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Navy SEAL carries out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

Roy Siemens
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Navy SEAL carries out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

American officials say US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants.

In Libya, US commandos captured an al-Qaeda leader accused of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Anas al-Liby was seized in the capital Tripoli.

A leader of the al-Shabab group was targeted in southern Somalia, but that raid appears to have failed.

The al-Shabab leader – who has not been identified – is suspected of involvement in last month’s attack in the Westgate shopping centre in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, which left at least 67 people dead.

Al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack on September 21.

Anas al-Liby’s relatives and US officials said he had been seized in the Libyan capital early on Saturday.

He was parking outside his house when three vehicles encircled him, his car’s window was smashed and his gun was seized before he was taken away, his brother Nabih was quoted as saying by AP.

He added that his brother’s wife also saw the attack, describing the abductors as foreign-looking “commandos”.

US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants
US Navy SEALs have carried out two separate raids in Libya and Somalia targeting senior Islamist militants

The raid was conducted with the knowledge of the Libyan government, a US official was quoted as saying by CNN.

Anas al-Liby “is currently lawfully detained by the US military in a secure location outside of Libya”, Pentagon spokesman George Little said.

The 49-year-old is believed to have been one of the masterminds behind the 1998 US embassy attacks, which killed more than 220 people in Kenya and Tanzania.

He has been indicted in a New York court in connection with the attacks.

Anas al-Liby – whose real name is Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai – has been on the FBI’s most wanted list for more than a decade with a $5 million bounty on his head.

Al-Qaeda’s leadership has been consistently targeted since the killing of Osama Bin Laden by US special forces in 2011 in Pakistan.

The US defense department has also confirmed that special forces carried out a seaborne operation in Somalia’s coastal town of Barawe on Saturday.

George Little said the forces “were involved in a counter-terrorism operation against a known al-Shabab terrorist”. He declined to provide any further details.

Initial reports in the US media quoted unnamed US officials as saying that the suspect had been captured or killed by US Navy SEALs in the pre-dawn raid on a villa.

However, the officials later said that the SEALs failed to find the intended target, who was not identified.

The raid was carried out by members of Seal Team Six – the same unit that killed bin Laden, a US military official told AP.

The official added that in Barawe the commandos had decided to abort the mission after encountering fierce resistance from al-Shabab fighters.

“The Barawe raid was planned a week and a half ago,” a US security official told the New York Times.

“It was prompted by the Westgate attack,” added the official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.

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US shutdown: Most of 400,000 defense staff sent home to return to work next week

Diane A. Wade
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US shutdown: Most of 400,000 defense staff sent home to return to work next week

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week.

Chuck Hagel said the decision was based on an interpretation of the Pay Our Military Act.

A budget row between Republicans and Democrats has forced the closure of federal services for five days now.

But the sides have now voted to approve back-pay for the 800,000 federal workers sent home without salaries.

Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week
Chuck Hagel has announced that most of the 400,000 US defense department staff sent home amid the US government shutdown have been told to return to work next week

In a rare moment of bipartisan co-operation, the House of Representatives on Saturday approved by 407-0 a bill to pay the federal workers once the shutdown ends.

There remains no sign of any deal on the federal budget, however.

Republicans who control the House of Representatives have refused to approve the budget, saying they would only do so if President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform law was delayed or stripped of funding.

Barack Obama and the Democrats have refused, noting the law was passed in 2010, subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, and was a central issue in the 2012 election which Obama won.

The Pay Our Military Act was passed by Congress shortly before the shutdown.

Chuck Hagel said earlier in the week he wanted to find a way to get his civilian staff back to work.

He said lawyers had told him the Pay Our Military Act permitted employees “whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members” to be exempted.

“I expect us to be able to significantly reduce – but not eliminate – civilian furloughs under this process,” Chuck Hagel said.

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Bashar al-Assad indicates Germany as possible mediator

Roy Siemens
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Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end his country’s 30-month-long civil war.

Speaking to Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine, Bashar al-Assad said he “would be delighted if envoys came from Germany”.

But he stressed that Damascus would not negotiate with rebels unless they laid down their weapons.

Bashar al-Assad again denied claims that his troops had used chemical weapons, blaming the rebels instead.

In the interview to be published on Monday, Bashar al-Assad said that President Barack Obama had “not even a whisper of proof” that Damascus had used chemical weapons.

“He has nothing to offer other than lies.”

Bashar al-Assad contrasted Washington’s stance with that of Moscow, describing the Russians as “true friends”.

Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end Syria's 30-month-long civil war
Bashar al-Assad has raised the possibility of Germany acting as a mediator to try to end Syria’s 30-month-long civil war

The interview comes just days after a team given the job of eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons said it had made “encouraging initial progress” after talks with government officials.

UN-backed experts from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said Syrian documents handed over last Wednesday “looked promising”.

The team said analysis of technical diagrams would be necessary and “more questions remain to be answered”.

Onsite inspections and arms disabling are scheduled to start next week.

Concerted international action to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons was agreed by the UN Security Council last month.

Its resolution was based on an earlier deal reached by the United States and Russia in Geneva.

The US had threatened military action to punish the Syrian government over a nerve agent attack in Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus on August 21.

The Americans said more than 1,400 people were killed. Russia and Syria believe rebel groups were responsible for the attack.

Syria’s chemical weapons arsenal is believed to include more than 1,000 tonnes of the nerve gas sarin, the blister agent sulphur mustard and other banned chemicals stored at dozens of sites.

Jude Law and Damon Albarn join London protest over Greenpeace piracy charges in Russia

Nancy Clayson
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Jude Law and Damon Albarn join London protest over Greenpeace piracy charges in Russia

Jude Law and Damon Albarn have joined hundreds demonstrating in London over piracy charges brought by Russia against 30 Greenpeace activists.

Six British activists were among those arrested last month as they protested against oil drilling in the Arctic at a rig owned by Russian firm, Gazprom.

Relatives of the activists protested outside Russia’s London embassy.

It was one of a number of events being held in more than 40 countries.

The entire crew of the ship, Arctic Sunrise, was arrested on September 18 after two activists tried to board the Russian state-controlled oil platform in the Pechora Sea.

They have all been charged and are being held in the port of Murmansk, in northwest Russia, facing prison terms of up to 15 years.

Jude Law and Damon Albarn have joined hundreds demonstrating in London over piracy charges brought by Russia against 30 Greenpeace activists
Jude Law and Damon Albarn have joined hundreds demonstrating in London over piracy charges brought by Russia against 30 Greenpeace activists

The Britons who have been charged include freelance video producer, Kieron Bryan, and logistics co-ordinator, Frank Hewetson – both from London.

UK activists Anthony Perrett from Newport in Wales; Alexandra Harris, originally from Devon; Philip Ball from Chipping Norton; and Iain Rogers, from Exeter, have also been charged.

In London, Saturday’s protesters stood behind banners declaring, “Free the Climate Defenders”, “Journalist and Not Pirate”, and “Free The Arctic 30”.

Jude Law, who knows Frank Hewetson, said he was “exercising my right to peacefully protest”.

He added: “I am just adding my face and body to the mass of support. What is ludicrous is that they have been charged with piracy.”

Actors Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter also turned up in front of the embassy in west London to show their support for the activists.

Jim Carter described the arrests as “a ludicrous situation” and urged PM David Cameron – along with the leaders of the other 18 countries which made up the nationalities of the 30 activists – to apply pressure on Russia.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has raised the case with his Russian counterpart and said British officials would continue to raise specific concerns Greenpeace had about the legal process with Moscow.

The Netherlands has also launched legal action to free the activists. Two of its citizens are among those charged, along with people from countries including Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, New Zealand, Russia, and the US.

Other Greenpeace protests took place in cities including Madrid, Moscow, Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Istanbul.

Venezuela travel scam to be tackled with fingerprint checks at its borders

Diane A. Wade
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Venezuela travel scam to be tackled with fingerprint checks at its borders

Venezuela has announced it will use fingerprint checks at its borders to prevent a popular travel scam.

Venezuelans travelling abroad are entitled to a foreign currency allowance at a cheaper rate.

But amidst the economic crisis, some are only buying travel tickets to sell dollars on the black market and making a profit of nearly 700%.

Credit cards will be activated abroad only after checking that the person has left the country, authorities say.

Venezuela has been going through an economic crisis, with rising inflation and shortages of basic products, such as milk and toilet paper.

Some Venezuelans are reportedly passing their credit cards to friends or family to use them abroad and then send the money back.

Officials say there are even gangs operating the scam, known as “el raspao” or “the scrape”, which is hurting the economy.

Venezuela has announced it will use fingerprint checks at its borders to prevent a popular travel scam
Venezuela has announced it will use fingerprint checks at its borders to prevent a popular travel scam

“These dollars acquired through illicit operations, scraping credit cards, come back to Venezuela and are sold at a high price, which causes an overvaluation of the dollar,” Juan Carlos Dugarte, director-general of Venezuela’s Administrative Identification, Migration and Immigration, told Globovision TV channel.

The travelers allowance of up to $3,000 can be sold at nearly seven times the official price in the black market.

Currently, Venezuelans have to present a ticket to a foreign country to get the approval for their foreign currency allowance.

But many never use the tickets to travel, according to reports in the local media.

Flights are getting fully booked with months in advance, which has reportedly led to an increase in fare prices.

But the number of “no-shows” is also said to be on the rise.

The government says it is already testing the new fingerprinting scheme.

Police controls at airports, ports and border checkpoints would then confirm the exit of the passenger, authorizing credit card use in foreign currency.

Critics say the scheme will make life unfairly harder for honest travelers.

The Venezuelan opposition blames President Nicolas Maduro’s policies for the economic crisis the country is facing.

The government says there is an orchestrated attempt, led by the opposition, to sabotage the economy.

Why Si Robertson dropped college before school year was through?

Sonia Pantiss
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Why Si Robertson dropped college before school year was through?

Duck Dynasty’s Si Robertson says college is “crap”!

“Some parents get all bent out of shape because their kids don’t want to go to college,” Si Robertson writes in his new book, Si-cology: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

“Look, college isn’t for everyone.”

“To me, college is an endurance test,” Si Robertson continues.

Si Robertson did attend college briefly, at Louisiana Tech, because his parents insisted
Si Robertson did attend college briefly, at Louisiana Tech, because his parents insisted

“You put up with four or five years of crap just for someone to hand you a piece of paper that says you have some sense. Hey, news flash for all you people: I got sense without the paper! And I didn’t have to endure four or five years of crap for someone to tell me I’m smart!”

Si Robertson, now 65, did attend college briefly, at Louisiana Tech, because his parents insisted.

“While my older brothers were at Louisiana Tech to actually get an education, I went there for three quarters and did nothing but party for two of them,” Si Robertson writes.

“I rarely went to class because I didn’t have much interest in getting a college education. My partner in crime was Miss Kay’s cousin Charles Hollier. We called him Tinker Bell, and he was flunking out of school, too. We pretty much had our own fraternity, Kappa Tappa Kegga … It didn’t take me long to figure out there was always a party somewhere at college if you looked for it, and I usually took the time to find one!”

Si Robertson dropped out before the school year was through.

Willie Robertson reveals Uncle Si never washes his beard

Sonia Pantiss
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Willie Robertson reveals Uncle Si never washes his beard

Duck Dynasty stars Willie and Korie Robertson opened up about their family’s fame, faith, and facial hair in a recent interview with Us Weekly.

With the exception of new addition Alan Robertson, the men of Duck Dynasty – Phil Robertson, his brother Si Robertson, and his sons Willie, Jase, and Jep Robertson – are as famous for their beards as for their duck-call business
“Phil has the classic, mature beard,” Willie Robertson said of his father.

Willie and Korie Robertson open up about their family's fame, faith, and facial hair in a recent interview with Us Weekly
Willie and Korie Robertson open up about their family’s fame, faith, and facial hair in a recent interview with Us Weekly

“Jase’s is kind of red – it’s weird, like him! Jep grooms his the most: He’s got all these special lotions and perfumes that he puts on.”

In fact, Jep Robertson has been known to shampoo, condition, and even blow-dry his impressive facial hair. In that way, he’s the opposite of his uncle.

“Si’s beard is really awkward,” Willie Robertson reveals.

“One side is longer than the other, and it’s about three different colors. I don’t think he washes it. It’s nasty.”

Willie Robertson says the best beard of the bunch is his own.

“Willie was clean-shaven and actually a bit preppy when we got married,” Korie Robertson told Us Weekly.

“Now I absolutely love his beard and don’t want him to go back!”

Si Robertson on his alcohol abuse and son Scott’s troubled childhood

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson on his alcohol abuse and son Scott’s troubled childhood

Si Robertson has opened up about family struggles and his history with alcohol abuse in his new book, Si-cology: Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty’s Favorite Uncle.

New details from the book reported by RadarOnline surfaced this week:

1. Si and Phil Robertson’s mother suffered from mental health problems.
When Si and Phil Robertson were both young boys, their mother “suffered a nervous breakdown and was diagnosed as manic-depressive,” the 65-year-old wrote.

“She spent a lot of time in hospitals and the state mental institution.”

Si Robertson also wrote that his own mind is “faulty.”

2. While serving in Vietnam, Si Robertson turned to alcohol.
“Although I was there for only one year, it was a really difficult time in my life,” Si Robertson wrote.

“Believe me, it was easy to find a drink in Can Tho if you wanted one… You could find a drink and a girl whenever you wanted for the right price.”

The stress of military life in Vietnam drove Si Robertson to drink, he said.

Si Robertson has opened up about family struggles and his history with alcohol abuse in his new book
Si Robertson has opened up about family struggles and his history with alcohol abuse in his new book

“It was the only time in my life when I drank heavily… I was largely drinking to forget where I was. When you’re in a place like Vietnam, you get to a point where you don’t care anymore. You’re in a place that’s foreign to you, and you know for a fact that many people there hate you and will kill you if they get the chance. It really does something to your mind to know that many of the people living around you don’t like you and want you to die.”

3. When he returned from service, Si Robertson stopped drinking.
“I drank so much beer and whiskey in Vietnam that I decided I would quit drinking alcohol altogether once I returned home,” Si Robertson wrote.

“I saw what alcohol was doing to me in Vietnam and realized I needed to stop for good.”

Uncle Si is known for drinking two gallons of tea per day, a habit that his doctor endorses: “He said I’ve probably got the cleanest kidneys in the world!”

4. Si Robertson’s son Scott had a troubled childhood.
Si Robertson and his wife Christine’s son, Scott, was born almost two months premature and “was trouble before he was even born,”

Uncle Si wrote: “Scott was suicidal from the time he was about five years old. His behavior was really erratic as a child. When Scott would get tired, he would throw his arms out and fall backward… When Scott was angry, he was out of control and did a lot of damage.”

Eventually, Scott Robertson was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and now leads a happy, healthy life.

“It took me a while to realize Scott needed help,” Si Robertson wrote.

Si Robertson talks about his wife Christine’s difficulty in conceiving

Sonia Pantiss
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Si Robertson talks about his wife Christine’s difficulty in conceiving

Duck Dynasty star Si Robertson recently spoke to Fox 411 in an interview about his faith.

Si Robertson, like all the other members of his Christian family, spoke openly about his faith.

“That’s what got me through 65 years of life. My belief in God and what He’s done for us and what He will do for us. That’s a lot of the problems now. Look a lot of people don’t believe there’s evil. If there’s good in this world, then you’re being intellectually dishonest, if you believe there’s a good power you’ve also got to believe there’s an evil power too. There are physical laws that are in place. We’ve got the physical world we see but there’s a microscopic world that you have to have special stuff to see, just because you don’t see it with your naked eye doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

Si Robertson talked about his wife's difficulty in conceiving, saying that he believes his two children were miracles from God
Si Robertson talked about his wife’s difficulty in conceiving, saying that he believes his two children were miracles from God

In the interview, Uncle Si Robertson also talked about his wife’s difficulty in conceiving, saying that he believes his two children were miracles from God.

“She went to all the specialists and they all said, <<You’ll never have kids>>. I said, <<Don’t worry about it>>. She said, <<Yeah but I know you love ’em so I’m not going to marry you>>. I said, <<Hey, don’t worry about that. The doctors don’t have the final word. I believe in a higher power>>, and I’ve got what you call two miracle babies, my daughter and my son and they gave me four grandsons a piece.”

Si Robertson, 65, has been married to his wife Christine for 43 years. He also served in the military for 25 years before joining the Duck Commander business.

Si Robertson’s job in his family’s duck-call manufacturing business is to fashion the reeds that are inserted in every patented duck call.

Italy: Row over Lampedusa migrant boat deaths

Diane A. Wade
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Italy: Row over Lampedusa migrant boat deaths

Italian coast guard has denied that it was slow to respond to the sinking of a boat carrying African migrants off the island of Lampedusa this week.

The accusations were made by a fisherman who took part in the rescue and a local newspaper.

So far, 111 bodies have been recovered, and 155 people survived, but about 200 are still unaccounted for.

High winds have prevented divers from reaching the boat, restricting rescuers to an aerial search.

France has called for an urgent meeting of EU states following the tragedy.

“European political officials must talk, and soon,” said French PM Jean-Marc Ayrault.

“It is up to them to meet to find a proper solution; compassion is not enough.”

Tens of thousands of migrants attempt the perilous crossing from North Africa to Sicily and other Italian islands each year, and accidents are common – but this week’s shipwreck was among the deadliest on record.

Italian coast guard has denied that it was slow to respond to the sinking of a boat carrying African migrants off the island of Lampedusa
Italian coast guard has denied that it was slow to respond to the sinking of a boat carrying African migrants off the island of Lampedusa

The survivors are to be placed under investigation for “clandestine immigration”, as provided for by a controversial immigration law pushed through by right-wing parties in 2002.

Italy has said it will amend immigration laws and has called for European help.

Italian members of parliament have complained that some of its provisions discourage people from helping migrants in distress.

The fisherman who arrived first at the site of the accident, Vito Fiorino, has accused the coast guard of wasting time by filming footage of rescue efforts.

“They refused to take on board some people we’d already saved because they said protocol forbade it,” Vito Forino was quoted as saying by Ansa news agency.

A report in local newspaper La Sicilia said two boats belonging to Italy’s Financial Guard, which carries out a range of police and rescue duties, had remained in port.

The coast guard denied that there was any delay in its rescue effort.

“After we received the alarm by radio at 07:00 we immediately intervened without boats, arriving on at the site of the shipwreck at 07:20,” it said in a statement.

Judicial authorities said they had no evidence of delays.

The head of a fishermen’s association, Toto Martello, denied in turn reports that three fishermen drove straight past the scene of the accident.

“The fishermen save lives,” he told Ansa.

“We rebut the accusations that we didn’t help people who were dying at sea.”

Other fishermen said there were so many migrant boat wrecks near Lampedusa that they damaged their nets every time they went out.

“Only now they become aware of this situation?” said Salvatore D’Ancona.

“It’s been 20 years that this is happening.”

The fishermen laid a wreath of flowers at sea, with some 10 fishing vessels blowing their horns for the victims.

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Nairobi mall attack suspects named

Roy Siemens
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Nairobi mall attack suspects named

Kenya military named four men believed to have been involved in the deadly shopping centre attack in Nairobi last month.

Al-Shabab militants Abu Baara al-Sudani, Omar Nabhan, Khattab al-Kene and Umayr – shown in new CCTV footage – were killed during the standoff.

Kenya said previously 10-15 militants had been involved, but the police chief says the figure may now be four to six.

The al-Shabab group said it carried out the attack on the Westgate mall on September 21, leaving at least 67 dead.

The al-Qaeda-linked group said the attack was in retaliation for Kenya’s military involvement in Somalia.

The naming of the men came as CCTV footage was aired showing four attackers calmly walking through a room in the mall holding machine guns.

Kenya Defense Forces spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir told Reuters news agency: “I confirm these were the terrorists; they all died in the raid.”

The naming of the Nairobi mall attack suspects came as CCTV footage was aired showing four attackers calmly walking through a room in the mall holding machine guns
The naming of the Nairobi mall attack suspects came as CCTV footage was aired showing four attackers calmly walking through a room in the mall holding machine guns

Reuters quoted Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir as saying that al-Sudani was an “experienced fighter” from Sudan and was believed to be the leader of the group.

Maj. Emmanuel Chirchir said Omar Nabhan was a Kenyan of Arab origin and Khattab al-Kene a Somali linked to al-Shabab. Further details about Umayr had not yet been verified, he said.

Kenyan police chief David Kimaiyo told KTN television station it was now believed that four to six gunmen had carried out the attack, not 10 to 15.

“None of them managed to escape from the building after the attack,” he said.

David Kimaiyo also said that wanted British woman Samantha Lewthwaite had not been involved.

“We have also established that she was not part of the attackers in the building. There was no woman,” he said.

Samantha Lewthwaite, 29, is the widow of Jermaine Lindsay, one of the four suicide bombers who attacked London on July 7, 2005.

Kenya had earlier said five attackers were killed in the security operation and that nine people were in custody.

The latest CCTV footage is from a limited part of the complex and, with some eyewitnesses reporting a two-pronged attack, it is too early to say definitively how many gunmen were in the building.

In addition to the 67 people killed in the attack, a further 39 are still missing, according to the Kenyan Red Cross.

Al-Shabab is banned as a terrorist group by both the US and the UK and is believed to have between 7,000 and 9,000 fighters.

Its members are fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.

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Walking an hour a day could cut breast cancer risk

Kathryn R. Bown
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Walking an hour a day could cut breast cancer risk

A new study has suggested that post-menopausal women who walk for an hour a day can cut their chance of breast cancer significantly.

The report, which followed more than 73,000 women for 17 years, found walking for at least seven hours a week lowered the risk of the disease.

The American Cancer Society team said this was the first time reduced risk was specifically linked to walking.

This study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention followed 73,615 women out of 97,785 aged 50-74 who had been recruited by the American Cancer Society between 1992 and 1993 so it could monitor the incidence of cancer in the group.

They were asked to complete questionnaires on their health and on how much time they were active and participating in activities such as walking, swimming and aerobics and how much time they spent sitting watching television or reading.

Post-menopausal women who walk for an hour a day can cut their chance of breast cancer significantly
Post-menopausal women who walk for an hour a day can cut their chance of breast cancer significantly

They completed the same questionnaires at two-year intervals between 1997 and 2009.

Of the women, 47% said walking was their only recreational activity.

Those who walked for at least seven hours per week had a 14% lower risk of breast cancer compared to those who walked three or fewer hours per week.

Dr. Alpa Patel, a senior epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society in Atlanta Georgia, who led the study, said: “Given that more than 60% of women report some daily walking, promoting walking as a healthy leisure-time activity could be an effective strategy for increasing physical activity amongst post-menopausal women.

“We were pleased to find that without any other recreational activity, just walking one hour a day was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in these women.

“More strenuous and longer activities lowered the risk even more.”

Susan Bennett: Siri voice revealed

Nancy Clayson
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Susan Bennett: Siri voice revealed

According to CNN, actress Susan Bennett says her voice was used for Apple’s virtual assistant Siri.

“I wasn’t sure that I wanted the notoriety,” Susan Bennett told CNN, explaining her delay in coming forward, “and I also wasn’t sure where I stood legally.”

Susan Bennett says the Siri voice was recorded in 2005 at GM Voices on behalf of ScanSoft, a software company that was working on an undisclosed project.

Apple did not confirm Susan Bennett’s story, but an audio-forensics expert says he is “100 percent certain” she is the voice, and Bennett’s lawyer, who cannot confirm the details of confidential contracts, notes he’s had “substantial negotiations” with “parties along the economic food chain” regarding hiring Bennett as the voice of Siri.

Susan C. Bennett is one of the busiest and most versatile voice-over artists/vocalists working today.

Susan Bennett says her voice was used for Apple's virtual assistant Siri
Susan Bennett says her voice was used for Apple’s virtual assistant Siri

She is a graduate of Brown University; member of the band Laugh & Cry, affiliated with The Berklee School of music, and featuring renowned bassist, Abe Laboriel; backup vocalist on tour with Burt Bacharach and Roy Orbison.

Susan Bennett has an experience of more than 20 years doing voice-overs and singing both live and in studio for such clients as Ford, Coca-Cola, Fisher Price, McDonald’s, The Home Depot, Goodyear, VISA, Macy’s, Club Med, Delta Airlines, and The Cartoon Network.

She is a member of SAG-AFTRA, The American Federation of Musicians, and Women in Film.

Along with her husband, guitarist and composer Rick Hinkle, Susan Bennett is co-owner of Audiocam Music, a full service recording studio.

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Chris Brown speaks out about Rihanna incident

Lisa.Felice
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Chris Brown speaks out about Rihanna incident

Chris Brown spoke out about “the Rihanna incident” in a new interview with The Guardian.

The 24-year-old rapper told the newspaper: “[It was] probably the biggest wake-up call for me.

“I had to stop acting like a little teenager, a crazy, wild young guy.”

Chris Brown said despite his arrest for domestic violence he is not a violent man.

“You can talk with all my girls that I did mess with before, and it’s never been a violent history.”

Chris Brown has had a history of public incidents since the Rihanna incident in 2009 – including an on-air tantrum and violent brawls with other rappers Drake and Frank Ocean.

The singer said he has learnt from that tragic night in 2009 and its aftermath.

“I learned from it, and it was almost like… I wouldn’t say it happened for a reason, but it was something to trigger my mind to be more of a mature adult. To handle myself in situations, don’t throw tantrums, don’t be a baby about it.”

Chris Brown was not as accepting about having to continue to pay for the “incident”.

Last month, Chris Brown was given more community service hours after it was ruled he had failed to complete many he had claimed to had done.

Chris Brown also said he had no doubt he was being target because he is black, citing the difference between his treatment and the treatment of white celebrities who have also found themselves before the court.

“People think I just walk around as the aggressor, this mad black guy, this angry, young, troubled kid, but I’m not. I’m more and more laid-back. It’s just that people know if they push a button, it’ll make more news than their music. Attaching themselves to me, good or bad, will benefit them.”

John Kerry: Prolonged shutdown could affect US internationally

Diane A. Wade
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John Kerry: Prolonged shutdown could affect US internationally

John Kerry has warned that any prolonged shutdown of the government could affect the US internationally.

Speaking at the APEC forum in Indonesia, the US Secretary of State said any impact was “momentary” and Washington’s commitment to Asia was “undiminished”.

President Barack Obama cancelled his Asia visit because of the shutdown.

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

Thousands of federal employees have been sent home. Some are working but not paid.

US-EU trade negotiations have also been postponed because of the crisis.

As world leaders headed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Bali, John Kerry sought to allay concerns that Washington was reducing its global engagement.

“None of what is happening in Washington diminishes one iota our commitment to our partners in Asia,” he said.

John Kerry has warned that any prolonged shutdown of the government could affect the US internationally
John Kerry has warned that any prolonged shutdown of the government could affect the US internationally

John Kerry said the dispute with the Republicans in the US Congress was “an example of the robustness of our democracy”.

But at the same time, he urged Congress to think about how the US was perceived internationally when “we can’t get our own act together”.

John Kerry said areas where the shutdown was affecting US foreign policy funding included:

  • delays in security assistance for Israel
  • nearly all staff suspended at the treasury department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control, which monitors sanctions on states like Iran

The Secretary of State warned of the consequences if the shutdown became longer term.

“This is a momentary impact. Obviously if it were prolonged or repeated people would begin, I think, to question the willingness of the United States to stay the course or its ability to, but that’s not the case and that will not be the case.”

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

The president used the APEC summit two years ago to announce a rebalancing of American naval power towards the Pacific.

The White House said Barack Obama’s decision to cancel his Asia trip was made due to the “difficulty in moving forward with foreign travel in the face of a shutdown”.

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M-Blocks: MIT unveils Terminator self-assembling cube robots

James J. Williams
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M-Blocks: MIT unveils Terminator self-assembling cube robots

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have unveiled M-Blocks, cube-shaped robots that can flip, jump and assemble themselves into different shapes.

The small robots M-Blocks have no external parts but can move using an internal flywheel mechanism.

They stick together using magnets.

The scientists envisage miniaturized “swarmbot” versions self-assembling like the “liquid steel” androids in the Terminator films.

M-Blocks, cube-shaped robots that can flip, jump and assemble themselves into different shapes
M-Blocks, cube-shaped robots that can flip, jump and assemble themselves into different shapes

More realistically, the researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), believe armies of such cubes could be used for making temporary repairs to bridges or buildings, or as self-assembly, re-configurable scaffolding.

Modular robots have the advantage of being able to adapt to whatever task or terrain is presented to them.

John Romanishin, one of the research scientists at CSAIL leading the project, said: “We want hundreds of cubes, scattered randomly across the floor, to be able to identify each other, coalesce, and autonomously transform into a chair, or a ladder, or a desk, on demand.”

The M-Blocks are currently controlled by computer instructions sent over wireless radio, but in future the researchers hope algorithms can be loaded on the blocks directly, making them entirely autonomous and capable of adapting to different environments.

Blocks equipped with sensors and cameras would be able to work out how to accomplish specific tasks in combat or emergency situations, the scientists hope.

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Who is Sandy Schultz? Lamar Odom’s third mistress comes forward

Lisa.Felice
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Who is Sandy Schultz? Lamar Odom’s third mistress comes forward

Sandy Schultz is the third woman coming forward and stating that she and Lamar Odom had a romantic encounter after the NBA star married Khloe Kardashian.

Lamar Odom, 33, in recent weeks has faced much scrutiny due to alleged affairs and drug use.

Sandy Schultz, a 29-year-old graduate student, told Star magazine that she slept with Lamar Odom last March, but their relationship began years ago. She states that they met at a nightclub in Hollywood in 2003 and then dated for two years before continuing an off-and-on relationship for seven years. Their relationship did not last, however, and Sandy Schultz moved on and eventually got engaged to another man. Sandy Schultz said she ended that relationship to get back with Lamar Odom in 2009. However, Lamar Odom chose Khloe Kardashian over her and married her that year.

Sandy Schultz and Lamar Odom attended a party for Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace) hosted by Khloe Kardashian while he was on the Los Angeles Lakers, and Schultz said Khloe went after Lamar.

Sandy Schultz is the third woman coming forward and stating that she and Lamar Odom had a romantic encounter after the NBA star married Khloe Kardashian
Sandy Schultz is the third woman coming forward and stating that she and Lamar Odom had a romantic encounter after the NBA star married Khloe Kardashian

“We were sitting at our table having drinks. I got up to go to the bathroom and when I returned, Khloe had taken my seat next to Lamar. She didn’t move, so I sat in his lap,” Sandy Schultz told Star. Sandy Schultz ended up going home early because she was tired, and Lamar Odom never came home.

“He was supposed to be home with me and he chose to go home with Khloe Kardashian instead,” Sandy Schultz said.

“She knew I was Lamar’s girlfriend and she obviously just didn’t care. And Lamar didn’t have the decency to call me that night to say he’d made that decision.”

Sandy Schultz said she ended up seeing Lamar Odom again in March 2012, in San Francisco. Lamar Odom was there to play the Golden State Warriors, and had married Khloe Kardashian by this point.

She said Lamar Odom contacted her.

“It was shocking that he called me since he was married to Khloe,” Sandy Schultz said.

“But at the same time, I wanted to see him and let him see what he missed out on.”

They met at a hotel, and she says “we just fell into each other’s’ arms, hugging and kissing”.

Sandy Schultz and Lamar Odom proceeded to spend two nights together before he returned home to his wife.

Polina Polonsky, a lawyer, and Jennifer Richardson have already come forward, claiming to have had affairs with Lamar Odom while he was married.

Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian married in 2009, after dating for one month.

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.

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