Gorbachev Calls For New Election – Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, added his voice to a nascent anti-Kremlin protest movement on Wednesday, calling for the results of increasingly disputed parliamentary elections last weekend to be scrapped. Mr. Gorbachev’s remarks come after days of demonstrations against the authorities that have drawn street protests of a size unseen in Russia in years. [mytimes]

ANC Slates DA’s ‘Supremacist’ Campaighn Against Secrecy Bill – The ANC parliamentary caucus on Wednesday sharply criticised the opposition Democratic Alliance’s plan to muster support against the controversial Protection of State Information Bill. The DA on Tuesday unveiled an “e-mobilisation” campaign aimed at halting the Bill from being passed into law in its current form. [mail&guardian]

Amazon Pulls Genius Tactic Against Brick-And-Mortar Shops – This is brilliant. Amazon are encouraging people to go into normal shops and, using the Amazon app to scan bar codes, they will offer a 5% discount on everything. So you go to a shop, choose everything you want and leave. Then it arrives a few days later at your house and 5% cheaper! Genius. [techcrunch]

Guns&Roses, Beastie Boys And Chili Peppers Heading For Hall Of Fame – The votes are in and next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class will include Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, the Small Faces/Faces, Donovan and Laura Nyro. Freddie King will enter the Hall of Fame as an Early Influence, while the late producer and TV host Don Kirshner will receive the Ahmet Ertegun (nonperformer) Award. [rollingstone]

Radiation Found In Japanese Baby Formula – A Japanese baby food manufacturer has announced the recall of 400,000 cans of infant formula that reportedly contain traces of radioactive cesium connected to the nation’s recent nuclear plant meltdown. Not ideal. [latimes]

James Earl Jones Is Totally Cool With Racists – James Earl Jones is one of America’s most respected actors. His film credits include Patriot Games and The Hunt for Red October, but he remains best known as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars. Raised by his grandmother in rural Mississippi, Jones told Stephen Sackur he is able to understand what racists are going through as his grandmother was “the most racist” person he has ever known. [bbc]

DKNY Sells $1 Million Bottle Of Perfume – DKNY was apparently worried that things in the world didn’t cost enough and that people’s lives were too stress-free and financially secure, so they decided to up the ante by creating a million dollar, diamond-encrusted bottle of perfume. Out of touch, much? [fashionspot]

Man Found Innocent After 27 Years In Jail For Rape – A Virginia appeals court declared Thomas Haynesworth an innocent man Tuesday, clearing his name and acknowledging that he spent 27 years behind bars for rapes he did not commit. It is the first time the state has issued a “writ of actual innocence” in a rape case without the certainty of DNA evidence. [washpo]

Alec Baldwin Slams Airline iPhone Rules – Alec Baldwin may not be running for office, but he may yet affect policy decisions, God help us. The comically volcanic actor is now explaining at length his ejection from an American Airlines flight, and throwing in his lot with the nerds trying to liberate gadgets from aviation regulations: He blames his removal, in part, on “questionable guidelines” governing devices like his iPhone. [gawker]

World’s Oldest Dog Dies – The world’s oldest dog has died aged 26 years and nine months — a whopping 182 in human years. The male crossbreed named Pusuke passed away peacefully at his home in Japan. He had been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s oldest living dog. [thesun]

Sinatra’s Estate Goes On Sale – The Farralone estate has as elaborate and prestigious a history, as the features of the property itself. Commissioned by Ms. Dora Hutchison, and built by Pereira & Luckman in 1951, this estate was the venue of many famous parties, which had the famous and powerful names doing the rounds, and holding private parties here. Marylyn Monroe’s last photo shoot and famous conversation with Jack Kennedy, plus stars like Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Lucielle Ball & even Vicente Minnelli got married within the premises. [bornrich]

Ocean’s Deepest Deapth Re-Measured – US scientists have mapped the deepest part of the world’s oceans in greater detail than ever before. The Mariana Trench in the western Pacific runs for about 2,500km and extends down to 10,994m. This measurement for the deepest point – known as Challenger Deep – is arguably the most precise yet. [telegraph]

Jack Parow To Become A Dad – Zef rapper Jack Parow announced on Tuesday that he is to become a dad, reports Huisgenoot. Parow told Huisgenoot that he and swimwear model Jenna Pietersen are expecting their first child together early next year. [channel24]