Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for graft Wednesday -- a stark fall from grace for the iconic leftist leader, and the latest twist in a sprawling political corruption probe engulfing Latin America’s largest economy.　Lula, who ruled Brazil from 2003-2010, was convicted and handed a 9.5-year prison term for accepting a bribe of a luxury seaside apartment and $1.1 million.　But anti-corruption judge Sergio Moro, who handed down the sente

Donald Trump’s eldest son on Monday admitted meeting a Russian lawyer to get dirt on his father’s 2016 rival Hillary Clinton, thrusting the White House deep into another Russia-related scandal.　Trump junior confirmed reports that he was on the trail of damaging information on the Democrat vying to become America’s first female president, when he met Natalia Veselnitskaya in June 2016.　“Obviously, I’m the first person on a campaign to ever take a meeting to hear info about an opponent,” Trump’s s

European leaders joined former US President Bill Clinton on Saturday to pay a unique tribute to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl, who oversaw the German reunification and the end of the Cold War, but a family row marred his funeral.　Kohl was a founder of modern-day Europe and served as chancellor from 1982 to 1998. He died on June 16 aged 87.　“A giant of the post-war period has left us,” European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said in an oration in the French city of Strasbourg, where

A new and highly virulent outbreak of data-scrambling software -- apparently sown in Ukraine -- caused disruption across the world Tuesday. Following a similar attack in May, the fresh cyber assault paralyzed some hospitals, government offices and major multinational corporations in a dramatic demonstration of how easily malicious programs can bring daily life to a halt.　Ukraine and Russia appeared hardest hit by the new strain of ransomware -- malicious software that locks up computer files wit

Japanese air bag maker Takata Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection in Tokyo and the US on Monday, saying it was the only way to ensure it could carry on supplying replacements for faulty air bag inflators linked to the deaths of at least 16 people. 　Most of Takata's assets will be bought by rival Key Safety Systems, a Chinese-owned company based in suburban Detroit, for about $1.6 billion.　The company’s executives sought to reassure their customers, suppliers and shareholders in a news conferen

Amazon’s deal to buy Whole Foods Market injects even greater pressure into the food and grocery sectors at a time when e-commerce is already roiling retailers.The tech giant’s $13.7 billion acquisition of the upscale, niche grocery chain was described as a seismic event by industry analysts, despite Whole Foods’ relatively small size.The deal prompted jokes and semi-serious posts on Twitter about a space-age shopping era with Amazon’s artificial intelligence program Alexa replacing cashiers and

Steve Scalise, the senior Republican lawmaker seriously wounded in Wednesday’s shooting at a baseball practice near Washington, is a hard-line conservative who opposes abortion, immigration and gun control, and who cleared numerous hurdles to become the No. 3 House Republican.　The 51-year-old congressman from Louisiana was in critical condition after surgery at a Washington hospital for a gunshot wound to the hip. Three other people were shot and two more suffered minor injuries.　The attacker la

General Electric announced a leadership shakeup Monday as it faces scrutiny after a corporate makeover executed by outgoing chief Jeff Immelt in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis failed to ignite strong growth.　Immelt, 61, will step down as chief executive on Aug. 1, handing the reins to GE Healthcare President John Flannery, a 30-year veteran of the company whose previous roles included country chief in India.　During a conference call with analysts, Immelt said the transition was first disc

Fired FBI Director James Comey said Wednesday that Donald Trump urged him to drop a probe into former national security adviser Michael Flynn, prompting fresh allegations that the US president tried to obstruct justice.　In a bombshell revelation on the eve of his hotly anticipated appearance on Capitol Hill, Comey said Trump had raised the sensitive FBI probe into Russia‘s alleged meddling in the US election in multiple discussions, leaving him deeply uneasy over whether the president was attemp

In a series of morning tweets, President Donald Trump threw Washington’s relations with Doha into deep crisis on Tuesday and raised doubts about the future of the largest US air base in the Middle East.　Trump publicly accused key regional ally Qatar of funding extremism, while tacitly backing a blockade of the emirate, home to the Al-Udeid Air Base near Doha where around 10,000 US military personnel are stationed.　The base is also the regional headquarters of US special forces and Air Force comm

Sharp political passions over President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord and his links to Russia brought people onto the streets of cities around the globe on Saturday, mostly to condemn but some to praise him. 　They came as Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, ended days of confusion to make clear that “President Trump believes the climate is changing” and that man-made pollutants are partly responsible. 　She insisted in a CNN interview that Trump, who ha

The probe into Russia’s role in the US election pierced the innermost circle of the White House Saturday, with reports that Donald Trump’s son-in-law sought a secret communications line with Moscow -- the most damning allegation yet from the scandal.　The latest furor was stirred up after the Washington Post reported late Friday that Jared Kushner -- arguably Trump’s closest White House aide, and husband to the president’s eldest daughter Ivanka -- made a pre-inauguration proposal to the Russian

President Hassan Rouhani, who won re-election on Saturday, has spent three decades at the heart of Iran’s revolutionary establishment but still faces opposition from hardliners for trying to rebuild ties with the West.　The 68-year-old cleric, almost always clad in his white turban, repeated his convincing 2013 victory by bringing together moderates and reformists with his pledges to end Iran’s isolation and improve civil rights at home.　Born in Semnan province on Nov. 12, 1948, Rouhani is marrie

President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about Islamic State militants to Russian officials during a meeting last week, The Washington Post reported Monday, prompting strong condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.　Three White House officials who were in the May 10 meeting strongly denounced the story, saying no intelligence sources and methods were discussed -- but they didn’t deny that classified information was disclosed. 　Citing current and former US officials,

The Laotian youth team was strongly represented through its cultural performance of Laotian traditional dance at the Asean Youth Workshop on Media Literacy in Bangkok last week.　The dance, complete with national costume, was part of a cultural exchange taking place as part of a larger workshop on media literacy and the correct use of social media in today’s modern age.　Through the passing of Laotian culture and traditions from generation to generation, Laotian people have always spread their cul

A chance encounter with VR turned into a passion and business for this start-up founder.　Ask Lionel Chok what he thinks of virtual reality and his enthusiasm is infectious: “Virtual reality is kick-ass!”　To some people, virtual reality, or VR, is simply a term associated with clunky headsets and video games.　 Mr. Lionel Chok‘s start-up Immersively focuses on education, services and applications in augmented and virtual reality technologies. The Straits Times　To Chok, however, VR presents a world

Firms such as Panasonic and NEC are focusing on grooming local workers in deep skills.　Brand-name Japanese companies which have operations in Singapore are rolling out programmes to groom Singaporean employees, in a nod to the Republic‘s reputation as a talent hub.　The likes of Panasonic, NEC and enterprise resource planning firm Works Applications from Japan are focusing on grooming Singapore talent in deep skills, be it through student internships or management trainee programmes.　 Workers at

A total of 110 babies were born to Japanese women receiving fertility treatment in Taiwan from donated eggs in the three years from 2014, it has been learned.　At least 177 Japanese women received an egg from an anonymous donor in Taiwan over the period. Of them, 96 women gave birth, according to the survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun.　In Taiwan, egg donations are conducted under legal control, but there are still problems, as children born from this practice have no right to learn their gen

Apple reported falling iPhone sales, highlighting the need to deliver blockbuster new features in the next edition of the flagship device if the company is to fend off rivals like Samsung Electronics.　Investor confidence has been mounting ahead of a major iPhone revamp due later this year. Yet competitors released new high-end smartphones recently, putting pressure on Apple to deliver a device that is advanced enough to entice existing users to upgrade and lure new customers.　Apple sold 50.8 mil

The “Kampha and the Ivory Princess” stage play showed in a very special performance at the National Cultural Hall in Vientiane yesterday.　“Kampha and the Ivory Princess” is based on a local fable which was modified for the stage, while being billed as “a romantic legend of poignant love set in a luxuriant dream-like landscape redolent of the quaint beauty of Lao culture.”　The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism in cooperation with a local company in China built the play’s dramatic stage