http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=960&32=4377&7=-1&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com Daily National and International news plus oddities and entertainment news en-us 2008 Black Press Group Ltd. BClocalnews.com en-us 2008 Black Press Group Ltd. http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30659784&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30659784.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thirty-three Afghan civilians died during U.S. air strikes in August on a village in western Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, dramatically increasing the U.S. estimate of the death toll in an action that has strained U.S.-Afghan relations. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT a8a4279c21298b80d2ca1666443378b3 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=323521&44=30652109&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2F30652109.html NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Central banks around the world cut interest rates in unison on Wednesday but the unprecedented move failed to help battered stocks, thaw credit markets or temper forecasts for a sharp global economic downturn. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT e76bd63964eb56f6199596da0f25359e Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30659769&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30659769.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As more and more fishermen chase fewer and fewer fish, $50 billion is lost each year in potential economic benefits to the fishing industry, a report released Wednesday said. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 66d73f38a5f44a2a9e34ce6b0224066d Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30638184&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30638184.html KARALETI, Georgia (Reuters) - Russia pulled back its troops on Wednesday from buffer zones it set up on Georgian territory during a summer war, but Georgia demanded it take further steps before a deadline of Friday. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 300f0194fdabc6ee75358c9f8d46b6f8 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30648179&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30648179.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military on Wednesday said 33 Afghan civilians died during August air strikes on a village in western Afghanistan, dramatically raising its estimated toll from an action that has strained U.S.-Afghan relations. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 5809f4d1ac8a3feaa2e8b8991e75fcec Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=323526&44=30655809&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fsports%2F30655809.html CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Chicago Cubs have picked up the $7 million option on right-hander Rich Harden for next season, the team said Wednesday. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 8af514981b16b8d889ce416b0b12d20d Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=323526&44=30652119&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fsports%2F30652119.html PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Charlie Manuel has a soft spot for Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez but the Philadelphia Phillies manager said there would be no room for sentiment when the National League Championship Series starts on Thursday. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT a3865019a88d221199d86bf7f7480ae0 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=323526&44=30652089&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fsports%2F30652089.html TORONTO (Reuters) - Chicago Blackhawks left wing Ben Eager has been suspended for three games for attempting to injure a Dallas player during a pre-season game last week, the NHL said Wednesday. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 2bc70a7f2aeb3aee9bd3f6a45d05cc3f Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30652074&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30652074.html MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Hurricane Norbert became an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm in the Pacific on Wednesday and headed for Mexico's Baja California peninsula where it was due to hit land this weekend. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 83ccda79e6961a2d990a55356c9b68d9 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343189&44=30652049&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fnorthern%2Fbusiness%2F30652049.html TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index ended more than 200 points higher on Wednesday after a volatile session, as a surprise, co-ordinated interest rate cut by several central banks restored some confidence to investors and lit a fire under mining stocks. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 0bc0c1eadfb410b21c28af418920656c Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=323526&44=30652034&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fsports%2F30652034.html ST PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - Daisuke Matsuzaka will start for the Boston Red Sox when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays, who will counter with James Shields in Game One of the American League Championship Series on Friday, the teams said. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 5f15395742774c38e0d6da5bab669cd6 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30627639&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30627639.html CAIRO (Reuters) - Hamas officials met Egyptian mediators in Cairo on Wednesday to hear proposals for resolving the Palestinian Islamists' stand-off with President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah group, a Hamas official said. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 65c99040a6559cf5393cb662cadf9f62 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343599&44=30648299&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fnational%2F30648299.html VICTORIA, British Columbia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper -- who is considered unusually cool and aloof for a politician -- is striving to shed his shy habits and show Canadians he feels their pain over plunging stock markets and a slumping economy. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 9a5979e997a5acd5130eef3ac1baa19a Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30648119&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30648119.html BEIJING (Reuters) - The toll of Chinese children ill from toxic milk formula may have nearly doubled since the Health Ministry's last public count, local media reports show, but an official said on Wednesday the number of new cases was falling. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 73d09b4f6407e718d9116275841d2f00 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343189&44=30648104&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fnorthern%2Fbusiness%2F30648104.html VICTORIA, British Columbia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper promised on Wednesday that major governments and central banks would take more action in a bid to quell the growing financial crisis. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 243ab78410ff6a0330b015fe54cda728 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343599&44=30648249&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fnational%2F30648249.html OTTAWA (Reuters) - A new poll released on Wednesday showed the Conservative lead in the Canadian election campaign continuing to shrink while two others covering a similar period showed it widening again. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT a8da15051f7fa6c80b37e6480f7325f0 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30648244&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30648244.html MALE (Reuters) - The Maldives' first multiparty presidential election, seen as a referendum on President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's 30-year rule of the tropical archipelago, dragged into a second day Thursday amid voting hitches. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT b616759c0508f2d8331eef4bcccc1b1b Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30648229&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30648229.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Army Gen. David Petraeus said on Wednesday that negotiations with some members of the Taliban could provide a way to reduce violence in sections of Afghanistan gripped by an intensifying insurgency. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 892f0772de2062f5431adef283f52a3c Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343609&44=30648224&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fwhiterock%2Fnews%2Fworld%2F30648224.html HAVANA (Reuters) - Fruits and vegetables are getting hard to find across Cuba after hurricanes wiped out crops, but the government is tapping food reserves to bolster the monthly food ration that Cubans have received for decades. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT f848044d4d66d5dd67fd5d380fab963a Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z http://www.bclocalnews.com/r?19=961&43=343189&44=30619744&32=4377&7=406109&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bclocalnews.com%2Fdaily%2Fnorthern%2Fbusiness%2F30619744.html NEW YORK (Reuters) - Central banks around the world cut interest rates in unison on Wednesday, responding to a worldwide clamor for concerted action to contain the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:00:00 GMT 6cbc5d60a1ac4785e4ae541ab75c57c0 Reuters Upload 2008-10-08T07:00:00Z