called on France to drop plans to impose sales taxes on U.S. tech giants such as Google and Facebook.
Along with the other leaders from the G7 nations -- Germany, Canada, Italy, and Japan -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend as a guest and will meet individually with many other participants, most likely to discuss the Kashmir crisis.
Macron said he will also look to press Trump to sign a charter protecting biodiversity amid the continuing fires that are devastating the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.
All eyes will be on Trump and his relations with the rest of the grouping. The G7 meeting last year in Quebec, Canada, ended in disarray with the U.S. president accusing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of making "false statements" regarding a final communique, which the United States did not endorse.
This year, Washington has been pushing European allies to help put "maximum pressure" on Iran -- through sanctions and other means – to force Tehran to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.
A British diplomatic source in Biarritz told Reuters that "we are strong supporters" of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Trump pulled out of in May 2018, when he claimed the terms were not strict enough.
"We think that it is very important that Iran doesn't get the nuclear weapons...It is important that it continues and I don't think you will find any change in the British government position," the source said.
The source added, though, that it was crucial for Iran to comply fully with the 2015 accord, sayng that, while Johnson would listen to the U.S. position, the British government was not planning to make any radical changes to its approach.
Trump is likely to face strong pushback if he continues to press his view that Russia should be readmitted to the grouping, which was called the G8 before Moscow was thrown out.
Russia was expelled from the G8 format after invading and annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014. Moscow is also backing separatists in eastern Ukraine in a conflict that has killed more than 13,000 people since April 2014.
The G7 member states have imposed sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
Macron said on August 23 that he wanted the leading industrialized nations to also address the "ecocide" that is going on in the Amazon rainforest, which has been struck by a massive number of fires. Experts say many of the fires have been caused by farmers setting the forest ablaze to clear more land for pasture.
His comments have angered Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who blasted what he called Macron's "colonialist mentality."
Many of the leaders are also expected to discuss the crisis in Kashmir with India's Modi.
Tensions have risen since Hindu-led India said on August 5 that it would strip the majority-Muslim region of its special status, which sparked resentment in Indian-administered Kashmir and across the border in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir, as well as in Islamabad.
Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since they gained independence from Britain in 1947, but both sides claim the territory in its entirety.
With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP
Trump Backs Off Plan To Slash Foreign Aid Amid Bipartisan Backlash
Facing criticism from Republicans and Democrats, U.S. President Donald Trump has backed off a plan to slash some $4 billion in foreign aid already approved by lawmakers.
U.S. news agencies on August 22 quoted unnamed senior administration officials and a Democratic congressional aide as confirming the White House had decided not to go forward with the planned cuts.
U.S. officials on August 7 said Trump had frozen foreign-aid funding until the White House Office of Management and Budget could review any money that hadn't been spent for the fiscal year ending September 30.
The freeze would have impacted 10 bank accounts overseen by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the State Department, a senior administration official told RFE/RL.
Funding for a Pakistani space initiative and Uzbek education program were among the projects funded by the 10 accounts.
AP quoted an administration official as saying it was clear that many lawmakers were not willing to join in "curbing wasteful spending."
Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly sought to cut foreign aid, but the proposals have been rejected by lawmakers from both parties.
Liz Schrayer, chief of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition -- a Washington-based nonprofit that advocates for a strong international affairs budget -- applauded the move to maintain funding.
"Americans can be pleased that the administration recognized the importance of these vital foreign-assistance programs for keeping America safe and on the global playing field," she said.
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said the proposed cuts would have been "harmful to our national security" and violated good-faith negotiations that brought about the bipartisan budget deal.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Trump: Other Countries Should Fight Islamic State
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that other countries must take up the battle against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, citing Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, and Russia as examples.
Asked by reporters whether he is concerned about the reemergence of the IS group in Iraq, Trump told reporters on August 21 that U.S. forces had "wiped out the caliphate 100 percent."
Earlier this year, U.S.-backed forces reclaimed the last remaining territory once held by IS fighters in Syria.
The Trump administration has reduced the U.S. military presence in Syria and neighboring Iraq, and there have been concerns about the extremists gaining new strength in the region.
Meanwhile, U.S, and Taliban negotiators are reportedly nearing a deal to end the nearly 18-year war in Afghanistan, which would allow the United States to withdraw its troops from the country.
"At a certain point, Russia, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, they are going to have to fight their battles too," Trump said at the White House.
"At a certain point, all of these other countries, where [IS] is around...are going to have to fight them. Because do we want to stay there another 19 years? I don't think so," he said.
Trump singled out India and Pakistan as frontline countries that are doing little to fight militant groups.
"Look, India's right there, they are not fighting it, we're fighting it. Pakistan is next door. They're fighting it, very little.... It's not fair. The United States is 7,000 miles [11,265 kilometers] away," he said.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Pilgrims At Hajj Gather At Mount Arafat
An estimated 2 million Muslims have gathered at Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat as part of the annual hajj pilgrimage.
Worshippers spent the night at a large encampment around the hill where Islam holds that God tested Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Ismail. It is also where Prophet Muhammad gave his last sermon.
Saudi Arabia has said more than 2 million pilgrims, mostly from abroad, have arrived for the five-day ritual, a religious duty once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford the journey.
The pilgrims will spend the day on Mount Arafat.
By sunset they will move to Muzdalifa to gather pebbles to throw at stone columns symbolizing the devil at Jamarat on August 11, which marks the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
Bipartisan Group Of U.S. Lawmakers Oppose Plan To Freeze Foreign Aid
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have joined forces to oppose moves by the White House that critics fear could lead to sharp cuts in foreign aid for health, peacekeeping, narcotics control, and other programs.
Senior members of both parties sent a letter on August 9 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressing "deep concern" after it instructed the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to freeze around $4 billion in their budgets until it reviews any money that hasn't yet been spent.
Critics have said the freeze could be the first step in making cuts to foreign aid.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote that "these funds, which were appropriated by Congress and signed into law by the President following lengthy, bipartisan negotiations, are essential to promoting U.S. global leadership and protecting the security of the American people."
The freeze impacts 10 bank accounts overseen by USAID and the State Department, a senior administration official told RFE/RL.
The OMB made the request to USAID and State Department on August 3 and has yet to receive information about how much is currently in those accounts and how they plan to use the money.
The fiscal year ends on September 30.
Funding for a Pakistan space initiative and Uzbek education program are two of the projects funded by the 10 accounts under review.
The chairmen and ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee urged the heads of the OMB to make money available right away.
Republicans in both houses of Congress have typically been extremely supportive of Trump's policies, although many have spoken up against moves related to foreign affairs, including his close ties to Saudi Arabia, plans to withdraw troops from Syria, and reduction in aid to Central America.
The Trump administration has made repeated efforts to reduce the amount of money Washington spends on foreign aid.
In April, the administration unsuccessfully tried to cut the budget on foreign aid and diplomacy by 23 percent.
Trump's ally, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, called the proposal "insane."
With reporting by Reuters and AP
Muslims Begin Arriving In Saudi Arabia Ahead Of Annual Hajj
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia for the upcoming annual hajj amid the blistering heat and rising political and military tensions in the region.
This year's hajj is expected to feature large numbers of pilgrims from Iran, whose government had boycotted the event after an estimated 2,300 pilgrims, many of them Iranians, were crushed to death in a ritual near Mecca in 2015.
The hajj this year will run from August 19 to August 24 and is expected to draw 2 million of the world's estimated 2 billion Muslims.
Every Muslim is required to complete the hajj -- considered one of the five pillars of Islam -- at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do so.
Muslims around the world pray toward the Kaaba, which is located in the Grand Mosque in Mecca, and pilgrims walk around it seven times.
The Saudis stake their reputation on the guardianship of Islam's holiest sites and the conducting of a peaceful hajj.
Besides the 2015 tragedy, the event has been marred in the past by deadly fires and riots.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Millions Of Muslims Mark End Of Ramadan By Celebrating Eid Al-Fitr
Muslims in Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and some parts of Pakistan marked on June 5 the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Special prayers were held in overcrowded mosques and the countries' leaders congratulated people on the holiday, known as Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated for two or three days after the end of Ramadan -- the month during which Muslims do not eat or drink during the daytime.
Muslims follow a lunar calendar and a moon-sighting methodology that can lead to different countries declaring the start and end of Ramadan a day or two apart.
Therefore some countries, such as Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Russia's mostly Muslim-populated Volga and North Caucasus regions, some parts of Pakistan, and many other countries started marking the holiday on June 4.
During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, and sex from sunrise to sunset for the entire month.
The Ramadan fast is intended to bring the faithful closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.
There are some 1.8 billion Muslims, making up about 24 percent of the world's population.
Greek Police Clash With Refugees At North Macedonia Border After False Reports
Greek police clashed for the third day in a row with hundreds of migrants at the border with North Macedonia who are seeking a route to Central Europe.
Police reported on April 6 that they fired tear gas and stun grenades at some of the migrants after many had thrown rocks at officers.
Authorities say the clashes have been triggered by false reports spreading on social media that restrictions on travel to Central Europe have been lifted.
The false reports said the border, which has been tightly sealed to migrants for three years, was open again and that nongovernmental organizations had chartered buses on the North Macedonian side of the border to take them northward.
Refugees arrived on April 4 and set up tents in a field next the Diavata migrant camp close to Greece's border with North Macedonia.
"We must constantly fight fake news," Nikos Ragos, the Migration Policy Ministry's coordinator for northern Greece, told AP.
Greek TV station Ant1 showed a screen shot of a message in Arabic sent from a purported organization called "Caravan of Hope" telling migrants that Greece would open the border with North Macedonia at midday on April 5.
The migrants are mostly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, officials said.
Yaser, a 36-year-old Syrian refugee, told Reuters that "we don't want to fight with the Greek police. We want to go to Europe. We don't want to stay in Greece."
In Turkey, some 1,200 migrants heading toward the Greek frontier following false reports that Ankara had opened its border were detained on April 5, Turkish media said.
Tens of thousands of refugees and migrants have been stranded in Greece after Balkan countries closed their borders in 2016, shutting off the main route to Central and Western Europe.
More than 1 million people used the route in 2015 and 2016 to travel to Germany.
With reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters
Afghan-Born Australian Man Sentenced To Life For Running Down Pedestrians In 2017
An Afghan-born Australian man was sentenced to life in prison for running down pedestrians in Melbourne in late 2017 and killing an elderly man.
The sentence handed out on March 28 by Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth means that 37-year-old Saeed Noori must serve 30 years before being eligible for parole.
Upon his arrest, police found images of terrorist attacks abroad and videos about the extremist Islamic State group on Noori's computer and a USB stick.
Video from a security camera showed Noori driving an SUV onto tram tracks near the Flinders Street Station and then accelerating through the intersection as dozens of people crossed the road four days before Christmas 2017.
Noori, driving his mother's car, plowed over dozens of pedestrians, injuring 21 people, including an 83-year old man who died a week later in a hospital.
The judge said it was "sheer good fortune" that more people were not killed or injured.
"Some victims have likened the scene to a horror movie -- one which keeps replaying in nightmares and flashbacks," she said.
Based on reporting by ABC, AAP, and dpa
United Nations Chief Warns Of Pushback On Women's Rights
The head of the United Nations has warned of a "deep, pervasive and relentless" pushback on women's rights around the world.
Speaking at the opening of the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women on March 11, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a fight to "push back against the pushback."
The commission has been charged with achieving "equality with men in all fields of human enterprise" since its founding in 1947.
Guterres pointed to increased violence against women, especially defenders of human rights and women running for political office.
He cited "online abuse of women who speak out," and said women were 26 percent less likely to be employed than men.
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, head of the UN women's agency, said some countries don't want health-care facilities to provide "sexual and reproductive rights."
She said the latest data indicated 131 million girls worldwide aren't going to school and there had been a 6 percent increase in girls not attending elementary school.
Geraldine Nason, the Irish UN ambassador who presides over the Commission on the Status of Women, said less than 7 percent of heads of state and government were women. She said only one in four parliament members around the world were female.
She said the commission will be deliberating in the next two weeks about maternity, pensions, safe roads and transport.
The commission will also be focusing on schools that teach girls skills to succeed, women's access to vital health care, "and the fair distribution of care and the domestic work between men and women," she said.
Based on reporting by AP and UN News Service
RSF Marks International Women's Day With Call To Release Detained Female Journalists
Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called for the immediate and unconditional release of 27 women journalists currently held in "appalling conditions" around the world.
According to the Paris-based media watchdog's tally, of the 334 journalists in prison at the end of February, 27 of them were women.
These female journalists are being held by nine countries. Iran and China are the two largest jailers, with seven held in each country.
The 27 detained female journalists are deprived of their freedom "because of what they wrote or because they spoke out courageously," RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire said in a statement on March 6.
Deloire added that they are "often the victims of disproportionate and iniquitous sentences," are "subjected to the most appalling prison conditions, like their male colleagues," and they are "sometimes also tortured and harassed sexually."
In Iran, where detainees are "constantly denied proper medical care," women journalists detained there "often stage dangerous hunger strikes" in protest against prison conditions, RSF said.
It added that several UN reports have confirmed that Iranian female detainees "fall sick more often than male detainees."
"The situation of female detainees is aggravated by the segregation of men and women imposed by Iran's ultra-conservative society and the traditional hatred toward intellectuals and the Islamic regime's critics," the watchdog said.
The seven Iranian female journalists currently detained in Iran include Narges Mohammadi, Hengameh Shahidi, Roya Saberi, Negad Nobakht, Sepideh Moradi, Avisha Jalaledin, and Shima Entesari, according to RSF.
It said besides Iran and China, Turkey continues to detain four women journalists, Saudi Arabia three, Vietnam two, while Egypt, Bahrain, Syria, and Nicaragua are each holding one.
U.S. Stops Reporting Civilian Deaths From Drone Strikes Outside War Zones
President Donald Trump has revoked a policy requiring U.S. intelligence officials to report civilian deaths in drone strikes outside of war zones.
"This action eliminates superfluous reporting requirements, requirements that do not improve government transparency, but rather distract our intelligence professionals from their primary mission," an administration official said on March 7.
Lawmakers and rights groups criticized Trump's executive order, saying it could allow the CIA to conduct drone strikes without accountability.
Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, put the policy in place in 2016 as part of an effort to be more transparent about increasing drone strikes.
It required the CIA, which has carried out drone strikes in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia, to release annual summaries of U.S. drone strikes and assess how many died as a result.
Trump's executive order does not overturn reporting requirements on civilian deaths set for the U.S. military by Congress.
Drone strikes have been increasingly used by the United States against terror and military targets since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
Based on reporting by Reuters and the BBC
Passengers Stranded After Pakistan Closes Airspace To Commercial Traffic
Pakistan's decision to close its airspace amid rising tensions and aerial dogfights with neighboring India has left many tourists stranded in Asian cities when airlines were forced to cancel flights.
Thai Airways, Emirates, and Qatar Airways were among the carriers forced to cancel their flights, many to and from Europe, on February 27 because the flights were scheduled to fly to Pakistan or over its airspace.
Etihad, flydubai, Gulf Air, SriLankan Airlines, and Air Canada also canceled flights.
Singapore Airlines and British Airways were among those forced to reroute flights.
Pakistan closed its airspace after Islamabad and New Delhi claimed to have shot down the other's fighter jets earlier in the day. Pakistan said it captured an Indian pilot after its air force shot down an Indian warplane.
The activity came after Indian jets on February 26 struck inside Pakistan for the first time since a 1971 war, claiming to hit the training base used by a terror group that had killed at least 41 Indian paramilitary soldiers inside India-administered Kashmir on February 14.
The Thai flag carrier said 27 of its flights were canceled on February 27, with three passenger jets being forced to return to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport after having taken off earlier in the day.
The airline said some 5,000 passengers had been caught up in the cancellations.
"There are 4,000 from European flights and 700 to 800 from flights to Pakistan," a Thai Airways spokesperson said.
"We are waiting for permission to fly over other countries," she said, adding that Iran had rejected a request to allow flights over its airspace.
Pakistan aviation officials said the country's airspace would likely reopen as of midnight on February 28.
Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and The Express
Foreign Ministers, Diplomats To Meet In Washington For Talks On Islamic State
Diplomats and foreign ministers from around the world are scheduled to meet in Washington for high-level talks on the fight against Islamic State militants.
The February 6 meeting, hosted by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, follows President Donald Trump's controversial decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria.
That decision was criticized by U.S. allies and sparked concern about a power vacuum in Syria, and the possibility that fighters from Islamic State, also known as ISIS, could regroup.
The daylong meeting features officials from the 79-member Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, which the United States assembled in 2014 as the militant groups seized vast territories of Syria and Iraq.
Ahead of the meeting, U.S. officials said the meeting was focusing on what they said was Islamic State's imminent "territorial defeat."
"What we're going to try to talk about in the ministerial [meeting] is the determination of this truly global coalition as we near the end of ISIS territorial defeat....That involves the liberation of 8 million people that were under [Islamic State's] brutal rule, about 4 million who were displaced in Iraq, as well as hundreds of thousands in Syria," a State Department official told reporters February 4. "And they have safely returned to their homes, and we think that's a success story."
"Equally important is taking away [Islamic State's] oil and revenue from taxes and oil and natural gas proceeds," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In December, Trump announced he was withdrawing the 2,000-strong U.S. force from Syria and he declared the defeat of the Islamic State group.
Aides have since walked back the timeline but said that the pullout will happen.
The U.S. envoy spearheading the coalition, Brett McGurk, resigned in protest over Trump's decision and voiced fears for Syria's future.
Germany Detains Man Suspected Of Spying For Iran
German authorities say they have detained a 50-year old Afghan-German dual national suspected of passing data to an Iranian intelligence agency.
The suspect, identified only as 50-year-old Abdul Hamid S., worked as a "language expert and cultural adviser" for the German military, the federal prosecutor's office said on January 15.
"In this capacity, he is believed to have passed on information to an Iranian intelligence service," a statement said.
A Defense Ministry spokesman said it was aware of an espionage case involving a member of the Bundeswehr, but declined to give any further details.
The suspect, who was detained in the Rhineland in western Germany, was set to appear before a judge later in the day.
German news outlet Spiegel Online reported that the man had spied on the army for years and had access to highly classified material, including the German troops' mission in Afghanistan.
There was no immediate comment from Iranian officials on the case.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
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