Beyond the Bubble

International News

Insurgents shot down a Chinook helicopter, killing 16 U.S. soldiers and wounding 20, in what was the deadliest single attack against American forces since March 23.

Witnesses said an exhaust port of the two-rotor workhorse of the Army burst into flames after one of two surface-to-air missiles struck it. The chopper plunged into a corn field and was quickly engulfed in flames. U.S. helicopters and troops immediately swarmed the crash site to help evacuate the wounded and save whom they could.

"We usually celebrate Ramadan at the end of the month. Now we are celebrating in the beginning after these infidel Americans were shot down,'' said taxi driver Abdullah Hissein.

The 32 to 35 soldiers on board the helicopter were being taken on leave.

"It was a terrible day," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to reporters. "In war, there are going to be terrible days, and unfortunately it's necessary to work our way through these things. Ultimately, we're going to prevail."

National News

Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich announced last week that he will grant a pardon to Michael Austin. Austin served 27 years in prison before he was released two years ago by a Baltimore judge who overturned his conviction for the murder of a convenience store security guard.

Ehrlich said that a thorough review of the case convinced him that Austin had not committed the crime.

"I talked to him today. I apologized to him, although words were very difficult to come by," said Ehrlich.

Ehrlich also mentioned that he thinks Austin should get compensation from the state for his 27 years in prison, although he had no specific amount in mind.

"What's a year worth? What's a month worth? What's 27 years worth?" the governor asked.

Austin will be allowed to seek compensation from the state due to the circumstances of his full and complete pardon. The decision on whether to give him money and how much will be made by the Board of Public Works, which includes the governor, Comptroller William Donald Shaefer and Treasurer Nancy Kopp.

College News

The number of foreign students attending U.S. colleges increased by less than 1 percent in the 2002-03 academic year â€" the lowest growth rate in seven years.

In addition to stricter visa regulations, the declining growth rate can be attributed to increased levels of competition from universities in other English-speaking countries.

The University of Southern California has been most directly affected because it has the highest amount of international students in the country.

"We still have a very large international student population. However, records for the fall of 2003 indicate a drop off of about 250 students," said Laurie Cox, assistant director of the Office of International Services. "We attribute this drop off to tighter visa regulations."

The war on terrorism has been the main cause of the tighter visa regulations. Students had a better chance of being given the benefit of the doubt prior to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, but today that is not possible.

"Now, of course, nobody wants to be the one that issued a visa to somebody who flew an airplane into a building," said Dennis C. Jett, dean of the International Center at the University of Florida.

Entertainment

In spite of a bum right knee and just two months of training, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs finished the 2003 ING New York City Marathon on Sunday in just 4 hours, 14 minutes, 54 seconds. His 26.2-mile run raised $2 million for children.

"Never in my life have I ever experienced anything as crazy as this," Combs said at a news conference.

Wearing No. 30,792, Combs kept a pace of eight-to nine-minute miles for the majority of the race.

"I definitely wanted to stop," he said. "This is definitely a life-changing experience for me because I did not stop."

Combs dubbed the effort, "Diddy Runs the City." Combs plans to divide the money he raised among two children's advocate groups and the city's public school system.

Among his donors were Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who pitched in $10,000; rapper Jay-Z, who gave $25,000; and Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, who gave a combined $78,000; and corporate sponsors.

-Written by Lance Dwyer