The Hangover News

Questionable Victories
ROBERT MUGABE WON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION FOR ANOTHER FIVE-YEAR TERM
It seems like the people of Zimbabwe just can't get enough of him 

(Photo via)

(via)

Robert Mugabe – long-time Zimbabwean president, homophobe and occasional opponent of human rights – won last week's presidential elections, giving him another five-year term as president of Zimbabwe.

As is often the case when Mugabe wins an election (every year since 1980), allegations of foul-play have been levelled at the 89-year-old, leading his main challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai, to reject the win as fraudulent.

And it wasn't just Tsvangirai; the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton released a statement saying, "The EU is concerned about alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation, as well as the identified weaknesses in the electoral process and a lack of transparency," its strongest criticism yet.

Regardless, the official observers passed the election off as fair and credible, leaving Mugabe to take power once again.

Pensioner Prosecution
JAMES "WHITEY" BULGER HAS CALLED HIS TRIAL A "SHAM" AND WON'T BE TESTIFYING
The 83-year-old claims he hasn't had a fair trial and wants everyone to believe he was given immunity 

James "Whitey" Bulger's 1953 mug shot.

(via)

Ex-Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger has said he has "involuntarily" decided not to testify in his own defence and called his trial a "sham".

Bulger, the 83-year-old who led Boston's Winter Hill Gang in the 1970s and 80s, is on trial in a broad racketeering indictment that accuses him of participating in 19 murders.

Bulger has pleaded not guilty and claimed he received immunity from a now-deceased federal prosecutor, but it was decided before the trial began – shockingly – that saying a dead man told you that you can get away with murder is not a proper legal defence.

It was likely this that angered Bulger, who has since told the judge, "I feel that I've been choked off from having an opportunity to give an adequate defence."

In other Whitey news, Stephen Rakes – one of his old victims who hoped to testify at his trial – was found dead in a Boston suburb after drinking cyanide-laced coffee, however authorities say the death is unrelated to the Bulger trial.

Alcohol Activism
PEOPLE ARE BOYCOTTING RUSSIAN VODKA TO PROTEST AGAINST NEW ANTI-GAY LAWS
Stolichnaya vodka say they actually support gay rights, but that doesn't seem to matter

(via)

Gay rights activists in New York City have been dumping vodka in the street to protest new Russian laws that target and persecute homosexuals.

The laws include the banning of same-sex couples adopting Russian children and a ban on any gay "propaganda", which – before the vodka dump – sparked calls to boycott the 2014 Russian Olympics.

Unfortunately, the primary target in the dump has been bottles of Stolichnaya, which is actually made in Latvia and, as a company, have been vocal about supporting LGBT rights, releasing a statement that read, "Stolichnaya Premium Vodka stands strong and proud with the global LGBT community against the actions and beliefs of the Russian government."

Russia's leading gay rights activist, Nikolai Alekseev, has called the boycott misguided, saying, "This is all good for attracting attention to the situation in Russia, like any other action, such as [the] boycott of the Olympics, but it will not drastically change anything."

Parliamentary Scuffles
A LOAD OF TAIWANESE POLITICIANS BRAWLED ABOUT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
One guy was wearing a helmet for some reason

(via)

A referendum proposal on building a fourth nuclear plant in Taiwan led to a fist-fight between MPs in parliament.

Politicians from the Democratic Progressive Party, the main opposition, had occupied the speaker's podium for a day, before members of the ruling party entered for a parliamentary session and everyone started throwing water bottles and punches at each other.

One man conveniently had his motorbike helmet with him, which he donned to protect himself while the rest of the room were scrapping.

If the referendum is passed, the plant could become operational by 2016.

Once in a Lifetime Opportunities
HAVE YOU EVER DREAMT OF HAVING TIESTO OFFICIATE YOUR WEDDING?
Of course you have, and now you have the chance to make that dream come true

(Photo via)

(via)

If there's one thing that every little girl hopes for, it's that 44-year-old Dutch trance producer Tiesto will be available and willing to officiate their wedding.

Until now, that was but an irresponsible, misguided hope acted out only by fools, but in a move guaranteed to forever change the lives of one very lucky couple, the DJ has launched a competition where fans can win the opportunity to have him officiate their wedding at a Las Vegas rave.

The bad news is that you only have until August the 10th to email entry@inthebooth.com with an impressive enough tale of your love to entice Tiesto into hosting your matrimony.

The best of luck to anyone who applies.