Embattled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was last evening believed to be refusing to step down from the seat he has held for 37 years as a delegation from the regional bloc led negotiations to end the crisis in the Southern African country.
This came as African Union (AU) chairman Alpha Condé, the president of Guinea, warned that the continental body will not support a military coup in Zimbabwe and urged the parties involved in the crisis to use constitutional means to restore order.
BESIEGED
However, Zimbabwe’s leading opposition figures backed the military’s move to remove President Mugabe as the besieged ruler and the generals continued with their delicate negotiations for him to step down.
Multiple sources quoted by international news agencies said President Mugabe was refusing to step down, terming the action of the military as illegal and unconstitutional.
He was understood to lay claim on the legitimacy of his presidency until the elections are held next year.
A South African Foreign Affairs spokesman told foreign news agencies that President Mugabe was meeting Southern African Development Community (Sadc) envoys and Zimbabwean generals in the capital Harare.
“They are meeting with President Robert Mugabe at State House now,” he said.
Two days after the military announced that it had taken control of the government and put President Mugabe under house arrest, the situation in the city remained tense.
GUARDED
The 93-year-old veteran ruler, who has been confined to his private home since the early hours of Wednesday morning, left the heavily guarded residence for the first time Thursday mid morning to meet envoys of South African President Jacob Zuma, the Sadc chairman.
Details of the discussions and ongoing negotiations with the generals were not made public but indications were that no progress had been made in the attempts to ease out Zimbabwe’s only ruler since Independence from Britain in 1980.
At the heart of negotiations is a team from Zimbabwe’s four neighbouring countries, headed by the presidents of South Africa and Botswana.
President Mugabe’s former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, a leading opposition figure, and ex-Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists the military takeover was inevitable.
The remarks heightened speculation that the two were ready to form a transitional government with ousted VP Emmerson Mnangagwa.
TRANSITION
Dr Mujuru, who heads the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC), urged Zimbabweans to remain peaceful during the transition.
“The PRC believes that the prevailing developments require participation by all critical stakeholders beyond political actors,” she said. “There is no doubt that Zimbabwe is in need of a transitional arrangement.”
Mr Tsvangirai appeared to agree with the military that Wednesday’s events did not amount to a coup. He added that the generals had not approached him to be part of any transitional mechanism but he was willing to listen to them if engaged.
“If we are approached to negotiate such a process, we will participate,” said Mr Tsvangirai, adding that any settlement had to recognise that Zimbabwe was a constitutional democracy. “As a democrat, I always believe in the rule of law and the international community is watching.” MILITARY
Away from the delicate negotiations over Zimbabwe’s political future, it remained business as usual on the streets of Harare and other cities as the military tried to ensure that peace prevailed.
Police roadblocks, which had become a common feature on the country’s roads, were not visible and civil servants were being urged to continue going to work.
Though nothing has been heard directly from President Mugabe or his wife Grace — who is said to have fled to Namibia enroute to either Malaysia or Singapore — since the start of the military operation, many Zimbabweans are hopeful that the crisis will mark the beginning of a more prosperous future for them.
In South Africa, the opposition Congress of the People (Cope) rejected calls to offer President Mugabe political asylum in the country. Such calls, led by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Diaspora Forum (ADF), have been growing.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster interrupted normal programming to air a rare apology by Mr Kudzanai Chipanga, the ruling party Zanu-PF youth leader who denounced the military commanders last week, days before they seized power.
Embattled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe was last evening believed to be refusing to step down from the seat he has held for 37 years as a delegation from the regional bloc led negotiations to end the crisis in the Southern African country.
This came as African Union (AU) chairman Alpha Condé, the president of Guinea, warned that the continental body will not support a military coup in Zimbabwe and urged the parties involved in the crisis to use constitutional means to restore order.
BESIEGED
However, Zimbabwe’s leading opposition figures backed the military’s move to remove President Mugabe as the besieged ruler and the generals continued with their delicate negotiations for him to step down.
Multiple sources quoted by international news agencies said President Mugabe was refusing to step down, terming the action of the military as illegal and unconstitutional.
He was understood to lay claim on the legitimacy of his presidency until the elections are held next year.
A South African Foreign Affairs spokesman told foreign news agencies that President Mugabe was meeting Southern African Development Community (Sadc) envoys and Zimbabwean generals in the capital Harare.
“They are meeting with President Robert Mugabe at State House now,” he said.
Two days after the military announced that it had taken control of the government and put President Mugabe under house arrest, the situation in the city remained tense.
GUARDED
The 93-year-old veteran ruler, who has been confined to his private home since the early hours of Wednesday morning, left the heavily guarded residence for the first time Thursday mid morning to meet envoys of South African President Jacob Zuma, the Sadc chairman.
Details of the discussions and ongoing negotiations with the generals were not made public but indications were that no progress had been made in the attempts to ease out Zimbabwe’s only ruler since Independence from Britain in 1980.
At the heart of negotiations is a team from Zimbabwe’s four neighbouring countries, headed by the presidents of South Africa and Botswana.
President Mugabe’s former Vice-President Joice Mujuru, a leading opposition figure, and ex-Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai told journalists the military takeover was inevitable.
The remarks heightened speculation that the two were ready to form a transitional government with ousted VP Emmerson Mnangagwa.
TRANSITION
Dr Mujuru, who heads the People’s Rainbow Coalition (PRC), urged Zimbabweans to remain peaceful during the transition.
“The PRC believes that the prevailing developments require participation by all critical stakeholders beyond political actors,” she said. “There is no doubt that Zimbabwe is in need of a transitional arrangement.”
Mr Tsvangirai appeared to agree with the military that Wednesday’s events did not amount to a coup. He added that the generals had not approached him to be part of any transitional mechanism but he was willing to listen to them if engaged.
“If we are approached to negotiate such a process, we will participate,” said Mr Tsvangirai, adding that any settlement had to recognise that Zimbabwe was a constitutional democracy. “As a democrat, I always believe in the rule of law and the international community is watching.” MILITARY
Away from the delicate negotiations over Zimbabwe’s political future, it remained business as usual on the streets of Harare and other cities as the military tried to ensure that peace prevailed.
Police roadblocks, which had become a common feature on the country’s roads, were not visible and civil servants were being urged to continue going to work.
Though nothing has been heard directly from President Mugabe or his wife Grace — who is said to have fled to Namibia enroute to either Malaysia or Singapore — since the start of the military operation, many Zimbabweans are hopeful that the crisis will mark the beginning of a more prosperous future for them.
In South Africa, the opposition Congress of the People (Cope) rejected calls to offer President Mugabe political asylum in the country. Such calls, led by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Diaspora Forum (ADF), have been growing.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster interrupted normal programming to air a rare apology by Mr Kudzanai Chipanga, the ruling party Zanu-PF youth leader who denounced the military commanders last week, days before they seized power.
Hours after Governor Fayose declared his presidential intention, Hours after Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state declared his intention to run for president come 2019, EFCC operatives stormed the state to arrest the duo of the Accountant-General of Ekiti State and Ekiti State Commissioner of Finance.
According to a statement posted on their social media platform, the anti-graft agency said the men were arrested after they refused to honor an invitation by the Commission to explain their roles as alleged in a petition in respect of bail-out funds released to the state.
Both are currently in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
Hours after Governor Fayose declared his presidential intention, Hours after Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state declared his intention to run for president come 2019, EFCC operatives stormed the state to arrest the duo of the Accountant-General of Ekiti State and Ekiti State Commissioner of Finance.
According to a statement posted on their social media platform, the anti-graft agency said the men were arrested after they refused to honor an invitation by the Commission to explain their roles as alleged in a petition in respect of bail-out funds released to the state.
Both are currently in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
Popular interactive sex doll, Samantha, who was the star attraction at an electronics fair which held in Austria this month, has finally broken down after a large number of customers got too much on the robot to handle.
According to reports, Samantha the Sex Doll had been showing off her 'skills', which include reacting to touch, hugging and moaning - and remembering individuals she has 'interacted' with, at the Arts Electronica Festival in Linz. Unfortunately, the interactive sex doll is presently undergoing repairs after visitors left the robot 'heavily soiled' with broken limbs.
The developer Sergi Santos from Barcelona, Spain, described the way visitors approached the robot as 'barbaric'.
'The people mounted Samantha's breasts, her legs, and arms. Two fingers were broken. She was heavily soiled. People can be bad. Because they did not understand the technology and did not have to pay for it, they treated the doll like barbarians.' According to Mr. Santos, he said the robot had to be sent back in a parcel to Barcelona for repairs and cleaning, adding that 'Samantha can endure a lot, she will pull through.'
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Samantha who was bought for £3,500 is more preferred by customers to real
Popular interactive sex doll, Samantha, who was the star attraction at an electronics fair which held in Austria this month, has finally broken down after a large number of customers got too much on the robot to handle.
According to reports, Samantha the Sex Doll had been showing off her 'skills', which include reacting to touch, hugging and moaning - and remembering individuals she has 'interacted' with, at the Arts Electronica Festival in Linz. Unfortunately, the interactive sex doll is presently undergoing repairs after visitors left the robot 'heavily soiled' with broken limbs.
The developer Sergi Santos from Barcelona, Spain, described the way visitors approached the robot as 'barbaric'.
'The people mounted Samantha's breasts, her legs, and arms. Two fingers were broken. She was heavily soiled. People can be bad. Because they did not understand the technology and did not have to pay for it, they treated the doll like barbarians.' According to Mr. Santos, he said the robot had to be sent back in a parcel to Barcelona for repairs and cleaning, adding that 'Samantha can endure a lot, she will pull through.'
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Samantha who was bought for £3,500 is more preferred by customers to real
Colombian actress and 'Modern Family' star, Sofia Vergara is the highest-paid television actress in 2017, and for the third year in a row.
According to the annual Forbes ranking which was released on Tuesday, since June 1, 2016, Vergara has earned an impressive $41.5 million before taxes and fees. A quarter of Vergara’s income is from Modern Family but her highest earnings are generated from licensing and endorsement deals. The Big Bang Theory‘s Kaley Cuoco ranks in second at $26 million. The Mindy Project‘s Mindy Kaling and Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo tied for third with $13 million, followed by Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay ($12.5 million).
Vergara’s Modern Family castmate Julie Bowen ($12 million) is the sixth highest-paid TV actress, while Kerry Washington ($11 million) comes in seventh and Priyanka Chopra ($10 million) is eighth. Robin Wright of House of Cards ($9 million) and NCIS‘s Pauley Perrette ($8.5 million) round out the list in nint
Colombian actress and 'Modern Family' star, Sofia Vergara is the highest-paid television actress in 2017, and for the third year in a row.
According to the annual Forbes ranking which was released on Tuesday, since June 1, 2016, Vergara has earned an impressive $41.5 million before taxes and fees. A quarter of Vergara’s income is from Modern Family but her highest earnings are generated from licensing and endorsement deals. The Big Bang Theory‘s Kaley Cuoco ranks in second at $26 million. The Mindy Project‘s Mindy Kaling and Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo tied for third with $13 million, followed by Law and Order: Special Victims Unit actress Mariska Hargitay ($12.5 million).
Vergara’s Modern Family castmate Julie Bowen ($12 million) is the sixth highest-paid TV actress, while Kerry Washington ($11 million) comes in seventh and Priyanka Chopra ($10 million) is eighth. Robin Wright of House of Cards ($9 million) and NCIS‘s Pauley Perrette ($8.5 million) round out the list in nint
A three-year-old girl could not contain her emotions when her mother revealed the gender of her soon-to-be sibling.
In a video shared online, the mother gave the little girl a card which would reveal the baby's gender. When the girl opened it and saw it was blue, she was devastated and broke down in tears, saying she wanted a sister, not a brother.
Despite efforts to placate her, she remained adamant that she did not want a baby brother. Her expression, however, changed when she was given a sweet which came with the gender reveal card. She lit up then and asked if she could have the sweet immediately. Her mother told her she could and added that the sweet was from her baby brother but when her mother asked if she likes her baby brother, she said an emphatic "no".
