It's official. After intensive research, scientists have concluded that politicians lie. In a study described in Britain's Observer newspaper, Glen Newey, a political scientist at Britain's University of Strathclyde, concluded that lying is an important part of politics in the modern democracy. "Politicians need to be more honest about lying," he told the newspaper. According to Newey, voters expect to be lied to in certain circumstances, and sometimes even require it. "Politics should be regarded as less like an exercise in producing truthful statements and more like a poker game," he said.
■ Belgium
Election seems close
Belgian voters cast their ballots yesterday in what analysts predict will be a fiercely fought contest to choose the country's next government. Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's ruling "rainbow coalition" of liberal, socialist and green parties is braced for tough competition from rivals in both Dutch-speaking Flanders, and Wallonia, the Francophone part of the country. Pre-election surveys point to a three-way race in Flanders where the Flemish Liberals, Christian Democrats and Socialists are running neck and neck. On the ascent in Flanders is the far-right anti-immigrant Vlaams Blok. In contrast, popular support for the Greens is on the way down. In French-speaking Wallonia, according to surveys, the Socialist Party, led by Elio Di Rupo, remains the poll topper.
■ Cuba
More hijackers executed
A Cuban court has handed out five life sentences in an attempted plane hijacking last month, the communist-party newspaper Granma reported Saturday. Three other men were sentenced to 20, 25 and 30 years in prison for the attempted terrorist assault on April 10, in which they tried to force a domestic flight from Nueva Gerona to Havana to fly to the US, it added. A month ago, three men were executed for the attempted hijacking of a boat that they wanted to take to Florida. The executions and quick trial of the three men were criticized by governments and activists, as were the prison sentences handed down for 75 dissidents.
■ Zimbabwe
Mugabe expels journalist
Robert Mugabe stood accused on Saturday of flouting his own country's laws as opposition groups in Zimbabwe joined a chorus of international outrage at the forcible expulsion of Andrew Meldrum, the Zimbabwe correspondent for the Observer and Guardian newspapers. Yesterday in London he charged Zimbabwe's government with `abducting' him to frighten other journalists from reporting on the worsening human rights situation.
■ United States
Bush reports eight tickets
It's only rock 'n' roll, but questions are being raised about eight Rolling Stones concert tickets totaling US$2,533 for US President George W. Bush's daughter Jenna. On Thursday, George Bush released the financial disclosure form for himself and his family for last year, reporting a net worth of at least US$8.8 million and up to US$21.9 million. In the filing, Bush reported accepting six Rolling Stones concert tickets from the boss of Sony Entertainment at the time, Tommy Mottola, and two Stones tickets from the Secret Service detail in Austin, Texas.
Agencies
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