Members of a family from Burbank, Ill., say they went to a funeral home to view their 91-year-old grandmother's body but found another woman's body in her casket.
Relatives of Lillian Grogan say the stranger was even wearing her dress and favorite bracelet Monday at Mount Auburn Funeral Home in the nearby Chicago suburb of Stickney.
Grogan had been mistakenly buried. Her family got a …
LINCOLN, Neb. - George McGovern, the former senator and Democratic presidential candidate, said Thursday that he will meet with more than 60 members of Congress next week to recommend a strategy to remove U.S. troops from Iraq by June.
If Democrats don't take steps to end the war in Iraq soon, they won't be in power very long, McGovern told reporters before a planned speech at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
"I think the Democratic leadership is wise enough to know that if they're going to follow the message that election sent, they're going to have to take steps to bring the war to a conclusion," he said.
McGovern will present his recommendations before the …
Jurors wept Tuesday watching a woman describe how teaching her 2-year-old daughter proper manners turned into a daylong torture session in which the toddler was beaten with belts, dunked in cold water and flung across a room so violently that she died.
Kimberly Trenor, 20, detailed the abuse in a videotaped statement played for jurors during the first day of her capital murder trial.
Trenor, 20, told investigators in the statement that she hit her daughter with a thick leather belt to teach her to …
Serbia's leader has called on the European Union to openly tell his country "without making any excuses" whether it wants Serbia to join the 27-nation bloc or not.
Serbian President Boris Tadic spoke Wednesday at the opening of a Balkan summit in Istanbul, saying "we don't want to be used as a pretext to do absolutely nothing."
Tadic's criticism comes despite assurances by the EU …
Traffic. Deadlines. Bills. These and other daily "inevitables" almost always leave us feeling stressed. Some people are able to forget stressful situations -- routine or traumatic - and leave them behind once the stressor is removed or over. However, for others, the stressors they face lead to a kind of chronic state of anxiety, or fear.
In her book, Nature's Prozac, Judith Sachs differentiates between stress and anxiety by saying, "Stress is physiological arousal - the body's reveille to a bad situation that has to be attended to. In calm individuals, the stress reaction vanishes as soon as the problem is taken care of. But anxious people who are highly reactive stay stressed -- …
Twelve children who were among a group of 275 illegal migrants pulled from rough seas off the Greek coast on Sunday have been hospitalized with dehydration and hypothermia, according to government officials.
The migrants were aboard the Turkish-flagged Aktag, which was en route to Italy when the vessel encountered mechanical problems 11 nautical miles (20.4 kilometers) off the western Greek coast late Saturday, and sent out a distress signal. Rough seas and gale-force winds prevented coast guard vessels and …
B. in Nelson, B.C. Ed. at Univ. of B.C. (B.Sc.). M. to Dennis Beck. Two children: Samantha and James. Political Career: First elected to the Alta. Leg. g.e. 2001. Mem: Standing Ctee on Law and Regulations; Standing Ctee on Public Accounts and Standing Policy Ctee on Economic Development and Finance. Private Career: Former Pres: Sterlingrock Systems Inc. and DeLong Beck Services Ltd. Party: P.C. Address: Leg. Office: 513 Legislature Bldg., Edmonton, Alta., T5K 2B6, (780)415-9459, Fax: (780)427-1835 Riding Office: 350, 4500 - 16 Ave. N.W., Calgary, Alta., T3B 0M6, (403)216-5400, Fax: (403)216-5402; Email: …
If you look at recent events in Lancaster County, the picture might seem to depict an anti-development movement.
For example:
* Manheim Township officials withdrew plans to build a minor-league baseball stadium after residents raised concerns about traffic and the possible use of farmland for the project.
* Five years after Wal-Mart Stores Inc. proposed building a supercenter in Manor Township, township officials and residents continue to oppose the mega-retailer's plans.
* Citing the need to protect farmland, West Hempfield Township supervisors recently rejected retail television network QVC's plans for a 405,000-square-foot expansion of a distribution …
An Iraqi satellite TV channel says its cameraman has been killed during clashes in eastern Baghdad.
Tariq Maher, a correspondent for the Afaq TV station, says Wissam Ali Auda was killed Wednesday by sniper fire in the Obeidi area.
Maher says the 30-year-old cameraman apparently got caught in the crossfire as he was on his way home. The U.S. military says 11 …
HILLSBORO, Ore. -- A couple face at least three years in prisonfor disciplining their young children by letting their part-pit bulldog attack them.
Joyce Hoskins, 47, and David Hoskins, 46, pleaded guilty Friday tothree counts each of assault and were being held without bail.
Investigators said the couple disciplined their 8-year-olddaughter and 7-year-old son by allowing their dog Nigel -- a mix ofpit bull terrier, Doberman pinscher, German shepherd and Labradorretriever -- to attack them.
The attacks took place over two years and both children sufferedbites that required treatment, investigators said. The …
Engineers at DSM Research, Geleen, The Netherlands, have developed models to show the process of disintegration of an array of parallel, closely spaced molten polymer threads in a matrix of another molten polymer. This has been difficult in the past because thermoplastic polymer blends often exhibit different microstructures as they have different melting points and different viscosity levels.
According to the researchers, P.H. M. Elemans, J.M. van Wunnik, and R.A. van Ram, understanding this process has an important, practical implication in any given blend system that consists of immiscible polymers. Their experiments revealed that the simultaneous breakup processes of liquid cylinders, which are surrounded by others, are slightly different from the breakup process of a single, liquid cylinder of comparable diameter. They observed that the beginning of the large-amplitude distortions is delayed in the presence of neighboring threads. For the threads to exhibit sinusoidal distortions, however, the surrounding liquid has to be deformed, but periodic distortions along neighboring threads have to be initiated as well. Once this "accommodation stage" has been completed, the growth rate of the distortions is the same for all threads, regardless of their position inside or outside the array.
More information about their work appears in the June issue of the AIChE Journal.
THE TALLIS SCHOLARS AT THE RAVINIA FESTIVAL
- - -
Renaissance music is something of an acquired taste. To modernears, its a cappella repertoire can sound remote and austere. Plus,like the art of its time, much of it is either liturgical orreligious.
The England-based Tallis Scholars, directed by Peter Phillips,made their Ravinia Festival debut Monday night in the Martin Theatre.Their finely polished performance was a musical bridge back in time,when Gregorian chant was part of sacred services and it was notunusual to hear unaccompanied voices.
In its program, the nine-voice ensemble -- usually 10, but onebass was missing -- explored music in German and Latin by mainlyGerman composers: Heinrich Isaac, born about 1450, just as theRenaissance was beginning; Hans Leo Hassler, born more than a centurylater, and Heinrich Schutz, who lived from 1585 to 1672, well beyondthe era's commonly defined time boundaries. The single Italian,Gregorio Allegri, was almost an exact contemporary of Schutz.
The concert opened with Isaac's serenade, in German, to Innsbruck,perhaps a forerunner to urban tribute songs, such as "Granada" and"Vienna, City of My Dreams."
It was a good opening choice, allowing the audience to experiencethe clarity and perfect pitch of the singers: sopranos Sally Dunkley,Tessa Bonner, Janet Coxwell and Deborah Roberts, altos Patrick Craigand Caroline Trevor, tenors Andrew Carwood and Steven Harrold, andbass Robert Macdonald.
It wasn't long before we were deep into sacred music. We heardHassler's Missa VIII for Double Choir, a richly polyphonic work.Segments, such as the Gloria and Credo, began with Gregorian chant,but quickly flowered forth in rich vocal strands.
The voices, though harmonious, did not blend as sections in achorus meld together and emerge as one. Each voice type retained itsindividuality, from the needle-sharp sopranos to the strong bass,braiding particular colors as intricately as strands in a tapestry.
Did those composers save their sweetest music for their Marianworks? Isaac's "Virgo prudentissima" was full of sunshine and agentle energy, which flowed through the piece, phrase by phrase.Under Phillips' keen direction, the rhythm was propelled by someinner force of the text or the elusive melody.
For Allegri's "Miserere," the ensemble was split -- five onstageand four at the back of the theater -- giving an antiphonal andotherworldly effect to this heartrending plea for mercy.
It was followed by Hassler's less formal "O sacrum convivium,"Isaac's "Tota pulchra es," from the Bible's "Song of Songs" andIsaac's "Regina caeli," with merry alleluias.
Phillips saved Schutz's powerful, complex work "DeutchesMagnificat" for last. This piece was performed with particular zest,and the audience obviously appreciated this rare chance to hear suchmusic.
After seeing the Tallis Scholars, the Renaissance doesn't seemremote at all.
SAN FRANCISCO - The news that the drug hounds have finally beenunleashed on Roger Clemens sent me to the guy who knows somethingabout being chased.
So, I asked Barry Bonds, do you think Clemens will have his heelsnipped and his neck poked and his breath shortened like you?
"I like Roger, I respect Roger, so I won't comment on that," saidBonds, smiling. "But I'm feeling your question."
I then headed to the office of the guy who knows something aboutwatching this chase.
So, I asked Felipe Alou, will Clemens be subject to the samepublic condemnation and consistent scrutiny as Bonds?
"We'll have to wait and see," Alou said, also smiling. "But it'stough to catch a Rocket."
On the eve of the steroid era, a 34-year-old pitcher is sentpacking from his longtime team because, his boss says, "He's in thetwilight of his career."
One year later that pitcher increases his strikeout total by 35,throws the most innings in the last 10 years, and wins a Cy YoungAward.
And Roger Clemens is not above suspicion?
In the middle of the steroid clean-up period, a 44-year-oldpitcher sits out the first two months of the season whilecontemplating retirement.
Then he shows up in June and fashions the fourth-best ERA of hiscareer, finishing decimal points short of his career average ofstrikeouts per nine innings.
And Roger Clemens skates?
The revelation in Sunday's Los Angeles Times that Clemens' namewas among those that appeared in a search-warrant affidavit in aninvestigation of performance-enhancing drugs did not surprise anybodyin the game.
What happens next also will not surprise anybody.
Here's guessing nothing.
"What do you think is going to happen to him?" said one LosAngeles Dodger with a shrug.
Another Dodger jokingly climbed into an adjoining locker to avoidthe question.
Although Clemens' and Bonds' careers have taken the same arctoward eternal athletic life, they are perceived as differently as,well, white and black.
America does not want to believe the dirt on Clemens because he isa nice guy, a family guy, a good ol' guy and, let's be honest here, aCaucasian guy.
America likes its sport villains dark and moody and everythingthat has always been Bonds.
America doesn't like to be fooled.
So here's guessing America will brush off this new Clemens link asthe ramblings of a scared ballplayer (Jason Grimsley) or thehallucinations of an IRS special agent (Jeff Novitzky) or just somelate-season score in a game that has no effect on the standings.
Clemens has long since clinched America's love. His magic numberis zero. His immortality is assured.
He will remind everyone that he has never flunked a steroid test,even though the test cannot detect human growth hormone.
He will then retire, disappearing to a Texas ranch where he willbe careful to lose all Congressional hearings invitations.
The legendary cowboy pitcher will spend the rest of his life as acountry gentleman.
While Bonds will spend the rest of his life on the run.
It's not that Bonds is innocent. It has been written here thatthere is enough evidence linking him to steroid use that he shouldnot be voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But how could we not see that Clemens has followed the same oddstatistical path?
Everyone talks about how Bonds hit more than 40 home runs threetimes in his first 14 seasons, then four times in his next eightseasons, including a record 73 in 2001.
How come nobody talks about Clemens winning three Cy Young Awardsin his first 13 seasons, then four in his next eight seasons?
Everyone talks about the changes in Bonds' physical stature, thegiant head, the bulging neck.
As someone who covered Clemens in his rookie year in 1984, I canattest that he is much bigger and thicker today, his mass onlyincreasing with age.
When Bonds sat out most of last season because of injuries, folkswondered if he wasn't just dodging drug tests.
But when Clemens sat out the first two months of this seasonbefore re-signing with his old team, nobody said a word.
No, we don't know the extent of Clemens' involvement other thanthe mentioning of his name.
And, yes, it's unfair to charge him with anything beyond that.
Unlike Bonds, he has never been dragged in front of a steroid-searching grand jury, he has never been the subject of an indictment-filled book, and his personal trainer has never sat in jail toprotect his clients.
But now that the link has been revealed, serious questions shouldbe asked.
Not just of Roger Clemens, but of ourselves.
Madigan, in a brown pantsuit, flanked by men all wearing gray, was trying on the big stage to see how it fit.
It fit fine.
Madigan, along with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and others, outlined a series of steps the federal government is taking to crack down on scammers.
Unfortunately in this foreclosure crisis, mortgage "rescue" hustlers have found cons to play with all the new mortgage assistance the federal government is providing.
Of all the players in Illinois politics, Madigan's next move is the most important because it will have ripple impacts up and down the ticket.
She's a possible candidate for governor -- meaning she would face Gov. Quinn in a Democratic primary -- or could consider the Senate seat held by Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.). Burris is extremely vunerable to a primary challenge.
After the press conference, Madigan talked to two Chicago reporters.
I asked her if she were thinking about the Senate, and her answer will be found interesting by state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, who has already said he is running, and former Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, who is contemplating a bid.
Thinking about the Senate? I asked.
"Never given it any serious consideration, Lynn," Madigan said.
But you are considering running for governor?
"Correct," Madigan said.
Madigan only has 10 lawyers working on mortgage scams. It's tough. It's like "Whack a Mole," she said. Get rid of a scheme in Illinois and the operation pops up in Michigan.
Mortgage bottom feeders are giving Madigan a chance to show her stuff. She'll have to decide soon what to do with it.
Photo: Lisa Madigan and Tim Geithner. ;
WASHINGTON - Gen. David Petraeus went before a deeply divided Congress on Monday, the commander of 165,000 troops heckled and attacked by anti-war critics before he began to speak.
"Tell the truth, general," shouted protesters as the four-star general made his way into the crowded hearing room.
Petraeus did not respond, either to them or to the sole heckler who interrupted the session in its opening seconds.
"We're not going to have any disturbances," declared Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., who presided over the long-awaited hearing. "We're going to ask that they be immediately escorted out. Do that now. Out they go," he said.
Vancouver - Migenix Inc. says that its partner for the development and commercialization of MX-226 in North America and Europe, Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and the FDA have reached written agreement on a protocol for a Phase III clinical trial of MX-226, which, if successful, would support the approval of MX-226 for the prevention of catheter-related infections.
This agreement was reached under the PDA's special protocol assessment (SPA) process. In July 2004, Cadence licensed certain rights to MX-226 (known as CPI-226 at Cadence) from Migenix for the North American and European markets in a deal totalling US$32 million before a double-digit royalty on net sales. Cadence is preparing to initiate the second pivotal Phase III study of MX-226 in the third quarter of 2005 pursuant to the SPA.
To the behind-the-scenes pressures on lawmakers this week as theyredraw the state's political boundaries, add this: some members andstaff's work trips to Texas may be in danger if the speciallegislative session drags on.
Twelve House delegates and two senators and 16 legislativestaffers are approved to travel to San Antonio for the four-dayNational Conference of State Legislatures' annual summit, whichstarts Aug. 8.
But it's not clear if all of them will get to go if this week'sonce-in-a-decade redistricting session runs into next week.
Acting Senate President Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, said it wouldbe hard to get work done without the nine staff the Senate issending.
"I can't imagine we could function without the major committeestaff, the attorneys," he said.
House Speaker Rick Thompson, D-Wayne, told delegates to be"mindful" that they may be needed back in West Virginia.
Last week, "the Speaker reminded each member approved to go tothe conference that while he regrets any changes the special sessionmay cause to travel plans, he urges them to be mindful of thecrucial role each member plays in representing what is best for hisor her district and the state," said House spokeswoman StaceyRuckle. "That message of the importance of the work of this specialsession was also conveyed to those staff members approved to go."
House Majority Leader Brent Boggs, D-Kanawha, said that hewouldn't consider going unless redistricting is complete, Rucklesaid.
There had been some talk of starting the redistricting session inmid-August to avoid any conflicts with the summit, but leadershipapparently decided against that. Lawmakers were already scheduled tobe in Charleston this week for regular interim work sessions.
It's unclear how much the trips will weigh on lawmakers' minds asthey attempt to use 2010 Census data to draw state House and Senateand U.S. House districts that are nearly equal in population.
The NSCL conference is a packed four-days of information forlawmakers and staff. Panels and workshops cover wide ranging topics,from states' interaction with the federal government to health carepolicy to using iPads in the Legislature. This week the WestVirginia Senate is expected to announce it will use iPads on thefloor, something some members are already doing.
Two West Virginia lawmakers are part of panel discussions at thesummit in San Antonio. Delegate John Doyle, D-Jefferson, is part ofa panel titled, "Online Sales Taxes: Can They Be Collected?"Delegate Meshea Poore, D-Kanawha, is part of one titled, "SocialMedia and Mobile Technologies: Legislative Game-Changers."
This year's trip is likely to be more expensive than last year's,if only because the 2010 NCSL summit was in Louisville and peoplewere able to drive.
But there are also more people going this year than last,according to information provided by Ruckle and assistant Senateclerk Rick Winnell.
Last year, the House sent seven delegates instead of 12 and theSenate sent one senator instead of two.
The delegates who went last year racked up at $5,900 in travelexpenses, according to state records.
The Senate is also sending nine staffers, up from five in 2010.Some staff who have been advanced travel money have already beengiven $7,600.
Kessler said it was imperative for staff to be sent to theconference.
"I think it's as important or more important for staff to receivetraining than the legislators, because they're the ones who actuallyhave to work at writing the legislation," Kessler said.
The House is sending seven staff members from its importantFinance Committee. It's not clear how many House staff went lastyear.
Besides the education events, lawmakers and staff may also be indanger of missing some social events, including a "private after-hours tour of old San Antonio" and a "Texas Dancehall Revue."
The NCSL's website prepares summit attendees for the dance eventby saying,"Grab your cowboy hat and get ready for a boot scootin'good time. The dancehall is a central part of Texas heritage, and wewill honor its legacy by creating one of the biggest dancehallsyou'll ever see."
There will also be barbecue, armadillo races and performance byGrammy Award winner Ray Benson.
Depending on the timing, the Senate is planning to send Sens.Larry Edgell, D-Wetzel, and Doug Facemire, D-Braxton.
The House is planning to send Delegates Boggs; Doyle; Poore;Barbara Evans Fleischauer, D-Monongalia; Bobbie Hatfield, D-Kanawha; Charlene Marshall, D-Monongalia; Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh; DonPerdue, D-Wayne; Ralph Rodighiero, D-Logan; Dale Stephens, D-Cabell; Danny Wells, D-Kanawha; and Harry Keith White, D-Mingo.
Contact writer Ry Rivard at ry.rivard@dailymail.com or 304-348-1796.
Here's a sampling of the menu from Chicago's 11th annual CelebrityChef Brunch for charity: Rock shrimp cheesecake (Michael Jordan'sRestaurant) Pan fried oysters on creamed spinach with chipotlebearnaise (Don Juan's) Sushi taro tacos (Sam's American restaurant,Las Vegas) Ballotine of Wisconsin quail (Everest) Pizza with smokedsalmon and golden caviar (Spago) Warm souffleed chocolate crepes,Japanese yuzu butter (Trio) Gelato al Parmigiano-Reggiano (CocoPazzo)
Howard Stern never should have allowed his syndicated morningshow to air on WLUP-AM (1000) in the first place, his representativesaid Wednesday.
"We obviously did business with the wrong people," said New Yorkagent Don Buchwald, in reference to bosses of WLUP and parent companyEvergreen Media Corp., who abruptly dumped Stern's show after only 10months last Friday. "We made a mistake."
Setting the stage for what he called a "very aggressive legalchallenge," Buchwald said that the Loop and Evergreen had violatedStern's multiyear contract and would be sued "very soon" by Stern,Buchwald and Infinity Broadcasting Corp., which syndicates Stern'sshow.
"Before we're through, it could turn out that Howard owns an AMstation in Chicago, and (as his agent), I'll have 10 percent,"Buchwald said.
WLUP general manager Larry Wert declined to comment Wednesday.In announcing Stern's ouster last week, Wert said his show was "notcompatible with our station," citing Stern's mounting troubles withthe Federal Communications Commission - to the tune of $1.3 millionin fines for indecency.
Stern made his only comments on the cancellation during his showMonday, when he dismissed the FCC issue as a cover for impatiencewith his ratings.
Although Buchwald claimed Stern had "a number of opportunities"in Chicago before signing on with AM-1000, no other station here madea serious offer.
Infinity owns three stations in Chicago - WJMK-FM (104.3),WUSN-FM (99.5) and WJJD-AM (1160). But none is expected to pick upStern's show. Tuning in: Channel 2 `pulling back' The long nightmare isfinally over at WBBM-Channel 2, according to news anchor Bill Kurtis.Sensational news coverage and "screaming graphics" (intended byformer general manager Bill Applegate to hype the ratings)are givingway to more serious reporting and more responsible presentation undernew general manager Bob McGann. "We're pulling back to thetraditional middle of the road," an obviously relieved Kurtis toldWGN-AM (720) late-night host Ed Curran on Tuesday. As for themenacing voice that introduces Channel 2's newscasts, Kurtis added:"I'd love to put him out to pasture, too."
Harry Volkman returns to weekday weather duty next week with thelaunch of Channel 2's new noon newscast, anchored by Joan Lovett andPenny Daniels. No word yet on Volkman's replacement as weekendweatherman.
Chicago free-lance cameraman Steve Bernstein and soundman BobBaer shot the opening sequence, bumpers and exteriors for "TheBuilding," the new CBS comedy series set in Wrigleyville. Dialing: US-99 wins country honors
WUSN has been named 1993 major market station of the year by theCountry Music Association. The prestigious honor will be presentedon the nationally televised CMA Awards on Sept. 29 in Nashville. Inconjunction with the event, J.D. Spangler will broadcast his US-99morning show from Nashville Sept. 28 to 30.
Also at US-99, afternoon jock Big John Howell and his Born toBoogie Band will perform at Michael Jordan's celebrity golf classictomorrow in west suburban Woodridge.
WNVR-AM (1030), the north suburban station which boasts thecountry's only full-time commercial Polish-language format onweekdays, has expanded its Polish programming to weekends. Amongnew offerings are "Uncle Jerzy and Aunt Magda's Children's Hour,"hosted by Jerzy Jurek and Magdalena Szczydiel, at 1 p.m. Sundays.
Howard McGee hosts "Old School Sunday," a new showcase for funkhits of the '70s and '80s, from 8 to 10 p.m. Sundays on WGCI-FM(107.5). "This show is designed for the old `funkateers' who are nowdoctors and lawyers," said program boss Elroy Smith.
Nel Jackson, director of the Washington-based Ethics ResourceCenter, has been named director of development at WBEZ-FM (91.5).Also at the public radio outlet, Barbara Carney, membership andvolunteer program manager at the Museum of Science and Industry, hasbeen hired as membership director.
Dan Stone of WIMK-FM in Iron Mountain, Mich., has replaced DaveLeoschke as late-night jock on northwest suburban WCBR-FM (92.7).
Erv Jezek, program/operations director at WCLZ-FM in Portland,Maine, has been named assistant program director and music directorat the College of Du Page's WDCB-FM (90.9). Dona Mullen, eveningjazz host at WDCB, has been given additional duties as operationsassistant.
Chicago Sun-Times travel editor Jack Schnedler talks about hisnew guidebook, Chicago, with Ed Schwartz at 11 p.m. tomorrow onWLUP-AM (1000).
It can scale mountains in a single bound and wend its way down the most wretched roads. It is the mighty cell phone signal _ and the latest hope for bringing financial services to the world's masses who don't have access to banks.
Grameen Solutions, an affiliate of Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus' Grameen Bank, this week teamed with Obopay Inc., a for-profit mobile payment company based in California, to bring banking to a billion poor people using cell phones.
"Today, it's difficult to reach these people," Obopay India Executive Director Aditya Menon said at a news conference in India's financial capital, Mumbai. "If you solve that problem, you are enabling them to enter the economy."
The joint venture plans to launch pilot programs in India and Bangladesh in October and aims to reach 1 billion people globally by 2018, in large part by keeping costs ultra low _ possibly through the help of charitable foundations.
Obopay, whose partners include Verizon Wireless, Citigroup, BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. and AT&T Inc., is already active in the U.S., where customers who want to send money pay 10 cents per transaction. After opening an Obopay account, you can transfer money between bank accounts, credit cards and phones via text messages.
Obopay founder and CEO Carol Realini did not say what transaction fees would be for India and Bangladesh.
The announcement comes at a time of increasing convergence between telecom and financial services, especially in the developing world, where far more people have access to cell phones than banks. Mobile banking services have proven popular in the Philippines, Kenya and South Africa, for example.
The payoff could be big for companies providing these services. People who are now "unbanked" in China, India and Brazil alone could generate US$85 billion in banking revenue by 2015, according to an estimate by the Boston Consulting Group.
In January, India's ICICI Bank Ltd., the nation's second-largest bank, launched a mobile banking system. The State Bank of India, which has more than 100 million customers, many without Internet access, has tapped Indian telecom Spanco Telesystems & Solutions Ltd. to set up its mobile banking systems.
The Bank of India, another public sector bank, also plans to launch mobile services soon, allowing customers to transfer funds, pay bills and even buy movie tickets over the phone.
All, however, have to wait for the finalization of India's mobile banking guidelines, which the Reserve Bank of India says will happen soon. Reserve Bank spokeswoman Alpana Killawala says she can't specify when "soon" might be.
For now, then, Indian banks are restricted to offering informational services, like account balance and ATM locations.
Killawala emphasized that the Reserve Bank supports the nascent technology. She cited a pilot project with a women's group in a remote district of Andhara Pradesh, a largely rural state in southern India, where the participants, most of whom could not read and write, found the technology "convenient to use."
Dean Tong, a managing director at the Boston Consulting Group, said the idea began to accelerate about four years ago, partially by accident. When Globe Telecom Inc. let cell phone users in the Philippines transfer wireless minutes to each other, the mostly poor consumers turned the minutes into a currency.
Globe followed by introducing G-Cash, which lets customers transfer funds by text message.
Mobile banking could be another area in which the developing world leapfrogs the developed world, which is often constrained by expensive, pre-existing infrastructure. For example, countries like India and Cambodia have often skipped land lines in favor of installing mobile phone technology only.
Similarly, it's far easier to bolster rural cell coverage than it is to build countless bank branches to serve a billion people tucked away in remote areas. Already more than 3 billion people have mobile access, with emerging markets responsible for 85 percent of new connections, according to the GSM Association, a mobile phone trade group.
Still, hurdles remain for wider use of mobile banking. Mobile carriers must have broad enough coverage to connect urban and rural users, as many remittances come from urban migrants sending money back to their family villages. It can also be hard to convince villagers, many of whom are new to the concept of banking, that a virtual bank is a safe place to stash their hard-earned cash.
"The trust must be there," Tong said. "`Put your money here, and oh, by the way, there's nothing actually there.' That's a bit of a hard sell."
___
On the Net:
An EU peacekeeping helicopter belonging to the Spanish military crashed Thursday in Bosnia with four crew members on board, officials said.
The helicopter went down around midday north of the town of Travnik, said Lt. Cmdr. Kerry Corkett, a spokesman for the peacekeeping force, which is also known as EUFOR. The status of the crew was not immediately clear.
Spain's Defense Ministry said the helicopter belonged to its military and that it was carrying two Spaniards and two German officers as passengers. The ministry said the helicopter went down near the north-central city of Banja Luka.
The discrepancy in the location of the crash could not immediately be explained.
EUFOR later said the helicopter took off from Sarajevo on a routine flight at 11:30 a.m. (0930 GMT) and then issued a mayday call half an hour later.
"A second helicopter has confirmed smoke, but due to mountainous and heavily forested terrain nothing more could be confirmed," a EUFOR statement said. A rescue mission is under way and "we are not yet in a position to report on possible casualties."
No further details were immediately available.
Spain has 250 soldiers in the peacekeeping force in Bosnia, and Germany has 130.
If you were wondering how long it would take the Black Hawks tostart playing as if it mattered, the question was answered Sundaynight.
After 4,857 minutes of playing time this season, they startedplaying as if it mattered. They had to. It was time fordesperation.
"I don't know what else you'd call it," saiddefenseman-turned-right wing Keith Brown. "We were down 3-1 to theMaple Leafs and we had to at least tie to get into the playoffs. Weneeded two goals coming back in the third period, and it was now ornever."
With Brown's hitting providing the spark, the Hawks tied it ongoals by Dirk Graham and Bob Bassen 1:31 apart in the third period.
And when Troy Murray's shot hit the net 48 seconds into overtime,the Hawks had a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs at thetumultuous Stadium and the final playoff spot in the Norris Division.
The Hawks kept alive the NHL's second-longest streak of playoffappearances at 20 consecutive seasons. They open the playoffsWednesday night at Detroit against the first-place Red Wings.
"We get a new start," Hawks coach Mike Keenan said.
The Hawks looked as if they might be finished after two periods.The Leafs led 3-1 after Vincent Damphousse scored midway in the firstperiod, and Daniel Marois and Gary Leeman scored in the second.
And ex-Hawk Ed Olczyk almost put it away as the third periodbegan.
"I had a couple of chances to make it 4-1," said Olczyk, who wasstopped by goaltender Alain Chevrier. "If I score, we put the gameaway."
Then, about four minutes into the third period, Brown hopped overthe boards to play right wing with Murray and Bassen, and everythingchanged.
"We needed to do something to spark the hockey club," Keenansaid. "He's a good skater and he could forecheck aggressively."
Brown (6-1, 195), Murray (6-1, 195) and Bassen (5-9, 170) beganbanging bodies on the ice and lifting bodies from the seats.
"Brown's crunching body checks made the Stadium come alive,"Keenan said.
The Hawks came back to life when Denis Savard centered from thecorner and Graham buried a shot to bring them close at 5:14. Thendefenseman Trent Yawney sent the puck behind the net to Murray, whohit Bassen in the slot for the tying goal.
All the Hawks had to do was hold on for the tie, but Brown,Murray and Bassen weren't through. On their first shift inovertime, Toronto defenseman Todd Gill was loose with the puck in hisown end. When Murray grabbed it, turned around and hit the top ofthe net with his shot, everything broke loose.
"We were just forechecking, and he (Gill) started skating up thezone," Murray said. "I was just chasing him. I reached in front ofhim and pulled the puck back. His momentum carried him forward and Ihad to stop. I was one-on-one with the goaltender and I took a shotand it went in."
The Hawks mobbed Murray on the ice. On the bench, Savard jumpedinto Keenan's arms. When they adjourned to the dressing room, theplayer who got them started tried to shrug off what he had done.
"I just did whatever I could," Brown said. "I haven't got thegreatest hands in the world, I know that. I was up there (atforward) for a reason, and that's to hit, take the body andcontribute whatever I can to the team."
This time, it was the playoffs.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told an enthusiastic crowd of Hispanic Republicans on Friday that they are "living proof" of the benefits of legal immigration but called for toughening enforcement on illegal immigration.
"Our country must do a better job of securing its borders and as president, I will," the former Massachusetts governor told a meeting of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly of Florida.
Although he never mentioned Rick Perry's name, Romney clearly was trying to draw a contrast with a chief rival for the GOP nomination. Perry, Texas' longest-serving governor, has been criticized by some fellow conservatives as being too lenient on illegal immigration issues.
Perry now is leading Romney in several national polls some five months before the first votes are cast, and Romney is seeking to make the case — subtly for now — that Perry is not as conservative as he is on the hot-button issue of illegal immigration.
To that end, Romney declared: "We must stop providing the incentives that promote illegal immigration."
He argued that the federal government must "get tough" on employers who hire illegal immigrants and said that when he was Massachusetts' governor, he vetoed legislation that would have provided in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants and beefed up the powers of state troopers to enforce immigration laws.
Romney also said he supported "completing construction of a high-tech fence" along the US-Mexico border.
A physical fence was built in spots along 2,100-mile border from California to Texas. But a virtual fence along the Mexican border was officially abandoned in January. The project was originally expected to be in place by this year. Instead, only about 53 miles of operational "virtual fence" was put in place in Arizona at a cost of about $15 million a mile.
Perry does not think the U.S. should build a wall spanning the entire Mexican border. And some conservatives cringe at Perry's support of discounted tuition rates for the children of illegal immigrants at Texas universities as well as his comment that Arizona's tough-on-immigration law wouldn't be right for Texas.
Beyond the contrast with Perry, the event underscored the importance of Hispanic voters to Republican candidates — there are about 138,000 more Hispanics registered as Democrats in Florida than are registered as Republicans. Romney's remarks clearly resonated with the group.
"The people who came to America did not come for a handout. They came here for opportunity," Romney said. "That is not what brought people to these shores."
Later in the morning, Romney opened his Florida campaign headquarters in Tampa, just a few blocks from where the GOP convention will be held in August of 2012.
Florida Democrats were quick to jump on Romney's Tampa events and his remarks.
During a conference call held an hour and a half after Romney left his state headquarters, State Rep. Darren Soto of Orlando said Romney has flip-flopped on many issues, including immigration, but didn't specify.
Following his stops in Florida, Romney was scheduled to travel to New Hampshire, where he is speaking to a Tea Party Express event
.___
Follow Tamara Lush on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tamaralush.
The Palestinian president on Wednesday said the Gaza attacks were war crimes for which Israeli officials should be held accountable, but he insisted he would continue seeking a lasting peace with Israel.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas _ who is on a European tour seeking support for a unity government _ gave a speech at EU Parliament detailing the suffering of Gaza's civilians during Israel's three-week offensive targeting Hamas militants.
He said he would push for a war crimes investigation into the Israeli attacks, which ended Jan. 18. When he said he held Israel's leaders accountable, he was applauded by European lawmakers.
"People who committed those crimes have to be held responsible so that these crimes cannot be repeated," he told reporters after the speech.
"We do not want to continue to be the enemies of Israel. We are stretching out our hand for peace with Israel. But what was done is regretfully crimes of war."
He also denounced Hamas' rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel, which triggered the Israeli offensive.
"I have condemned such rocket attacks for years, and I still condemn them," he said. "They do not go in the direction of peace."
But Abbas said there was no comparison between the Israeli offensive and rocket attacks such as the one Tuesday morning that hit Israel's coastal city of Ashkelon, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Gaza. Vehicles and buildings were damaged, but no one in the 122,000-population city was hurt.
Abbas, whose government controls the West Bank, also told European lawmakers he was committed to reuniting Palestinians and reconciling with Hamas, which controls Gaza.
"Our doors are still open" to a unity government with Hamas, he said.
He said such a union would allow Hamas to be part of an effective cease-fire with Israel, but added that "Hamas is capable of respecting a period of calm, whether in government or not."
All 13 Formula One teams will unveil their 2010 cars in a joint launch next month in Valencia, Spain.
Mercedes GP chief executive Nick Fry told a conference on Thursday that the launch will be "a proper event."
The date for the launch has not yet been decided, but is set to take place just before the first testing session of the season at the Cheste Circuit in Valencia.
Amaury Pi-Gonz�lez ha sido un pionero en establecer el juego de b�isbol en la radio hispana y ha sido elegido para entrar en esa organizaci�n de prestigio.
Originario de Cuba, Amaury previamente trabaj� como locutor de deportes para Telemundo en San Jos� California y fue la voz en espa�ol para el "NBA Golden State Warriors" de 1992 hasta 1999. Entr� en el "Cuban Sports Hall of Fame" en 2004 y en el "Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum" en el 2004.
Comenz� su carrera en 1977 con los Oakland A's y tambi�n locut� para los Gigantes de San Francisco, "Seattle Mariners" y "Los Angeles Angels".
Amaury es un contribuidor para El Bohemio News con su columna de b�isbol y agradece a nuestros lectores sus votos de confianza para haber recibido este prestigioso galard�n del "Hall of Fame".
Prominent conservative scholar Thomas Sowell today beginscontributing to our Commentary pages. A senior fellow at the HooverInstitute in Stanford, Calif., Sowell has written several books,including A …
"Dr. Phil" McGraw said Monday on his syndicated talk show that he isn't sorry for trying to help Britney Spears while she was hospitalized after a standoff in which she refused to return her two young sons to her ex-husband's bodyguard.
McGraw said he had planned to do a show on Spears' troubles before she was hospitalized Jan 3. Furthermore, he said Spears' mother, Lynne, had planned to participate.
He said they never intended to have Spears on the show, and they certainly never discussed staging an intervention with Spears.
He said he does not apologize for reaching out to a friend, and has been friends with the Spears family since …
face=+Bold; Today's FJ Cruiser attempts to capture the grit of the company's post Second World War workhorse that became one of the most durable and desireble off-roaders of all timeface=-Bold;
By Malcolm Gunn
THE only thing the well-equipped FJ Cruiser that Toyota sells today shares with the original Land Cruiser produced more than 40 years ago is the name.
However, it was the one sport-utility vehicle that helped put the automaker on the map and created a worldwide following for this durable little truck.
From its bare-bones beginnings, the Land Cruiser has slowly but steadily evolved into a cushy, king-size off-roader. More recently, Toyota recognized the …
Land Cruiserface=+Bold; Today's FJ Cruiser attempts to capture the grit of the company's post Second World War workhorse that became one of the most durable and desireble off-roaders of all timeface=-Bold;
By Malcolm Gunn
THE only thing the well-equipped FJ Cruiser that Toyota sells today shares with the original Land Cruiser produced more than 40 years ago is the name.
However, it was the one sport-utility vehicle that helped put the automaker on the map and created a worldwide following for this durable little truck.
From its bare-bones beginnings, the Land Cruiser has slowly but steadily evolved into a cushy, king-size off-roader. More recently, Toyota recognized the …
The union at Glatfelter's paper plant in York County made history in November. For the first time in its 30 years, the union signed a contract before it expired.
Union and management officials credit interest-based bargaining - a technique that allows both sides to focus on issues rather than personalities. The process has been around since the 1960s, but only 15 percent of companies make use of it nationwide, said James Thomas, a commissioner with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service office in Mechanicsburg.
Wilbur Chocolate Co. in Lititz is using the technique in its contract negotiations, even though the company's contract expired in April.
Thomas said …
Auto Business News-December 8, 2011--Car and Driver honours Audi A6 and A7(C)1994-2011 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk
Auto Business News - 08 December 2011
Car and Driver, an automotive news magazine, has recognised the Audi A6 and A7 in its list of the 10 best cars under USD80,000.
The models were chosen based on their design and technology.
Eddie Alterman, editor-in-chief, Car and Driver, said, 'As in years …
Byline: Pete Dougherty Staff writer
As the second half dragged through the night, football fans at Giants Stadium stayed entertained by volleyball with an inflatable pumpkin. Scuffed and punctured, the pumpkin still survived Monday night better than the New York Jets.
In what amounted to an unmasking two weeks before Halloween, the Jets were shredded by Jim Kelly and the division-leading Buffalo Bills, 37-14. It was the Jets' third consecutive winless game, one that took a form more expected of coach Joe Walton's team in the preseason analysis.
A three-game winning streak, which some believed was a gauge of progress, now seems only to have covered …
Byline: Jeannie H. Cross United Press International
Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Thursday resubmitted legislation to break all state ties to companies that do business in South Africa to protest the county's "deliberate ... system of institutionalized racial segregation and oppression."
The state comptroller's office said the bill would force it to dump $7.6 billion in pension fund investments, or roughly 20 percent of the state's $38 billion governmental employees' pension system.
The measure has repeatedly been approved by the Democrat-controlled state Assembly, but defeated in the Republican-run Senate.
Cuomo said he wants New York to join the 21 …
A French court was set to rule Monday on who was responsible for a deadly accident on the world's largest ocean liner, the Queen Mary 2, before it set off on its maiden voyage.
A walkway collapsed in November 2003 during visitors day at the shipyard in Saint-Nazaire in western France, killing 15 and injuring 29 people weeks before the ship's first trip. In 2005, another person died of injuries sustained in the accident.
The verdict at the Saint-Nazaire court follows two weeks of testimony in October by families of victims and employees of the companies that built the ship and the walkway.
The company that built the ocean …
You think you've seen it all - the Kissing Cousins, theShop-oholics, the Sex Addicts, the Men Who Date Their Son'sGirlfriends. Then you realize there's one aberrant behavior you'venever seen trotted out and analyzed on the daytime talk show circuit.One group that has yet to start a self-help organization. One groupthat hasn't been treated to an instant television analysis.
It's the Men and Women who Go on Talk Shows and Bare TheirSouls.
Why do they do it? What exhibitionistic compulsion leads thesepeople to share their pain, re-live their most embarrassing momentsor confess their failings on national television? When Oprah flashesan 800 number, soliciting guests …
Located in El Paso, Texas, Terry Smith is a CBA performing certified business appraisals of all business categories. Terry is also a Certified Business Intermediary and has an MBA in Finance. He has been an adjunct professor teaching financial management in an MBA and MHA programs for over 20 years, plus has extensive business experience in manufacturing, health care, and general business operations.
Certifications/Credentials: …
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
PlateSelect RNAi duplexes (Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, CA) offer the ability to customize 96 well-plates with the company's chemically modified Stealth or standard BLOCK-iT RNAi duplexes. Customized plates can be developed using a Web interface, and anywhere from one to 96 different duplexes can be ordered in …
THURSDAY: Two doctors testifying for the defense dispute testimony of the medical examiner that Diallo was paralyzed by an early shot and fell. The defense wins motion to show jury videotape with seemingly contradictory statements by the eyewitness who said Diallo was under fire mostly when he was down. TODAY: No court session. Testimony is scheduled to resume Monday, and the defense could wrap up …
Barbados is seeking US$4 million from the Inter-American Development Bank for Modernization of the Barbados National Standards System (BA-L1006), to support institutional strengthening in order to better meet challenges posed by the sub-regional integration and globalization. …
Nokia shares soared nearly 10 percent Thursday despite a plunge in first-quarter profits as the cellular powerhouse maintained its market outlook and sold more mobile phones than analysts had expected.
The world's top mobile phone maker said net profit was only euro122 million ($161 million), compared to euro1.2 billion in the same period last year.
Sales fell 27 percent to euro9.3 billion ($12.2 billion), from euro12.7 billion in the first quarter of 2008.
Both figures came in below expectations but investors were relieved that Nokia stuck to its projections for the global mobile phone market and its target of boosting market share this year. …
Boy, it's kinda tough, sometimes, to know what to do. When we were on our way, recently, to a health-foods convention, in Baltimore (a city I love), my November editorial "The safety of 5-HTP" was already "in press," and it was tempting to think that we, as an indsutry, were pretty much on top of things.
For this December editorial I was hoping for a chance to put down the musket and flag. To reflect on the good things. To offer a message of thanksgiving, and of cheer, and of the many things which unite us - consumers, our health-foods industry, our government agencies (such as the FDA) which we pay to protect us, and (even) the medical journals which report the research that …
Oil of Olay skincare range Procter & Gamble is renaming its Oil of Ulay skincare products as Oil of Olay, a brand already familiar elsewhere in Europe. Other variations of the brand -- such as Oil of Olaz -- will also be phased out gradually. At the same time the cosmetics range will be relaunched as Olay Colour. The UK is the first European market to implement the change which is part of a global initiative to consolidate the …
Byline: Boonsong Kositchotethana
Sep. 5--If the volatility in global stock markets begins to affect the wider economy, the spin-off effect will drag down air travel demand, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned.
However, the impact of market turmoil so far has been confined to the financial sector.
The current view is that borrowing difficulties could slow growth but will not end the solid gains in the overall economy and airline markets seen in recent years, said economists at the Geneva-based group that represents more than 250 airlines.
The global economic environment is still positive for air passenger and …
GRAFTON An elderly Troy woman was killed Sunday afternoon when the car she was traveling in ran off Route 2 near Josh Hall Pond Road, police said.
Helen Gervasio, 73, whose address was not immediately available, died at Albany Medical Center Hospital from injuries sustained in the accident, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department. Her husband, Joseph Gervasio, 74, the driver, was also injured and was …
Top rankings in Strategic Vision Inc.'s 2009 Total Quality Index:
Small car: Ford Focus Sedan
Small multifunction: Volkswagen Rabbit
Medium car: Volkswagen Jetta
Large car: (tie) Nissan Maxima, Pontiac G8
Near-luxury car: (tie) Volkswagen CC, Audi A-4 Sedan
Luxury car: Mercedes S-Class
Small specialty Coupe: Volkswagen New Beetle
Premium Coupe: Chevrolet Corvette
Minivan: Honda Odyssey
…
SPRINGFIELD Downstate farmer Glenn Meyer can take down a signthat's been in front of his house warning passersby he is a convictedfelon after the Illinois Supreme Court today struck down that portionof his sentence.
"This is just a total shock to me, just about as much of a shockas when I was told to put up that sign," Meyer said when informed ofthe court's decision.
"Everybody who knew me knew this was ridiculous. . . . This isprobably the most ridiculous thing that has happened in moderntimes," Meyer said.Meyer, 62, who lives near Pittsfield in western Illinois, wasordered to post a sign near his farmhouse reading: "Warning! Aviolent felon lives here. Enter …
BETHLEHEM -- For four decades, Karen Junco's family buried relatives in the Holy Spirit Lutheran Cemetery. Recently, they were disturbed to discover someone was desecrating their ancestors' graves.
Six concrete flower urns have been taken from the graves of Junco's relatives at the tiny Feura Bush Road cemetery, and Junco wants to know why. Four were discovered missing on May 20, and two more from her grandparents' lots apparently vanished on May 27.
"It's like losing them all over again," she said, calling the crimes "sick and disturbing."
To prevent more thefts, she removed urns from the graves of her mother and brother.
"Times are …
Byline: Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court made it tougher for victims of police brutality to successfully sue local governments, holding in a sharply divided 5-4 ruling that a municipality cannot be held liable for an officer's actions even if he had a history of assault before being hired.
The decision's impact goes beyond excessive police force disputes and would affect cases filed over any violation of a federally protected civil right. The court, in an opinion signed by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, said a victim must show that a city or county consciously disregarded the risk of hiring a person and that the injuries were a ``plainly obvious …
Backup quarterback Brandon Miley threw a touchdown pass with 2:23 left in the game to help Presbyterian hold off North Greenville 22-15.
Miley completed 12 of 16 passes for 101 yards with one touchdown and an interception after coming in for Tim Webb, who was 9 of 14 passing with 100 yards and a touchdown for the Blue Hose (2-4).
Matt Moore rushed 20 times for 132 yards and a score for the Division II Crusaders (1-5), who outgained the Blue Hose 431-315.
Webb opened the scoring with his 28-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Clark at 3:43 in the first quarter. Nineteen seconds later, …
