(Reuters) – Germany’s Volkswagen has won approval from Thai authorities to build a manufacturing plant for fuel efficient cars near Bangkok after months of delays. A VW spokesman said on Saturday that it had received the go-ahead but the carmaker would now assess the situation and that no decision has been made yet whether to build the factory, confirming a report in German weekly magazine WirtschaftsWoche. According to previous media reports, the 1 billion euro […]
International
Bangkok police detain at least three over street demonstration
Thai police plucked at least three people off the streets of the capital on Sunday (February 22) after they held a small gathering to “exchange views” with the country’s military junta. Thailand’s military has severely restricted public gatherings since seizing power in a coup last May. Taking a hard line on dissent, it has detained more than 300 people, including activists, journalists and politicians. The leader of a group of four people, Akkarakit Noonchan, was […]
Indonesian protesters collect coins to return Australian tsunami aid
Hundreds of people gathered in Jakarta on the streets of Jakarta on Sunday (February 22) to join a coin collection drive in protest to Prime MinisterTony Abbott’s comment linking clemency please for two Australians on death row to the country’s 2004 tsunami relief aid. Earlier in the week, Abbott said Australia would feel “grievously let down” if the executions proceeded despite the roughly A$1 billion (784 million USD) in assistance it gave after the disaster, […]
“Skijoring” in United States
A unique sport in the United States combines skiing and horseback riding.
Portland Trailblazers conduct player trade with Denver Nuggets
In National Basketball Association (NBA), the Portland Trailblazers engaged in a player trade with Denver Nuggets, acquiring two veteran players that the Blazers say will be important in their plans to seize the championship in the western conference.
AFP will buy drones from US
With President Barack Obama’s offer to sell drones to allied nations for their fight against terrorism, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is studying the possibility of buying drones from the United States (US).
Greece submits request for loan extension from skeptical euro zone
By Renee Maltezou and George Georgiopoulos ATHENS Thu Feb 19, 2015 5:32am EST (Reuters) – Greece formally requested a six-month extension to its euro zone loan agreement on Thursday as it races to avoid running out of cash within weeks and overcome resistance from skeptical partners led by Germany. With its EU/IMF bailout program due to expire in little more than a week, the government of leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras urgently needs to secure […]
Rapper Vanilla Ice arrested on burglary charges in south Florida
The rapper known as Vanilla Ice was arrested yesterday after a police officer reported that he had stolen furniture, a pool heater, and other items from a neighbor’s home in south Florida. Police earlier in the day searched the home of Robert Van Winkle, which is the musician’s legal name. They found there objects that had been stolen in recent months, according to news release from the Lantana Police Department. The home, which is under […]
Spanish museum features paintings for the visually impaired
Using a technique that adds texture, a museum in Spain featured a exhibit of famous paintings for the appreciation of the visually-impaired.
Heavy rains cause destruction and chaos in central Bolivia
Torrential rain and floods have left hundreds homeless in central Bolivia, the government said on Tuesday (February 17). According to preliminary reports, some 182 families have been affected, 91 hectares of crops were damaged and 12 homes were flooded in four municipalities in the region of Cochabamba in the Andean country. In the municipality of Sicaya in the province of Capinota, four communities were affected by overflowing rivers. At least 92 families lost their crops […]
Thousands flee, red cross convoy attacked in Myanmar
Unknown attackers shot and wounded two people in a convoy of eight vehicles marked with the emblem of the Myanmar Red Cross Society that was attempting to transport civilians displaced by fighting in Laukkai, yesterday on the Chinese border, a witness said. Red Cross spokeswoman Shwe Cin Myint said there hadn’t been an attack like this before. A government soldier blamed the attack on an ethnic Kokang force called Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA). […]
100 people on shortlist for Mars ‘colony’
Hundreds of thousands of would-be astronauts have been narrowed down to 100 who will proceed to the next round of the Mars One project for a chance to create a human colony on the red planet. The candidates, 50 men and 50 women, come from all around the world. The majority, 39, are from the United States, with 31 from Europe, 16 from Asia, seven from Africa, and seven from Oceania. Student Maggie Lieu, 24, […]
