Bhutto remains her country’s second most-powerful politician, despite having been removed from office twice on corruption charges. During her reign, her husband became popularly known as “Mr. 10 Percent” for his alleged role as an intermediary in government deals. He is already in jail, awaiting trial on numerous other charges, including conspiring to murder Bhutto’s estranged brother. (He has denied these charges.)
The most recent corruption allegations were investigated in Switzerland by a Swiss court, which passed on its findings to the two Lahore High Court judges who convicted her. But Bhutto was typically defiant, proclaiming her innocence and accusing the judges of bias. She added that the Swiss magistrate was operating with documents fabricated by the current Pakistani government. “Everybody thinks she’s guilty,” says Najam Sethi, editor of the political weekly The Friday Times, “But a lot of people have doubts about the procedures and the way this trial was rushed.” Bhutto said she would return from London this week to appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court. Instead, there’s a chance she could be met at the airport and taken straight to jail.
ALGERIAAll Riled Up
Algeria’s voters are disappointed. Last week the government-backed presidential candidate, Abdel-aziz Bouteflika, was elected amid widespread allegations of fraud. The election had been seen as an important step toward democracy in a country that had been moving toward moderation over the last year. Even the Army commander, Gen. Mohammed Lamari, had encouraged those hopes by suggesting recently that it was time for the Army to leave politics. If Algerians conclude that the contest was rigged, opinion could start shifting back to the Islamic militants.
CAMPAIGN 2000Salsa Search
He’s brushed up on his Spanish, meets regularly with Hispanic interest groups–and has even danced the merengue onstage. But Al Gore is so eager to court the growing number of Hispanic voters that some advisers, pursuing what they call an “out of the box” political strategy, are war-gaming potential Hispanic candidates for the No. 2 slot on a Gore 2000 presidential ticket. Topping the list is Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, the ambitious former congressman from New Mexico who served as Clinton’s ambassador to the United Nations. Others include California’s Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. County Supervisor Gloria Molina and Miami Mayor Alex Penelas. Gore strategists believe a Hispanic on the ticket would cut GOP support among Hispanics in key states like Florida, Colorado and even Texas, where potential presidential rival Gov. George W. Bush has strong ties to the Spanish-speaking community.
TECHNOLOGYThe Teddy Bear That Talks Back
Japan is developing a new breed of caregiver for the elderly: pet robots. created by Matsushita Electric, the computerized companions will interact with their “owners” and transmit data on their well-being to welfare agencies. It’s not your father’s teddy bear:
EARS: Fitted with a microphone that recognizes five simple phrases, including “Good morning,” “Hello” and “Good night.”
MOUTH: Engages in simple conversation and reports short news items and the weather; robot may alert welfare agency in case of no response.
HEAD: Contains a pressure sensor; moves ears, head, arms and legs when patted. Computer records and reports total number and type of interactions.
EYES: An LCD screen that displays smiling eyes when patted, closed eyes when left alone.
ARMS: Embedded with a mechanical switch; when the owner shakes its hand, it responds with a “smile” or movements.
CHINAHot Pursuit
Chinese photographers have their hands full with the country’s biggest paparazzi event: the divorce of Beijing-based rocker Dou Wei and Hong Kong pop queen Faye Wong. While the Hong Kong press and online fans support Wong as a jilted lover (“She is reading buddhist sutras to forget the pain!” cried one Web page), Dou and his new girlfriend Gao Yuan have been besieged in Beijing. The couple have moved three times to avoid nosy reporters, who have bothered them in bars and chased them through traffic. When Wong flew to the capital late last week to sign divorce papers, shutterbugs lurked outside her villa. “This here isn’t enough,” complained one. “The goal is to get both of them [Wong and Gao] in one shot.”
BOOKSMr. Jesus, Call Your Office
To keep up with the mania for business how-to’s–one survey has shown that most execs wolf down a book a month–publishers are furiously casting historical, even fictional, figures as management gurus. As the icons of leadership become more improbable, vices become virtues and the gimmick is all that distinguishes the advice. A review of the genre: W. C. Fields “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break” Insights drawn from Field’s persona as a shifty drunk “He liked to sleep late, so he chose a career that enabled him to match his energies to his physical needs.”
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant “Cigars, Whiskey & Winning” As general, took high casualties; as president, model of managerial malpractice “A bad reputation is difficult, if not impossible, to shake.”
Jesus Christ “Jesus CEO” Charismatic founder of world religion “In the wilderness Jesus was given several ‘business opportunities’… But he resisted them because they did not fit his mission statement.”
Jean-Luc Picard “Make It So: Leadership Lessons From ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ "
Sci-fi tales reduced to platitudes “A Star Fleet officer is to forgive and forget the honest errors of others.”
