RIO DE JANEIRO—Brazilian court Wednesday handed a near 13-year sentence to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in a new corruption conviction for the former leftist president already serving a lengthy jail term in a separate case. Lula, 73, was found guilty by a court in the southern city of Curitiba of accepting renovation work by two construction companies on a farmhouse in exchange for ensuring they won contracts with the state-run oil company Petrobras. He was given a sentence of 12 years and 11 months by the court in the southern city of Curitiba. A legal expert, Thiago Bottino do Amaral of the Getulio Vargas Foundation, said that, under Brazilian law, prison terms can be served one after the other as long as the total time behind bars does not exceed 30 years. Lula, since April last year, is already serving a 12-year term for corruption in a separate case. His prison is in Curitiba. The leftist former leader ruled Brazil between 2003 and 2010. He has denied all the charges … [Read more...] about Brazil’s Lula given nearly 13 years in new graft conviction
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Resilience, resignation as Hanoi district remains under water
VietNamNet Bridge – If it were not for the stench and the muddy colour of the waters, one could imagine it was Venice. Nguyen Tat Thuc, 74, a resident of Nam Hai Village, Chuong My District, "enjoys" a smoke, standing in waist-deep water as trash piles up outside his inundated home. — VNS Photo Hong Van But there are no gondolas, of course. Just people making their way in makeshift boats, no romance in their hearts, just resilience and resignation to the problems they face. Ten days after heavy rains flooded Nam Hai Village in Nam Phuong Tien Commune, Chuong My District, Nguyen Nha Tuyen paddles a bamboo boat to check on his half-submerged house. Located about 30km from downtown Hanoi, Chuong My District, along with Quoc Oai and Thach That, were the hardest hit the heavy downpours began on July 21. The rain has stopped, but his house remains flooded, and things won’t change in the foreseeable future. When the waters rose suddenly, he was only able to move … [Read more...] about Resilience, resignation as Hanoi district remains under water
Resilience, resignation as Hà Nội district remains under water
Viet Nam News Thu Vân HÀ NỘI — If it were not for the stench and the muddy colour of the waters, one could imagine it was Venice. But there are no gondolas, of course. Just people making their way in makeshift boats, no romance in their hearts, just resilience and resignation to the problems they face. Ten days after heavy rains flooded Nam Hài Village in Nam Phương Tiến Commune, Chương Mỹ District, Nguyễn Nhã Tuyển paddles a bamboo boat to check on his half-submerged house. Located about 30km from downtown Hà Nội, Chương Mỹ District, along with Quốc Oai and Thạch Thất, were the hardest hit the heavy downpours began on July 21. The rain has stopped, but his house remains flooded, and things won’t change in the foreseeable future. When the waters rose suddenly, he was only able to move some of his family’s belongings. Tuyển’s … [Read more...] about Resilience, resignation as Hà Nội district remains under water
One melody in memory of father
Viet Nam News by Lê Hoài Nam To meet Diễm, his ex-wife, Đổng went to a refreshment stall on the side of a street. A few minutes later, she turned up in a black Camry. Getting out, at first glance she seemed greatly displeased with his casual clothes. “You’ve come by bus, haven’t you?” she asked him in a contemptuous voice. “Pawned your motorbike?” she went on. Blushing with shame he replied, “I needed the money to wire a building for lighting and high-tech gadgets. I’ll get it back soon.” “Hmm, at the age of fifty, with a degree in electrical engineering, you should be ashamed of yourself for having pawned your terrible motorbike,” she mocked him. “It’s not a big deal, I’ll be sorted soon.” “Really? What did you want to see me for then? Not for money, eh?” “Certainly not! Have I ever borrowed anything from you?” … [Read more...] about One melody in memory of father
Painter Foujita’s Cat
Viet Nam News by Nguyễn Quang Sáng On the 100th birth anniversary of the painter Foujita of Japan, his works become the most sought after by art fans worldwide. Based on his adventures, art connoisseurs came to the conclusion that a few of them were left in Việt Nam. From the USA, France, Australia, Canada and so many other countries, they contacted Vietnamese galleries in Hà Nội and Sài Gòn, by phone, email and letter, trying to secure the paintings at any cost, especially the one portraying a cat. Every artist has a typical work bearing the stamp of his or her talent for posterity. For Foujita, it is none other than the oil-painting of a cat. I was lucky enough to witness one of those chases. From Sài Gòn a few men took express trains while others flew to Hà Nội. In the southern megacity a lot of art hunters searched high and low for Foujita’s works in many galleries along Đồng Khởi Avenue, or in a … [Read more...] about Painter Foujita’s Cat