Thursday 30 October 2008

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New Report Indicates US Recession

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US Department of Commerce information shows sharp change in Gross Domestic Product, consumer spending
An ice sculpture entitled 'Main Street Meltdown,' in New York, 29 Oct 2008A new report says the U.S. economy shrank between July and September in the third quarter - an indication of a recession in the United States.The U.S. Commerce Department says Thursday, the country's Gross Domestic Product, GDP, -- the value of all the goods and services produced in the U.S. -- fell by three-tenths of a percent.That is the sharpest contraction in seven years and a big change from the previous three-month period when the GDP grew by 2.8 percent.  It also comes as consumer spending -- a main driver of the U.S. economy -- fell for the first time in about two decades.  Business investment also declined. A recession is technically defined as two consecutive three-month periods when the economy shrinks.  But a growing number of economists say other statistics, including unemployment figures, show the U.S. is already in a recession.Also Thursday, a report by the U.S. Labor Department says the number of Americans who are getting unemployment aid rose to more than 3.7 million, close to a five-year-high.U.S. stocks rose sharply after the GDP figures were published, perhaps because investors were expecting the report to be even worse.  European stock prices also made strong gains.  Before the latest economic reports, Asian stock markets soared, with key indexes in Japan and Hong Kong gaining 10 percent or more. The GDP figure comes just one day after the U.S. Federal Reserve (the U.S. central bank) cut its key interest rate by one-half of one percent in an effort to encourage lending and boost the economy.Other countries also have been cutting interest rates and taking other actions.Earlier, Japan unveiled a nearly $300 billion economic stimulus package.  Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso says it includes tax cuts and loans to help small businesses.And a leading German politician tells a German newspaper the government is preparing to introduce a range of measures -- worth billions of dollars -- to bolster the economy.

 

 

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. 


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Serial Bomb Blasts Rock India's Assam State

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Government confirms at least 12 separate blasts, 50 people killed; ULFA militant separatist group denies involvement
Serial bomb blasts have rocked the Indian state, Assam, with most of the explosions taking place in crowded markets.  India's government confirms at least 12 separate blasts, with police saying around 50 people have died and several hundred have been wounded.  VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from the Indian capital, New Delhi.People carry a seriously wounded man near a blast site in Guwahati, India, 30 Oct 2008Coordinated explosions rocked crowded outdoor food markets throughout Assam within a short period just before midday Thursday. One of the injured survivors, S.K. Dutta, told News Live television in Guwahati he was on his way to buy vegetables when he was hit by one of the blasts.  Dutta, speaking with his nose bandaged, says after the explosion panicking shoppers and merchants ran away as fires broke out.   At least five of the blasts took place in Guwahati, the state's population center - where, as the smoke cleared and the extent of the devastation became evident - mobs turned on police and rescue workers.  Government vehicles and ambulances were pelted with stones and overturned.  Fire trucks were also attacked by those apparently angry with the belated arrival on the scene by authorities.  Although Assam has been beset by separatist violence for decades, the serial bomb blasts are regarded as the worst terrorist attack in memory to strike India's multi-ethnic northeast. One of the explosions took place only a few-hundred meters from the building housing the state's top elected officials. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was quick to condemn the attacks, blaming "divisive powers" who want to break up the country.  He is calling for a united effort by the people of India to fight terrorism.India's Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta says investigators are being sent to Assam to examine the explosive materials in hope of identifying who is responsible for the attacks. A dead body is taken in a police vehicle after a blast in Gauhati, India, 30 Oct 2008"In Assam there are several different groups who have been involved in one way or the other in terrorist or insurgent-type of activities," Gupta said.  "So, at this point in time, I would not like to speculate or point to any particular group which might be involved in this."  Other politicians were willing to name suspects.  Some direct suspicion on the state's most infamous militant separatist group, the United Liberation Front of Asom, known as ULFA.  But it had been believed ULFA was seriously weakened after recent counter-insurgency operations by India's military.Indian media say ULFA has issued a statement denying involvement in the blasts. India's top opposition leader, L.K. Advani of the Bharatiya Janata Party, blames the governing alliance, led by the Congress Party, for failing to prevent a series of terrorist bomb blasts this year in the country.   Advani says illegal migrants from Bangladesh and their masters are likely responsible for the attacks in Assam.  Assam, with a population of 26 million and an agrarian economy, is best known for tea and silk.  But the eastern Himalayan state is beset by poverty and competition between migrants, including those from Bangladesh, and local people.  It has been wracked by separatist violence for decades.  Last month, clashes in Assam between indigenous tribes and Muslim settlers left nearly 50 people dead.  Two other northeastern states were hit by bomb blasts in the past month. Since India's independence in 1947, tens of thousands have died in separatist violence throughout the northeast.   


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Overnight Looting, Killings Reported in Congolese City

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Residents of eastern city of Goma say troops retreating from rebel advance looted, killed and raped women in city
Mourners cry near the bodies of two women allegedly killed last night by a group of Congolese soldiers after looting their house in the Katindo neighborhood of Goma, 30 Oct 2008Residents of the eastern city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of
Congo say troops retreating from a rebel advance looted, killed and
raped women in the city early Thursday.At least five people were reported killed in the city.The
violence came after rebels declared a ceasefire Wednesday with
government forces and U.N. peacekeepers. The rebels are currently just
outside the city.Congolese army Colonel Jonas Padiri says his forces and U.N. peacekeepers are patrolling the city Thursday. Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda said he is ready to hold talks with the Congolese government.Peacekeepers
used combat helicopters to slow the rebel offensive which began
Sunday.  Thousands of displaced people, including some Congolese
soldiers, rushed in and out of Goma trying to find safety.   The United States and European Union have dispatched top envoys to the Congo capital, Kinshasa. Nkunda told VOA earlier that he declared the ceasefire to avoid panicking the population in Goma. In
New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon said the fighting has
created a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions. The Security
Council unanimously condemned the rebel offensive during an emergency
meeting late Wednesday. On Tuesday, the head of the U.N.
mission in Congo, Alan Doss, said peacekeepers would defend Goma.  But
he added that his troops are stretched to the limit.Authorities
in Kinshasa suggested a new multinational force could help as well. 
France's foreign affairs minister Bernard Kouchner suggested sending in
a European peacekeeping mission, though, he says several EU nations are
opposed to the idea. North Kivu province has been racked by
continuous violence despite the end of Congo's regional war in 2003,
and new peace deals to end the fighting in the east.Rebels say
they are defending ethnic Tutsis against ethnic Hutu fighters from
Rwanda's genocide they say are backed by Congo's army, which the
government denies.Congolese authorities have accused neighboring Rwanda of backing Nkunda.  Both countries also have accused each other's armies of crossing the border and firing at each other during the recent clashes.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. 

 


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Pakistan Quake Survivors Bury Dead, Brace For Winter

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Rescue workers still trying to determine extent of damage in rugged, mountainous area of Baluchistan Province
Rescue efforts continue in southwest Pakistan, where the official death toll from Wednesday's magnitude 6.4 earthquake reached 215. VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that providing shelter for homeless families is now a top priority.Rescue workers are still trying to determine the extent of the damage in the rugged, mountainous area of Baluchistan Province, but say it appears as many as 5,000 homes were either collapsed or severely damaged by the tremor. Non-government organizations say the actual death toll is probably around 400, but the official tally is lower because remote villages and quick burials make counting difficult.Pakistani people warm themselves next to their tents after an earthquake in Ziarat, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Quetta, Pakistan, 30 Oct 2008Military spokesman General Salim Nawaz says rescue efforts are going smoothly and most of the dead have been buried. He says there are no reports Thursday of locating survivors buried under wreckage. Baluchistan's governor, Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, told reporters that the main focus now is taking care of survivors. He says it is really cold here and we need blankets, clothes and tents. He says it will take time to rebuild destroyed homes.Residents in the area build their own houses using mud, wood and grass. They say cold weather makes construction nearly impossible during the winter and they will have to wait until March to rebuild. For now, aid organizations and Pakistan's military say they have provided about 4,000 winterized tents for families, but some have yet to reach remote areas. Hassan Moazam is the country director for the international aid group Care. He says he visited a village called Wom near the epicenter."That place is very remote and very cold. I was there during the evening time and at night the temperature goes sub-zero," he said. "Especially the women and young children, they were all sitting under open skies, so it is quite a challenge for these families to survive under open skies without any shelter."Moazam says the scope of the damage is much less than the devastating 2005 earthquake in northeast Pakistan that killed about 80,000 people. But he says non-government aid groups are still assessing the extent of the damage and will issue a report on Friday.


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Taliban Claims Responsibility for Kabul Suicide Bomb

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Militants say attack targeted foreign advisers inside Information and Culture Ministry; at least 20 wounded in blast
A Taliban suicide bomber attacked Afghanistan's Information Ministry building in Kabul, killing five people and wounding more than 20.  Ayaz Gul reports for VOA from Islamabad. Scene of suicide bombing in Kabul, 30 Oct 2008Witnesses are reported as saying that at least three militants stormed the ministry building in the center of the Afghan capital.  One of them, they say, blew himself up while his companions opened fire on security guards before entering the building. Kabul's Deputy Police chief Ali Shah Amadzai, told reporters that a woman was among those killed in the attack.  He says that the explosion occurred inside a conference room of the information ministry and the attack is under investigation. The powerful explosion badly damaged the building with broken glass and office equipment scattered among the rubble. Taliban insurgents immediately claimed responsibility, saying foreign advisors in the ministry were its target. A statement from President Hamid Karzai condemns the attackers as "enemies of Afghanistan" who want to block peace efforts. Taliban militants have carried out a number of high-profile attacks in the Afghan capital and have intensified insurgent activities across the country this year. In July, a powerful suicide car bombing outside the Indian embassy in Kabul killed 60 people, including two Indian diplomats. The attack on the information ministry occurred despite President Karzai's repeated peace overtures to the Taliban.  Earlier this week, Afghan and Pakistani politicians, along with tribal elders, met in Islamabad and agreed to establish contacts with Taliban fighters in an effort to end violence in both countries.  The Taliban has ruled out talks until U.S-led foreign troops leave Afghanistan.


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Clinton Joins Obama Campaign

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After weeks of campaigning on behalf of Senator Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton finally shares stage with Democratic candidate, at event in central Florida
Former President Bill Clinton made his first campaign appearance alongside Democratic candidate Barack Obama, during a campaign stop in Florida. Both Obama and the Republican contender, John McCain, are making late drives to win Florida, which will be a key state to win on Election Day next week. VOA's Brian Wagner reports from Miami.Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, After weeks of campaigning on behalf of Senator Obama, former President Clinton finally shared the stage with the Democratic candidate, at an event in central Florida."It is so important for you to do what you can to make sure Florida is in the Obama column next Tuesday night," said Mr. Clinton.Clinton praised Obama's proposals for energy and health care changes and said he is better qualified to tackle the nation's economic problems than McCain. The former president also drew comparisons between the Illinois senator and himself, saying Obama shares many of the same priorities he held while in the White House. Obama says the nation needs to break with the current agenda in the White House."We can't have four more years just like the last eight that we have had," Obama said. "It is time for the kind of peace and prosperity that we saw in the 1990's."With less than a week until Election Day, the Obama and McCain campaigns are making late pitches to voters in key states like Florida and elsewhere. Obama took advantage of his strong fundraising efforts to pay for a half-hour slot on several major television networks, late Wednesday. The advertisement was aired during prime time around the country and cost more than three-million dollars."In six days we can choose an economy that rewards work and creates jobs and fuels prosperity, starting with the middle class," he said.The program highlighted Obama's focus on economic and social spending changes that Democrats say aim to benefit many average Americans."I believe we need to usher in a new era of responsibility," Obama added. "Families are tightening their belts and so should Washington."Obama says he has planned spending cuts that would generate a budget surplus, even with new energy, economic and other initiatives he has proposed. The Democratic senator is disputing Republican claims that he will increase government spending and raise taxes to pay for it.Also Wednesday, McCain attacked Obama for his lack of foreign policy experience."Terrorists are still plotting new strikes across the world," said McCain. "Millions of innocent lives are still at stake, including American lives."McCain held two rallies in Florida, which is likely to be a key state on Election Day. President Bush carried the state in both of his election victories. But the latest opinion polls give Obama a narrow lead over McCain.The Arizona senator is hoping that his defense and foreign policy experience will win over voters."Barack Obama has displayed some impressive qualities," he said. "But the question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect the United States from Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida and other grave threats in the world."McCain and other Republican leaders are responding to recent projections that suggest Democrats may win the White House, as well as the Senate and House in Tuesday's election. The last time one party took control of the government was when Republicans claimed victory in the 2002 election. McCain says a Democratic sweep would bring dramatic changes."Raising taxes and unilaterally renegotiating trade agreements, as they [Democrats] have promised, will make a bad economy even worse and undermine out national security - even as they slash defense spending," said McCain.The latest national public opinion surveys show Obama ahead of McCain by an average of six points. The presidential race is decided by a state-by-state tally of electoral votes. The winning candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes out of 538.


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Thousands of Syrians Protest US Raid

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Armed Syrian riot police protect US Embassy in Damascus as tens of thousands of people demonstrate against American raid that targeted al-Qaida weapons smuggler
The Syrian government appears to have mobilized tens of thousands of people, busing them in to Damascus from far-flung corners of the country.  They were demonstrating against an American raid in eastern Syria,  which the United States says targeted and killed a top al-Qaida operative.  Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Cairo.Syrian protesters gather at Youssef al-Azmi square during demonstration against US raid on village near Syrian-Iraqi border last Monday, in Damascus, 30 Oct 2008Syrian government television showed images of tens of thousands of demonstrators, waving banners and shouting slogans in support of President Bashar al Assad, in what appeared to be a mostly peaceful, government-sponsored protest of a raid in eastern Syria, widely believed to be conducted by the United States. The United States has not formally acknowledged involvement.The American Embassy in Damascus was closed, for safety reasons.  Hundreds of armed Syrian riot police surrounded the building to keep demonstrators away.  The U.S. Cultural Center, as well as the American Community School were also closed for the day.Syria's official news agency, SANA, quotes Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al Miqdad as saying that Damascus is awaiting official explanation from the United States and Iraqi governments on what he calls an unacceptable violation of Syrian sovereignty.Unconfirmed reports say that Damascus has asked the United States to close its embassy, the U.S. Cultural Center and the American School by next week.Abeer al-Ahmadi, spokeswoman for the Syrian Information Ministry, was curt and to the point in describing the situation in a phone interview.She says the demonstration is evidence of the Syrian people's anger at the United States.A elderly Syrian man, claiming to represent the Farmer's Union, gave glowing praise to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.He says Syrians would willingly sacrifice their souls, their blood and their children for President Assad.A older woman with white hair, insisting that she represents all Syrian women, also denounced the weekend raid.She decries what she calls American criminal actions against Syria, the Palestinians and Iraq.A large banner was unfurled in Damascus' Youssef al Azmi Square, proclaiming that the United States must be held accountable for its actions.

 


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Indonesia Approves Controversial  Anti-Pornography Law

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Critics argue legal document could be used against minority Christian and Hindu populations and threatens nation's tradition of tolerance and diversity
Indonesia's parliament passed a controversial anti-pornography bill which critics argue could be used against the country's minority Christian and Hindu populations and threatens the nation's tradition of tolerance and diversity. VOA correspondent Nancy-Amelia Collins has more from Jakarta.Muslim protesters shout anti-pornography slogans during a rally outside the parliament in Jakarta, Indonesia, Wednesday, 29 Oct. 2008To shouts of "Alhamdulillah" , meaning "thanks be to God" Indonesian lawmakers passed into law Thursday an anti-pornography bill which Islamist parties say is needed to save the country from immoral behavior.The bill was first introduced in 1999 and has gone through numerous revisions amid controversyover what defines pornography.Just recently the law was revised to allow women to wear bikinis at tourist resorts.The new law outlaws pornographic acts and the dissemination of sexual images. Those who break the law face up to 12 years in prison.The bill was pushed by a small group of Islamist parties who say it is needed to protect the young and raise society's moral standards.Two opposition parties, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and the Christian Prosperous and Peace Party walked out in protest when parliament passed the bill into law.Legislator Nursjahbani Katjasungkana from the National Awakening Party says the passage of the bill may give the small but very vocal Islamic fundamentalist groups license to launch attacks, called sweepings here, on women they deem dressed inappropriately, or TV stations running "sexy" ads. "The first fear is encroachment of the fundamentalist groups and so on because they perceive this law as tool for them to do a sweeping and so on," Nursjahbani said.  The bill has also been condemned by the country's minority Christians and Hindus as well as some tribal groups who say the law is too vague and could be used against them by Muslim hardliners.Legislator Nursjahbani says she does not believe the law will be effective in curbing pornography. "I don't think this law can be effective in the education of porn," Nursjahbani said.  "The essence of pornography is about the message against violence, domination, and conquest. But in this definition in this law - I don't think that the message is delivered." Indonesia has the world's largest population of Muslims. It is a secular and democratic nation that recognizes other religions and has a long tradition of tolerance and diversity.  


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Cambodian Garbage Scavengers Face Deadly Health Risks

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Some 2,000 workers, including about 600 children, sift through garbage at Steung Meanchey landfill; government plans to close site
In countries around the world, hundreds of thousands of poor people face daily hazards to earn meager livings by scavenging for recyclable goods. In Cambodia, hundreds of scavenger families find their lives changing - they will lose their homes and livelihoods when the government closes the dump where they work. Rory Byrne has this report from Phnom Penh.Steung Meanchey dump on outskirts of Phnom Penh Officially, it is the Steung Meanchey landfill site, but those who live here call it Smokey Mountain.Steung Meanchey dump is a seven-hectare mountain of smoking garbage on the outskirts of the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Here some 2,000 workers, including about 600 children, sift through 700 tons of garbage a day.In developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, garbage scavengers are among the poorest workers. In Cambodia, they typically earn about one dollar a day.Ten-year-old Ya has been recycling bottles and cans at the dump for three years.            For children like Ya, going to school remains a distant dream He says the situation here is terrible. He has to get up very early to work and finishes late in the evening. Ya says his life is very difficult. Collecting garbage brings him less than $1 a day which is not nearly enough to cover his expenses.Most of the scavengers live in wooden shacks around the dump. There is no access to clean water or sanitation and epidemics are commonplace.The risks here are high. Sharp-edged metals and broken glass leave nasty wounds. And garbage scavengers suffer high rates of serious diseases, such as hepatitis, tuberculosis and even AIDS. A number of scavengers have been killed or seriously injured when they were run over by garbage trucks.             Sok Kanhha has been working at dump for more than five yearsShe says it is very dangerous to work here - people can step on metal shards or nails for example or get hit and crushed by the dump trucks. She says she has injured herself with many things, like old needles.Annette Jensen is the director of A New Day, a charity that provides free food, shelter and schooling to more than 100 children from Steung Meanchey dump. "To see the children miserable, dirty, sad looking at the garbage dump and then have them arrive with their little plastic bag with all their belongings and move into the center. And to see their excitement about taking a shower. To see their excitement about getting their little bag of shampoo. And to see them clean, putting on their school uniform and going to school has just been amazing," says Jensen.Annette Jensen, director of A New DayBut most of those working on Cambodia's landfills are not so lucky, and for children like Ya, going to school remains a distant dream, Ya has he would go to school if he could stop working at the dump. He says he wants to go to school but cannot because his family is so poor.Ya and his family now face a new challenge: the government plans to close Steung Meanchey and relocate the 535 families living there to land about 50 kilometers south of Phnom Penh. The government will let them have tiny plots on which to build new homes. An official in charge of the project notes the location is near Udong Mountain, a tourist site, so that there are jobs available in the region. And he says, families are not being forced to move, but most are volunteering. Still, no families have left so far. Many scavengers say they will be happy to leave the dump, but they are worried that they will not be able to make a living because the relocation camp is too far away from the city.


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Phillies Win World Series

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Philadelphia edges Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in game that had been suspended Monday night because of rain
The Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Series baseball champions, after beating the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3, in a game that had been suspended Monday night because of rain.  VOA Sports Editor Parke Brewer was at the clinching game Wednesday night in Philadelphia and has a report.   Philadelphia Phillies hold up the World Series trophy after winning Game 5 in Philadelphia, 29 Oct 2008The Philadelphia Phillies of the National League have won the best-of-seven World Series against the American League's Tampa Bay Rays, four games to one.To do it, the Phillies prevailed in the first suspended game in World Series history.  For the home fans it was surely worth the wait.With terrible rain and wind, Game 5 had been stopped in the middle of the sixth inning, Monday night,with the Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays tied at 2-all.When play resumed Wednesday night, Philadelphia got a go-ahead run in their half of the sixth inning.  But the Rays came right back to tie it at 3-all, on a solo home run by Rocco Baldelli in the top of the seventh.The Phillies took the lead for good in their half of the seventh, with third baseman Pedro Feliz knocking in the winning run with a single, after a double by outfielder Pat Burrell. Phillies star closing pitcher Brad Lidge got the final three outs in the ninth inning for the save, an amazing 48th save in 48 chances this season.Cole Hamels, left, and Charlie Manual talk to reporters after the game, 29 Oct 2008Starting pitcher Cole Hamels, who won game onr and pitcher the first six innings of this Game 5, Monday night, was named World Series Most Valuable Player."I'm definitely going to have to enjoy this moment, because there are a lot of times you don't have everything go your way," Hamels said. "Obviously, I was fortunate enough to be on the good end of these victories and winning a trophy.  But truly it was the teammates behind me that really helped me through these times, and they're the ones that scored the runs."Phillies manager Charlie Manual explained what the World Series championship means to him."It means everything to me," he said.  "It means like, you know what?  You see people in baseball, for instance, if you see people and they have a [World Series] ring on.  Everybody always wants to see the ring but not only that the symbol is that you're a winner.  Once you won a World Series you became a winner.  In baseball, when someone asks me what I want to be known as, I want to be known as a winner."Phillies fans hold sign during gameFor the Tampa Bay Rays, even though they lost the World Series, this season was a major achievement.  The franchise has only been in existence since 1998 and, until this season, the Rays had never even had a winning year, finishing last in their division nine of the 10 previous seasons before this one, when they beat out the 2007 champion Boston Red Sox for first place.Rays Manager Joe Maddon was gracious in defeat."Very few people in this country, or even throughout the baseball world, thought that we'd get to this point would have even guessed that we could get here," Maddon said.  "I'm very proud of our guys, as a group.  Really a truly remarkable job.  We made a powerful statement.  It's just the beginning."Maddon added he knows his players will have a burning desire to try to win World Series next year.Enthusiastic Dave Strouse cheers after Phillies win World SeriesFor the Phillies it was only their second baseball championship in more than 100 years of existence.  Their only other World Series title came in 1980 and, for fans like Dave Strouse, it was great joy."This is it!!!  We've been waiting for 28 years for the Philadelphia Phillies to do this, man!  It is absolutely awesome!  I can't tell you!" he exclaimed. "We came four-and a-half hours for this game for three-and-a-half innings.  It's awesome!  It's awesome!!"The city's mayor announced that the Phillies will be honored with a big parade, on Friday.


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