WikiLeaks: 2010-01-25: 10BAGHDAD185: Opportunities and Perils for Minorities in National Elections

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-02: 10VATICAN18: Vatican Official On Iraq and Planned Meetings of Middle East Bishops

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-08: 10VATICAN23: Vatican: Iran is not Respecting Human Rights

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-12: 10VATICAN26: Iraqi Ambassador to the Holy See Critical of USG Iraq Policies

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-19: 10ISTANBUL62: Finding Room for the Syriac Orthodox in Istanbul

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-21: 10BAGHDAD458: Tit for Tat - a Spate of Kurdish Security Forces Kidnappings

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-25: 10BAGHDAD505: PRT Ninewa: Iraqi Christians Feel Under Siege in Mosul

WikiLeaks: 2010-02-28: 10BAGHDAD523: PRT Ninewa: Archbishop of Ninewa Describes Climate of Fear

Erasing Assyrians: How the KRG Abuses Human Rights, Undermines Democracy, and Conquers Minority Homelands

(The Center Square) – Data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday showed New York has lost a greater percentage of its population over the last two years than any other state.

(The Center Square) – Michigan lost 3,391 residents between July 2021 and July 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2022 population estimates.

 Starship Technologies and Bolt have announced the launch of a new food delivery service.

Strategic Planning and Scenario Analysis: Relevance to Geopolitical Challenges of Armenia

Mortgage rates are at their highest levels in 22 years and house prices are at record highs. Hardworking Americans cannot get on the property ladder, and retirees are struggling to sell in order to downsize. The Biden administration has done little to help alleviate the problem. This Washington Examiner series, Home Economics, will investigate how we got here, the toll on people around the country, and the alternatives people are embracing to survive the market. Part one of this four-part series focuses on the risk the crisis poses to President Joe Biden's reelection effort.

Soaring mortgage rates have combined with high housing prices to push homebuying out of reach for many people, causing major knock-on effects on their lives.

Mortgage rates are at their highest levels in 22 years and house prices are at record highs. Hardworking Americans cannot get on the property ladder, and retirees are struggling to sell in order to downsize. The Biden administration has done little to help alleviate the problem. This Washington Examiner series, Home Economics, will investigate how we got here, the toll on people around the country, and the alternatives people are embracing to survive the market. Part three of this four-part series focuses on the supply side problems in the housing market.

Mortgage rates are at their highest levels in 22 years and house prices are at record highs. Hardworking people cannot get on the property ladder, and retirees are struggling to sell in order to downsize. The Biden administration has done little to help alleviate the problem. This Washington Examiner series, Home Economics, will investigate how we got here, the toll on people around the country, and the alternatives people are embracing to survive the market. The last part of this four-part series focuses on the alternatives to traditional fixed-rate mortgages gaining new consideration among prospective home buyers.

The North American monsoon plays an important role in the climate of the Four Corners states, bringing crucial moisture to areas that would otherwise be dry.

The plant supplies 6% of California's power, yet critics charge the facility is too expensive and too dangerous to continue operating.

An experimental program seeks to protect California almond trees from a pesky moth by using X-rays to sterilize the insects.

When you think of football on television, music might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, from the famous classical music used by NFL Films to Hank Williams Jr. singing, "Are you ready for some football?" music plays a big role in all broadcasts.

NBC and the NBC Sports Network have taken over Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore for extensive coverage of the 138th running of the Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. There will be no shortage of coverage of the Kentucky Derby winner Orb, who many think is a legitimate Triple Crown threat.

On Thursday, the USTA announced a new 11-year multiplatform broadcast deal with ESPN. The deal will start in 2015 and will make the network the exclusive home of all U.S. Open tennis tournament coverage.

In 1991, a young Atlanta Braves pitching sensation by the name of John Smoltz was 2-11 nearing the All Star break, and like with the Nationals' Stephen Strasburg, the baseball world was wondering what was wrong.

Sunday is the single biggest motorsports day in broadcast television history. NBC has the Grand Prix of Monaco at 7 a.m., coverage of the Indianapolis 500 starts at 11 a.m. on ABC and the nightcap at 6 p.m. will be the Coca Cola 600 from Charlotte on Fox. That means over 18 hours of live Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR action, making the Memorial Day weekend must-see TV for motorsports fans.

In the long storied history of the French Open, few men or women has been more successful on the red clay of Roland Garros than Chris Evert. She holds a record nine French Open titles: seven singles championships and two in doubles. Evert's 94-15 record at the French Open is the best winning percentage in the history of the event.

As a player, John McEnroe was not a fan of the French Open. He has few fond memories of the dark red clay on the courts of Roland Garros. As brilliant a career as McEnroe had, he was never able to win a French Open title. He spoke with me by phone from Paris, where he is preparing for his job as a television analyst for the Tennis Channel. We talked about the 2013 French Open and the red clay at Roland Garros.

Social media has become an accepted way to report and break news stories today. Twitter and Facebook are routinely used by newspapers, television networks and radio stations as sources for quotes. Some athletes and teams are bypassing the mainstream media and using social media to make major announcement on their own.

The U.S. Open Championship returns to the iconic Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia this week and expect the scores to soar. This an old-school golf course designed in 1910 by Hugh Wilson.

It has been a wonderful eight years as a member of one of the most talented sports departments in the newspaper business. It has been an honor to share the pages of this sports section with such talented people as Rick Snider, John Keim, Kevin Dunleavy, Brian McNally, Craig Stouffer, Thom Loverro and Phil Wood.

Ted Leonsis, the owner of Washington's NBA, NHL, and WNBA teams, could be stepping up to the plate in the bidding for the Washington Nationals.

Sony Music Group is sending more than 700 letters to tech companies and music streaming services, calling on them to not use its music to train AI without authorization from the label.

Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett spoke to the media Wednesday for the first time this offseason. The main topic: the three rookie defensive backs and what to expect at safety. Here are some highlights:

Scientists advance Parkinson’s disease biomarker research one sniff at a time.

Serving as a bridge between traditional textbooks and peer-reviewed journal articles, ebooks allow scientists to efficiently learn about new findings or fields.

Science and exploration "are the two things that I'm more excited about in the world," according to "Titanic" director James Cameron. "I do those movies to get a little money so I can go do exploration. That's the fun stuff."

$12 million -- That's the whopping number of dollars Oprah Winfrey handed over to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the museum announced Tuesday, according to the Washington Post. Winfrey's name will adorn a 350-seat theater in the new museum, which is slated to open in 2015 on the National Mall. She already donated $1 million to the project in 2007 and has served on the museum's advisory council since 2004.

Rasika West End was overflowing with D.C. newsmakers Tuesday night. First, President Obama's nominee for national security adviser, Susan Rice, dined at one table with her family. Then, at another table, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer had a meal with PBS' Jim Lehrer. And finally, Shaun Donovan, secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, ate at a third table, a restaurant rep tells Yeas & Nays.

(The Center Square) - How should researchers measure the populations of migratory birds? Researchers developed an idea around a campfire that was put to the test for the first time in Bosque Del Apache earlier this month, according to the University of New Mexico.

One Really Great Way to Cope Every Day of the Week by Megan Seling WEDNESDAY 11/6  

Drink Sad Girl Shots and Eat Cheese at Situ Tacos

(SHOCK) In a state of post-election shock? Me, too. Lean into the overwhelm with a bracing gulp of el Jimador tequila and a salty cube of Tillamook cheese—otherwise known as the Sad Girl Shot. Situ Tacos owner Lupe Flores claims this combination got her through the pandemic, and it’s likely an ideal salve for our current despondent situation, too. I generally try not to suggest alcohol as an antidote to despair—as wine writer Marissa A. Ross wrote in the wake of Anthony Bourdain’s death, “Drink to celebrate life, not to deal with loss”—but the Sad Girl Shot is just too perfect an invention. Plus, Situ Tacos is also hosting Floaters, an exhibition of artist Devin Liston’s bubbly, surreal, Dali-esque paintings of everyday objects like billiard balls, in their glitzy gold back bar Tilda’s Lounge tonight. Instead of doom-scrolling, go feast your eyes on art and knock back a few drinks, and if you’d prefer to abstain from booze, you can always skip the shots and opt for a tub of Situ’s divine queso. Best of all, 25 percent of the night’s proceeds will go to the Lebanese Red Cross, so you’ll be fighting nihilism by supporting a worthy cause. Sad girls por vida! (Situ Tacos, 5239 Ballard Ave NW, Sad Girl Shots are $6, chips and queso are $10) JULIANNE BELL

Go to Another World with SIFF’s Cinema Italian Style Film Festival

(DENIAL) What’s America? You don’t live there. In fact, you’ve never even heard of the United States. You live in a bubble. Your days are steeped in simplicity and unbroken serenity, untouched by the ever-looming threat of Christofascism and student loan repayment. Your life is bliss. And what you have heard of are the sun-dappled olive groves of Italy. Consider snagging a seat at one of SIFF's chic Cinema Italian Style screenings, particularly if you’re into guised critiques of the bourgeoisie. Or amp up the distraction factor at Art of Studio Ghibli, which celebrates the legendary Japanese animation studio’s poetic, intelligent approach to nature and the more-than-human world. (Thanks, Miyazaki—you’re giving us a reason to live right now.) Sean Baker’s Anora, which follows a sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch, might feel a little too “real world-y” at the moment, but his clear-eyed approach and lush visuals are always a draw. (See full film listings on EverOut) LINDSAY COSTELLO

Break Shit

<a href="https://file13records.bandcamp.com/album/hamburgers-ep">Hamburgers - EP by Atom & His Package</a>

(ANGER) Ever since I saw Bob Trevino Likes It at SIFF this year, I’ve wanted to visit a “rage room,” especially as a woman who, like the main character in the film, has always been taught to be kind and polite, never violent. Lucky for us, we have our own version up in Lake City that invites you to smash glasses, sledgehammer a toilet, and more. We recommend emptying your mind and listening to this absurd little song while you do it. If you’re not into destruction, you can punch out your anger at Cappy’s Boxing Gym in Central District or Seattle Boxing Gym in Interbay (they both offer your first class free!). And if you’d rather drink a beer while throwing sharp objects, there’s always axe throwing in Capitol Hill and White Center. (Rage Industry, 13333 Lake City Way NE, sessions start at $40) SHANNON LUBETICH

Have You Tried Being Less of an Asshole?

(BARGAINING) DO BETTER. It’s the directive that has echoed through social media comments for years as the quick quip that critics post anytime anyone does anything that even mildly rocks their delicate sensibilities. It usually (understandably) is met with eye rolls. But… have you tried it? Have you actually tried to do better? Maybe if we’re all the best versions of ourselves, we can cancel out some of the 72 million selfish bigots who voted for the racist rapist and preserve some goodwill in this world. Lead with kindness. Have patience. Smile at dogs. Randomly text your pals and tell them that they’re the most gorgeous and hilarious beings on the planet. Offer to bring a meal to a sick friend or rake up leaves for an elderly neighbor. Hold open a door, pay for someone’s coffee, and don’t laugh when a tourist falls off their rented scooter. Be everything those 72 million (and counting!) motherfuckers are too selfish to be. Fake it ‘til you make it—or uncontrollably collapse into a crying, shaking heap of blood, guts, and flesh on the floor—baby! MEGAN SELING

Live That “Two Benadryl and a Lifetime Movie” Life

(DEPRESSION) Several years ago, I heard about “Two Benadryl and a Lifetime Movie” on the C-Word podcast and never forgot it. The depression cocktail has since become the remedy I give to myself and my loved ones who are experiencing insurmountable amounts of sadness. While it doesn’t necessarily need to be those little pink pills and Lifetime’s Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas (although it’s a great combination, TBH), pick any mind-numbing film or television show and pair it with an indulgent (but safe) amount of sleep-inducing potion. Other variations include two cups of chamomile tea and an Adam Sandler movie, two hits of weed and a Martha Stewart Living marathon, or two bowls of ice cream and an old season of Project Runway. Personally, I will be taking two melatonin and watching Lifetime’s adaptation of Flowers in the Attic before drifting into a sweet slumber (or dissociative oblivion, we’ll see). AUDREY VANN

Go for a Long Walk and Discover Who You Are Now

(TESTING) This is my cure-all for when I feel out of control and need to take back my agency because it’s simple, and you set all the parameters. You control when you walk, how fast you walk, how long you walk, and how many steep inclines you choose to brave or creatively avoid. You can break out into a run or sit down on a wet park bench in the morning drizzle to absorb the book, podcast, or music you’re listening to. Counting steps is nice if you’re into goal setting, but so is leaving your phone at home and soaking in the quiet. Let disinhibition lead you. Screw the clock. Fuck obligations. Clear your schedule and just go. Walking is one of the simplest ways to connect with your autonomy and the human spirit, whatever that means to you. Turn home when your legs ache, and when you get that restless, sick feeling, get your ass off the couch and go walk again. VIVIAN MCCALL

Prepare for Battle

(ACCEPTANCE) This is here. It’s real. Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States. A lot of bad shit is going to happen, so we need to donate and fight and organize. Don’t get complacent in our blue state. I know a lot of you out there will legitimately be fine, but don’t let your privilege get in the way of seeing that many, many others will not. Donate to the ACLU. Donate to abortion funds in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Donate to the National Immigrant Justice Center. Do whatever Pramila Jayapal tells you to do. Organize a friend group to attend this talk at Town Hall on Thursday about taking collective action and building civic community. Join a mutual aid group (like Super Familia, South & East King County, and Homies Helping Homies). Give food to a community fridge. Volunteer. Foster dogs. Do literally anything to give back to your community. Tell people you love them, and mean it. It’s time to show the fuck up, Seattle. SHANNON LUBETICH

This article proves the point that only the T.E.D. Anti-Embolism Stocking has been clinically proven to prevent DVT in over 14,000 patients. Clinical proof is through published peer reviewed clinical studies.

Nothing But a Good Time” isn’t just the title of one of Poison’s most popular singles…

Singer-songwriter Quinn XCII is ready to serve three musical meals to the guests at Dusk…

Ben Joyce: Places…

Plus, the city shines a light on high crime areas; and Idaho issues another death warrant to a man whose execution failed Researchers with Eastern Washington University's Racial Covenants Project have released a detailed map of Spokane area properties that have racially restrictive covenants on their deed or title…

Plus, Spokane could expand its bike network; and Mayor Brown finishes Cabinet hires Starting in fall 2025, some students who currently attend the Community Colleges of Spokane — Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College — will be guaranteed the chance to start studying at Whitworth University…

Plus, Spokane wants historic teardowns to go to good use and Idaho wants phones banned in all schools ENOUGH PROGRESS?…

Super Sparkle is returning to say au revoir…

While there's always an impressive power hearing a full symphony fill a room with sound, there's a stirring subtlety that can only be achieved via classic music on a smaller scale.  That's a sonic itch that the Spokane String Quartet is always happy to scratch. Before the Spokane String Quartet takes the stage at The Fox this Sunday for a program featuring special guest pianist Archie Chen, we caught up with violinist Amanda Howard-Phillips—who has played with the quartet since 2011 and  is also second violin in the Spokane Symphony — to chat about the communal expression of string quartet music, SSQ's upcoming shows, and the unique place the group occupies in Spokane…

The folk duo with Spokane connections wrestles with grief on its new album, 'Debris.' Loss is never easy. Loss during a pandemic is even tougher…