Afghan election fraud row mounts

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A row over alleged fraud in the Afghan presidential election has intensified, after a tribe in the south made the most serious claim so far.

Tribal votes intended for Abdullah Abdullah were switched, it is alleged

Tribal votes intended for Abdullah Abdullah were switched, it is alleged


The leader of Kandahar’s Bareez tribe says that nearly 30,000 votes were cast fraudulently for President Hamid Karzai instead of a challenger.

Mr Karzai’s brother, Ahmed Wali Karzai, who heads the Kandahar provincial council, called the claims “baseless”.

The Electoral Complaints Commission is probing more than 2,000 fraud claims.

The claims could undermine the legitimacy of the election, which Afghanistan’s Western allies see as crucial in their campaign against the Taliban.

Full investigation

Speaking to Daud Qarizadah of the BBC’s Persian television service, the Bareez tribal leader, Haji Mohammed Bareez, said that ballot boxes from one district were “stuffed” with fraudulent votes in favour of Mr Karzai.

WWII ceremonies begin in Poland

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A day of commemorations has begun in Poland to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II.

The first ceremony took place at dawn on Westerplatte peninsula near Gdansk, where a German battleship fired the first shots on a Polish fort in 1939.

Poland’s president and prime minister led a sombre ceremony at the fort.

Foreign leaders from 20 countries including Germany and Russia are expected in Gdansk later in the day as ceremonies continue.

At 0445 (0245 GMT) Polish President Lech Kaczynski and Prime Minister Donald Tusk joined war veterans beside a monument to the heroes of Westerplatte.

The ceremony marked the exact time on 1 September 1939 when the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein opened fire at point-blank range on the fort.

At the same time, the German Wehrmacht invaded Poland from east, west and south. The attacks triggered Britain and France’s declaration of war against Germany two days later.

In an address, Mr Tusk said the lessons of history should not be forgotten.

“We remember because we know well that he who forgets, or he who falsifies history, and has power or will assume power will bring unhappiness again like 70 years ago,” he said.

Important symbol

At the time of the attack by the Schleswig-Holstein – which was moored in the Polish harbour on a friendship visit – Gdansk was known as the free city of Danzig.

eBay 'reaches deal to sell Skype'

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Online auction site eBay is poised to say it has agreed to sell internet phone company Skype, reports say.

Skype is expected to be sold to a group of private investors, including Netscape co-founder Marc Andreessen and private equity firms.

EBay has been trying to sell Skype for some time, and has said that Skype had “limited synergies” with it.

When eBay bought Skype for $2.6bn (£1.6bn) in October 2005, many analysts thought the price was too high.

For sale

The New York Times said that a price has not been named, but that eBay had been seeking about $2bn for Skype.

Earlier this year, eBay had said that it planned to spin off Skype and list its shares in the first half of 2010, an announcement many took as a signal that the firm was for sale.

Skype’s software lets computer and mobile phone users talk to each other for free and make cut-price calls to mobiles and landlines. Continue reading →

Michael Jackson dead at 50 after cardiac arrest

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(CNN) — Entertainer Michael Jackson died after being taken to a hospital on Thursday having suffered cardiac arrest, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. Paramedics took Jackson, 50, from his west Los Angeles home Thursday afternoon to UCLA Medical Center, where a team of physicians attempted to resuscitate him for more than an hour, said brother Jermaine Jackson. He said the famed singer was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. PT.

An autopsy is scheduled Friday, he said. Results are expected Friday afternoon, according to Lt. Fred Corral of the Los Angeles coroner’s office, who also said Jackson was unresponsive when he arrived at the hospital.

Fire Capt. Steve Ruda told CNN paramedics were sent to a west Los Angeles, California, residence after a 911 call came in at 12:21 p.m.

Law enforcement officials said the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division opened an investigation into Jackson’s death. They stressed there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing but that they would conduct interviews with family members and friends

Mandy Moore makes a new name for herself

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art.mandy.moore.giLOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Mandy Moore stepped onto the small stage at Amoeba Records in Hollywood with a quick wave.

“Hi, shoppers,” she giggled somewhat self-consciously.

The audience of several hundred giggled back — stuffed between the music racks at the landmark store.

“This is so weird to be playing here. I live in the neighborhood, and this is where I get my CDs and my DVDs!” she said. Then she launched into selections from her sixth studio album, “Amanda Leigh.”

Somewhere out of eyesight was her new husband, Ryan Adams — the alt-country hero she married in March, after a one-month engagement.

It’s been 10 years since Moore burst onto the pop scene as a lanky, blonde 15-year-old singing and dancing her way through a sweetly suggestive tune called “Candy.” Now 25, her musical fare is more eclectic and stripped down — even featuring vintage instruments such as the clavinet and melodica. Video Watch Moore talk candidly about her new direction »

Unlike such early contemporaries as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson, Moore has gone for cred over commercial success in both her music and movie careers, and it suits her well. There’s an authenticity there, as well as a genuine warmth and charm.
Continue reading →

Testing Attachment And Images

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