F-16 Thunderbirds in Bangkok

Thunderbirds, the US Air Force Demonstration Squadron performed an exciting demonstration of precision aerial maneuvers at a free public air exhibition over Bangkok's Don Muang Airport today.



The event drew large audiences leading to congested traffic jams near the airport for over 8 hours, as many drivers parked at the roadside to watch the air show that began at 2 PM.



The US Air Force Thunderbirds – America's ‘Ambassadors in Blue’ are the premier air demonstration squadron of one of the best-trained air forces in the world.

The acrobatic pilots used F-16 C/D Fighting Falcon (Block 52) fighter aircraft in the show.

The highly-skilled US Air Force flyers presented precision aerial maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of their modern, high-performance aircraft and the high degree of professional skills required to operate them.

A Thunderbirds' air demonstration is an unforgettable experience made up of a mix of breathtaking formation flying events and superior solo maneuvers.

After Bangkok the flyers are scheduled to perform in Japan.

Tennis players learn Muay Thai at Thailand Open 2009

Top tennis stars Gilles Simon of France, John Isner of USA and Robby Ginepri of USA got some hands (and legs) on experience with Thai martial arts at the PTT Thailand Open 2009 tennis tournament yesterday.



The three players were treated to an up close demonstration of sword fighting and Muay Thai before donning their boxing shorts and getting amongst the action themselves. The three received lessons in the Thai kick-boxing from Olympic champion Somjit Jongjorhor, much to the delight of the local crowd.

Ginepri, who is known to have a passion for the traditional martial art, displayed some excellent moves in his boxing bout with Jongjorhor.

Simon, Isner and Ginepri all play their second round matches at the tournament today.

Abhisit Vejjajiva vists New York Stock Exchange

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the New York Stock Exchange (NYSC) on September 23, 2009, and met the NYSE Euronext Chief Executive Officer Duncan Niederauer who expressed his appreciation to welcome the Thai premier.



During the visit, Mr Abhisit rang the Closing Bell and toured the trading floor.

According to the Associated Press (AP), Mr Niederauer said he was honoured to have Mr Abhisit visit the NYSE.



AP quoted Mr Niederauer as saying "I think it is an important signal for us when leaders like the Prime Minister visit us.

"We're a global company, we think globally, and the opportunity to be blessed with you presence here was a welcome one," Mr Niederauer said.

Mr Abhisit is in New York to attend the 64th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and also participate in the Group of 20 (G-20) Summit in Pittsburgh in his capacity as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Thai prime minister met a wide spectrum of the US business community, members of US-ASEAN Business Council. He assured them about the government's attempt to facilitate trade and investment since it had taken the reign to administrate the country nine months ago.

He admitted that there were some domestic political problems but they would not affected the economy and the foreign investment as the country's exports has gradually recovered.

Earlier in the day, Mr Abhisit had attended the opening ceremony of the 64th United Nations General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters, and hear the address of the US President Barack Obama.

He, then, had been interviewed by many US and international media including the Washington Post and the New York Times.

Mr Abhisit had also attended the dinner hosted by President Obama and his wife Michelle at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

On Thursday the Thai prime minister is to participate in the Pittsburgh Summit 2009 (G-20) as the chair of ASEAN , exchanging views and experience from an ASEAN perspective, particularly regarding policy after the economic crisis.

The summit will also discuss necessity of economic stimulus measures, dealing with a new round of economic crisis, and reforming international monetary and financial institutions, as well as issues of concern such as food security.

Mr Abhisit will return to New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday before returning to Thailand. (TNA)

USS Ronald Reagan in Phuket

Almost 5,000 US Navy sailors arrived in Phuket on September 22 on board the enormous aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan. With the USS Ronald Reagan comes the guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville and the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard. This will be the largest contingent of US sailors to visit Phuket. Two of the crew members happen to be Thais!



3 US warships bringing thousands of sailors to take shore leave on the island is believed to benefit Phuket tourism, with an estimated 34 Million Baht cash flow each day. The ship is docked off Phuket until 27th September.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The ninth ship of the class “Nimitz”. It is named in honor of former President Ronald Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Further, USS Ronald Reagan was the first ship to be named for a living former president.

Bryan Robson Thailand's new soccer manager

Bryan Robson has agreed to a four-year deal to become Thailand's new manager, the head of the country's FA has announced.



The 52-year-old will fill the vacancy left by former incumbent Peter Reid, who departed by mutual consent 12 months into a four-year contract to take up the post of assistant manager at Stoke after being told he could not split his time between England and the south-east Asian nation.

Robson's immediate task in his first foray into international management will be to build on the good work done previously by Reid and guide the nation to a place in the Asian Cup finals in Qatar in 2011, with Thai FA chief Worawi Makudi also targeting a place at the 2014 World Cup.

"He's agreed to become coach, he's very happy with what we've offered him," Worawi told reporters.

"It's a four-year deal. The plan is he'll coach Thailand for the Asian Cup, the Olympics and hopefully the World Cup, too."

Robson's previous managerial experience has included spells at Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Bradford and West Brom.

It remains unclear how much time he will spend in the country and whether he will continue his role as global ambassador for former club Manchester United.
Thailand are currently third in Asian Cup Qualifying Group E with two points from two games following draws with Jordan and Iran.

Mong Thongdee wins 3rd place in Origami Airplane Contest

Mong Thongdee, a twelve-year-old stateless who was born in Thailand to Myanmar migrants, has won 3rd place in the individual event (paper dart contest) at the All-Japan Origami Airplane Contest in Japan on Sunday.



He and his team won the first place in the team event in the same competition in Makuhari, near Tokyo, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009.

Mong, 2008 Thai origami airplane champion and one of nearly half a million stateless people in Thailand who legally cannot leave and return to the country, was granted a temporary passport exceptionally to take part in the contest in Japan with paper planes that can fly for 12 seconds at a time.



The Interior Ministry initially rejected his application to have a temporary travel document to go to Japan on the grounds that he is stateless boy.

However the ministry changed the position after several people, including Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, personally stepped in.

Thai women win Asian Volleyball Championship

Thailand's women's volleyball team made a big surprise as they beat China 3-1 in the final to win the 15th Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, held at the Quan Ngua Sport Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam yesterday.



In a nail-biting match, Thailand came back from one set down to take their first-ever victory over volleyball powerhouse China with scores of 20-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-23 in the final of the 16-team tournament.

China are currently standing third in the world rankings, while Thailand stands at World No. 17.

In another match, Japan beat the Republic of Korea 3-0 to snatch the bronze medal. Kazakhstan defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 to rank fifth while the hosts Vietnam downed Iran 3-0 for the second time to occupy the seventh position.

The achievement also earned Thailand a berth at the World Grand Champion Cup in November and the World Grand Prix next year.

Thai coach Kriatipong Ratchatakriangkai admitted that to defeat China, bronze medalist at last year's Olympic Games and 11-time Asian champion, was way beyond expectations.



He said the next task is to prepare the team for the tournament in November.

Individual awards:

Most Valuable Player: Onuma Sittirak (Thailand)

Best Scorer: Kim Yeon Koung (Korea)

Best Spiker: Xue Ming (China)

Best Setter: Nootsara Tomkom (Thailand)

Best Blocker: Xue Ming (China)

Best Server: Saori Kimura (Japan)

Best Libero Player: Wanna Buakaew (Thailand)

Wild Crocodiles surface in Khao Yai

Pha Khluaymai hill and a portion of Lam Takhong creek in Khao Yai National park in Nakhon Ratchasima have been closed temporarily after a report of two large crocodiles sighted.


Photo by Steve, Tanja & Leon @ Flickr

Two teams of forest rangers have been dispatched in both closed areas to look out for the two reptiles, which are identical and thought to be of a freshwater species, and hunt them down, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation said yesterday.

Park director Manote Karnphanakngarn said ten warning signs had been erected and four rangers stationed in the both areas to warn tourists abou the crocodiles. There are two crocodiles sighted in the park since 2007 with no reported attacks on humans.

Wellknown government veterinarian Parnthep Rattanakorn said he was convinced that the two crocodiles found in the park were pets let loose accidentally or on purpose, as it was impossible in an animal migration theory that freshwater crocodiles could live in a habitat like the Khao Yai national park.



He expressed worry that the existence of freshwater crocodiles could have generated an ecological impact to the park, in addition to a possibilty that they had already produced offsprings, or could attack humans while not yet caught.

More Khao Yai Crocodile photos @ taklong.com

Methee Amornwuthikul punches Pheu Thai Party man

Methee Amornwuthikul, actor-turned-red shirt-supporter assaults Adisaraj Thampithak, the director of Pheu Thai Party’s Surat Thani by-election after Adisaraj rallied in front the Pheu Thai head office Tuesday morning to demand 700,000 Baht he claimed the party owed him for election campaign expenses.

Gundam RX-78 in Bangkok this October

Gundam RX-78 is coming to Bangkok from 21 to 25 October, 2009, in an exhibition at Paragon Cineplex. As part of the Mobile Suit's 30th anniversary celebrations, Dream Express (DEX), which owns the Gundam copyright in Thailand, brings the Gundam showcase to town along with a host of activities.



Fans can enjoy the 10 million Baht event, which will feature the fibreglass model albeit reduced to half its size budget and without arms.

Like in Japan, there'll be a Gundam history showcase and a special room filled with posters, t-shirts and models.

Okawara Kunio, one of three creators of Gundam franchise, will give interviews and talk about his work during the expo while leading model maker Mark Bakuc will hold workshops and tutorials for all model geeks.

Admission to the expo is free.



Created by Sunrise Animation, "Gundam" first hit Japanese TV screens back in 1979. The series arrived in Thailand two years later, airing on weekdays at 5pm under the title "Apiniharn Gundam" (literally "The Magic of Gundam") and luring kids away from the playgrounds and into their homes to watch the robots fight.

The 30th anniversary celebrations aside, the Gundam scale model is also part of the Green Tokyo project, which is campaigning for a green city and is part of the proposal for the city to host the 2016 Olympics.

Gundam is still very popular in the East Asian region, with fans in Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore snapping up some 20,000 million yen worth of plastic models every year.

"Generally, Gundam has two groups of fans: anime fans and plastic model fans" says Vichien Vangveravongsa, general manager of the Dream Express (DEX), which owns the Gundam copyright in Thailand.

Sirimongkol Singwangcha arrested for selling drugs

Former World Boxing Champion Sirimongkol Singwangcha alias Sirimongkol Singmanasak (Thai: ศิริมงคล สิงห์มนัสศักดิ์) has been arrested for selling Ice drug or Methamphetamine.



Chonburi police arrested him on Saturday night as he was about to make a delivery to a customer. He was found with 28.4 grams of Ice, and admitted to being an agent selling Ice.



Source: news.sanook.com

Da Torpedo jailed for 18 years

The Thai Criminal Court on Friday found activist Daranee Chancheonsilapakul, aka Da Torpedo, guilty of lese majeste and sentenced her to a combined jail term of 18 years.



Daranee Chancheonsilapakul, 46, made a series of inflammatory speeches at the red-shirt rallies, notably the demonstration last June at Sanam Luang. Her remarks were against the 2006 coup but laced with offensive references to the monarchy.

The court said in its verdict that Daranee had maliciously offended the monarchy as per Article 112 of the Criminal Code.

She was penalised for three counts of lese majeste, each carrying the punishment for six year imprisonment.

The court found no cause for leniency because the defendant showed no remorse.

Source: Bangkok Post

Paradorn Srichaphan launches herbal Viagra

Thai tennis superstar Paradorn Srichaphan has launched a new product billed as a natural alternative to Viagra.



Yes, he uses it - twice a week. No, it doesn't mean his two-year marriage to former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova from Canada is faltering.

"If you ask me, 'Paradorn, do you need to use this kind of medicine,' I would say no.

But when I do use it, I feel a lot healthier," he said in a telephone interview Wednesday. "My marriage is going really well."



The product, Majic Iris, is a supplement that contains ginseng, oysters and black galangal, which resembles ginger and is believed in Thailand to act as a stimulant.

The product is only available in Thailand from his company, Magic Thai Herbs by Paradorn.

The 30-year-old Paradorn hasn't played professional tennis since March 2007 due to a wrist injury. He is the highest-ranked player in Thai history and was once No. 9 in the world.

Paradorn said his wrist is "getting a lot better but isn't good enough to play tournaments." He's trying his hand at business in the meantime.

He recently opened an Italian restaurant in Bangkok and is opening a tennis academy in the Thai capital next week.

The herbal supplement has existed for several years but under a poorly marketed Thai brand, which Paradorn said he bought and re-branded and repackaged.

His target customers are "married men who are struggling with sex and want to freshen things up," and single men who "like to party." But he says the supplement has benefits beyond the Viagra market.

"The main point is that it helps you feel stronger and gives you more energy in general," Paradorn said, adding that he also plans to launch a supplement for women.

Tata Young Ready For Love

Tata Young's latest international album "Ready For Love" releases on August 25, 2009.



The album's first single, "Ready For Love", was written by Alex Smith, Mark Taylor and Ayak Thiik and produced by André Brix Buchman from Valicon Company in Germany. It also features a track ‘Perfection’ co-written by Leona Lewis along with many of the tracks written by internationally acclaimed songwriters.

Short-haired Tata Young is "sexy and glamorous", says Rainmaker Cho, the South Korean who's shot her latest music video, but he set out to make her even "more energetic and lovely".

Tata Young gets a Korean makeover for her highly anticipated third international album.



The concept of the music video for the first single "is basically from me", Tata told reporters the other day as they previewed the CD produced by Andre "Brix" Buchmann of Berlin's Valicon Productions.

Like Cho, who's previously worked with South Korean superstars Rain and Wang Lee Hom, Buchmann wanted more variety.

Rhythm and blues mix with dance pop on 12 tunes from songwriters around the world.

The title track, which has been airing for a couple of weeks, "feels cool and energetic like in the '60s", Tata says, saying she learned the "big voice" techniques of American R&B singers Aretha Franklin, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson.

"My Bloody Valentine" will be the follow-up single. "Mission is You" and "Shine Like a Superstar" are Silom Soi 2-style rousers. "Burning Out" and "Suffocate" get melancholy.

"Ugly" is a return to the catchy form of "Sexy, Naughty, Bitchy" and "Love is the Law" sounds like Madonna's "Rain".

Tata calls "Boys Will Be Boys" her favourite track, and "Exposed" the "opposite of her real life".

"It isn't me, but the Sony bosses in Europe said it's gonna be a hit there."

It's about a small-town girl who's dumped by her lover after she becomes famous, and that's sure not our big-city Tata.

A massive advertising campaign is pushing "Ready for Love" across Asia, Australia and Europe.

Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Japan will receive an unprecedented level of promotion for an album by a Thai pop artist.

Miss Thailand wins Miss Photogenic 2009

Miss Thailand, Chutima Durongdej, won Miss Photogenic in the 2009 Miss Universe pageant competition held in the Bahamas this morning Thailand time.



Miss Venezuela, Stefania Fernandez, was named winner of the 2009 Miss Universe pageant. Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimee de la Cruz, was the runner up.

Miss China, Wang Jingyao, was named Miss Congeniality.

Judges included actor Dean Cain and supermodel Valeria Mazza.

MV Doulos in Bangkok

MV Doulos the world famous floating library returns to Bangkok to expand knowledge, help and hope during its stay in August.



The MV Doulos – just two years younger than the Titanic

From July 29 to August 24, 2009, MV Doulos opens its door at the Khlong Toei Port, Bangkok, for interested people to visit its book store and get in touch with its volunteers to exchange cultures and experiences.

This is the fifth visit to Thailand. The mission of the ship is to bring knowledge, help and hope to every human being on earth. Moreover, the ship can become an outside classroom for its member crews to learn how to live and work together under cultural differences.



MV Doulos crews provide a lot of activities for people who visit its ship such as sharing experiences with the crews, international café for music, dance and language, international cultural performances and an English café.

MV Doulos was built in 1914, 2 years after Titanic. It is listed in the Guinness book of world records as the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship.

Over the past 30 years, MV Doulos visited over 100 countries in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Australia and the Arabian Peninsula. More than 21 million people have come on board to visit her famous floating book fair.

Samui Airport Crash: Bangkok Airways skids off runway

Koh Samui, Thailand: A Bangkok Airways aircraft flight PG 266 skidded off the runway at Samui Airport and crashed into an aviation control tower today.

Update 4:30pm:
About 40 injured of Bangkok Airways' doomed flight PG266 were rushed to the Bangkok Samui Hospital. The hospital could be reached by Tel: 077429500.

Another hospital on the island is Samui Hospital which can be reached at Tel: 0-7742-0902, 0-7742-1399.

Latest crash pictures:




The accident took place at about 2.30pm and as of 4pm, the number of injuries and fatalities was still unclear. Reports say the Captain was killed instantly.

Rescue teams and workers rushed to the scene to evacuate the passengers of the ill-fated flight.



Initial report said that the 75-seat aircraft from Krabi province was landing at the Samui airport when it slid of the runway reportedly because of the poor weather.

The Nation's reporter who was at the scene said the aircraft did not catch fire when the crash happened.

Samui district chief Sakchai Johpalit said rescue workers were evacuating the injured passengers from the aircraft. The aircraft carried 68 passengers. The accident took place as the island was hit by consecutive days of heavy rains. Heavy rains continued after the accident happened.

PM Abhisit plays soccer friendly against Los Diplomaticos

PM's 11 vs. Los Diplomaticos Final score: 3-3 (draw)



Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva scored a hat-trick in a friendly football match with foreign envoys on Sunday. His team "PM 11" were down 0-2 in the 1st half, but the PM's goals in the 2nd half gave his team a temporary lead. The envoys scored the third to make it a draw.

The friendly soccer match was played between the Government of Thailand and the foreign diplomats team "Los Diplomaticos" from more than 30 countries at Crystal Park stadium. The Thai Government team led by PM Abhisit wore blue jerseys and white shorts, while Los Diplomaticos wore yellow jerseys and red shorts. The Los Diplomaticos team consisted of diplomats from Britain, Philippines, Laos, Malaysia, Australia and others.













Photo credit: Manager Online

Hillary Clinton in Thailand

Mrs. Bill Clinton, the U.S. Secretary of State is on a three-day visit to Thailand to take part in the ASEAN Regional Forum, an annual gathering of 27 Asian, U.S., and European ministers to discuss key security issues.







Photo credit: Reuters)

Liverpool F.C. arrives in Bangkok

English Premier League side Liverpool F.C. arrives in Bangkok today before taking on the Thai national team on July 22.



The players arrived at Don Muang Airport this evening and took a bus straight to Hotel Grand Hyatt Erawan.



Ticket prices for Liverpool Football Club's match in Bangkok on July 22 ranges from 600 Baht to 3,000 Baht. The match will take place at Rajamangala Stadium with 48,000 capacity. Most of the stadium will operate a 'free seating' policy, and tickets in Thailand will be available solely though Adidas shops in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn wins junior Wimbledon girls' title

Noppawan Lertcheewakarn of Thailand won the girls' title at Wimbledon on Saturday, using a steady serve to beat Kristina Mladenovic of France 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.



The Chiang Mai-born, 17, became the first Thai to win a Grand Slam singles trophy. Previously she collected two doubles titles from the 2008 junior US Open and this year's French Open.

Noppawan, who ended the 2008 season as the top junior player, settled score over the French Open junior champion who easily beat her in two sets in a warm-up tournament on grass in Roehampton last week. She finally made amends at the All England Club losing the final to Laura Robson of Great Britain in the final a year ago.

Noppawan landed 69 percent of her first serves against Mladenovic on Court No. 1, far better than her opponent's 40 percent.



Although Noppawan had only nine winners in the match, she was helped by Mladenovic's 39 unforced errors.

Noppawan, who won the girls' doubles title with Elena Bogdan of Romania at the French Open, is also still alive in the doubles competition at the All England Club. She is playing with Sally Peers of Australia.

Noppawan lost in the Wimbledon girls final last year, but then won the girls' doubles title at the U.S. Open with Sandra Roma. In December, she was named girls' ITF World Champion.

Tamarine Tanasugarn wins Ordina Open

Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand has become the first player to successfully defended her title in the U$220,000 Ordina Open in Den Bosch, Netherlands after she beat Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer 6-3 7-5 in the final.



Tammy, the 32 year old Thai ranked No. 47 in the world, relied on her experience to beat the young rival for her third career title.

Tammy beat Dinara Safina, the current world No. 1, in last years' final. Tammy underlined her supremacy over Safina once again in the semi-final on Friday to record her first win over a world No 1, proving too much for the Russian.

Pregnant man Beattie delivers second child

Pregnant man Thomas Beattie - the transgender man born a woman - has given birth to his second child, this time a baby boy.



The American transsexual, born Tracey Lagondino, 35, became the first pregnant man when he had Susan last July.



Now bearded Beatie and wife Nancy, 46, are parents again.

Hospital sources told US TV channel ABC that it was a "natural childbirth".



Beattie had sex swap op, including breast removal, in his 20s then married Nancy - but kept his ovaries.