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Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom divorce papers prepared

Lisa.Felice
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Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom divorce papers prepared

Khloe Kardashian has reportedly prepared divorce papers to end her marriage to Lamar Odom following secret talks with a lawyer, according to RadarOnline.com.

Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom’s 4-year marriage has been rocked by claims the ex-NBA star was unfaithful with at least three women.

Khloe Kardashian has reportedly prepared divorce papers to end her marriage to Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian has reportedly prepared divorce papers to end her marriage to Lamar Odom

Twenty-nine-year-old graduate student Sandy Schultz was the third woman to come forward to expose her affair with Lamar Odom, 33, after accounts by mistresses Polina Polonsky and Jennifer Richardson.

Kim Kardashian, 29, has been on a roller coaster of emotions since Lamar Odom’s cheating and serial drug use was exposed.

At one point, Khloe Kardashian was so desperate to save her marriage that she considered getting pregnant as a last-ditch effort to stop Lamar Odom’s destructive behavior.

Al-Shabab militant base attacked from sea in Somalia

Roy Siemens
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Al-Shabab militant base attacked from sea in Somalia

Unidentified foreign forces have launched a night-time raid on an al-Shabab militant base in the south Somali town of Barawe from the sea, reports say.

A fighter had been killed in the raid, a spokesman for the al-Shabab Islamist group told Reuters news agency.

Reports speak of residents in the militant-controlled town being woken by heavy gunfire before dawn prayers.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility last month for a deadly attack on a Kenyan shopping mall.

At least 67 people were killed after militants stormed the Westgate mall in the capital, Nairobi, on September 21.

Unidentified foreign forces have launched a night-time raid on an al-Shabab militant base in the south Somali town of Barawe from the sea
Unidentified foreign forces have launched a night-time raid on an al-Shabab militant base in the south Somali town of Barawe from the sea

An unnamed Somali intelligence official told the Associated Press that the targets of Saturday’s raid had been “high-profile” foreigners. The source did not say which country had carried out the operation.

Both US and French special forces have carried out raids on coastal targets in Somalia in recent years.

There was no immediate comment on Saturday’s alleged attack in Barawe from the Western-backed authorities in Somalia.

According to the Somali news website Midnimo, two helicopters were also involved in the raid.

“Westerners in boats attacked our base at Barawe beach and one was martyred from our side,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, described as al-Shabab’s spokesman for military operations, told Reuters by telephone.

Another al-Shabab member, named as Abu Mohamed, told AP that “foreign” soldiers had attacked a house in Barawe.

Militants rushed to the scene to capture a foreign soldier but were unsuccessful, he added.

Western navies tasked with fighting piracy patrol the seas off Somalia, which has been beset by conflict for more than two decades.

In 2009, US Navy commandos attacked and killed an al-Qaeda leader, Kenyan-born Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, in a daylight raid on Barawe.

Washington has also used drones in Somalia to support the government and African Union forces in their battle against al-Shabab.

France carried out an unsuccessful raid to free a French intelligence agent in January. Two French commandos were killed and al-Shabab later reported that it had killed the agent.

US shutdown postpones EU free trade pact negotiations

Clyde K. Valle
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US shutdown postpones EU free trade pact negotiations

US and EU negotiations on a sweeping free trade pact have been postponed because of a partial government shutdown in America.

US officials had been due in Brussels next week to discuss the deal aimed at boosting bilateral ties.

President Barack Obama earlier cancelled his trip to Asia because of the shutdown.

The US government closed non-essential operations on Tuesday after Congress failed to agree a new budget.

US and EU negotiations on a sweeping free trade pact have been postponed because of a partial government shutdown in America
US and EU negotiations on a sweeping free trade pact have been postponed because of a partial government shutdown in America

Since then hundreds of thousands of government employees have not been working or paid.

On Friday, US trade representative Michael Froman informed the EU that financial and staffing constraints made it impossible to send a full negotiating team to Brussels.

But he stressed that Washington would continue working with the EU on drawing up the deal, but would have to wait until the shutdown was over.

Reacting to the US announcement, European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht said the delay was unfortunate.

“But let me underline that it in no way distracts us from our overall aim of achieving an ambitious trade and investment deal,” he added.

Meanwhile, the White House said that Barack Obama would miss two summits in Asia, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Indonesia.

It said the decision was made due to the “difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown”.

The US government partially shut down operations on Tuesday after Republicans who control the House of Representatives refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law was delayed or stripped of funding.

Ross Ulbricht: Silk Road mastermind appears in San Francisco court

Nancy Clayson
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Ross Ulbricht: Silk Road mastermind appears in San Francisco court

Ross Ulbricht, the alleged mastermind behind the online illegal drugs marketplace Silk Road, is too dangerous to be bailed, US prosecutors have said.

Ross Ulbricht, 29, was arrested this week and is charged with being the administrator of Silk Road site which has now been shut down.

He is also accused of trying to arrange the killing of one of the site’s users.

Ross Ulbricht was arrested this week and is charged with being the administrator of Silk Road site which has now been shut down
Ross Ulbricht was arrested this week and is charged with being the administrator of Silk Road site which has now been shut down

“We deny all charges and that is the end of the discussion at this point,” Ross Ulbricht’s lawyer said.

Ross Ulbricht appeared in a San Francisco court on Friday wearing a green T-shirt under red jail clothes and had his ankles shackled.

A request from Ross Ulbricht’s legal team for his bail hearing to be pushed back was granted – it will now take place on October 9.

Federal magistrate Joseph Spero asked Ross Ulbricht’s lawyer Brandon LeBlanc whether seeing the criminal indictment that included a murder-for-hire charge had “changed his calculus” on whether he thought Ulbricht would be granted bail.

As part of its criminal complaint, the FBI alleged that Ross Ulbricht had sought to pay a Silk Road user to kill another user who had threatened to expose details of the site’s users.

Prosecutors opposed the delay, arguing that Ross Ulbricht represented a danger to the community, and that there was a high likelihood that he may attempt to flee.

The Silk Road was a well-known destination on Tor, a so-called “dark web” service that anonymizes users, making it much more difficult for authorities to track locations.

The Silk Road sold a range of items, but was most famous for offering a host of illegal drugs, paid for using virtual currency Bitcoin.

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Giuliana Rancic weight criticized online

Lisa.Felice
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Giuliana Rancic weight criticized online

Giuliana Rancic has become the latest victim of cyber bullies who have labeled her too skinny.

The E! presenter is defending her slender frame by insisting she is healthy, but has a fast metabolism.

Giuliana Rancic, 39, responded to criticism over her weight in an interview with HuffPost Live, admitting that she was dumbfounded why so many people are fascinated by her tiny frame.

Giuliana Rancic has hit back at cyber bullies who have labeled her too skinny
Giuliana Rancic has hit back at cyber bullies who have labeled her too skinny

She said: “I know the truth.  Know that I eat a lot and I take walks and I have a faster metabolism.”

Giuliana Rancic decided to speak on the matter after receiving a barrage of negative comments after posting a photo of herself and Jack Osbourne taken during filming for Dancing With The Stars on Twitter.

In the picture Giuliana Rancic’s figure is dwarfed by the father-of-one, which prompted a flurry of tweets from followers urging the mother-of-one to eat more food.

“All these people were commenting, <<She’s so skinny, eat a sandwich, eat a burger>>, and it was interesting,” she added.

“I don’t respond but so many people get really upset and they’re like, <<Oh really? Eat a sandwich?>> What a great comment. Or people say, <<She’s been through cancer>>. Really? That’s what you’re going to put out?”

Giuliana Rancic, who beat breast cancer two years ago, seemed happy enough to shrug off the comments, adding that she would only feel upset if there were any truth to them.

Hobbit trilogy costs more than $500 million so far

Sonia Pantiss
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Hobbit trilogy costs more than $500 million so far

The Hobbit trilogy has reportedly cost $561 million so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the The Lord of the Rings series.

The figure includes the major 266 days of filming with actors that was completed last year, although it doesn’t include an additional two months or so of “pick-up” shoots done this year. There will likely also be additional post-production costs as the next two movies are completed.

Through March 31, production had cost 676 million New Zealand dollars, or $561 million at current exchange rates, according to financial documents filed Friday in New Zealand, where the movies are being made.

Distributor Warner Bros. and director Peter Jackson may consider it money well spent. To date, only the first movie in the latest trilogy has been released.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey took in just over $1 billion at the box office.

The Hobbit trilogy has cost $561 million so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the The Lord of the Rings series
The Hobbit trilogy has cost $561 million so far, double the amount spent on the three movies in the The Lord of the Rings series

The documents, filed online by New Zealand’s Companies Office, provide a rare insight into the exact costs of a blockbuster Hollywood production. Often studios release only rough estimates, if anything.

When making the trilogy, Warner Bros. created a wholly-owned New Zealand company it named 3 Foot 7 Ltd., in reference to the diminutive stature of the movie’s hobbits and dwarves. Company documents show that New Zealand taxpayers have so far contributed NZ$98 million to the trilogy through an incentive scheme designed to attract big budget movies to the country. Such schemes are common among U.S. states and foreign countries that compete for movies.

The trilogy also appears to be one of the most expensive movie productions in which two or more movies are shot at the same time.

Both Box Office Mojo and Guinness World Records estimate the most expensive single movie ever made was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End with an estimated $300 million production tag. That movie, in conjunction with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – which was shot at the same time – held the previous record for the most expensive total production, costing an estimated $450 million to $525 million.

According to Box Office Mojo, Peter Jackson’s previous trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, cost a total $281 million to make. The Star Wars prequel trilogy, meanwhile, cost $343 million, according to Box Office Mojo, which tracks movie costs and box office receipts.

In making The Hobbit, New Zealand director Peter Jackson chose to shoot both in 3D and at 48 frames per second, rather than the standard 24, in the hopes of giving audiences greater picture clarity and a more immersive experience. Both techniques added significant expense. The higher frames per second received mixed reviews, as did the movie itself, which starred Martin Freeman as the title character.

The trilogy is based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel of the same name and traces the adventures of hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he attempts to help a group of dwarves regain their wealth and stature from the dragon Smaug. The Hobbit is the precursor to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, which was made into a movie trilogy that was also directed by Peter Jackson.

The second movie in the latest series, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is due out in December 2013 while the final movie, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is due out in December 2014.

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Reece Scobie: Real life Catch Me If You Can teenager sent to jail for 16 months

Nancy Clayson
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Reece Scobie: Real life Catch Me If You Can teenager sent to jail for 16 months

One of Leonardo DiCaprio s most showy characters came in his performance of real life fraudster Frank Abagnale Jr. in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can.

Frank Abagnale Jr. conned millions of dollars worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, as well as other misleading professions.

Now 19-year-old Reece Scobie from Perthshire, UK, has followed in suit and globe trotted all over the world. Instead of earning an Oscar nomination, this teen has wound up in jail for sixteen months.

Reece Scobie is being described as a “boderline genius” with Asperger’s Syndrome.

It was reported that Reece Scobie, much like Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Catch Me If You Can, flew all over the world to the tune of $110,000. In order to get around Reece Scobie used aliases to jet set all over and to stay at hotels without paying a cent.

Reece Scobie is being described as a “boderline genius” with Asperger’s Syndrome
Reece Scobie is being described as a “boderline genius” with Asperger’s Syndrome

The teen lived with his mother at the time, and decided to target travel firms like Cambridge Business Travel during his fraud. The flights he booked included trips to Atlanta, New York, Auckland, and Abu Dhabi. Reece Scobie also stayed in posh hotels, living the high life in the rooms where most celebrities stayed in.

During his hearing Reece Scobie conned the court staff to return his passport, which at the time was confiscated under bail. Reece Scobie isn’t comparing himself to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, but everyone else is. His solicitor Jim Laverty has called him Frank Abagnale Jr. for living up an incredible life while involving himself in fraud.

Jim Laverty explained the easy comparison to Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, as he told the Perth Sheriff Court of Reece Scobie’s transgressions: “While the life of Mr. Abagnale was shown by Leo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can, I don’t think the gauntlet thrown down by him was the same gauntlet thrown down by Mr. Scobie, who was fairly easily traceable.”

How did Reece Scobie commit fraud?

Reece Scobie acquired a job with a travel agency Thomson Travel in Perth. The teen worked at the agency for two months, but then continued to use the passwords given to him in order to book flights and hotels for himself.

Reece Scobie admitted to three charges of fraud, two at his old job, and the third between July 2011 and January 2012.

Kim Kardashian shares North West second picture

Lisa.Felice
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Kim Kardashian shares North West second picture

Kim Kardashian took to Instagram to share a second photo of baby North West, on Friday, October 4.

The 4-month-old tyke is completely swaddled and lies upon what appears to be a white fur throw.

Kim Kardashian took to Instagram to share a second photo of baby North West
Kim Kardashian took to Instagram to share a second photo of baby North West

As she is back from Paris, Kim Kardashian, 32, wrote: “I missed waking up with my little angel.”

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, 36, flew from L.A. last Friday to France to check out Paris Fashion Week – and finally debut her post-baby body and fashion sense to cameras in one eye-catching look after another.

This was the first time Kim Kardashian has been away from the baby and the reality star wore a gold “Nori” necklace around her neck while hanging out in Paris.

Egypt: Clashes at pro-Morsi demonstrations in Cairo and other cities

Roy Siemens
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Egypt: Clashes at pro-Morsi demonstrations in Cairo and other cities

Clashes between former President Mohamed Morsi’s supporters and Egyptian troops have erupted in Cairo and other cities on Friday.

Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard in the centre of Cairo and tear gas was used. The government denied reports that a protester was killed.

Troops were out in force to prevent the protesters reaching Tahrir Square.

State TV reported further clashes in the northern Sharqiya district and to the east in Giza, as well as in the northern port city of Alexandria.

There were also reports of clashes between pro-Morsi demonstrators and civilian supporters of the military government.

One demonstrator was killed in the centre of the capital, according to some reports, although state TV carried a statement from the health ministry denying anyone had died.

Hundreds of Islamist protesters have died in violence since the Egyptian military deposed Mohamed Morsi in July.

Hundreds of Islamist protesters have died in violence since the Egyptian military deposed Mohamed Morsi in July
Hundreds of Islamist protesters have died in violence since the Egyptian military deposed Mohamed Morsi in July

Thousands of members of the Muslim Brotherhood have also been detained over the past two months.

Several senior figures, including Mohamed Morsi and the movement’s general guide Mohammed Badie, are being held on charges such as incitement to violence and murder.

The authorities portray the crackdown as a struggle against “terrorism”.

Protesters in the capital’s Agouza district were chanting “Rabaa, Rabaa”, a reference to the square next to the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque where a sit-in was cleared by force in August.

Later, security forces fired tear gas at Morsi supporters as they tried to march towards Tahrir Square, the focus of the mass protests against Mohamed Morsi and his predecessor, Hosni Mubarak.

Troops also took up positions on both sides of Qasr al-Nil Bridge, which leads to the square from the Zamalek district.

Before Friday’s clashes, soldiers and police had tightened security around key sites in Cairo, including Tahrir Square.

Mohamed Morsi supporters have said they will be intensifying their demonstrations in the lead-up to Sunday’s 40th anniversary of the 1973 Arab-Israeli war.

Opponents who back the army have also said they will take to the streets.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Brotherhood sharply criticized the officers behind the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, comparing them to Adolf Hitler, the Roman emperor Nero and the Mongol conqueror Hulagu Khan.

It urged Egyptian soldiers to rebel and said it hoped that Sunday would mark a “victory by the people over those who staged a coup against them for personal gain”.

On Thursday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, held talks with armed forces chief General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and interim President Adly Mansour, as well as with religious leaders.

“I got a real sense of everyone really trying to go forward in the right way,” she told reporters afterwards.

The previous day, a 16-year-old boy was killed in clashes between Mohamed Morsi supporters and opponents in the Red Sea city of Suez.

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Italian Senate cross-party panel recommends Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion

Diane A. Wade
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Italian Senate cross-party panel recommends Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion

A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has recommended former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion from the chamber over his conviction for tax fraud.

The call to expel Silvio Berlusconi who dominated politics for nearly two decades in Italy is expected to go before the Senate within three weeks.

Silvio Berlusconi threatened to topple the coalition government over the issue but backed down during a confidence vote.

He accused the Senate panel of bias and stayed away from its deliberations.

The media tycoon was convicted of tax fraud in October 2012 over deals his firm Mediaset made to purchase TV rights to US films. The sentence was upheld in August.

The threat to PM Enrico Letta’s fragile coalition alarmed political leaders and markets alike in the eurozone, where Italy has the third-biggest economy and is struggling to address a huge national debt.

A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has recommended Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion from the chamber over his conviction for tax fraud
A cross-party panel of the Italian Senate has recommended Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion from the chamber over his conviction for tax fraud

Silvio Berlusconi dismissed the panel, which is dominated by his political opponents, as biased against him.

“There is no possibility of any defense and there is no reason to appear before a body which has already announced what decision it is going to take through the press,” he said in a statement issued through his lawyers.

Representatives of both PM Enrico Letta’s centre-left Democratic Party and Silvio Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (PdL) party sit on the 23-strong Senate committee on elections and parliamentary immunity.

However, PdL members make up just over a quarter of the total.

Silvio Berlusconi emerged from Wednesday’s confidence vote a weakened figure with his capacity to influence Italian politics diminished.

Ousted from power in 2011, the 77-year-old billionaire nearly came back again earlier this year after an effective election campaign won him almost a third of the vote but legal troubles quickly beset him.

Silvio Berlusconi will have to serve a one-year sentence for his tax conviction, probably under house arrest or via community service because of his age.

In addition, Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and of a breach of confidentiality over a police wiretap. He is appealing against both convictions.

Pope Francis condemns Roman Catholic Church’s narcissistic view of religion

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis condemns Roman Catholic Church’s narcissistic view of religion

Pope Francis has once again condemning the Roman Catholic Church’s narcissistic “Vatican-centric view” of religion.

Pope Francis, who was elected earlier this year after Pope Benedict’s resignation, has been praised for his comments since taking the position.

During a discussion with the atheist editor of La Repubblica, an Italian newspaper, Pope Francis once again made it clear that he is looking to reform the church.

The Pontiff commented: “This Vatican-centric view neglects the world around us. I don not share this view and I’ll do everything I can to change to it.”

Pope Francis then went on to lay out his plan, stating: “The Church is or should go back to being a community of God’s people, and priests, pastors and bishops who have the care of souls, are at the service of the people of God.”

Pope Francis has once again condemning the Roman Catholic Church’s narcissistic “Vatican-centric view” of religion
Pope Francis has once again condemning the Roman Catholic Church’s narcissistic “Vatican-centric view” of religion

He continued: “And I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God, there is God and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being. Do you think we are very far apart?”

Since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church, Francis has proven that he is a more liberal kind of Pope. He has proven this by being more lenient on various subjects which have included atheism.

Recently, Pope Francis even criticized the church for being too obsessed with certain issues. Back in September, the Pontiff was quoted as saying: “We have to find a new balance, otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and the fragrance of the Gospel.”

Pope Francis then added: “The church has sometimes locked itself up in small things, in small-minded rules,” before asking his clergy to not act like government officials or bureaucrats.

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Stink bugs invading Lancaster County

Nancy Clayson
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Stink bugs invading Lancaster County

Stink bugs are set to hit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in record numbers this winter.

Even though the bugs are small, about the size of a pumpkin seed, they are highly malodorous when squashed.

The smelly little bugs, officially called Halyomorpha halys, first hit the mainland in America in 1996 and were an import from East Asia. They found their way to New Jersey a few years later and proved to be a real menace.

Stink bugs are set to hit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in record numbers this winter
Stink bugs are set to hit Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in record numbers this winter

Even though the stink bugs don’t bite humans. they do attack plants and vegetation at an alarming rate. Elaine Fogerty of the Passaic County agricultural team said about the insects: “They are attracted to light, and sometimes they get caught between the inside of the walls. My best suggestion is to caulk any open spots so they can’t get in there.”

Stink bugs might not be threatening in terms of bites but they pack a mighty punch. When threatened or crushed they emit a pungent odor from a gland underneath their body which causes irritation to the nose and eyes.

People who are sensitive and who suffer from allergies may even need to seek medical assistance if exposed to the bug’s spray. It also isn’t so easy to get rid of the bugs as they don’t react to fumigation spraying.

It is worth noting that the bugs are particularly active in the winter so as the cold weather draws in there is a higher chance of infestations.

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Bill Eppridge dies from blood infection aged 75

Sonia Pantiss
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Bill Eppridge dies from blood infection aged 75

Bill Eppridge, the photojournalist who took images of the aftermath of Robert Kennedy’s assassination, has died aged 75.

Bil Eppridge died in hospital in Connecticut from a blood infection caused by a fall.

The image of Robert Kennedy lying on the floor of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles is widely considered one of the greatest news photos of all time.

Bil Eppridge worked for Life Magazine at the time of the shooting in 1968.

Friend and fellow photographer David Hume Kennerly said: “He extended a helping hand and a bushel of inspiration to me, and his kindness shaped the course of my career.”

Born in Buenos Aires, Bill Eppridge moved to the US with his family as a young boy.

Bill Eppridge took images of the aftermath of Robert Kennedy's assassination
Bill Eppridge took images of the aftermath of Robert Kennedy’s assassination

Working as a staff photographer for Life Magazine from 1964, he covered a wide variety of stories from revolutions in Latin America to the Beatles’ arrival in the US.

Bill Eppridge followed Robert Kennedy from a campaign event at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles into the back kitchen where a 24-year-old Palestinian Christian, Sirhan Sirhan, shot and killed the 42-year-old presidential hopeful.

He took several black and white images that night, but the most enduring and haunting depicted Kennedy lying on the floor, with a halo of light in the background, with a hotel worker at his side.

“You are not just a photojournalist, you’re a historian,” he once explained when asked how he could keep snapping pictures while someone was lying injured in front of him.

Commenting on his unforgettable image of Robert Kennedy, he said: “I never hung it on my wall.”

Bill Eppridge’s 1965 photo essay about a drug-addicted New York couple inspired the Al Pacino film The Panic in Needle Park.

After leaving Life in 1972, Bill Eppridge worked for other magazines including Time and Sports Illustrated.

Before his death, Bill Eppridge and his wife, Adrienne Aurichio, had been putting the finishing touches to a book on the Beatles, to mark next year’s 50th anniversary of their arrival to the US.

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General Vo Nguyen Giap dies in Vietnam aged 102

Roy Siemens
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General Vo Nguyen Giap dies in Vietnam aged 102

Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, who masterminded victories against France and the US, has died aged 102.

General Vo Nguyen Giap’s defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1953 made him the first military commander to defeat a major Western power in Asia.

General Vo Nguyen Giap’s defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1953 made him the first military commander to defeat a major Western power in Asia
General Vo Nguyen Giap’s defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1953 made him the first military commander to defeat a major Western power in Asia

He went on to oversee the Tet Offensive against American forces in 1968, often cited as one of the factors that led to the Americans’ withdrawal.

General Vo Nguyen Giap also published a number of works on military strategy.

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Miley Cyrus hits back at Sinead O’Connor comparing her to Amanda Bynes

Lisa.Felice
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Miley Cyrus hits back at Sinead O’Connor comparing her to Amanda Bynes

Miley Cyrus has hit back at Sinead O’Connor, after the Irish singer warned her not to be exploited by the music business.

In a series of tweets, Miley Cyrus mocked Sinead O’Connor, comparing her to Amanda Bynes before alluding to O’Connor’s mental health problems.

Sinead O’Connor responded with another open letter to the singer, accusing her of “irresponsible” behavior.

The Irish singer told her to “remove her tweets immediately”.

The row began after Miley Cyrus, 20, cited Sinead O’Connor’s video Nothing Compares 2 U as an inspiration for her Wrecking Ball video.

Sinead O’Connor, 46, said she was prompted to write, “in the spirit of motherliness” after “phone calls from various newspapers” who wanted the singer-songwriter to comment upon similarities between the two videos.

In the video for Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead O’Connor sheds a single tear as she performs the Prince-penned break-up ballad.

Miley Cyrus cries in the promo clip for Wrecking Ball, which shares similar lyrical themes to Sinead O’Connor’s song. But the video also finds her licking a sledgehammer and swinging on a metal demolition ball.

Miley Cyrus has hit back at Sinead O'Connor, after the Irish singer warned her not to be exploited by the music business
Miley Cyrus has hit back at Sinead O’Connor, after the Irish singer warned her not to be exploited by the music business

Sinead O’Connor said she was “extremely concerned” that those around Miley Cyrus had led or encouraged her to believe “that it is in any way <<cool>> to be n**ed and licking sledgehammers in your videos”.

Miley Cyrus, who found fame as the child star of Disney children’s show Hannah Montana, has been criticized in recent weeks for her controversial performances, particularly at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn last month.

Sinead O’Connor continued: “The message you keep sending is that it’s somehow cool to be prostituted.. it’s so not cool Miley… it’s dangerous.”

“It is in fact the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it’s the music business or yourself doing the pimping,” added Sinead O’Connor.

Responding on Twitter, Miley Cyrus wrote: “Top of the mornin to ya.”

Miley Cyrus added a screen shot of Sinead O’Connor’s tweets from 2012 in which the Irish star, who has bi-polar disorder, referred to her own mental health problems, asking for Twitter followers to recommend a psychiatrist.

She compared the singer to former child actress Amanda Bynes, who is currently undergoing psychiatric treatment.

“I don’t have time to write you an open letter cause I’m hosting & performing on SNL this week,” Miley Cyrus continued.

Miley Cyrus also tweeted a picture of Sinead O’Connor ripping up a photograph of the pope, an infamous on-stage stunt by the singer, before asking her to “meet up and talk”.

Responding to Miley Cyrus in a third open letter, Sinead O’Connor said she would take legal action against her if she did not remove the tweets.

“You have posted today tweets of mine which are two years old, which were posted by me when I was unwell and seeking help so as to make them look like they are recent.

“In doing so you mock myself and Amanda Bynes for having suffered with mental health issues and for having sought help,” said Sinead O’Connor.

Sinead O’Connor added: “It is most unbecoming of you to respond in such a fashion to someone who expressed care for you.”

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Tropical Storm Karen threatens damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides along US Gulf Coast

Nancy Clayson
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Tropical Storm Karen threatens damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides along US Gulf Coast

Residents along the US Gulf Coast have been placed on alert as approaching Tropical Storm Karen threatens damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides.

Oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico have also started shutting production as Tropical Storm Karen sweeps in.

The White House said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was recalling some employees sent home by the US government shutdown.

Karen is forecast to lash the northern Gulf Coast over the weekend.

The storm is grinding slowly north-west and could be at or near hurricane strength by late Friday or early Saturday, forecasters said.

A hurricane watch has been issued for the coast from Grand Isle, Louisiana, east to Indian Pass, Florida,

“Now is the time for people to review their emergency plans in case conditions worsen,” Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant said.

In Louisiana, Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency while his Florida counterpart Rick Scott also declared an emergency for 18 counties.

Residents along the US Gulf Coast have been placed on alert as approaching Tropical Storm Karen threatens damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides
Residents along the US Gulf Coast have been placed on alert as approaching Tropical Storm Karen threatens damaging winds, heavy rain and high tides

Army engineers in Louisiana are also closing a huge barrier intended to keep storm surges out of the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal where levee breaches during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 led to catastrophic flooding.

In Alabama, safety workers raised double red flags along beaches warning of treacherous rip currents.

Off the coast, BHP Billiton said it was fully evacuating and shutting oil and gas production at its two platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp said it had done the same at one of its eight platforms.

On Thursday afternoon the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Karen was about 400 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph with higher gusts.

Heavy rain could also affect parts of Cuba and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula in the next couple of days, the forecasters said.

The hurricane centre forecasters are exempt from the US government shutdown because their work is deemed vital to protecting life and property.

However, the centre’s parent agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), carried a message on its website saying: “Due to the Federal government shutdown, NOAA.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable.”

It referred visitors to the National Weather Service for vital information.

Tropical Storm Karen will become a hurricane if its sustained winds reach 74 mph.

The storm, which formed in the south-eastern Gulf of Mexico on Thursday, is the first to threaten the US coast during the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.

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Barack Obama cancels Asia trip as part of US shutdown

Diane A. Wade
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Barack Obama cancels Asia trip as part of US shutdown

President Barack Obama has decided to cancel his trip to Asia because of the US government shutdown.

Barack Obama will miss two summits, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) meeting in Indonesia.

The decision was made due to the “difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown”, the White House said.

The US government closed non-essential operations after the two houses of Congress failed to agree a new budget.

Barack Obama called Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday morning and expressed his regret for the cancellation.

The visit has not been rescheduled.

Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the APEC gathering and the East Asia summit in Brunei in Barack Obama’s place, the White House said.

“The cancellation of this trip is another consequence of the House Republicans forcing a shutdown of the government,” the White House said in a statement.

“This completely avoidable shutdown is setting back our ability to create jobs through promotion of US exports and advance US leadership and interests in the largest emerging region in the world,” the statement added.

President Barack Obama has decided to cancel his trip to Asia because of the US government shutdown
President Barack Obama has decided to cancel his trip to Asia because of the US government shutdown

Barack Obama had been due to begin a four-nation Asian trip on Saturday, heading to Bali and Brunei for regional summits before travelling on to Malaysia and the Philippines.

On Wednesday, the White House had said Barack Obama would postpone his trips to Malaysia and the Philippines because of the US government shutdown, but maintained that he would travel to Indonesia and Brunei.

The US government began a partial shutdown earlier this week after Republicans refused to approve a budget, saying they would only do so if funding for President Barack Obama’s healthcare reforms was delayed.

On Friday, Democrats and Republicans appeared no closer to resolving the feud.

The US also faces running out of money and defaulting on its debt if there is no agreement to raise government borrowing limits later this month.

Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Thursday that a failure to raise the US debt ceiling would be a far worse threat to the global economy than the current shutdown.

She said it was “mission critical” that the US agrees a new debt limit.

Christine Lagarde’s comments were echoed by the US Treasury.

It said a debt default could lead to a financial crisis as bad as 2008 or worse.

Meanwhile, the impact of the shutdown was being felt across the country.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not send investigators to a deadly church bus crash in Tennessee that killed eight people and injured 14 others.

The Labor Department also said it wouldn’t release the highly anticipated September jobs report on Friday because the government remains shuttered.

With Tropical Storm Karen bearing down on the Gulf States, the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), carried a message saying: “Due to the Federal government shutdown, NOAA.gov and most associated web sites are unavailable.”

It referred visitors to the National Weather Service.

However, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recalled workers to help prepare for the storm.

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2014 Glastonbury Festival tickets sell out in 30 minutes

Sonia Pantiss
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2014 Glastonbury Festival tickets sell out in 30 minutes

The first set of tickets for 2014 Glastonbury Festival have sold out.

The 15,000 coach and ticket packages went on sale at 6 p.m. on October 3 and sold out in half an hour.

The news was confirmed on Glastonbury Festival’s official Twitter page where people were also reminded that another 120,000 tickets for the festival will go on Sunday October 6.

Prices for the 2014 event have been increased to £210 ($325) plus a booking fee.

Last month, festival organizer Michael Eavis said they won’t beat this year’s festival.

The first set of tickets for 2014 Glastonbury Festival have sold out
The first set of tickets for 2014 Glastonbury Festival have sold out

The Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys and Mumford and Sons headlined the event at Worthy Farm this summer.

He added: “[It’s] downhill all the way now. I’ve had 44 years of an incredible career and we’re still milking the old cows as well.”

When asked about who would be headlining Glastonbury in 2014 Michael Eavis said people wouldn’t be surprised.

“Pretty obvious isn’t it?” he said.

“There aren’t many left. It’s the process of elimination isn’t it?

“I think we’ve got three or four really good ones lined up for next year and we’re sorting out 2015 as well.”

There is speculation about who will play at Worthy Farm between 26 and 29 June next year.

David Bowie is one of the bookies’ favorites to headline, an Oasis reunion and a set from Foo Fighters have also been rumored.

The remaining tickets for Glastonbury Festival 2014 go on sale at 9 a.m. on Sunday October 6.

Madeleine McCann case: Scotland Yard detectives believe mobile phone records may hold the key

Nancy Clayson
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Madeleine McCann case: Scotland Yard detectives believe mobile phone records may hold the key

Scotland Yard detectives believe mobile phone records may hold the key to solving the Madeleine McCann case.

Three-year-old Madeleine McCann, of Rothley, Leicestershire, vanished on holiday in Praia de Luz, Portugal, in 2007.

Police are analyzing data from thousands of phones belonging to people in the village at the time. There are 41 potential suspects, they say.

A major appeal based on “substantive” new information will be broadcast on the BBC’s Crimewatch on October 14.

Madeleine McCann was days away from her fourth birthday when she disappeared from her family’s holiday apartment.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood, who is leading the inquiry, said officers were examining a “substantial amount of data” from mobile phones thought to belong to people who were in the resort of Praia de Luz in the days just before, during and after Madeleine McCann’s disappearance.

Police are trying to identify the owner of each phone to build up a picture of exactly who was in the area. More than 3,000 people live in Praia de Luz, while holidaymakers and seasonal workers visit from countries across the world.

“This is not just a general trawl,” said Det. Ch. Insp. Andy Redwood.

“It’s a targeted attack on that data to see if it assists us to find out what happened to Madeleine McCann at that time.”

Detective Chief Inspector Redwood said officers had so far been unable to attribute a “large number” of mobile numbers and admitted that it was difficult to do so with phones bought six years ago on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The records also contain information on which phone numbers were dialed and when calls were made. It is thought some phone numbers might appear on police intelligence systems or be linked to criminals.

“We can see what the phone is doing, but we can’t see the text messages,” said the detective.

Scotland Yard detectives believe mobile phone records may hold the key to solving the Madeleine McCann case
Scotland Yard detectives believe mobile phone records may hold the key to solving the Madeleine McCann case

“It shows a timeline of the call data.”

According to Scotland Yard, the phone records had been “looked at” during the initial Portuguese police investigation but not in detail.

Asked by reporters if the information held the key to the investigation, Det. Ch. Insp. Andy Redwood replied: “It could do.”

He said there was no CCTV available – evidence which is often used to help solve missing persons inquiries in the UK.

Scotland Yard announced it was launching an investigation into Madeleine McCann’s disappearance in July – after spending two years reviewing the case, under the codename Operation Grange.

At that time, detectives said there were 38 “persons of interest” from five different countries – Portugal, the UK and three others that were not named.

Police said the number had now gone up to 41, of whom 15 were UK nationals.

However, detectives said work was “pretty now complete” on three of the Britons and they were likely to be struck off the list in the near future.

No one has been arrested.

Since July, police have formally requested the co-operation of the Portuguese authorities and a team of six senior detectives from Faro, in the Algarve, has begun working on the inquiry. Portuguese authorities dropped their investigation into her disappearance in 2008.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said it was a “good and professional” relationship and it was hoped that in future a small group of Scotland Yard detectives would be based in the Algarve to work with the Portuguese.

“It’s easier to do it alongside than at a distance,” he said.

Law enforcement agencies in 30 other countries – most of them in Europe – have also been asked for their assistance, principally to trace people thought to have been in Praia de Luz at the time.

Appeals for witnesses and information are also expected to air in Germany, the Netherlands and, possibly, the Republic of Ireland – the countries where most of the tourists in Praia de Luz came from.

The Crimewatch programme will feature a reconstruction and interviews with Kate and Gerry McCann, who, for the first time, will appear alongside detectives working on the investigation.

Police said the investigation was “gathering momentum”, though much work was still to be done.

Of 39,148 documents from the various police and private investigator inquiries detectives from Operation Grange have processed 21,614 of them.

The number of police tasks, known as “actions”, to be carried out by the new 37-strong investigative team numbers 4,920, of which 2,123 have been completed.

Andy Redwood said police were working backwards from the moment Madeleine McCann went missing to understand what happened to her.

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Pope Francis to visit St Francis of Assisi’s tomb

Diane A. Wade
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Pope Francis to visit St Francis of Assisi’s tomb

Pope Francis has arrived in the town of Assisi to pray at the shrine of the 13th-Century saint whose name he adopted.

The pontiff is accompanied by eight cardinals chosen to help him shape a radical programme of reform for the Vatican.

The Pope has said he wants today’s Catholic Church to resemble St Francis of Assisi’s “church of the poor”.

He wants to use abandoned monasteries and convents to house refugees.

Pope Francis also says he wants to see a less hierarchical Church which is less centred on the Vatican.

Pope Francis has arrived in the town of Assisi to pray at the shrine of the 13th-Century saint whose name he adopted
Pope Francis has arrived in the town of Assisi to pray at the shrine of the 13th-Century saint whose name he adopted

Two days ago Pope Francis told Italian newspaper La Repubblica his namesake had “longed for a poor Church that looked after others, accepted monetary help and used it to help others with no thought of itself”.

“Eight-hundred years have passed and times have changed, but the ideal of a missionary and poor Church is still more than valid,” he said.

During his day-long “pilgrimage” to Assisi, the Pope is expected to meet groups of poor, sick and disabled people who are being looked after by Catholic orders or charities.

St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy.

Known in Italian as Il Poverello, or the Poor One, he was the son of a wealthy local cloth merchant who scandalized his family when he reached the age of 25 by dumping his expensive clothing and living in sackcloth, ministering to the poor for the rest of his life.

Pope Francis has become known for his candid views – unlike anything heard coming out of the Vatican during recent papacies.

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Over 20 applications and business solutions will be launched at 2013 Internet & Mobile World

Dana R
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Over 20 applications and business solutions will be launched at 2013 Internet & Mobile World

2013 Internet & Mobile World (IMWorld 2013), the biggest “business to business” event dedicated to digital, mobile and software solutions in Romania will host the launch of more than 20 applications and business solutions for large companies, owners of online shops and small businesses. In this second edition of IMWorld, developers are focused on applications for tablets and mobile phones, the CRM programs, the online payment applications, the “machine to machine” communication or cloud computing.

IMWorld 2013 main partners are  COSMOTE Romania and Romtelecom Business Solutions, who are also Business Software Partners. “It’s a great opportunity to learn and also to show you, future digital solutions. Our  bet is that businesses move to the “cloud”. In other words, the cloud solutions are those that will provide flexibility and cost-effectiveness that helps any company to grow further, especially if there are complemented by adapted telecom services to each of them, “said Vasile Voicu, Director Product Management Coordinator, Business Segment Romtelecom Business Solutions.

IMWorld 2013

At IMWorld 2013, which will take place between 9 and 10 October 2013, t Romexpo Bucharest, 5,000 participants will have the opportunity to test out a range of business solutions, beneficial to business or started projects. For example, online shops owners, visiting the exhibition will be able to see how work two applications specifically developed for them. For example, Mediapost Hit Mail will launch a solution that takes all logistics and enables merchants to focus only on product selection and promotion. Further, MODE 360 will introduce a new technology, which acts as a small photo studio, allowing 360 degrees photographs of product in a fast and simple way.

The next level in developing applications for taxi is marked by Stuff We Do Software Development, unique technology that will help taxi companies to run in parallel counters with drivers and check if the chosen route is the most appropriate. Other strengths of the application consist of video monitoring security option and / or panic button (for the driver and / or client), and NFC payment option (either by contactless bank card or by voucher, with the same technology).

One of the current global trends, the emergence and development of homes and smart cities underlying application signed by Renovatio IT Solutions. The company will premiere  housing wireless control system, tapHOME, with wich household appliances can be managed through a single mobile application.

This year, IMWorld developers paid special importance to CRM (Customer Relationship Management) programs improvement. Specifically, the EXE Software will launch esInsights, a CRM program with greater number of functions than an ordinary one. Also, due growing use of social networks in the business environment, Entersoft Business Suite beneficiaries will have the possibility to manage Facebook and Twitter accounts directly from CRM solution interface.

 IMWorld 2013

Between companies present with applications at IMWorld there is Decar Studios (an application specially designed for publishers, institutions, universities, schools, and for digital books dealers, which functions as e-learning/e-reader, incorporating a product local shop), RBC (an online payment application, which is achieved by scanning the QR code and retains shopping history, give costs details), Carnation Group (Wootocracy.com platform, the next generation of customer loyalty platforms that combine creative elements of “social gamification”) or Infinit Solutions (a campaign to generate real time leads addressed to “always on” connected and mobile consumer).

“We believe that the business applications and solutions launched [at the event] will show that Internet & Mobile World is the place where Romanian business people gather to connect with dynamic digital solutions reality. Here is the future, here is the key to many business problems. We want the Romanian business public to be up to date with everything that is new, innovative, intelligent and efficient,” said Cristian Hossu, Managing Partner of Universum Events, IMWorld organizer.

IMWorld access is based on pre-registration and tickets can be purchased online until October 8, 2013, visiting www.imworld.ro.

2013 Internet & Mobile World Additional Data:

 

IMWorld second edition is divided into three business areas: Marketing Technologies, Mobile and Apps, and Business Software and is organized by Universum Events, which is also the “Innovation Summit” organizer, first exclusive event dedicated to business innovation in Romania.

At the event, are expected 5,000 visitors and over 25 international speakers and 130 companies providing business solutions already announced their participation.

The event is supported by Cosmote Romania and Romtelecom Business Solutions, as main partners and sponsors of the Business Software World. Microsoft is Mobile and Apps World Partner and Saatchi & Saatchi is World Partner Marketing Technologies. 2013 Internet & Mobile World Sponsors are: Nokia, S & T Romania, Qualysoft Information Technology, Telcor Communications, Entersoft Romania, Fujitsu, Star Storage, Zitec, MailAgent, Agilio Software, Safetech, Agile Media, MODE360, Transart, BearingPoint, Dynamic Web, Mediapost Hit Mail, Mobixera and SEO monitor, Liberty Technology Park, Cisco Systems Bittnet, PayPro Global, Carnation Group, White Image, Romanian Business Consult, IT and miniPRIX Like. Metro Online is Office Supplies partner and Voxility is official supplier of internet services.

Media partners are Kiss FM, The Money Channel, Getica OOH, Wall-Street.ro, HotNews.ro, AdHugger, Agora, B2B Advertising, Business24.ro, Careers, Computer World, Comunicatedepresa.ro, Connect, DoingBusiness.ro, Digital Trends, Forbes, Incont.ro IT Channel IT Trends, Magazinul Progresiv, Market Watch, PC World, Today Software Magazine, Ziare.com and Zona IT. More information available on www.imworld.ro and www.universum.ro

Sinead O’Connor sends open letter to Miley Cyrus

Lisa.Felice
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Sinead O’Connor sends open letter to Miley Cyrus

Sinead O’Connor has sent an open letter to Miley Cyrus warning her not to be exploited by the music business.

Sinead O’Connor, 46, wrote to Miley Cyrus, 20, after she cited O’Connor’s video Nothing Compares 2 U as an inspiration for her Wrecking Ball video.

“Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited,” wrote Sinead O’Connor.

Sinead O’Connor said she was prompted to write, “in the spirit of motherliness” after “dodging phone calls from various newspapers” who wanted the singer-songwriter to comment upon similarities between the two videos.

The video for Nothing Compares 2 U is principally a close-up of Sinead O’Connor, who sheds a single tear as she performs the Prince-penned break-up ballad.

Miley Cyrus cries in the promo clip for Wrecking Ball, which shares similar lyrical themes to Sinead O’Connor’s song.

Sinead O'Connor has sent an open letter to Miley Cyrus warning her not to be exploited by the music business
Sinead O’Connor has sent an open letter to Miley Cyrus warning her not to be exploited by the music business

“I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you,” wrote Sinead O’Connor.

“It is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your s***al appeal than your obvious talent.

“You are worth more than your body or your s***al appeal. The world of showbiz doesn’t see things that way,” continued the Irish singer.

“They’re there for the money, we’re there for the music. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the sooner she can REALLY [be] in control.”

Miley Cyrus, who found fame as the child star of Disney children’s show Hannah Montana, has been criticized in recent weeks for her controversial performances, most particularly at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn last month.

“You also said in Rolling Stone that your look is based on mine,” wrote Sinead O’Connor.

“The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company were encouraging me to do what you have done.

“I felt I would rather be judged on my talent and not my looks.

“I am happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 years of age.

“Whether we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women,” concluded Sinead O’Connor.

 

Lampedusa boat sinking: At least 130 African migrants die and many more missing

Diane A. Wade
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Lampedusa boat sinking: At least 130 African migrants die and many more missing

At least 130 migrants have died and many more are missing after a boat carrying them to Europe sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

A total of 103 bodies have been recovered and more have been found inside the wreck, coast guards say.

The African migrants reportedly threw themselves into the sea when a fire broke out on board. More than 150 of the passengers have been rescued.

Most of those on board were from Eritrea and Somalia, said the UN.

The boat was believed to have been carrying up to 500 people at the time and some 200 of them are unaccounted for.

At least 130 migrants have died and many more are missing after a boat carrying them to Europe sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa
At least 130 migrants have died and many more are missing after a boat carrying them to Europe sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa

Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said the ship had come from Misrata in Libya and began taking on water when its motor stopped working.

It is thought that some of those on board set fire to a piece of material to try to attract the attention of passing ships, only to have the fire spread to the rest of the boat.

It is one of the worst such disasters to occur off the Italian coast in recent years; Italian PM Enrico Letta tweeted that it was “an immense tragedy”. The government has declared a day of national mourning on Friday.

“There is no miraculous solution to the migrant exodus issue,” said Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino.

“If there were we would have found it and put it into action.”

In a separate incident on Thursday, local media reported that around 200 migrants were escorted to the port of Syracuse on the island of Sicily, when their vessel encountered difficulties five miles off the coast.

Earlier this week, 13 migrants drowned while trying to reach Sicily.

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Si Robertson driving his new scooter

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson driving his new scooter

During this week’s episode of Duck Dynasty, Si Robertson was driving everyone crazy at the Duck Commander warehouse with his with new scooter.

As Si Robertson struggled back out of the bathroom on his scooter, his nephews discussed his condition.

“There’s nothing wrong with him. I’ve already talked to the doctor,” Willie Robertson explained to Jase.

“He made up the whole thing. [It’s] just hemorrhoids.”

Si Robertson was driving everyone crazy at the Duck Commander warehouse with his with new scooter
Si Robertson was driving everyone crazy at the Duck Commander warehouse with his with new scooter

“Look, these guys don’t have respect for their elders,” groused Si Robertson.

“It’s like they don’t realize, hey, they’re gonna get old one day. Guess what happens then, big boy. No one’s goin’ to be helpin’ you in the commode, either.”

Angry, Si Robertson drove off and headed down the road on his scooter. Eventually, Willie Robertson and the rest of the Duck Commander team caught up with Uncle Si, who after a bit of sweet talking–and an offer from Willie to replace his bumper–got into the back of the pickup truck under his own power.

“When it comes to family, you have to learn to read between the lines,” explained Willie Robertson.

“People don’t always come right out and say what they actually want–especially Si, who can’t even pronounce what he wants. But one thing I’ve learned is that doesn’t matter what they’re asking for. What they really want is to know that you care. Whether you spend your day hunting turtles, or shell out a bunch of money for some stupid bumper, it’s all worth it to show your family you love them.”

Miss Kay Robertson loses pet turtle Mr. T

Sonia Pantiss
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Miss Kay Robertson loses pet turtle Mr. T

This week’s episode of Duck Dynasty revealed Miss Kay Robertson lost her pet turtle, Mr. T.

Immediately, suspicion was cast on Miss Kay’s sweet pooch, Bobo.

“Maybe this little boy here had turtle for breakfast,” said Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson, pointing to Bobo.

“See if you got little pieces of Mr. T in the stool of that dog next time he goes out there in the woods.”

“That’s an awful thing to say,” replied Miss Kay, who opened Bobo’s mouth and took a whiff of breath.

“Oh goodnight,” she said, waving away the stench.

This week’s episode of Duck Dynasty revealed Miss Kay Robertson lost her pet turtle, Mr. T
This week’s episode of Duck Dynasty revealed Miss Kay Robertson lost her pet turtle, Mr. T

“Ain’t nothin’ smells worse than a dead turtle,” said Phil Robertson, shaking his head.

“Ol’ turtle-breath.”

As a gesture of love, Phil Robertson offered to go turtle hunting to find Miss Kay a new pet.

“There aren’t many things that can get me up and out of my chair, especially when I’m sharpening my knife,” explained Phil Robertson.

“And the last thing that I ever thought would get me out of my chair would be a turtle hunt.”

Miss Kay Robertson, however, had a sure-fire way to get Phil to fetch her a new turtle.

“If you want some lovin’ tonight, today is the day,” Miss Kay said resolutely.

“So is this one of them no honey on the biscuit maneuvers here?” Phil asked, somewhat helplessly.

“You got it, Jack,” smiled Miss Kay.

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