Home Blog Page 780

Zimbabwe election result: Robert Mugabe re-elected amid fraud claims

Robert Mugabe has won a seventh term in office as Zimbabwe’s president, officials say, amid claims of electoral fraud.

Robert Mugabe, 89, won 61% of the vote, against PM Morgan Tsvangirai’s 34%.

Morgan Tsvangirai earlier said the elections for parliament and president were fraudulent and promised to take legal action.

He said his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) would no longer work with Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.

The two parties have been in a coalition since 2009, after the last election sparked widespread violence.

Results from this week’s parliamentary election showed the MDC had been trounced, winning just 49 seats compared with Zanu-PF’s 158.

In a news conference before the presidential result was announced, Morgan Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe was “in mourning”.

“The fraudulent and stolen election has launched Zimbabwe into a constitutional, political and economic crisis,” he said.

He said he would produce a dossier of the alleged electoral fraud and he called on the southern African regional bloc, SADC, to investigate.

Robert Mugabe has won a seventh term in office as Zimbabwe’s president
Robert Mugabe has won a seventh term in office as Zimbabwe’s president

His MDC colleagues had earlier called for a campaign of civil disobedience to isolate Zanu-PF.

The European Union, which maintains sanctions on Robert Mugabe and his senior aides, said it was concerned about “alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation” in Wednesday’s election.

Former colonial power the UK said it had grave concerns about the conduct of the election, and urged a thorough investigation of all allegations of violations.

Monitoring groups disagreed over the conduct of the election.

The most critical account came from the largest group of monitors, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), which had 7,000 workers observing the vote.

The organization said problems with voter registration had left up to one million people unable to cast their ballots, mostly in urban areas regarded as MDC strongholds.

On Saturday, one of the nine members of the election commission resigned over the way the election was conducted.

Commissioner Mkhululi Nyathi said in his resignation letter: “While throughout the whole process I retained some measure of hope that the integrity of the whole process could be salvaged along the way, this was not to be.”

However, the African Union, which had 70 observers, said its initial report suggested the election was “free and credible”.

The AU’s mission chief Olusegun Obasanjo said there had been “incidents that could have been avoided” and asked Zimbabwe’s election authorities to investigate claims that voters had been turned away from polling stations.

SADC, with 600 observers, broadly endorsed the election as “free and peaceful”, but said it would reserve judgement on the fairness of the process.

Major Western groups were not invited to send observer missions.

Robert Mugabe has been president since 1987. He became prime minister when Zimbabwe won independence from the UK in 1980.

[youtube nhBw9-xP2HE]

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s list of 22 books everyone should read

F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely acclaimed as being one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, but little has been known about his own personal choice of literature.

A list containing 22 books that F. Scott Fitzgerald thought were essential reading has just come to light, which the author of The Great Gatsby dictated to his nurse while convalescing in a North Carolina hotel in 1936.

The hard-drinking F. Scott Fitzgerald was battling alcoholism, and struggling financially.

The writer’s wife, Zelda, had recently been admitted to the nearby psychiatric Highland Hospital in Asheville.

It was a dark time for the 40-year-old.

Esquire had recently published his essay The Crack Up, in which F. Scott Fitzgerald stated “my life had been a drawing on resources that I did not possess, that I had been mortgaging myself physically and spiritually up to the hilt”.

That summer he had fractured his shoulder while diving into the hotel swimming pool.

According to Michael Cody, at the University of South Carolina’s F. Scott Fitzgerald’s website, he had also fired a revolver in a suicide threat.

F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely acclaimed as being one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century
F. Scott Fitzgerald is widely acclaimed as being one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century

It was after this incident that the hotel where he was staying in Asheville, the Grove Park Inn, refused to let him continue living there unless he had a nurse to look after him.

Michael Cody states: “He was attended thereafter by Dorothy Richardson, whose chief duties were to provide him company and try to keep him from drinking too much.

“In typical Fitzgerald fashion, he developed a friendship with Miss Richardson and attempted to educate her by providing her with a reading list.”

According to website Open Culture, which published the list, at the top of the page, Dorothy Richardson had written: “These are books that Scott thought should be required reading.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s essential reading:

1. Sister Carrie by Theodore Dreiser
2. The Life of Jesus by Ernest Renan
3. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
4. Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson
5. The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett
6. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
7. The Red and the Black by Stendhal
8. The Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant
9. An Outline of Abnormal Psychology edited by Gardner Murphy
10. The Stories of Anton Chekhov
11. The Best American Humorous Short Stories
12. Victory by Joseph Conrad
13. The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France
14. The Plays of Oscar Wilde
15. Sanctuary by William Faulkner
16. Within a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust
17. The Guermantes Way by Marcel Proust
18. Swann’s Way by Marcel Proust
19. South Wind by Norman Douglas
20. The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield
21. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
22. John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley: Complete Poetical Works

Stomach bug outbreak linked to Mexican salad in Iowa and Nebraska

The FDA announces an outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to salad mix served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those states and supplied by a Mexican farm.

The outbreak of cyclospora infections has sickened more than 400 people in 16 states in all.

The FDA says it is working to determine whether the salad mix is the source of illnesses in the other 14 states.

“It is not yet clear whether the cases reported from other states are all part of the same outbreak,” the FDA said in a statement.

“The investigation of increased cases of cyclosporiasis in other states continues.”

Both Olive Garden and Red Lobster are owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. In a statement, Darden spokesman Mike Bernstein said the FDA’s announcement is “new information”.

“Nothing we have seen prior to this announcement gave us any reason to be concerned about the products we’ve received from this supplier,” Mike Bernstein said.

The FDA said it traced illnesses from the restaurants in Nebraska and Iowa to Taylor Farms de Mexico, the Mexican branch of Salinas, California-based Taylor Farms.

Outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to a salad mix supplied by a Mexican farm
Outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to a salad mix supplied by a Mexican farm

Taylor Farms, which provides produce to the food service industry, said its facility located about 180 miles north of Mexico City in San Miguel de Allende is the only one of its 12 sites to be connected to the cases.

The salad mix in question includes iceberg and romaine lettuce, as well as red cabbage and carrots, according to officials.

In a statement on the company’s website, Taylor Farms says the Mexican facility is “state of the art and has an exceptional food safety record”.

The statement said the company is working with FDA investigators who are looking at the facility and that the product is out of the food supply.

The FDA said its investigation has not implicated packaged salad sold in grocery stores.

The salad mix may be out of the commercial food chain as the most recent known illness in those two states was in Nebraska a month ago.

The typical shelf life for a salad mix is up to 14 days.

There have been more recent illnesses in other states.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most recent illness was July 23.

Cyclospora is transmitted through raw fruit and vegetables by leaving it’s droppings on fruit and vegetables, according to health officials who have said rinsing food isn’t enough to rid it of the problem.

The cyclospora parasite causes the intestinal illness cyclosporiasis if people eat or drink contaminated food and water.

Symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, flu-like aches and pains, and a low-grade fever.

Health officials have said diarrhea can last nearly two months.

[youtube TqLE99T5f70]

Department of Education investigating Duck Dynasty inspired Redneck Day at Queen Creek High School

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) plans to investigate a controversial “Redneck Day” celebration three months ago at Queen Creek High School in Arizona.

One student wore a Confederate flag during the May 1 event, which was inspired by the popular A&E show Duck Dynasty. Civil rights activists say that created a racially hostile environment.

The Rev. Jarrett Maupin says the DOE will “determine the remedy, including moderating conversations between school administrators and civil rights community leaders to shape new policy and racism prevention measures.”

The DOE’s Office for Civil Rights says “the display of the Confederate flag concerns rights protected by the First Amendment.”

But it also says in a letter that the investigation’s scope “will be limited to whether a racially hostile environment was created due to language and actions that were not protected by the First Amendment.”

Queen Creek student wore a Confederate flag during Duck Dynasty inspired Redneck Day
Queen Creek student wore a Confederate flag during Duck Dynasty inspired Redneck Day

The day was supposed to prompt kids at Queen Creek High School to dress like members of Duck Dynasty cast, but instead it was seen as offensive when students arrived at the school in stereotypical clothing.

Tom Lindsey, superintendent of the Queen Creek Unified School District told azcentral.com that the day was meant to satirize Duck Dynasty and boost school spirit.

Still, some students and local families were offended by the dress-up day, something Tom Lindsey apologized for shortly after the incident.

Tom Lindsey said that the student wearing a confederate flag was pulled aside and asked to change clothes.

“It was no ill intent,” Tom Lindsey told the Arizona publication.

“We apologize to any people who, because of the word [redneck], were offended,” he said.

[youtube f0zDt7jexPE]

Hassan Rouhani replaces Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran

Hassan Rouhani has officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran.

Cleric Hassan Rouhani’s election has been endorsed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony in the capital, Tehran.

He won the presidential poll in June, promising to reform and to put an end to Iran’s international isolation.

The ceremony marks the handover of power, but his public inauguration does not take place until Sunday.

He is a former nuclear negotiator for Iran and was an Islamic activist before the 1979 Revolution.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hassan Rouhani said: ”I have assumed this responsibility with the support of those people who want change, who want a better life, away from corruption, poverty and discrimination, people who want more respect and dignity, and hope in a secure future.”

Hassan Rouhani, 64, has the support of Iran’s reform movement, which wants the new president to release political prisoners and have international sanctions lifted.

Hassan Rouhani has officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran
Hassan Rouhani has officially replaced Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president of Iran

But while he may be taking over as president, Hassan Rouhani will not be Iran’s main decision-maker.

In the Islamic Republic, it is the Supreme Leader, not the president, who has the final say.

The day before he took office, Hassan Rouhani said Israeli occupation was an “old wound on the body of the Islamic world”, as Iran marked its annual Jerusalem (Quds) Day.

His remarks echo those of other Iranian leaders on the day dedicated to supporting the Palestinians and denouncing Israel.

Iran has denied Israel’s right to exist since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

In his last interview before stepping aside on Friday, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also attacked Israel, warning of “storm brewing” in the region that would uproot Zionism, according to AFP news agency.

Many Iranians believe Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, elected twice in controversial polls, has put Iran on the path to economic ruin and confrontation with the outside world.

[youtube K65NdY1dwww]

Duck Dynasty Season 4 to feature Phil and Miss Kay Robertson wedding vows renewal

The new season of Duck Dynasty will feature the wedding-vow renewal ceremony of patriarch Phil and Miss Kay Robertson.

The event will take place during the premiere of the show’s Season 4 on August 14.

The episode, which is entitled Till Duck Do We Part will feature Phil Robertson, dressed in his finest camouflage pants and bandana, renewing his wedding vows to Miss Kay, his wife of 49 years.

Miss Kay, who was only 16 when she wed Phil Robertson the first time around, wore a white dress and veil, while the couple’s sons all donned suits for the fancy affair.

Duck Dynasty Season 4 will feature the wedding-vow renewal ceremony of patriarch Phil and Miss Kay Robertson
Duck Dynasty Season 4 will feature the wedding-vow renewal ceremony of patriarch Phil and Miss Kay Robertson

According to A &E’s description, the entire Robertson clan will be present at the festivities, including Phil’s wacky brother, fan favorite Uncle Si.

Everyone comes together to plan a surprise wedding for Phil and Kay Robertson, setting up a special ceremony on their land, which the whole family attends.

Si Robertson distracts Phil and Kay by taking them on a “trip down memory lane” to different places that were meaningful in their relationship.

The high school sweethearts will say “I do” again underneath an altar of flowers and animal antlers, in a ceremony officiated by their unbearded pastor son, Alan Robertson, who will make his debut this season.

According to A & E, Duck Dynasty was the highest-rated non-fiction series on cable last year. Nearly 8.5 million people tuned in on average to watch the hi-jinks of Louisiana’s most famous bearded brothers.

Duck Dynasty Season 4 premieres on August 14 at 10 p.m. on A & E.

Plenty of Fish dating website unites people obsessed with Lego

Dating website Plenty of Fish has introduced a “Users Interested in Legos” tag to make it easier for fans of the building blocks to find each other.

Currently, there are 2,070 Lego-lovers worldwide, with 1,099 in the U.S. and the rest split between the UK and Canada.

CrazyLegoMan of Lafayette, Indiana is looking for a Christian woman who wants to have kids and doesn’t mind practical jokes, Gizmodo reports.

Dating website Plenty of Fish has introduced a “Users Interested in Legos” tag to make it easier for fans of the building blocks to find each other
Dating website Plenty of Fish has introduced a “Users Interested in Legos” tag to make it easier for fans of the building blocks to find each other

His ideal mate would have a really weird sense of humor and enjoy pretending to be Amish. He’s also into playing drums at church, collecting medieval weapons and listening to Christian techno and bluegrass music.

“I’m really into LEGOS, but I realize that this isn’t something that any woman is going to want to do with me,” he writes.

“I’m just letting you know that it’s my #1 hobby.”

There is also a user forum called “Legos: Turn-off or not?”.

Plenty of Fish is free, and has more than 3.3 million users who browse the site every day and a vast range of tags.

A quick search of singles in the U.S. show that Lego lovers fall somewhere in popularity between yoga and Enya fans.

Five ways to stop your baby crying. Dr. Harvey Karp’s Happiest Baby technique

0

Swaddling is one of the techniques recommended to new mothers as by Dr. Harvey Karp.

He said babies can be soothed by following what he calls the “Five S’s” – swaddling, putting them in a side-on position, making shushing sounds, swinging them and giving them a dummy to suck.

Dr. Harvey Karp’s advice is based on his belief that babies aged 0 to three months are in the “fourth trimester” and can be best settled into the world by being in an environment similar to how they were in the womb.

His “The Happiest Baby” advice has been widely followed in the U.S.

Dr. Harvey Karp's advice is based on his belief that babies aged 0 to three months are in the “fourth trimester” and can be best settled into the world by being in an environment similar to how they were in the womb
Dr. Harvey Karp’s advice is based on his belief that babies aged 0 to three months are in the “fourth trimester” and can be best settled into the world by being in an environment similar to how they were in the womb

All of Dr. Harvey Karp’s advises are based on “tried and tested methods” and “ancient techniques” such as swaddling.

Swaddling goes back to Biblical times but has died out in recent generations as women no longer know how to do it – or fear causing hip displacement in their babies by doing them too tightly.

A swaddled baby will sleep longer during the night and, if swaddled at certain periods during the day, will settle easier and some very restless babies will latch on with more ease if swaddled,  though skin-to-skin feeding is still the ideal.

The method works by replicating how the babies were in the womb when they were comfortably curled up.

In the current heatwave, mothers needn’t have their babies swaddled for long periods. To avoid them overheating, they should be swaddled without any clothes but just wearing a nappy.

Parents should always be sure to check the baby is not too hot.

Versace creates mesh bodysuit for boys

Versace has taken the trend by creating full mesh bodysuits for boys.

The breathable suits are being sold for a hefty $150 online by the luxury designer.

Versace has taken the trend by creating full mesh bodysuits for boys
Versace has taken the trend by creating full mesh bodysuits for boys

Modelled by a bearded model, the suits feature the iconic Versace branding on a flattering waistline.

Whilst the design is clearly aimed at fashion-forward males, it is unlikely that we are likely to see the likes of David Beckham and Harry Styles wearing one anytime soon.

Edward Snowden affair: Germany cancels spy pact with US and UK

Germany has decided to cancel a Cold War-era pact with the US and the UK in response to revelations about electronic surveillance operations.

Details of snooping programmes involving the transatlantic allies have been leaked to the media by Edward Snowden.

The revelations have sparked widespread outrage in Germany, where elections are due next month.

The agreement dates from 1968-1969, and its cancellation is largely symbolic.

Germany has decided to cancel a Cold War-era pact with the US and the UK in response to revelations about electronic surveillance operations
Germany has decided to cancel a Cold War-era pact with the US and the UK in response to revelations about electronic surveillance operations

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement: “The cancellation of the administrative agreements, which we have pushed for in recent weeks, is a necessary and proper consequence of the recent debate about protecting personal privacy.”

Germans’ experience of mass surveillance under the Communist and Nazi dictatorships makes them particularly sensitive to perceived infringements of personal privacy, and the country has strong data protection laws.

The agreement cancelled on Friday gave the Western countries which had troops stationed in West Germany – the US, the UK and France – the right to request surveillance operations to protect those forces.

A German official told the Associated Press news agency that the agreement had not been invoked since the end of the Cold War, and admitted that the decision would have no impact on current intelligence co-operation.

A spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign Office told reporters that the agreement had not been in use since 1990.

Henning Riecke of the German Council on Foreign Relations told AP that the German government needed to do something to demonstrate at home that it was taking the issue seriously.

“Ending an agreement made in the pre-internet age gives the Germans a chance to show they’re doing something, and at the same time the Americans know it’s not going to hurt them.

“Given the good relations between the intelligence agencies, they’ll get the information they need anyway,” he said.

Ariel Castro transferred to isolation wing of Ohio prison for his own protection

Ariel Castro will spend his immediate prison future in isolation for his own safety, according to prison officials.

On Friday kidnapper Ariel Castro was transferred from a Cleveland jail to the Lorain Correctional Institution in Grafton, 24 miles away.

It is described as a clearinghouse for Ohio inmates and will be his residence until his longer term home is determined.

Ariel Castro will spend his immediate prison future in isolation for his own safety
Ariel Castro will spend his immediate prison future in isolation for his own safety

Ariel Castro, 53, can expect a bleak existence with a lot of time to ponder on his actions as his only contact will be guards and the inmates who will bring his meals.

As a high profile criminal, Ariel Castro will be a target for other inmates and so won’t be allowed to mix with the general prison population.

Department of Rehabilitation and Correction spokeswoman JoEllen Smith described Ariel Castro as “calm and cooperative” during Friday’s transfer.

Ariel Castro was strip-searched, photographed, fingerprinted and checked for gang markings. In the coming days he will undergo medical and mental health evaluations.

Ultimately Ariel Castro is expected to end up in the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, a maximum-security lockup about an hour and a half away from Cincinnati.

On August 1, an unrepentant Ariel Castro apologized for holding his three victims, Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, who were hostage over a decade.

Sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 1,000 years, Ariel Castro declared to the Cleveland court room he was “not a monster”.

Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus return to Ariel Castro’s house

Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus, who were held captive and abused in Ariel Castro’s home for a decade, have returned to the “House of Horrors” in an extraordinary show of bravery.

On Friday morning, Michelle Knight visited to Ariel Castro’s home, where she was held from August 2002 until her escape on May 6, so that she could thank neighbors for their support.

Amanda Berry and her father also returned to the home on Tuesday to thank those who helped her when she fled for safety, and Gina DeJesus also visited Seymour Street this week, 19ActionNews reported.

Michelle Knight has returned to Ariel Castro’s home on Seymour Avenue to thank neighbors for their support
Michelle Knight has returned to Ariel Castro’s home on Seymour Avenue to thank neighbors for their support

Michelle Knight’s visit came as it emerged her captor will start his term – a life sentence plus 1,000 years – isolated from other inmates.

A spokeswoman for Ohio’s prisons department said Ariel Castro won’t go into general population once he enters the state’s prison system. She says it’s for his own protection because of his high profile.

At his sentencing on Thursday, Michelle Knight told Ariel Castro: “You took 11 years of my life away, but now I have it back. I spent 11 years in hell. Now your hell is just beginning.”

As part of Ariel Castro’s plea agreement, the Seymour Avenue house will be torn down in the near future.

Ariel Castro, 53, was sentenced after pleading guilty to 937 counts including kidnapping, rape and murder.

[youtube YokyGkmPIa4]

New Zealand: Fonterra recalls dairy products across seven countries over botulism fears

Fonterra, New Zealand’s main dairy exporter, has found a strain of bacteria causing botulism in some of its products, including infant formula and sports drinks.

It has led to a global recall of up to 1,000 tons of dairy products across seven countries, including China.

Fonterra has not named the eight companies affected.

Botulism is one of the most dangerous forms of food poisoning, often leading to paralysis.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries confirmed on Saturday that the tainted products included infant formula, sports drinks, protein drinks and other beverages.

The bacterium was found in three batches of Fonterra’s whey protein used in infants’ Nutricia Karicare follow-on formula, Fonterra said.

The whey product was produced in May 2012, with a dirty pipe at one of its processing plants in Waikato responsible for the contamination, the company said.

Fonterra has found a strain of bacteria causing botulism in some of its products
Fonterra has found a strain of bacteria causing botulism in some of its products

Nutricia has locked down all five batches of formula believed to contain the tainted product and says none of its product was actually sold.

Fonterra – the fourth largest diary company in the world – says it has urged its customers to urgently check their supply chains.

“We are acting quickly,” Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings said.

“Our focus is to get information out about potentially affected product as fast as possible so that it can be taken off supermarket shelves and, where it has already been purchased, can be returned.”

The countries affected beside New Zealand include China, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

Fonterra said there had been no reports of any illness linked to the affected whey product.

The dairy industry powers New Zealand’s economy, with the country exporting up to 95% of its milk.

Fonterra is a major supplier of bulk milk powder products used in milk formula in China.

Chinese consumers have a special interest after a tainted milk formula scandal in 2008 killed six babies and made some 300,000 infants sick.

The Chinese authorities have already ordered domestic importers to recall all milk products that could be affected.

Fonterra’s chief executive, Theo Spierings, plans to fly to China on Saturday to deal with the fall-out.

Botulism is a rare paralytic illness caused by a toxin which is very poisonous to humans.

Zimbabwe election result: Opposition calls for political boycott

Roy Bennett, a leading Zimbabwe opposition figure, has called for a campaign of “passive resistance” after election results showed President Robert Mugabe’s party had won a large majority in parliament.

Roy Bennett, treasurer of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said people should force Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF to “rule by themselves”.

The MDC has already said it will not recognize the results, alleging fraud.

It comes as the party holds emergency meetings to discuss the outcome.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) earlier said Zanu-PF had won 137 seats in the 210-seat chamber – just short of two-thirds – with most seats declared.

Results in the presidential race have yet to be announced.

PM Morgan Tsvangirai, who heads the MDC and is running for president against Robert Mugabe, has already dismissed the election as “a sham”.

Amid rising tension, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on President Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai to send “clear messages of calm”to their supporters.

His spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said Ban Ki-moon wanted any election disputes to be handled “transparently and fairly”.

The MDC was believed to be holding talks on Friday and Saturday to decide on a response to the results.

Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC has already said it will not recognize the election results, alleging fraud
Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC has already said it will not recognize the election results, alleging fraud

Its treasurer Roy Bennett said there should be a wave of social disobedience in order to bring the regime to a halt.

“I’m calling on the people of Zimbabwe, who are our constituents and who we represent in the positions we hold, for passive resistance and for total disengagement,” he said.

“And let Zanu-PF rule and rule by themselves and bring the country to a standstill.”

Morgan Tsvangirai, 61, earlier said the vote was “null and void”.

A local monitoring group has also said that the poll was “seriously compromised”.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) – the largest group of domestic monitors with some 7,000 people on the ground – said as many as one million people had been unable to cast their ballots.

It said voting irregularities were much more likely to affect urban areas, where support for Morgan Tsvangirai is strong, than in President Robert Mugabe’s rural strongholds.

However, the two main observer groups have broadly endorsed the election, saying it was free and peaceful.

African Union (AU) mission head Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed the complaints of fraud, saying the election was fair and free “from the campaigning point of view”.

He acknowledged incidents “that could have been avoided and even tended to have breached the law” but added: “We do not believe that these incidences [incidents] will amount to the result not representing the will of the people.”

Meanwhile, monitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) described the elections as “free and peaceful” but said it was too early to call them fair.

South Africa became the latest country to endorse the result, challenging critics to provide evidence of vote-rigging.

Zanu-PF and the MDC have formed an uneasy coalition government since 2009. That deal ended deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year.

Robert Mugabe is running for a seventh term.

If Zanu-PF clinches a two-thirds majority it will be able to change Zimbabwe’s constitution.

Under Zimbabwean law, seven days are set aside for legal challenges with another two days for rulings to be made. After that, the swearing-in of a new government takes place.

[youtube wGTYfbezyv8]

[youtube wjyXgLu5810]

US issues global travel alert over fears of al-Qaeda attack

A global travel alert has been issued by the US state department because of fears of an unspecified al-Qaeda attack.

The department said the potential for an attack was particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa.

The US intercepted electronic communications between senior al-Qaeda figures, according to officials quoted by the New York Times.

The alert comes shortly after the US announced nearly two dozen embassies and consulates would be shut on Sunday.

The US state department said the alert expires on August 31, 2013, and it recommended US citizens travelling abroad be vigilant.

“Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the statement said.

The alert warned of “the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure”.

In its report, the New York Times says high-level intercepts were collected and analyzed this week and that the CIA, state department and White House immediately recognized their significance.

President Barack Obama has ordered that “all appropriate steps” be taken to protect Americans in response to a threat of an al-Qaeda attack, AFP news agency quoted a White House official as saying.

A global travel alert has been issued by the US state department because of fears of an unspecified al-Qaeda attack
A global travel alert has been issued by the US state department because of fears of an unspecified al-Qaeda attack

“The president is being updated on a potential threat occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula,” the official added.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, said that congressional leaders had been briefed about the alert.

“There is some understanding of the seriousness of the threat,” she told reporters.

Republican lawmaker Jason Chaffetz said he understood there was “a very real worldwide threat”.

Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said the threat was not prompted by “the regular chit chat” gleaned from would-be militants online or elsewhere.

“The most important thing we have to do is protect American lives,” he told the Associated Press news agency.

An unnamed senior US official told NBCthe threat may be related to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends next week.

In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world US diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday.

The official said the state department had “been apprised of information” leading it to take these “precautionary steps… out of an abundance of caution”.

Last year on September 11, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead.

Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters.

The US diplomatic missions to be closed on Sunday are in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Algiers, Algeria; Amman, Jordan; Baghdad, Iraq; Cairo, Egypt; Dhahran, Saudi Arabia; Djibouti, Djibouti; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Doha, Qatar; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Erbil, Iraq; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Kabul, Afghanistan; Khartoum, Sudan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Manama, Bahrain; Muscat, Oman; Nouakchott, Mauritania; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Sanaa, Yemen and Tripoli, Libya.

[youtube y3bCLAfQJHA]

Rihanna and Karrueche Tran partying at same nightclub in Hollywood

Rihanna and Karrueche Tran narrowly missed an awkward encounter when they both went on a night out to Play House in Hollywood on Thursday night.

While it is unknown whether Rihanna and Karrueche Tran had partied together inside, they both exited the venue separately.

Rihanna showed off her stunning new wavy hairstyle
Rihanna showed off her stunning new wavy hairstyle

Rihanna, 25, had snuck out the back entrance of the popular late night venue, while Karrueche Tran, 25, departed with a male pal at the front, alongside other party goers.

It is very unlikely that Rihanna and Karrueche Tran had exchanged words inside after having both enjoyed romances with Chris Brown consecutively.

Karrueche Tran is the last one to have picked up where Rihanna left off and is currently dating Chris Brown.

Chris Brown and Karrueche Tran sparked rumors of an official reconciliation in June when they cosied up for a picture together.

Earlier this year, Chris Brown dumped Karrueche Tran to be back in the arms of his superstar ex Rihanna.

But they broke up once more as Chris Brown revealed he would be enjoying his birthday without Rihanna during an Australian radio interview.

Chris Brown told the Kyle and Jackie O show: “I can’t really be focused on wife-ing somebody that young.”

And he seemed to have wasted no time in rekindling his romance with Karrueche Tran following the split.

Karrueche Tran is now even living in Chris Brown’s Hollywood Hills home.

Lauren Silverman and Simon Cowell affair started before her marriage ends

Andrew Silverman believes his estranged wife Lauren was “totally into Simon [Cowell]” for years before the pair embarked on an affair, it was emerged today.

It came as photos emerged today of Simon Cowell sharing an intimate moment with Lauren Silverman during a cruise off the coast of the French Riviera in August 2012.

Meanwhile, the New York Post and TMZ.com suggest that Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman had in fact begun their “affair” long before her marriage ended.

A source close to Andrew Silverman today said he believes the affair only started earlier this year, adding: “He knew Lauren was always totally into Simon, but as far as Andrew is concerned it was this spring when things went to another level.”

Andrew Silverman had even joined his wife and good friend Simon Cowell while house hunting in Los Angeles in October.

Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman had in fact begun their “affair” long before her marriage ended
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman had in fact begun their “affair” long before her marriage ended

The source admits: “Andrew maybe was in a little bit of denial about this. He knew Lauren had star f***ing tendencies – not literally – and that she enjoyed being around celebrities, but he had no real clue.”

Having filed for divorce after discovering his wife is pregnant by the man he had thought his friend, Andrew Silverman now hopes that the divorce will be speedy and the couple can come to an agreement over their 7-year-old son Adam.

However, in a chilling threat, if it does go to court, real estate millionaire Andrew Silverman knows “plenty about Simon”, according to friends – which could prove to be extremely embarrassing for the X Factor judge.

Earlier today, the Silvermans met at the house Lauren and their young son have been staying at in the Hamptons to discuss their divorce.

This week, it was revealed that Andrew Silverman has taken the unusual step of naming Simon Cowell as a co-respondent in the divorce papers he filed two weeks ago.

Kim Kardashian’s video message on Kris Jenner’s show

Kim Kardashian made a surprising return to the spotlight on Friday for the first time in more than seven weeks.

Kim Kardashian, 32, appeared in a brief video recording on her mother Kris Jenner’s daytime chat show.

In the pre-taped segment, Kim Kardashian surprised her mother with a short message, saying: “Hey mom, I just wanted to say congratulations on your new show. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there in person, but I’m just loving life a little bit too much at home right now.”

“But I watch you every single day and you are so amazing. You really are born to do this. I just want to say I love you and have an amazing show.”

Kim Kardashian looked happy and healthy in the clip dressed in a white top.

Following the video message, Kris Jenner broke down in tears as she marveled about the surprise with her guest host Diddy.

“You did make me cry… Thank you Kimmy,” Kris Jenner said as she wiped her eyes with a towel.

“That made me cry… Thank you Kimmy, thank you Sean,” she continued.

In fact Kris Jenner was so touched she couldn’t continue saying her thanks at the end of the programme, forcing Diddy to take over.

Kim Kardashian returns to spotlight after seven weeks in hiding with a video message on Kris Jenner’s show
Kim Kardashian returns to spotlight after seven weeks in hiding with a video message on Kris Jenner’s show

“I just wanted to say thank you Ciara,” Kris Jenner said of her musical guest, before cracking up again.

“I can say this right now…”

Diddy had helped Kim Kardashian surprise the mother and matriarch by pretending to show Kris Jenner a clip that would feature on the new cable TV channel Revolt, which he is launching in October this year with Comcast.

“Check this out for Revolt. I bought something special that I am going to debut on the network, I am going to debut it here first on the Kris show,” Diddy said before showing the clip of Kim Kardashian.

It wasn’t quite the big reveal many fans had been hoping for and there was no sign of her daughter North West.

Earlier in the day, Kim Kardashian had tweeted her fans, telling them that she was going to surprise her mother.

“Getting ready to surprise my mom on @krisjennershow today!!!! You ready NYC? Tune in!” she wrote.

Kim Kardashian, who welcomed her first child with Kanye West on June 15, was last seen in public in an olive green dress on June 12.

On June 29, Khloe Kardashian posted a head shot of Kim sleeping on the couch at home.

Kim Kardashian’s absence from the spotlight has been rather unusual for the reality star, who has relentlessly pursued media attention from the moment her tape was “leaked” in 2007.

There have been suggestions Kim Kardashian has been laying low while she gets back into shape. Her boyfriend Kanye West, who doesn’t share her affection for publicity, has also encouraged her to be more private.

Kim Kardashian’s best friend Jonathan Cheban recently said she has almost regained her pre-pregnancy body.

Jonathan Cheban said: “Knowing Kim, I’m sure she looks 80 per cent at this point, she’s pretty much perfect.”

Kim Kardashian’s video will no doubt be a welcomed boost for Kris Jenner, who has struggled to win over critics with her daytime show.

[youtube 1bjAwdpP80w]

Simon Cowell could be forced to reveal details of personal finances in Lauren Silverman’s divorce battle

Simon Cowell could be forced to reveal details of his personal finances in Lauren Silverman’s divorce battle, it has emerged today.

Simon Cowell, who is worth an estimated $350 million, was named as a co-respondent in the divorce papers filed by his pregnant lover’s estranged husband Andrew Silverman two weeks ago, and as such could be called to the witness stand in the case.

In this situation, Simon Cowell, 53, is likely to be quizzed by lawyers about his financial situation in order to determine the appropriate settlement value for Lauren Silverman.

It was also reported that Simon Cowell had attempted to reach a financial settlement with Lauren before the baby news was made public.

Simon Cowell could be forced to reveal details of his personal finances in Lauren Silverman's divorce battle
Simon Cowell could be forced to reveal details of his personal finances in Lauren Silverman’s divorce battle

One friend said: “Simon is gearing up for a potentially ugly child support battle. He tried desperately to reach an agreement with Lauren before it went public but she surprised Simon and leaked the news.

“Simon was hoping to reach a financial agreement with her and then release a joint statement but Lauren is savvy and wants to be famous and when he refused her opening demands for marriage she leaked it.”

In addition to potentially having to reveal monetary details of his life on the witness stand, Simon Cowell could also be left with Andrew Silverman’s legal bill, estimated to reach around $300,000, if the real estate mogul achieves his aim of proving adultery.

Andrew Silverman had cited adultery as the basis of the marriage breakdown in the papers, in which he also labeled his estranged wife, with whom he has a seven-year-old son, as “cruel and inhuman”.

For Andrew Silverman to prove adultery, Simon Cowell would have to reveal evidence of his meetings with Lauren, such as hotel receipts and text messages.

Simon Cowell is also said to be concerned that the claims of adultery, which are as yet entirely unproven, will endanger his various multi-million dollars sponsorship deals.

Oscars 2014: Ellen DeGeneres to host Academy Awards for second time

Ellen DeGeneres received an Emmy nomination for her job hosting the 2007 Oscars and now she will be taking the helm again at next year’s ceremony.

“It’s official: I’m hosting the #Oscars!” Ellen DeGeneres, 55, tweeted on Friday.

She added: “I’d like to thank @TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra.”

It will mark Ellen DeGeneres’ second time as Oscar host after she emceed the 79th Annual Academy Awards in 2007, for which she was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performance In A Variety Or Music Program.

“I am so excited to be hosting the Oscars for the second time,” Ellen DeGeneres said in a statement.

“You know what they say – the third time’s the charm.”

This year’s host, Seth MacFarlane, drew mixed reviews for an edgy performance. He had already taken himself out of the running for a return engagement next year.

Ellen DeGeneres will emcee the Academy Awards for the second time
Ellen DeGeneres will emcee the Academy Awards for the second time

Oscars producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron expressed their delight at having the talk show queen back.

“As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars,” they wrote in  press release.

“There are few stars today who have Ellen’s gift for comedy, with her great warmth and humanity. She is beloved everywhere and we expect that the audience at the Dolby Theatre, and in homes around the globe, will be as excited by this news as we are.”

“Ellen is talented, wonderfully spontaneous, and knows how to entertain a worldwide audience,” said Dawn Hudson, Academy CEO.

“She’s a big fan of the Oscars; we’re huge fans of hers. It’s a perfect match.”

Ellen DeGeneres became a household name with her talk show The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which has earned 45 Daytime Emmys during its 10 seasons.

The 2014 Oscars Ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 2 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

[youtube lONSHsoKhCY]

Zimbabwe election result: Robert Mugabe wins parliamentary majority

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe’s party has won a two-thirds majority in parliament in this week’s elections, officials say.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said that Zanu-PF had won 142 seats in the 210-seat chamber.

Analysts say the result is enough for Zanu-PF to change the constitution. Results in the presidential race have yet to be announced.

Earlier, the two main observer groups said voting had been free and peaceful.

African Union mission head Olusegun Obasanjo dismissed complaints of fraud, while another observer urged all parties to “accept the hard facts”.

Robert Mugabe's party has won a two-thirds majority in parliament in this week's elections
Robert Mugabe’s party has won a two-thirds majority in parliament in this week’s elections

PM Morgan Tsvangirai, who is challenging Robert Mugabe in the presidential race, has described the election as a “huge farce”.

A local monitoring group has also said that the poll was “seriously compromised”.

Zanu-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) have formed an uneasy coalition government since 2009.

That deal ended deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year.

Before the latest results were announced, Zanu-PF spokesman Rugaro Gumbo predicted that Robert Mugabe, 89, – who is running for a seventh term – would get at least 70% of the vote in the presidential poll.

“We are expecting a landslide victory,” he was quoted as saying in Zimbabwe’s state-run Herald newspaper.

[youtube fQ7JImgggyI]

Toyota annual profit forecast increased

Japanese carmaker Toyota has raised its forecast for annual profit as a weak yen and a recovery in sales in the US continue to boost its growth.

Toyota now expects to make a net profit of 1.48 trillion yen ($14.8bn) for the current financial year, up from its earlier projection of 1.37 trillion yen.

The carmaker raised the outlook as it said earnings for the April to June quarter had jumped 93% from a year ago.

Many Japanese firms have seen a surge in profits thanks to the weakening yen.

The yen has fallen by nearly 25% against the US dollar since November, after the government unveiled a series of aggressive policy moves.

A weak currency not only makes Japanese goods more affordable to foreign buyers but also helps to boost profits of exporters when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.

On Friday, Toyota reported a net profit of 562 billion yen in the three months to the end of June, up from 290 billion yen during the same period last year.

Toyota has raised its forecast for annual profit as a weak yen and a recovery in sales in the US continue to boost its growth
Toyota has raised its forecast for annual profit as a weak yen and a recovery in sales in the US continue to boost its growth

The company said that cost cutting measures had also helped to lift its earnings during the quarter.

“Operating income increased due to the impact of foreign exchange rates and our global efforts for profit improvement, through cost reduction activities such as companywide value analysis,” Takuo Sasaki, chief marketing officer for Toyota, said in a statement.

Takuo Sasaki added that the “enhancement of the model mix and pricing” had also helped to boost profits.

Toyota also set a worldwide production target of 10.1 million vehicles for the 2013 calendar year, which would be a record across the industry.

It kept its sales goal for the year at 9.96 million vehicles, making it a close race with US rival General Motors for the title of world’s top carmaker.

Toyota said it sold 1.3 million vehicles in the US, its biggest market, in the January to July period, up 8% from a year ago.

The US accounts for nearly a quarter of Toyota’s global sales.

However, Toyota saw slower-than-expected growth in Southeast Asia, its third biggest market after North America and Japan.

Toyota sold about 539,000 vehicles in the region in the January-June period which was the same as last year, but 15% below the industry-wide growth.

US economy added 162,000 new jobs in July

The US Labor Department has announced that the country’s economy added 162,000 new jobs in July.

The figure – which measures the number of jobs outside the US farming sector – was below economists’ expectations of more than 180,000 and the government also cut its previous estimates for hiring in May and June.

Nonetheless, the new jobs helped the unemployment rate to fall to 7.4%.

That was down from 7.6% and is the lowest jobless rate in four years.

The news adds to the picture of a slowly growing US economy and may make its central bank more likely to end its monetary stimulus programme.

The Federal Reserve is currently buying $85 billion a month in bonds which helps to keep borrowing costs low.

However, there is much speculation as to when the Fed will start to rein in this stimulus programme.

US economy added 162,000 new jobs in July
US economy added 162,000 new jobs in July

Its chairman, Ben Bernanke, has said that it might start cutting down the rate of bond buying by the end of the year and stop altogether by the middle of 2014, depending on the strength of the economy.

Earlier this week, figures showed that the US economy grew at a faster-than-expected annualized pace of 1.7% in the second quarter of the year.

That was up from the growth rate for the first three months of 2013, which was revised lower to 1.1% from 1.8%.

Gordon Charlop, of Rosenblatt Securities said the figures were moderately encouraging: “The idea that the unemployment dropped at all, went below 7.6%, is showing that the trend is going the right way.

“We’re sort of grinding along here. We’re not surging. I don’t think there’s anything here that will cause the Fed to do anything significant.”

Revisions to previous months’ data saw May’s jobs increase downgraded to 176,000, below the 195,000 previously estimated, while June’s increase was lowered to 188,000, from the 195,000 originally reported.

Paul Ashworth, chief economist at Capital Economics, said despite that, the employment picture was much brighter than last year: “While July itself was a bit disappointing, the Fed will be looking at the cumulative improvement.

“On that score, the unemployment rate has fallen from 8.1% last August, to 7.4% this July, which is a significant improvement.”

Other figures released on Friday confirmed the picture of moderate economic growth.

US consumer spending and inflation both rose in June, with the US Commerce Department saying spending was 0.5% higher and annual inflation running at 1.3% – although that is still well below the US target of 2%.

[youtube mGP-xzaHKyM]

Johnson & Johnson accused of misconduct in China

Johnson & Johnson has become the latest foreign pharmaceutical company to be accused of misconduct in China.

A ruling by a Shanghai court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $85,000 to a local distributor for violating anti-monopoly laws.

Two subsidiaries of the company were accused of setting a minimum price for the sale of surgical instruments.

Multinationals have faced increased scrutiny from the Chinese authorities.

Last month, two foreign milk suppliers announced price cuts after the government launched an investigation into possible price-fixing.

Johnson & Johnson has become the latest foreign pharmaceutical company to be accused of misconduct in China
Johnson & Johnson has become the latest foreign pharmaceutical company to be accused of misconduct in China

Four Chinese executives from the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline have also been detained after being accused of paying bribes.

The Chinese authorities are sensitive to consumer prices as the cost of living continues to surge.

Some business analysts say that foreign companies are being targeted to shore up the market share for their Chinese competitors.

The Shanghai court overturned a judgment by a lower court that cleared the Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries.

The judge said the ruling was intended to protect consumers and the public interest.

He said the $85,000 damages were intended to compensate the distributor, Rainbow Medical, for lost sales.

It was denied access to further products by the suppliers after being told it was selling medical equipment too cheaply.

Rainbow Medical brought the case to court with a demand for $2.2 million compensation.

It expressed disappointment at the size of the award.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones in $300 million divorce

After Catherine Zeta-Jones turned up alone to the Red 2 premieres in Los Angeles and New York, the rumor mill went into overdrive that she’s getting a divorce from Michael Douglas after 13 years of marriage.

They’ve overcome Michael Douglas’ stage 4 cancer and her bipolar disorder but apparently they’re now calling it quits.

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones divorce
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones divorce

“Michael and Catherine’s marriage is effectively over,” one close family insider told Star magazine.

“Michael is going to announce the split soon, but he wants to wait until after the Emmys in September.”

According to this insider: “Catherine is fighting to save the marriage but he’s had it.”

“Michael has been through so much in recent years. he feels that life is too short for all this misery – her wild rages, temper tantrums, mood swings, secret boozing and demanding ways!”

And considering Michael Douglas’ divorce to first wife Diandra in 2000 was one of the most expensive in Hollywood history, his split from Catherine Zeta-Jones could cost a lot of money. Star magazine are putting the couple’s joint worth at a cool $300 million.

Another source said: “It’s been a long, rocky road for Michael and Catherine, but it’s clear to every-one that the end is near.”

Meanwhile the National Enquirer reports that Michael Douglas, 68, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, 43, secretly split a year ago in a trial separation.