Vatican checked in laundering probe

Vatican probe:� The Vatican has been assessed to determine if it has tightened its regulations to prevent money laundering.� Picture:� Supplied Source: Supplied

COUNCIL of Europe inspectors have visited the Vatican to monitor its plans to tighten money laundering regulations.

The group from the Moneyval committee "met with representatives of Vatican authorities dealing with the issue of prevention and fight against money laundering and terrorist financing," a statement from the Vatican said.

The group, composed of legal, financial and law enforcement experts from five countries, arrived on Monday and left overnight, the statement said.

They are expected to present a report with their findings at a plenary session of Moneyval "presumably in the middle of 2012," the Vatican said.

Pope Benedict XVI last December created a new financial authority following an embarrassing investigation of Vatican bank officials by Italy.

The Vatican also approved a law from April imposing sentences of up to 12 years in prison for money laundering and 15 years for terrorist financing.

In September last year, Italian authorities launched an investigation into and seized assets linked to the Institute for Religious Works (IOR) - the official name of the Vatican bank - for alleged violation of money-laundering rules.

The Vatican has also been excluded from an international "white list" of countries compliant with strict financial controls. The new financial authority is aimed at bringing the Holy See in line with new global standards.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaumostpopularworldndm/~3/kmojkVsNnR0/story-e6frfkyi-1226207135961

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Stealing your identity costs online crims $88

Police have warned online shoppers identities are a commodity and should be protected like cash. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

ONLINE criminals can steal identities and issue credit cards for as little as $88 - then start spending.

South Australian police have warned that identities are a commodity and should be protected like cash, The Advertiser reported.

Online shopping activity is peaking in the lead-up to Christmas and police have detected scams involving fake caravan and boat sales and holiday scratchy tickets in the past week.

Identity crime and electronic fraud police who met recently at an international conference in Queensland say credit cards can be bought in batches of 10,000 for 8c each.

The cost of the CVV security number on the back of the cards is $8 each and it costs just $80 for the scammers to change the billing address on the account if they have sufficient identity details.

Those details, the police experts say, are "harvested" online from unsuspecting victims using social-networking sites and other internet sites - and a prime target is children.

Queensland detective Brian Hay said some criminals store personal details of children who don't have credit cards and wait until they turn 18 so their identities can be used to set up bogus credit cards and loans.

The danger, the officer said, is that the children online hold less concern about protecting their details because they don't have accounts that can be plundered by scammers.

South Australian police detective Inspector Greg Hutchins, the Officer In Charge of the Financial Investigation Sections, warned that while the criminals may not be based in the state, it doesn't mean that South Australians are immune from identity theft or scams.

"A criminal can sit in front of a computer anywhere in the world and target someone in Brighton, Salisbury or Norwood ... no one is immune if they don't take measures to protect themselves," Det Insp Hutchins said.

Tips for protecting against identity theft are:

LIMIT personal details online and on smart phones.

RESTRICT access to your social-networking accounts to only those you know.

HAVE a robust password of at least eight characters with letters and numbers.

DO not answer or correspond to unsolicited emails or SMS or phone calls.�

Source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/stealing-your-identity-costs-online-crims-88/story-e6frfro0-1226206655420?from=public_rss

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Indonesia visit will happen, says Obama

UNITED States President Barack Obama says his twice delayed trip to Indonesia is going to happen.

His trip to the most populous Muslim nation is tied with a trip to Australia but he made no specific mention of Australia.

Domestic emergencies including the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill have kept Mr Obama from visiting previously.

Mr Obama held a bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of Toronto's G20 meeting.

"Because of the crisis that we've had in the Gulf, I've had to delay the trip," Mr Obama told reporters at G20.

"But graciously, for a second time now, the president has re-extended the invitation, and I am confident that we are going to get there."

Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/indonesia-visit-will-happen-says-obama/story-e6frfkui-1225885165531?from=public_rss

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'I wake up with Today.... oh s***!'

Watch as a confused breakfast TV viewer nearly loses a $40,000 cash prize.

Sunrise hosts Mel Doyle and David Koch burst into laughter after a viewer answered the phone to their cash promotion with rival Today's catchphrase. Picture: Source: Supplied

• Sunrise viewer answers phone with Today catch phrase
• Host Mel replies: "We don?t give a stuff about Today"
• Where's Hamish?: Meet Andy's new best mate

A LUCKY Sunrise viewer won $40,000 in a live competition this morning despite embarrassing the breakfast show hosts by answering the phone call with their rival's catch-phrase: "I wake up with Today".

Hosts Melissa Doyle, David Koch, Natalie Barr and Mark Berretta erupted in fits of laughter when viewer Rosemary Badger blurted out the Channel Nine tag line live on the Seven show.

Mel described it as an ?unfortunate situation" and Kochie told Ms Badger "we don?t give a stuff about Today".

"I don?t know whether we'll give it to you Rosemary, it's Mel and Kochie from Sunrise, the other one,? he said. ?You're so easily bought."

Ms Badger quickly backpedalled with: "Oh no, no, no, no, I turned from one channel to the other.?

Mel then asked the Queenslander if she spilt her loyalties to the rival breakfast shows depending on which one was giving away cash.

Kochie also questioned why she should be awarded the cash when she was "not that loyal".

"I'm very loyal,? she said. ?But I only have one TV set. Are you going to reward me because I get up so early just for this??

The team toyed with splitting the cash before offering her the full prize money "in the spirit of Christmas" and "the spirit of fairness".

But some viewers were not so magnanimous, taking to the breakfast show's website to complain.

"Can't believe SUNRISE gave today?s winner $40,000 when she answered her phone with "I WAKE UP WITH TODAY"!......" wrote Melissa H.

"Today show doesn't give you the money if you don't answer correctly. Sunrise should have called another person as she answered incorrectly even though it was funny."

While Roula said: "I totally agree. Sunrise should not have given the lady this morning the $40,000. They should of called someone else.

"It is totally unfair for the loyal Sunrise viewers who watch the show on a regular basis to have missed out. They obviously gave her the money because she said that she only had one TV."
�

Source: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/television/i-wake-up-with-today-oh-s039/story-e6frfmyi-1226205907397?from=public_rss

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Facebook is so 2010, Obama's all about Google +

Forget Facebook that's so last year, the US President is all about Google + now. Picture: Google + Source: Supplied

Forget Facebook, that's so 2010. These days President Obama prefers to gets down with the kids on Google +.

Yes, the President of the United States has joined the search giant?s new social networking site.

"Obama for America," the President's 2012 re-election campaign yesterday created an official Barack Obama page on Google+.

"We're still kicking the tires and figuring this out, so let us know what you'd like to see here and your ideas for how we can use this space to help you stay connected to the campaign," it said in its first message.

Last month, President Obama added popular microblogging platform Tumblr to the Internet arsenal for his White House campaign.

During his 2008 Presidential run, Mr Obama relied heavily on the internet for organizing, fundraising and communicating and he is expected to do so again during his reelection bid.

The White House is an active user of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Foursquare and other online services.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/technology/facebook-is-so-2010-obama039s-all-about-google/story-e6frfro0-1226205994548?from=public_rss

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Prince Harry taken for a ride

Mummy's boy:� Prince Harry, who is in the US completing a helicopter training course, took time out to go to Universal Studios, including two spins on the Revenge of the Mummy ride. Picture: AP Source: AP

PRINCE Harry turned tourist this week at Universal Studios - enjoying two spins on the "Revenge of the Mummy" ride.

The prince, who is enjoying a break from his eight-week military helicopter course in Gila Bend, Arizona, was treated to a VIP tour of the popular Los Angeles tourist attraction on Wednesday, US Weekly reported.

He also impressed with his generosity, offering "a giant 'Curious George' stuffed toy that he won at the theme park's carnival games to one lucky kid who happened to be nearby," a source told the magazine.

"The highlight of the afternoon included a trek through the very popular 'King Kong 360 3D' and the 'War of the Worlds,' which were particular hits for the prince," the source added.

The 27-year-old started his visit with a gourmet lunch, before taking in "The Simpsons," "Jaws Lake," "Jurassic Park" and "Revenge of the Mummy" rides.

Harry, the younger brother of Prince William, visited Las Vegas over the weekend and was seen dancing the early morning away at the Tryst Nightclub.

He also sped across the Arizona desert on a classic Harley-Davidson motorbike, after renting it from a local dealership for US$150 ($155).

The prince - known in his UK Army role as Captain Harry Wales - arrived in the US on October 6 to undertake the final training exercises in his Apache helicopter "conversion to role" course.

He had been training at the School of Aviation at Middle Wallop, southwest of London, but must complete the course in the US to be brought up to "battle ready" status.

Source: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/prince-harry-taken-for-a-ride/story-e6frfmq9-1226206613640?from=public_rss

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Indonesia visit will happen, says Obama

UNITED States President Barack Obama says his twice delayed trip to Indonesia is going to happen.

His trip to the most populous Muslim nation is tied with a trip to Australia but he made no specific mention of Australia.

Domestic emergencies including the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill have kept Mr Obama from visiting previously.

Mr Obama held a bilateral meeting with Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of Toronto's G20 meeting.

"Because of the crisis that we've had in the Gulf, I've had to delay the trip," Mr Obama told reporters at G20.

"But graciously, for a second time now, the president has re-extended the invitation, and I am confident that we are going to get there."

Source: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/indonesia-visit-will-happen-says-obama/story-e6frfkui-1225885165531?from=public_rss

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