| US starts Iraq troop pull-out
CAUTIOUSLY at first, the "surge" of 30,000 United States' soldiers sent by President George Bush to stem the country's tide of sectarian violence, is coming to an end this week. The US military confirmed yesterday that the roughly 3,000 soldiers in the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, will not be replaced when they leave the ethnically and religiously mixed province of Diyala, north of Baghdad. The bulk of the brigade will be back at Fort Hood, Texas, by Christmas and some have left already, officials said. .
Undergrads' terrorism reigns supreme in universities
The Government of the day is engaged in a right royal battle with the country's decades-long terrorism unleashed by the LTTE in the name of liberating the Tamil people. In recent times, the terrorist organisation has taken a severe beating, and sooner or later, it has to meet its waterloo. I have brought the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam into the picture to the important Daily News debate, because I sometimes keep on wondering, whether the monster of terrorism has spread its vicious tentacles, slowly and steadily, to the hallowed groves of academe. Before the killer disease spreads its cancerous root further and kill the fabric of the academic institutions, it is incumbent on the part of the powers-that-be to crack down hard and nip in the bud the kind of terrorism that crop up at the drop of a hat in these places.
Bigger cars to pay more for parking permits
SMALLER cars would be charged less for residents' parking permits under plans to be considered by city councillors. The move would see owners of bigger, fuel-guzzling vehicles pay more for the permits while more environmentally friendly models would pay less. .
Carolyn Hax | How to avoid the avoidance dance
DEAR CAROLYN: I have been friends for two years with a guy I volunteer with in the community. I told him (in a roundabout way) that I wanted to be more than friends. He then avoided me for almost two weeks and said he's more interested in developing himself as a person. When he told me this, I accepted that he just wanted to be friends. But now he seems to avoid me or approach me with kid gloves. Do I let him continue to treat me this way until he sees from my behavior that I'm not devastated by his lack of romantic interest? — J. If his interest in "developing himself as a person" didn't completely stanch your ardor, then surely the follow-up dance of adolescent avoidance did. Maybe this guy is a stealth relationship genius. Yeah, OK. He's probably trying to be sensitive to your feelings by being careful not to "encourage you" or "send the wrong message." But treating your feelings as if they might be contagious "sends the wrong message" of a different sort.
And the Best Actor Oscar goes to ... SBY
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a movie? Say no more. Our President proved what a great actor he can be when he recently told the nation with a straight face that he had no plan to increase domestic fuel prices, even as world oil prices shoot up toward US$100 a barrel. The convincing manner in which he delivered the statement, as if there was nothing wrong with it, certainly merits an Academy Award for best actor. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro should be given Oscars for best supporting actress and best supporting actor, respectively, for helping the President convince the public without even a hint of irony in their statements. She offered reassurances the state budget is safe; the windfall from oil exports will be sufficient to cover the soaring subsidy the government has to fork out.
International High School is haven for students learning English
Students there outperform those with limited English proficiency at other Austin high schools. By Raven L. HillAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Monday, November 05, 2007 Like many of his classmates at the International High School, Hamed Berenji had struggled for weeks with saying goodbye to the familiar as he adjusted to his new homeland. Now, it was time for the 16-year-old to teach them how to say hello. In Farsi. .
Sentinel Morning Update: No tax increase for Shippensburg borough
Shippensburg Borough Council is poised to approve a $2.532 million operating budget for 2008. The balanced budget is a 4 percent increase � $97,823 �over 2007, but comes without local tax increases.Increased park and recreation costs and money held in contingency funds are responsible for most of the increase.The park and rec budget increases by $44,837 in 2008, but park programs are projected to generate $148,000 to help offset the $263,438 total cost.A proposed salary increase of $3,000 for parks manager Kip Fordney accounts for some of that total expense.The budget lists $40,627 in contingency funds in 2008, an increase of 450 percent. .
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