| Canada's combat training role could take years
Stephane Lafaut, the outgoing head of the OMLT, said it's impossible to put a timeline on when the Afghan army will be able to stand on its own. "I have almost 25 years of experience and it's hard for me, and even for my bosses who are more experienced than myself, to put a date. So I don't know who can put a date," he said. "We're talking about years. How much time really it is going to take, we're not sure." The Afghan army presence in Kandahar has almost tripled since Canadians began working alongside its soldiers in 2006. There are now two full Kandaks - an Afghan battalion of about 600 men - in operation, plus a third that the military says is well on its way. Eventually, the goal is to have five Kandaks fully operational in the province, about 3,000 soldiers.
Costs in Chinese factories rising, cheaper markets eyed
The higher costs mean Western consumers are bound to face steeper prices for iPods, TVs, tank tops and many other imported products made by small Chinese subcontractors. "Americans continue to want to buy at lower prices," said Kevin Burke, president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. "They are used to going to the store during Christmas and getting something cheaper than a year ago." That's no longer a sure thing. For instance, American toy makers, who rely heavily on Chinese factories, expect prices to increase 5 to 10 percent for the 2008 holiday season, largely because of rising manufacturing costs. Costs in China are climbing nationwide, but the greatest pain is being felt in the south, where about 14,000 Hong Kong-run factories could close in the next few months, said Polly Ko of the Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong, which neighbors Hong Kong.
In Boston, Mayor and Librarian Clash Over Control
Margolis and some of his allies, who say it could have a chilling effect on donors and even lead to the money being spent outside the library system. "It gets to the very core of the independence of the library trustees and the basis on which people give money to the library," said Mr. Margolis, who will step down in June after 11 years on the job. "They give it with the expectation that the library is the steward of that money and of the institution's destiny not with the expectation that the mayor or someone else downtown decides how or when it's used." But Dot Joyce, a spokeswoman for Mr. Menino, said the city did not intend to use the library trust funds for other purposes, and had no right to do so. "We would never be able to do that," Ms. Joyce said. "We only want to make sure the money is being used for what the people who left it to the library intended it for." Mr.
Tournament/Camp Schedule
AUG. 18 -- O'Neil Pass/Dan Crain Memorial Road Race. Starts at Spearfish City Park, travels up O'Neil Pass and finishes on Highway 14A near the Chophouse Restaurant. Entry is $20, $10 for students. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. at Spearfish City Park. Race starts at 9 a.m. For more information, call Betsy Cordes at 642-4277.SEPT. 8 — Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter benefit ride. Departs at 7:30 a.m. from the Sioux Valley Bicycles & Fitness store in Brookings. Ride travels 17 miles to Schade Vineyard. For more information, call Sherry Oswald at 692-5022.OCT. 13 — Breat Cancer Research Foundation benefit ride. Two rides, one of 10 miles and another 25 miles in length. For more information, call Sherry Oswald at 692-5022.GolfAUG. 10 — Fellowship of Christian Athletes Four-Person Scramble. At Hart Ranch G.C., Rapid City.
Win for Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural event honoring black and African heritage. Evans said that based on the evidence presented, "it has not been shown to be a religious celebration." The Chancery court room was standing room only Wednesday morning, filled with members of the media, curious spectators and a handful of Kwanzaa supporters dressed in colorful African garb. Reaction was mixed. State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, D-Memphis, called it a case of the "Grinch stealing Kwanzaa." Memphis resident Ron Crook, who was in Chancery Court for other business, said the verdict could open doors for other spiritual organizations to come knocking for the right to host events. "It just becomes a big mess." he said. Representing Thomas, attorney Anthony Pietrangelo argued that allowing the celebration would be discriminatory, and in violation of the First Amendment, because the county attorney had denied Thomas the right to host a Christian party yet allowed the Kwanzaa event to take place.
'It's good here, innit'
My phone's blowin' up, innit! All my boys are watchin' it, congratulate me on the goal, hoping we go on to the next stage. It's good, it's all good. 'I picked up the accent in London, but I speak my native tongue, too, so I speak Ga [the language spoken around Accra] in front of the boys here, so that's all good. Funny how things have turned out, innit!' Yes, it is, and not just in the bubbly world of Junior Agogo, the Nottingham Forest striker who was born and raised in Accra before moving to Kilburn in north-west London at the age of 15. Yesterday was an historic day in African football. The first match in the Cup of Nations, in February 1957, was Sudan v Egypt in Khartoum. Last night, in Ghana's football-mad second city, Kumasi, they met again, for the first time in decades in a tournament that bears little, if any, resemblance to the original version.
Peach Buzz
The charity is a division of Little League designed for kids with physical and mental disabilities. Justin, dad Paul and little brother Max have served as "buddy helpers" in the nonprofit for several seasons now. True to his word, Justin secured the 13 donors and a total of $4,680 for his friends. But during his party last weekend at Turner Field's 755 Club, Justin and his friends, all decked out in the appropriate dress of baseball jerseys and jeans, were shocked when a 14th unexpected donor came forward. Veteran Atlanta Brave and Justin's baseball hero Julio Franco (Justin even wears the player's famed No. 14) suddenly appeared on the club's big screen TV, via a video greeting to say hello and donate to the charity. There was just one problem: holding aloft a large cardboard check made out to Murphey Candler, Julio told Justin: "I don't know how many stamps to put on a check this large.
|
