Xpress-qTODAY PAGE-1011.XPRESS

PY O C E FRE DAD THROWS CHILD OFF BRIDGE IN AUST PAGE 4

XPRESS

DAILY

Friday, January 30, 2009 VOL 2, NO 269 dailyxpress.net

SIMPLY RED A LITTLE BLUE As the band heads off in a new direction after 25 years, Mick Hucknall plots a new course in the music business. >PAGE 8

WEEKEND TRAVEL

Let THE FUN show you a new side to Beijing

2 TODAY

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE CITY

1913

WAS THE YEAR Thailand’s first vocational school – Panichayakarn Mahapruettaram – was opened.

All the world’s a stage

briefly

D A I LY X P R E S S

H

undreds of young Thai talents will take part in an international theatre festival, the first of its kind, to be held in Pathum Thani from this Sunday.

The one-week festival will feature plays by students from more than 20 educational institutions, joined by performers from the Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, India and Nepal.

Simple but rich Along with the plays there’ll be seminars and cultural activities. Aiming to make it an annual event, the organisers’ vision is for a fest that’s “simple in form but rich in substance”.

The royal Kamlang Jai Project and the New Legacy (Moradok Mai) theatre group are taking part and the festival is free to the public.

Call Khun Anongnart at (081) 4310774 or (02) 904 5665.

Police break open student lockers yesterday at Rajamangala Tech’s Uthen Thawai campus in a bid to prevent stockpiling of weapons for revenge attacks ahead of the university’s anniversary, on Sunday.

SURRENDER YOUR GUNS Police find home-made bombs, guns and knives at feuding colleges DAILY XPRESS

P

olice teams turned up makeshift weapons yesterday during searches at Rajamangala University of Technology’s Uthen Thawai campus and the Pathumwan Institute of Technology.

Some 150 officers combed the Uthen Thawai campus’ Student Activity building in an hourlong search with sniffer dogs.

Among the finds were seven bullet shells, five home-made “ping pong” bombs and 18 knives.

Rajamangala closed Dutch performers gear up for the festival.

DAILY

Good in an emergency

DAILY XPRESS/TATCHADON PANYAPHANITKUL

Foreign troupes meet home-grown talent at the Pathum Thani International Theatre Festival

XPRESS

DAILY XPRESS

The university was closed last Wednesday but the “Blue Day” celebrations for its anniversary will go ahead this Sunday with

an outdoor concert. Students have been advised not to arrive in big groups or wear clothes that identify the university they belong to. The university will reopen on Monday.

In a simultaneous search at the Pathumwan Institute of Technology, police and dogs netted a home-made gun, one knife, two bullets and a sharpened metal bar.

Concert fears Deputy rector Anuchat Srisiriwat, who aided police in the search, said the institute would not close, though many students were staying away, fearing violence in the run up to Rajamangala’s Blue Day. Pol Maj-General Wittaya

THE SEARCHES FOLLOW A SERIES OF BLOODY CLASHES THAT CULMINATED IN TWO SHOOTINGS LESS THAN A WEEK APART. Rattanawit said the weapons were found in lockers without nametags, so no students would be charged.

The searches follow a series of bloody clashes that culminated in two shootings less than a week apart.

Fourth-year Pathumwan student Khanin Thong-ou was shot dead on Monday night in Rat Burana district while five days earlier, Uthen Thawai student Pornpot Sopaijaroen, 21, was shot dead on Phahon Yothin Road.

On Wednesday, police got together students from both colleges to shake hands in a symbolic gesture to end their longrunning feud.

Units from the Narenthorn EMS Centre have responded to more than 50,000 emergencies this month, a third of them road accidents, an official said yesterday. Speaking at a summit in Bangkok, the centre’s secretarygeneral Dr Chatree Charoenchivakul said his agency had responded to 16,671 road accidents. Thirty-five people died at the scenes.

Rescue officials managed to get to the sites within 10 minutes in 73.33 per cent of the cases, he said. The performance was satisfactory, he said, but promised improvements.

Police chief cleared The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday dismissed the lawsuit for abuse of authority against national police chief Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

Gen Seripisut Temiyavej filed the lawsuit last year after then-PM Samak Sundaravej assigned a disciplinary panel to look into allegations against Seripisut of graft in the Bt9.89 billion police van-rental project, giving inappropriate orders and assignments. The court said Patcharawat acted within his jurisdiction in confiscating documents.

Correction Saruda Nimpipakpong, our guest writer for yesterday’s “Good Morning” column, is a designer for the Kunitar boutique not a TV producer as published. We apologise for the mistake.

Editor: Tulsathit Taptim / Managing Editor: Thanong Khanthong / Deputy Managing Editors: Kumar Krishnan, Jintana Panyaarvudh / Design Editor: Leroy A Sylk Web Co-editors: Marisa Chimprabha, Paisal Chuenprasaeng / The City Editor: Chularat Saengpassa / The Fun Editor: Veena Thoopkrajae / Sport Editor: Preechachan Wiriyanupappong / Group Editor in Chief: Suthichai Yoon

>>DAILY XPRESS is edited by Tulsathit Taptim and published by NMG News Co Ltd, at 1854, Bang Na-Trat Road, Bangkok 10260, and printed by FOR DISPLAY ADVERTISING,PLEASE CALL (02) 338 3000 # 1 WPS (Thailand) Co Ltd, Tel (02) 338 3000, Fax (02) 338 3334. EDITORIAL: Tel (02) 338 3333. ON THE WEB: DAILYXPRESS.NET >>DAILY XPRESS is a supplement to subscriber copies of THE NATION with bonus distribution in selected areas of Bangkok and its environs every Monday to Friday. Subscription rates for THE NATION: one year Bt4,900 within regular delivery areas; please contact Customer Service on (02) 338 3000. For bulk copy subscription rates please call (02) 338 3532.

4

GLOBETROT

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE WORLD

DAILY XPRESS

1,591 The number of people reported executed in 25 countries during 2006

FATHER THROWS CHILD OFF BRIDGE Four-year-old girl dies from severe injuries in Australia during rush hour

Dancing against

globalisation

AFP, Sydney, Australia

A

n Australian man was charged with murder after allegedly throwing his fouryear-old daughter from a city bridge into a river during peak hour traffic yesterday, police said.

The 36-year-old man allegedly threw her from a 60metre-high section of the West Gate Bridge into the Yarra River in the southern city of Melbourne.

The incident took place in front of hundreds of motorists while two other children, boys believed to be aged six and eight, remained in the fourwheel drive, police said.

AFP

Horrified witnesses

A woman does the samba during a parade held for the World Social Forum in Belem, Brazil, on Wednesday. Thousands are gathering in Belem for the six-day World Social Forum, which has grown to become the biggest anti-globalisation event on the planet since its inauguration in 2001.

“No one had the opportunity to intervene ... it all happened fairly quickly,” detective inspector Steve Clark said.

“He’d got straight out of the car, taken the young girl and walked to the edge of the bridge, so it would have happened in a matter of seconds.”

Horrified witnesses called police, who were on the scene within moments and retrieved her body from the water. They spent 45 minutes trying to resuscitate the girl. She died from severe internal injuries within hours of being airlifted to hospital.

The man was arrested outside the city’s law courts building with the two young boys shortly after the incident, and

was “visibly distressed”, Clark said.

He was not mentally fit to be interviewed, and his lawyers said he could not appear in court because he was suicidal and in an “acute psychiatric state”. His case will be heard in May. “It’s a dreadful set of circumstances, and often you think you’ve seen it all but you haven’t,” Clark said, adding that the man was believed to be embroiled in a custody battle with his wife.

Family feud “There have been some ongoing family court matters between the father and his wife.”

The couple reportedly reached an agreement in court on Wednesday appointing joint custody. The boys were interviewed by police and have been returned to their mother.

Friday, January 30, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

GLOBETROT 5

JOHN RICHIE

WASHINGTON GASPS as President Obama goes jacket-less on his first day in the White House. The reason: Obama, who hates the cold, had cranked up the heat.

GUY RICHIE’S FATHER ON MADONNA

“The worst thing would be if they reconciled ... We hope she does have a lot of boyfriends because it means she won’t ever get back with Guy!”

Director of the ‘Thriller’ music video, John Landis, inset, is suing Michael Jackson over unpaid royalties.

‘Thriller’ becomes chiller for Jacko AFP, Los Angeles, California

AFP

F

ormer “King of Pop” Michael Jackson is being sued by the director of his seminal 1983 video “Thriller” over unpaid royalties, US newspapers reported on Wednesday.

Several reports said Jackson was being sued by filmmaker John Landis for allegedly failing to stick to an agreement to share profits from the 14-minute video

featuring a cast of werewolves, zombies and assorted monsters.

“After a spectacular theatrical premiere the Thriller video became a worldwide mega-hit and an iconic pop culture phenomenon,” Landis’ lawsuit said.

‘Malicious fraud’ The video “continued to generate profits for defendants ... who have wrongfully refused to pay or account for such profits to the plaintiff”.

The suit accused Jackson

of “fraudulent, malicious and oppressive conduct”.

Landis is best known for directing 1980s comedy “The Blues Brothers” and 1981 comedy-horror “An American Werewolf in London”. Jackson, who throughout the 1980s was the world’s most bankable pop star, has led a reclusive existence since his acquittal for child sex abuse in 2005.

He is currently said to be residing in Los Angeles, renting a US$100,000(Bt3.5-million) a-month estate.

Man loses his buried treasure AFP, Tokyo

A

n elderly Japanese businessman buried US$4 million (Bt139.5 million) in his garden for safekeeping only to find it dug up by a thief, police said yesterday.

The man in his 80s discovered the theft in October and died two months later. As he left no records, it took time for investigators to piece together the details.

The man, who was still serving on a corporate board when he died, had put cash into a container over four decades, repeatedly digging it up and then placing it back in the ground in his yard in southern Saga prefecture.

Somebody went digging On October 10, he noticed at around 6am that something was amiss.

“He noticed that there were signs that parts of his yard had been dug up. Then he learned that the container in which he kept the money was gone,” a local police official said.

Police were searching for the culprit behind the theft of the cash.

“He buried the money because financial institutions are offering low interest rates, and he thought it was better to keep his cash himself,” the official said. “He chose to bury the cash in his garden to avoid damage from possible house fires or earthquakes.”

The businessman had recollected that the last time he had checked the money was in the middle of 2007, the official said.

briefly I’nesia orgies: priest held An Indonesian cult head accused of leading his followers in wild orgies and giving sermons in his underpants was arrested yesterday and could be charged with “lewd acts”, police said.

Agus Noro, the head of the Satria Piningit Weteng Buwono sect, turned himself after a three-day hunt, Jakarta police said. Noro, or “leader of the faithful”, is alleged to have had sex with his disciples and instructed them to have group sex while he watched. He taught “Kamasutra” sex techniques to use in the afterlife, an ex-follower said. “We obeyed like we’d been hypnotised.”

Expat drug runners Police in remote northwestern China arrested 16 foreign drug traffickers last year, mostly for heroin smuggling, state media reported yesterday.

Authorities in China’s Muslim Xinjiang region uncovered a total of 25 trafficking cases involving 96 kilograms of heroin. Most of those seized by police were from Pakistan and Afghanistan, the report said.

Drug smugglers are often sentenced to death in China.

Lesson bombs Two Japanese boys brought a World War II bomb to class, flustering teachers on the Japanese island of Okinawa which was the scene of the Pacific conflict’s bloodiest battle, the school said yesterday.

The two 12-year-old boys said they found the bomb last week in a yard near the school in Okinawa, where residents still unearth hundreds of explosives six decades after the war.

“The children apparently thought the bomb would be good study material at school,” a teacher said. – AFP

6 WEEKEND

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE FUN.

TRAVEL

NEXT STOP

In full bloom Chiang Mai is in bloom with the city hosting the annual Flower Festival from February 6 to 8.

Every day from 9am to 10pm, visitors will get to feast their eyes on flower exhibitions, rare-breed showcases and parades and shop for their favourite blossoms at the flower market. Admission is free.

A boy gets a haircut in Qian Hai, an old Beijing neighbourhood that is fast becoming popular with foreigner residents and tourists.

Visit www.TATChiangMai.org or call (053) 248 604.

Etihad takes pole With the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix taking place later this year, the airline accelerates towards the starting grid by painting one of its wide-body Airbus aircraft with the chequered flag. The aircraft operates from Abu Dhabi to London, Sydney, New York and Toronto.

Visit www.EtihadAirways.com.

Pachyderm pleasures Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas have announced the 2009 dates for the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament.

The popular event will take place from March 23 to 29 in the northernmost region of Thailand known as the Golden Triangle with 12 teams from four continents fielding 40 players from 15 countries.

Visit www.AnantaraElephantPolo.com.

Blissed-out in Bali Air Asia saves you time and money with a new daily direct flight from Bangkok to Bali. An Airbus A320 leaves Bangkok on the fourhour journey to Denpasar at 6.40am, with the return flight scheduled to take off from Denpasar at 11.50am (local time). Book by February 1 for travel before April 30, and you pay Bt999 for a oneway ticket, exclusive of tax.

DAILY XPRESS/MANTA KLANGBOONKRONG

Visit www.AirAsia.com.

D AY O U T

Beguiling Beijing There’s more to the Chinese capital than the Great Wall and Tiananmen

By Clarissa Oon THE STRAITS TIMES Asia News Network, Beijing

Y

ou won’t find tour buses parked outside the Zoo (Dongwuyuan) Wholesale Market – the generic name for a cluster of unvarnished malls, some no more than huge metal containers subdivided into hundreds of stalls.

What eagle-eyed shoppers will find amid the messy sprawl are cheap clothes and accessories with oodles of personality – certainly much more than the fake designer wear peddled at tourist traps like the better-known Xiushui Jie (Silk Street).

A thrift shopper’s paradise, the Zoo Wholesale Market is a

neat capsule of my experiences of Beijing.

During a recent visit to one of the Dongwuyuan malls, my sister and I unearthed a pretty black shift dress for the equivalent of $3 (Bt110).

It took 18 months of living in Beijing to discover this market, an hour’s drive west of the city centre. Before finding it, I had all but given up on shopping in a city not exactly known for its fashion.

Seven hundred years ago, Beijing had reportedly been planned down to the last inch.

Streets and alleyways were laid out symmetrically along a north-south axis.

The city was then the imperial seat of the ruling Yuan dy-

DAILY XPRESS

SIMPLY MICK

YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, ‘Fantasy Island’ starring Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize premiered on ABC TV in the US.

Old-timers practice calligraphy in Jingshan Park, just north of the Forbidden City. It’s a place where Beijingers can just be themselves without tourists around. Another relaxing spot is the Gulou or Drum Tower, below, the drums of which kept time during the Qing dynasty and still sound for visitors.

nasty (1279-1368), and capital of the whole of China for the first time.

Old neighbourhoods

THE STRAITS TIMES/CLARISSA OON

31

WEEKEND 7

DAILY XPRESS

Friday, January 30, 2009

Today, cranes and unfinished buildings crowd the skyline.

Concrete behemoths of all shapes and sizes dwarf what remains of the old neighbourhoods of traditional courtyard houses (siheyuan) linked by narrow alleyways (hutong).

It is, however, this lack of an overall design that allows modern opportunism and individual eccentricities to flourish.

Offset by judiciously preserved towers and temples, or the odd ancient street, the results can be strangely beguiling.

As he prepares his farewell tour, the Simply Red singer looks back at the years. > Page 8

One of my favourite hangouts is a rooftop cafe with eye-level views of two towers, the 200year-old Drum Tower (Gulou) and its older sister the Bell Tower (Zhonglou), which dates back 300 years.

The drums and bells of these towers still sound for visitors, but what is more notable is the leafy old neighbourhood around it: the Gulou area of west Beijing.

Apart from the Drum And Bell rooftop cafe and its relaxed vibe of mismatched, thrown-together sofas, some of Gulou’s alleyways are definitely worth exploring.

They include Yandai Xiejie (Smoke Bag Crooked Street), which reportedly dates back to the Yuan dynasty, when it was a bustling market hawking smoking pipes and other such implements.

Today, shops and cafes line the street, their rough-hewn, wood-and-stone architecture retaining some of the earthy charm of yore.

These shops sell an odd mix of slightly pricey streetwear and Oriental knick-knacks, but the merchandise is more distinctive than elsewhere.

And the surprises don’t end there. Follow the twists and turns of Yandai Xiejie and you’ll wind up at a small bridge overlooking one of Houhai’s idyllic streams.

There, you can watch the sun set on a quiet weekday. It is one of the nicest spots in Houhai, an otherwise gaudy lakeside strip of bars and restaurants.

XTRA LOCAL SPOTS >> Dadong Kaoya does a Peking duck that is both crispy and low in fat. Book several days in advance at (86 10) 6582 4003. >> Shop for antiques at Panjiayuan market. It’s especially good for paintings, paper cuttings and silk table runners. >> For food from southwestern China, check out South Silk Road (86 10) 8580 4286.

good deal Spa sensations The official holiday season may be behind us, but it’s never too late to spoil yourself.

Take advantage of the Anantara Samui’s “Resident Retreat” – special room rates for Thailand residents only – and immerse yourself in a Thai resort that’s world away from the everyday.

Pamper yourself for Bt4,900 net per night, including breakfast for two, until July 15 excluding the Easter and Songkran holidays.

Visit www.Anatara.com.

Honoured at the Hyatt Until April, the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin’s Gold Passport holders earn up to 20,000 points, all redeemable towards free nights. If you’re not yet a member, then enrol now and stay at the hotel for Bt6,500 per room per night, inclusive of daily breakfast, newspaper and bonus points towards next stay.

Visit www.Hyatt.com.

Soothe away the stress The Shangri-La Bangkok is introducing a “Premier Spa” package costing Bt9,800 per night for double occupancy.

Guests can choose between a relaxing Chi Balance, soothing Aroma Vitality or detoxifying Sen Chi treatment. The package is for guests staying a minimum of two nights and is valid through August 31.

Visit www.Shangri-La.com.

Executive sweet Heading to Hua Hin this weekend? Then staying at the Sheraton Resort and Spa and unwind in the hotel’s newly refurbished Club Rooms where you’ll enjoy top business facilities, international cuisine, Internet access and a variety of entertainment.

Visit www.Sheraton.com/HuaHin.

8 THE FUN

Friday, January 30, 2009

WKND.EVENTS 2

DAILY XPRESS

SINGLES by Simply Red charted at No 1 in the US: ‘Holding Back the Years’ in 1986 and ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’ in 1989.

XTRA PRETTY SIMPLE >> Simply Red: The Greatest Hits Live in Bangkok 2009 will be at 8pm on Sunday at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani.

COURTESY OF BEC TERO ENTERTAINMENT

>> Tickets start at Bt1,000.

For the Bt4,500 "Gold Package", you get a Simply Red DVD. >> Call Thaiticketmajor at (02) 262 3456.

I N T E RV I E W

RED, AND A LITTLE BLUE With Simply Red saying goodbye, Mick Hucknall evaluates success

By Windy D A I LY X P R E S S

B

ruce Springsteen successfully focuses more on music than image, Madonna does the opposite with equal success, and Elvis Presley managed to strike a near-perfect balance.

So says Mick Hucknall, rating the greats on the eve of his farewell tour with Simply Red, which kicks off on Sunday at – off all the places in the world the British band has played – Impact Arena.

“Somebody who’d have an almost perfect image is Elvis,” Hucknall tells Daily Xpress.

“He has an incredible image, but he was also a fantastic singer. To have both – to be iconic-looking and also to be a great musician – is really very, very rare.”

Contemplating Simply Red’s split after 25 years, Hucknall recalls, half-jokingly, how he got nowhere as a painter, so he plotted a course to commercial success in music.

That came soon enough with Simply Red. Their 1985 single “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”, a cover of a soul standard originally recorded by the Valentine

Brothers, meant that money was no longer a problem.

“You want to maintain that commercial success, but you want to stay original too,” Hucknall says.

Striking a balance “If you want commercial success you have to sound like what everybody else is listening to on the radio, so it’s really about getting that balance right between the two.”

With that in mind, Simply Red’s third album, “A New Flame” in 1989, was more mainstream, more popular – and less of a hit with the critics.

Its cover of the Harold Melvin pop classic “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” be-

came one of the biggest international singles of the year, and prompted cynics to label them schmaltz.

So it’s a bit odd hearing Hucknall lamenting the current pop-culture TV trends.

Shows like “American Idol” create image-ready karaoke singers rather than new music, he says.

“That doesn’t put our culture forward – that just makes it still.”

Hucknall released his first solo album last year, “Tribute to Bobby”, and has another singer in mind with whom he’d love to collaborate.

“If she were sober and free of drugs, I’d like to sing with Amy Winehouse.”

,,

IF SHE WERE SOBER AND FREE OF DRUGS, I’D LIKE TO SING WITH AMY WINEHOUSE. Mick Hucknall

Friday, January 30, 2009

36

THE FUN 9

DAILY XPRESS

YEARS AGO TODAY the rock group Kiss performed for the first time in Queens, New York.

WKND.EVENTS Colonies

Readers, you rave!

of coral

DAILY XPRESS/EKKARAT SUKPETCH

Melbourne-based ceramist Vipoo Srivilasa has returned home for his second solo show “Colonies” at Surapon Gallery, inviting viewers to explore the symbolism in his works.

“Colony” has a double meaning, explains the artist. “Coral is a marine organism composed of colonies of polyps, and humans colonise the coral reefs,” he says.

The show runs until February 21. Call (02) 638 0033-3

Who’s better?

REVIEW SAY HELLO TO THE BETTER, Asia’s favourite Beatles tribute band, at a rare live concert at Overtone on RCA. Playing John, Paul, George and Ringo are musicians from legendary oldschool groups the Impossibles and Ploy. The Better have stacked up close to 100 Beatles songs in their reper-

toire and played all over Asia.

Tickets are Bt300 and cover one drink. Visit www.Overtone.tv.

Paper-mash artist CELEBRATED FOR the visions he moulds from paper pulp, Chaiyanandha Cha-Umngarm is showcasing his latest artworks in “Way of Life 2” at Galerie N till February 22. His subject is life’s journey, rendered through intricate details evoking nature and the environment.

The gallery, on Wireless Road near the Ploenchit BTS stop, is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am till 7pm. Call (02) 252 1592; www.GalerienBangkok.com.

No MC, no cry Pai’s reggae fest was a success, though more care should have taken in selecting the bands and the MC

By Manta Klangboonkrong D A I LY X P R E S S Pai, Mae Hong Son

B

igger doesn’t always mean better. Pai’s fourth reggae festival last weekend was proof, if proof were needed, that increasing the number of bands doesn’t necessarily improve the quality of the show.

Since 2006, the multi-tasking organisers Pai Arts Club have established itself as the founder and nurturer of Thailand’s first and (to date) only outdoor ska and reggae festival. It started off as a one-night show in January 2006 and has since then sprouted in terms of sponsorship, audience and artists. The fourth edition this year stretched over two nights and featured nearly 20 bands playing for some 2,000 fans.

The event moved further out of town, to the Treehouse Resort, an ideal environment.

Facilities were superb – ambience, good light and sound system, clean toilets, enough food and drink and most importantly, an efficient free shuttle from town.

Ska and reggae heads had their fill, with well-known bands, among them T Bone,

Woodoo uses a digeridoo as part of its act.

Job2Do, Woodoo and Teddy Ska, allocated enough time to show off their talents. There was also an eclectic mix – tribal, dub step, rocksteady, roots reggae and even dancehall.

But some bands were not remotely reggae, playing jazz, country and even pretentious northern hilltribe sounds.

Surely it would have been better if the organisers had only selected acts that fit the bill, even though that would have filled just one night.

Besides the incoherence and lack of continuity, the emcee was a nuisance, making the festival sound both awkward and amateur. Background music and silence would have been preferable to the inane “Are you enjoying yourselves?” and “Make some noise!” he uttered between every act.

Congratulations to the five readers who knew that Sister Bliss is performing at the Culture One Stage at Bacardi B-Live: Culture One. Pairs of tickets are in the post for: >> Nabun Pananon >> Boonraksa Srivoranartakul >> Vibul Sirikumpolchai >> Alana George >> Thanit na Takuathung

The second Bacardi B-Live: Culture One dance fest is at Bitec in Bang Na tomorrow from 3pm. Tickets with a drink are Bt1,200, available at the door. Don’t forget your ID. Visit www.BLiveThailand.com and www.Culture-One-BKK.com.

Staged manga “Puen” (“Friends”) is running at Naked Masks Theatre until February 15. Inspired by the hit manga “20th Century Boys”, “Puen” is the story of school chums trying to head off a major disaster.

Performances are at 7.30pm on Thursdays and Fridays, with matinees at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Tickets are Bt300 (Bt150 for students). Visit www.Naked MasksNetwork.com.

Foreplay in Bed “Liquid Foreplay” at Bed Supperclub on Sukhumvit Soi 11 encourages dinner guests to take their time with some sexy new night-caps.

The new after-dinner cocktail menu features an array of concoctions that might just become cult classics. Camp out with “The Gay Lavender Hissy Fits Martini” or go classic with a “Bangkok Iced Tea”.

10

ALTERNATIVE / SOHO

Friday, January 30, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

so-ho-t Recognition where it’s due Kamolset Kenggarnrua, cofounder and permanent secretary of the Rainbow Sky Association of Thailand, was recognised as one of this year’s Outstanding Social Workers by the Professor Pakorn Angsusingh Foundation for his decade-long service towards people living with HIV and LGBTI community.

Congratulations.

Hot ‘Milk’ The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave eight Oscar nominations to the film “Milk”, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. Sean Penn portrays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official who was assassinated in 1978.

The film opens in Bangkok next Thursday.

A lesson in ‘Sexonomics’ Cheap cuts may be most cost effective but they are not always the best buy

By Paisarn Likhitpreechakul S P E C I A L T O D A I LY XPRESS

W Iceland rocks Openly lesbian Johanna Sigurdardottir has become Iceland’s interim prime minister, after the previous government resigned amid deep economic troubles.

Nicknamed “Saint Johanna” by the public for her advocacy for the elderly, handicapped and disadvantaged, Sigurdardottir is in a civil partnership with her longtime companion. The couple have three adult children. As an openly gay head of state, she comes in second to PerKristian Foss, who served in 2002 as interim prime minister of Norway.

ith every news channel reporting just how bad the economy really is, readers may be happy to know that the meat market is doing better than ever. How refreshing to see that people have finally got their priorities right.

My straight friends often find it hard to understand why gay men can find sex at every corner.

Sexonomics 101 may help them understand their own dry spells, as most people fail to realise that economic principles also apply to the market of human desires.

First, it’s important to note that there are different kinds of

marketplace. Dating is more like bartering where everyone is a buyer and seller in each and every “transaction”. (Looked at this way, prostitution, being money-mediated, appears rather more advanced.)

Then there is also a fundamental difference between a gay souk and a straight bazaar. While the first runs like what Adam Smith called a “system of perfect liberty” with fullblown competition, the latter operates more like a monopoly – with women holding the power to determine who can access the goodies and when.

Here, Smith wrote in his 1776’s The ‘Wealth of Nations’, “The monopolists, by keeping the market constantly understocked, by never fully supplying the effectual demand, sell their commodities much above the natu-

,,

ral price, and raise their emoluments …”

(Monopolies hold their members in check and the few who sold out are severely condemned. This could explain the traditional attitude towards prostitution.)

The father of economics added, “The price of monopoly is upon every occasion the highest that can be got.

The natural price, or the price of free competition, on the contrary, is the lowest which can be taken, not upon every occasion, indeed, but for any considerable time together …”

As my straight male friends can attest, courtship and marriage are an expensive enterprise, compared to the cheap casual “transactions” abundantly born out of the laissezfaire gay market.

But as anyone who has been to a Tesco store knows, lower prices don’t guarantee happy transactions. For the next chapter on Sexonomics 101, let’s look closer at the conundrum of Homo economicus.

MY STRAIGHT FRIENDS OFTEN FIND IT HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY GAY MEN CAN FIND SEX AT EVERY CORNER.

Friday, January 30, 2009

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ENTERTAINMENT

DAILY XPRESS

11

DREAMBOX CALLED AND INSTANTLY I SAID YES.I WAS CONFIDENT IN THIS CAST AND CREW,AND THEY IN ME. Phol Tantasathien

Actor

T H E AT R E

One more time!

‘Tuen Tuek 2’, one of last year’s funniest comedies, is back for one weekend only

By Pawit Mahasarinand SPECIAL TO D A I LY X P R E S S

W

atching Saranyoo Wongkrachang performing in “Tuen Tuek 2”, back together with the rest of the original cast after 15 years, Phol Tantasathien was thinking, “I wish I could be in this show someday.”

He had in a way, of course.

Phol played the construction engineer Mhong in a revival of the original “Tuen Tuek” seven years ago.

Then in December, when Saranyoo pulled out of the show to join the anti-government protest, Phol’s wish was granted. He stepped into the lead role for the two last performances.

“Dreambox called and instantly I said yes. I was confident in this cast and crew, and they in me. I’d played the role and understood the relationships.

“It was the new situation and dialogue in the sequel I had to memorise. I had one night of rehearsal time.”

Cast change aside, “Tuen Tuek 2” – in which the old university friends, in their late 40s and still unmarried,

attend a wedding – was another successful collaboration between Dreambox playwright Daraka Wongsiri and director Suwandee Chakravoravudh.

Apart from an abundance of witty jokes and sharp satire,

the play clicked at a good pace and delivered many memorable messages.

One example: No matter what people say, what they do is primarily for their own sake.

The individual portrayals were spot-on, the ensemble unified.

The added character – Methanee “Nino” Buranasiri’s wedding planner – was both plausible and funny.

Now, two months later, Phol is in at the start for another brief revival, and has had plenty of time to rehearse.

None of the cast this time, by the way, is actively involved in politics!

But Atcharaphan Phaibunsuwan, Thitima Sangkhaphitak, Waraphan Ngui-trakul, Sirinuch Petch-urai, Pa-oon Chantasiri and Kanokwan Buranon are all busy people, so don’t expect another revival anytime soon.

XTRA F I V E S H OWS O N LY >> See “Tuen Tuek 2” at 7.30

February 6 to 8, or at 2pm weekend matinees at M Theatre on New Petchaburi Road. >> Tickets are Bt600 to Bt2,000 at Thaiticketmajor. >> For more information,

call Dreambox at (02) 715 3547-9 or visit www.

Dreambox.co.th or www.

MTheatreBangkok.com.

12

AFTER DARK

Friday, January 30, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

clubscene

DJ Nakadia

COURTESY OF Q BAR

Tonight Glow Sukhumvit Soi 23 (BTS: Asoke) (02) 261 4446; www.GlowBkk.com Thailand’s home-grown superstar DJ Nakadia returns from her winter tour to the Bangkok heat with signature electro and progressive house sets. Entry is Bt300 with a drink.

Shimon Tonight 808 Nightclub RCA, Zone C (02) 203 1043; www.808Bangkok.com It’s grime time and Shimon is back on the deck! The UK’s favourite drum ’n’ bass DJ is back to kick ass bad-boy style.

Tickets are Bt300.- with a drink.

DJs Serge and Magic Muffin Tonight Twisted Republic Sukhumvit Soi 11 (BTS: Nana) (02) 651 0800; www.TwistedRepublic.com Britain’s DJ Serge bakes some tasty house beats alongside Bangkok’s Magic Muffin.

Get ready to party!

Bacardi B-Live: Culture One Tomorrow Bitec Bangna (BTS: On Nut and a short taxi ride) Sister Bliss from Faithless headlines the second edition of Bacardi and Club Culture’s electronic and dance music fest, backed up by a bunch of local and international DJs. Tickets with a drink are Bt1,200. Visit www.BLiveThailand.com and www.Culture-One-BKK.com.

Anthems & Cheese Tomorrow Aura Rooftop Bar & Restaurant Sukhumvit Soi 4 (BTS: Nana) Call (02) 656 4842; www.

AuraRestaurantBangkok.com Aura is throwing a party especially for you. Send them your must-play list and DJ TJ will mash it all up for the night’s exclusive set. Admission is free.

Z be trippin’

If Bang Na is a party too far, do the alphabet downtown: DJ Z-Trip at Q Bar

By Manta Klangboonkrong D A I LY X P R E S S

I

t’s a pain deciding which venue to crash this weekend with both the mammoth dance festival B-Live: Culture One and the biggest hip-hop DJ of our time, Z-Trip, on the same night!

While house and electro DJs are hammering it out at Bitec in Bang Na tomorrow, Arizona boy DJ Z-Trip is manning the decks at Q Bar. Z-Trip, whose real name is Zach Sciacca, is widely known for mixing up interesting sets

XTRA

out of all kinds of genres, though he’s never strayed far from hip-hop.

He plays more than a hundred sold-out shows in clubs and at festivals every year.

His major-label debut “Shifting Gears” had the hit “Walking Dead”, with Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington, and a pair of No 1 tracks on the college charts – “Listen to the DJ” featuring Soup of Jurassic 5 and “Shock and Awe” featuring Chuck D. Z’s also a master of the remix, with a stand-out reworking of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” on “Motown Remixed”.

En route to Bangkok, Z-Trip lays it down for Daily Xpress.

SHOCK, POSSIBLY AWE

>> Tomorrow night Z-Trip is at Q Bar on Sukhumvit Soi 11 by the Nana Skytrain stop. >> Tickets are Bt800 with two drinks. Call (02) 252 3274 or shoot over to www.QBarBangkok.com. >> You can download ZTrip’s new mixes for free at http://DJZTrip.com.

Whatcha doing?

You should check out this band Dub Trio. It looks like I’m going to be producing their next record. They’re three guys out of New York who mix heavy-metal riffs with traditional dub styling, with no vocals.

I’ve also got a couple other mixes in the works, as well as another album that I’m slowly chipping away at.

Obama all right with Z? I think he’s great.

I think it’s about time we had someone competent in office and not a puppet. It’s made it a bit easier to travel with a clearer conscience.

I hope people don’t expect him to solve all our problems in just a couple months, but I definitely think he’s the right man for the job.

What’s that in your ear?

I’m listening to a lot of dub step and instrumental reggae.

Ever heard of Bangkok?

I wish I was going to be there longer.

I’m actually only there for the show while basically on a layover waiting for a plane.

What’s the game plan?

That all depends on the crowd. I like to leave a little bit of room open to improve.

This is also my first time in Bangkok, so I can’t really call it, but normally my set consists of a lot of party-rocking tunes that get the crowd really pumped.

Friday, January 30, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

ENTERTAINMENT 13

T H E AT R E

Love and the language barrier

In ‘Water Time’, a Thai woman’s New York romance runs into a wall of misunderstandings

By Pawit Mahasarinand SPECIAL TO D A I LY X P R E S S

I

n present-day New York, a stubborn Japanese playwright falls in love with an aspiring Thai actress. Emotions begin to flow, but the lovers run into a language barrier that bruises hearts and egos.

This is the story of “Water Time” by new troupe Life Theatre.

XTRA T R O U B L E D WAT E RS

>> “Water Time” runs every day except Monday from February 17 to March 1 at Pridi Banomyong Institute’s Crescent Moon Space (BTS: Thong Lor) >> Performances are at 7.30pm, with additional 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. >> With English, Thailand Japanese surtitles >> Tickets are Bt300 (Bt150 for students), bookable by calling (081) 849 8234, or e-mailing LifeTheatreBKK@ gmail.com. >> http://lifetheatre.page. tl,and www.CrescentMoon Theatre.com

“It deals with cultural differences and time – the secondby-second flow that never stands still,” says Shogo Tanikawa, writer and male lead in this play for two characters.

The idea for the story came from his leading lady Sasithorn Panichnok, actor and director at Theatre 69.

“I wanted a drama in which the characters speak different languages but also have to face the fact that life is really short,” says Sasithorn. “We never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, or even the next second. The question is whether we’re doing the best we can yet.”

Language barriers and New York are two things Sasithorn is well acquainted with – she spent time in the Big Apple working as a fashion model.

“Asians living in Western countries tend to hide their identities,” she recalls. “We speak English to Asian friends and we act like Westerners.

“But if we can communicate with our true selves, maybe we can understand each other better, no matter what language we speak.

These were the basic ideas I gave to Shogo, and he came up with the characters and dramatic situations.”

So why did Shogo set the action in New York and make the characters a playwright and an actress?

“Well, I was looking for a city that’s not Bangkok or Tokyo and which has a big theatre scene, so I chose New York,” he says. “The characters are a playwright and an actress because they have something in common.”

Love seems to be in the air at this venue: Actors and directors will read their favourite romantic stories on February 6 and 7 at the Crescent Moon Space.

Admission is free.

14

THE SCREEN

Friday, January 30, 2009

TO SEE

DAILY XPRESS

‘PAUL BLART: MALL COP’ was the No 1 movie in North America for the second consecutive week. It earned US$21.6 million.

on tv

Zodiac Jake Gyllenhaal stars as a newspaper cartoonist who becomes obsessed with solving serial killings that terrorised California and baffled police in the 1960s. Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr and Anthony Edwards also star.

Tarchon

A recently re leased convi ct (Preeti “B Barameean ank” an) finds th at his twin b badly injure rother has b d in an viole een nt u game, so he joins the Fire nderground basketball ball team to truth. With unearth the English sub titles in so me cinema s.

Inkheart Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) and his 12-year-old daughter (Eliza Bennett) bring characters from books to life when they read out loud. But each time a storybook figure arrives, someone from the real world disappears into the pages of fantasy. ★★★

HBO (TrueVisions), 10pm

Apocalypto As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, the rulers insist the key to prosperity is to build more temples and offer human sacrifices. A young man captured for sacrifice flees to avoid his fate.

Star Movies (TrueVisions), 8pm

Walking Tall: The Payback Upon returning to town to find his father dead, a man traces his murder to a band of criminals and seeks revenge. Kevin Sorbo stars.

Cinemax (TrueVisions), 8pm

Chris Delivery Teacher and talk-show host Christopher Wright takes a tour around Luang Prabang.

Channel 5, 9.20pm

Channel links www.NationChannel.com Channel 3 – www.ThaiTV3.com Channel 5 – www.TV5.co.th Channel 7 – www.CH7.com Modernine – www.MCOT.net NBT – NBTTV.prd.go.th Thai PBS – www.ThaiPBS.or.th True – www.TrueVisionsTV.com

don’t miss!

Fringe Festival In keeping with the rustic aesthetic of the century-

old market village of Chet Samian, Ratchaburi – the venue for this year’s Fringe Festival by the Patravadi Theatre – the lineup of the festival’s movies features classics from the 1950s and ’60s, as well as contemporary indie shorts, screened in an old-timey outdoor setting.

Today’s highlight is the 1969 Koh Samui romance “Koh Sawad Had Sawan” (“Paradise Island”) starring Sombat Metanee and Aranya Namwong.

Saturday’s shorts include “A Day in a Posi+ive Life” by Volunteers of Aids Access in Chiang Rai. Sunday’s main feature is “Rong Ram Narok” (“Country Hotel”), a 1957 black-and-white comedy by pioneering director Ratana Pestonji that set the tone for all Thai comedy films that followed. The uproarious cavalcade of music and sight gags takes place in rural inn with just one room and two mysterious guests who are at odds. The movies start at around 5. See www.PatravadiTheatre.com. – DAILY XPRESS

The Baader Meinhof Complex Radicals fight a violent war against American imperialism in 1970s West Germany. In German with English and Thai subtitles at House. ★★★

Before Valentine Four young couples try and sort out their feel-

ings in the weeks leading up to Valentine's Day. With English sub-

gle for survival. At Krungsri IMAX.

titles at some cinemas.

Defiance

Wild Ocean This 3-D documentary follows the migration of sardines up the coast of South Africa, capturing breaching whales, frenzied sharks, herding dolphins and diving gannets competing in an epic underwater strug-

Three Polish-Jewish brothers (Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell) join the resistance against the Nazis. ★★★

Fah Sai Huajai Chuenbaab Comedy hijinks and romance combine in this

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE SCREEN 15

DAILY XPRESS

TO SEE

‘UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS’ debuted at No 2 in North America last week. It earned US$20.8 million.

on dvd REGION 1

Red Cliff 2

pic based hn Woo’s e ts Jo f o t n e gis nd instalm d by strate In the seco s”, armies le nd Zhuge Liang m o d g in K on “Three Chiu Wai) a mbered by Cao u ony Leung Zhou Yu (T shiro) are vastly outn hai e n lish and T a g K n i E sh h it w (Take n ri a d s. In Man ★ Cao’s force mas. ★★★ e t some cin subtitles a

story of youths who join the communist fighters in 1976.

The Elephant King American brothers plumb the depths of Chiang Mai’s nightlife while their mother fumes. Stars Ellen Burstyn, Tate Ellington, Jonno Roberts and Florence Faivre. At Major Cineplex, Paragon, Esplanade. ★★★

Tok Tra Phee A mentally disturbed man in Taipei awakens from a coma and finds he’s in a Thai man’s body. With English and Thai subtitles. ★★

Hode Nha Hiaw Gangster Song Klongtoei (Jaturong Mokjok) is out of prison after 20 years and is hunting down his old friend (Nui Chernyim).

High School Musical 3: Senior Year Basketball team captain Troy (Zac Efron) and brainy beauty Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) face the prospect of being separated as they head off to college. ★★★

Snakes and Earrings A young woman (Yuriko Yoshitaka) embarks on a self-destructive path of eroticism, tattoos and body modification. In Japanese with English and Thai subtitles at House.

Happy-GoLucky Poppy, a 30-year-old Londoner (Golden Globewinner Sally Hawkins) has an irrepressibly bright outlook on life. At the Lido and House. ★★★★

Yes Man Jim Carrey stars as a negative guy whose boring life is turned around after he meets a selfhelp guru. ★★★

Kitaro 2 The half-human, halfdemon Kitaro investigates the disappearances of villagers. In

‘The Baader Meinhof Complex’ is based on events that took place in West Germany in the 1970s.

don’t miss!

Chulalongkorn International Film Festival Heading to South America, this week’s feature is “XXY”, about a hermaphrodite teenager.

Alex lives as a female in a Uruguayan fishing village. However, she has begun to baulk at taking the medication that keeps her male characteristics in check. As her parents discuss the possibility of an operation for Alex, the arrival of a teenage boy throws Alex’s sexuality into further confusion.

“XXY” has won prizes the world over – including the Golden Kinaree for best film at the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival. It was also Argentina’s submission for the Oscars last year, though it was not nominated.

The showtime is 5. The movie is on DVD with English subtitles. Admission is free.

The Chulalongkorn International Film Festival wraps up next Friday with “Red Balloon”. The screenings are in Room 503 on the fifth floor of the Boromrajkumaree Building. Call (02) 218 4802 or visit ChulaFilmFest.multiply.com. – DAILY XPRESS

Man on Wire This Oscar-nominated documentary about French highwire artist Philippe Petit begins with footage of his 1974 walk between the World Trade Centre towers. From there, according to critic Ann Hornaday, the movie “takes on the taut urgency of a thriller”.

It’s a gripping story, she says, “but also a deeply cathartic one, as a place of loss and grief is transformed, briefly, into a place of transcendence and lyricism”. Extras include an interview with Petit and an animated short film, “The Man Who Walked Between the Towers”. – WASHINGTON POST

Apex Lido: (02) 252 6498 Siam: (02) 251 3508 Scala: (02) 251 2861 www.ApexSiam-Square.com

Century – The Movie Plaza (02) 247 9940 www.CenturyTheMoviePlaza.com

House (02) 641 5913-4 www.HouseRama.com

Major Cineplex/EGV Bangkok: (02) 515 5555 www.MajorCineplex.com

Japanese with English and Thai subtitles at the Lido.

Paragon Cineplex

Tokyo Sonata

SF Cinemas

A family falls into further dysfuntion after the father loses his job and attempts to keep it a secret from his wife.

With Thai and English subtitles at House. ★★★★

(02) 129 4635 IMAX: (02) 129 4631 www.ParagonCineplex.com

Bangkok: (02) 268 8888 www.SFCinemaCity.com

Critical consensus ★★★★★ = Must see! ★★★★ = Solidly entertaining ★★★ = It’s okay ★★ = Barely watchable

16

Close to Home

By John McPherson

LEISURE

Pooch Cafe

The Buckets

Adam

Calvin and Hobbes

By Brian Basset

By Paul Gilligan

By Scott Stantis

By Bryan Basset

By Bill Watterson

Friday, January 30, 2009

Comics&Games

Red and Rover

DAILY XPRESS

Friday, January 30, 2009

LEISURE

DAILY XPRESS

Games&YourStars SUDOKU

The last word in

ASTROLOGY

By Eugenia Last

Today’s Birthday: This is your year to make strides and put the past behind you. Progressive action will impress the people who have watched you slip and slide over the years, and you’ll receive greater respect and the anticipation of good things to come. Don’t look back.

Yesterday’s Puzzle Answer Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains every digit from 1 to 9 inclusively.

ARIES ** March 21-April 19 Don’t take chances. Saying something you’ll regret or making a snap decision will both lead to problems. Take a look at what you can reform in your life.

TAURUS ***** April 20-May 2 You can challenge anyone who stands in your way but don’t take on too much or make promises you can’t deliver. Someone in the background is watching and will step up to help if needed.

GEMINI *** May 21-June 20 A trip will pay off in experience and learning. This is an ideal time to reassess your lifestyle. Don’t let anyone drop responsibilities in your lap that don’t belong to you. Sometimes saying no works best.

CANCER *** June 21-July 22 You can’t slow down or stop now when it comes to your future. Personally and professionally there are decisions to make. A change at home will be worth its weight in gold, so don’t scrimp.

DIFFICULTY RATING ★★★★★

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY

LEO *** July 23-Aug. 22 A little forethought will give you the edge. A trip can lead to closing a deal. Don’t let a relationship with someone you work with take priority over a decision you must make.

VIRGO ***** Aug. 23-Sept. 22 You can network your way to the top. You will make an impact on the people you approach and will be inspired by the response you get. Don’t hold back when you have so much to gain.

LIBRA ** Sept. 23-Oct. 22 Look at both sides of every issue that arises before making a decision. Not everything will be as you think. Before you get involved or move ahead, observe and evaluate the long-term effect.

SCORPIO *** Oct. 23-Nov. 21 Play to win. Not everyone will be fair but you can outmanoeuvre whoever steps in front of you.

Love is in the stars - and you can make a difference to someone who has been there for you in the past.

SAGITTARIUS *** Nov. 22-Dec. 21 Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that he or she is going to do you a favour. Do your own work and solve your own problems. A demand may lead to unwanted change but you will benefit.

Prayad Marksaeng Actor Gene Hackman is 79.

Actress Vanessa Redgrave is 72.

Singer Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is 67.

Horn player William King of The Commodores is 60.

Musician Phil Collins is 58.

Actor Charles S. Dutton is 58.

Comedian Brett Butler is 51.

Golfer Prayad Marksaeng is 43.

Actor Christian Bale is 35.

Singer Josh Kelley is 29.

Actor Wilmer Valderrama is 29.

Actor Jake Thomas is 19.

CAPRICORN *** Dec. 22-Jan. 19 Don’t be afraid to show a little emotion. You have as much right as anyone to get caught up in a moment of joy. Follow through on a romantic encounter. A decision made now will alter your future.

AQUARIUS *** Jan. 20-Feb. 18 It’s time to get rid of old debts whether they are financial, emotional or physical. Don’t be afraid to admit you have made mistakes - you can clear a path that will lead to a brighter future.

PISCES **** Feb. 19-March 20 Don’t let greed get in the way of doing the right thing. Go through the proper channels and avoid trouble later on. Consider all areas of your life before making a final decision on a personal deal.

17

The Road to Success with OCEAN The Ocean Life Insurance Co., Ltd.

is now anticipating rapid growth and would like to expand our business. We are embarking on an exciting new journey of transformation, innovation and unprecedented challenges. If you share our quest for excellence and are a results-oriented individual who thrives in an environment of productive energy and rapid change, then we invite you to take this journey with us. Go with a Winner, Modern Life Planner, Develop & Save Thai Socialization Sustainable Development. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Management Trainee

20 Positions

Responsibilities: Management Trainees as a fast-track career development for high-achieving graduates. Our Programme is designed to show you how the insurance business works. We provide you with a chance to gain the technical skills and experience you need to develop a fast-track insurance career leading to senior management. You will be involved in various projects and assignments which will provide you with real work experience in key business areas such as Actuarial, Product Development, Operation & Services, Sales & Client Services and Underwriting, among others. Each project or assignment is determined first and foremost by the demands of the business, but we will also take your development needs into account. After finishing the program, you will have an opportunity to select and request for a placement in a position that best suits your competency skills and interests.

Qualifications: ● Male or Female, not over 30 years old ● Master's Degree in Finance, Economics, Accounting, Marketing, Business Administration or related fields from recognized university with GPA above 3.33 and Bachelor's Degree with GPA above 3.00 ● Good analytical ability and problem solving skills, creative thinking skill ● Excellent interpersonal skill, and a team player ● Proficiency in spoken and written English (an additional Japanese language will be a definite advantage) ● Good computer and presentation skills

Risk Management Officer

1 Position

Responsibilities: Responsible to evaluate, coordinate the monitoring of and providing advice and recommendations to Risk Management Committee (RMC). Develop Quantitative credit risk models study.

Develop, and implement risk management tools. Research and apply risk methodologies and approaches. Identify appropriate internal and external data sources, and gather information to support risk analysis.

Qualifications: ● Preferably with Master's degree in Finance, Economics or related fields ● At least 5 years experience in risk management, operations audit, internal audit, internal control, or compliance in a financial institution ● Good knowledge of economics, finance and risk management, especially credit and treasury ● Technical skills in financial operation and other business functions ● Planning and organizing skills, analytical skills ● Presentation skills, and interpersonal skills

Marketing Communication (Manager / Executive)

4 Positions

Responsibilities: ● Assist in developing marketing communication and promotion strategy for use in above the line and below the line communications in accordance with business policy and marketing plan ● Coordinate and work with advertising agency or outsource for managing corporate advertising campaign and implementation ● Coordinate with marketing line manager to support communication materials for marketing activities and campaigns ● Manage of marketing communication budget ● Represent company in building up the corporate image ● Manage and control marketing communication program to a lign with each customer segmentation as planned, and in line with overall brand positioning of organization Qualifications: ● Bachelor's Degree or higher in Marketing, Business Administration or Communications is preferred ● At least 2 years experience in marketing communication within professional services environment or insurance business ● Strong leadership and consensus building skills, marketing management and strategic planning experience, a proven track record in development and administering a marketing communication program ● Must be a self-starter, highly organized and able to work well with others at all levels in the organization ● Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and facilitation skills ● Good command of spoken and written English ● Able to travel upcountry periodically

Executive Assistant

1 Position

Responsibilities: ● Day-to-day office management practice to support President i.e. scheduling appointments, receiving messages, greeting visitors, liaison with drivers, etc. ● Documents preparation to assist President in preparing presentations & reports ● Administrative support for President e.g. travel arrangement, hotel reservation, expense re-imbursement, etc. ● Meeting & conference arrangements and other necessary preparations ● Collaboration with internal & external contacts ● Management of document filing system ● Meeting & hospitality coordination for overseas visitors

Qualifications: ● Female, age not over 30 years old ● Master's degree in Business Administration or other related fields ● Proficiency in spoken and written English (an additional Japanese language will be a definite advantage) ● Proficient computer literacy in Ms Office applications ● Good personality , interpersonal skills, co-ordination skills and excellent presentation skills ● High degree of self-confidence & maturity - ability to deal with Management ● Ability to relate well with people on all levels ● High level of organizational skills & attention to details ● Flexibility to cope with a wide range of duties & ability to work under pressure within a limited time frame ● Total confidentiality on all matters dealt with President ● Experience in the life insurance business will be an advantage

Assistant Manager President Office

1 Position

Qualifications: ● Female, age not over 35 years old ● Bachelor's degree in any field of studies ● Proficient computer literacy in Ms Office applications ● Good personality, interpersonal skills, coordination skills and excellent presentation skills ● Ability to relate well with people on all levels ● Ability to manage of document & filing system ● High level of organizational skills & attention to details ● Flexibility to cope with a wide range of duties & ability to work under pressure within a limited time frame ● Experience in the life insurance business will be an advantage

IT Audit Specialist

1 Position

Responsibilities: Working within the Co-operative Accounting Services audit function you will provide specialist IS audit services to a wide variety of business areas. As an expert in IS/IT risk management and control you will advise the business on good practice techniques and ensure excellent quality of work across the department. In addition to possessing extensive experience within IS/IT audit and IS strategy and security you will hold a recognized industry qualification. Benefits are excellent as are the opportunities for further training and personal development.

The successful candidate will be required to carry out a variety of audit assignments, including setting up audit programs, making risk assessment, finding vulnerability, coordinating and following up according to audit plans, recommending areas for improvement Qualifications: ● Male or Female, age not over 30 years old, GPA. at least 2.75 ● Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Applied Statistics and Computer Engineering or related fields ● A minimum 3 years' experience in IT Audit, IT general control, system design & development or Network security ● Excellent in English communication skills (both spoken and written English) ● Proficient computer literacy involving MS Office applications, system design and Network ● Abilities of internal audit approach initiation and risk assessment of internal control will be a plus ● Good interpersonal skills, communication skills, consulting skill, conceptual and analytical skills

Worksite Agent

26 Positions

Qualifications: ● Female, age not over 25 years ● Bachelor's degree in any field of studies ● Possess pleasant personality ● Strong interpersonal skills and communication skills can work under pressure ● Must be self driven to meet and exceed sales target ● Highly competent in Sales, active, honest and looking for development opportunities ● Good talent and service mind ● Able to work out of working hours

HR Officer

1 Position

Qualifications: ● Male or Female, age 20-30 years, GPA. at least 2.75 ● Bachelor's or higher in Human Resource Management, Political Science, Business Administration, Industrial & Organization Psychology, or other related fields ● Proficient computer literacy in MS Office applications ● Good personality , interpersonal skills , innovative thinking, co-ordination skills and excellent presentation skills

Actuarial Officer

2 Positions

Responsibilities: Prepare actuarial related reports and documents. Identify and gather relevant information for product analysis, including company financial statements in support of pricing, reinsurance administration, experience study and complying.

Qualifications: ● Master's degree in Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science or related fields ● Age over 25 years old ● Good command of English and computer Skill-MS Office is preferable ● Good human relation, communication, quick ability to learn, cautious and work follow up

Credit Officer

2 Positions

Responsibilities: Perform credit control work to be accurate and meet the company objectives, company structure, government and statutory.

Qualifications: ● Age not over 30 years old ● Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Financial, Marketing, Business Administration, Economics or related fields ● At least 1-2 years' experience, preferably in insurance industry (but not mandatory) ● Knowledge and experience in credit and financial analysis will be an advantage ● Good command of English and computer skill-MS Office is preferable ● Good personality, honest and diligence

Underwriter

5 Positions

Responsibilities: Perform for making sure that the company accepts only life insurance applicants whose actual mortality rates do not exceed the mortality rates assumed when the premium rates for a particular product were calculated. Prepare regular underwriting reports, and other jobs as assigned in order to achieve company goals.

Qualifications: ● Age not over 30 years old ● Bachelor's degree in Insurance, Business Administration, Economics or related fields ● Good command of English and computer skill-MS Office is preferable ● Good personality, honesty and diligence ● Good communication, quick ability to learn, cautious and work follow up

Representative of Group Life Insurance 3 Positions Responsibilities: Perform and support in sales & marketing activities in responsible area or channel in order to achieve the quota in categories of product. Create confidence by after sale service.

Qualifications: ● Age not over 30 years old ● Bachelor's degree in any fields of studies ● Highly competent in Sales, active, honest and looking for development opportunities ● Good interpersonal skills with an ability to collaborate with various organization partners ● Able to work upcountry (permanent or temporary) ● Good talent, service minded ● Able to work out of working hours

Bancassurance Officer

1 Position

Major Areas of Responsibilities: ● Responsible for Bancassurance such as developing and securing quality new business partners ● Market to and maintain relationship with intermediaries and independent agents by advising them on ways in which to build their consumer life insurance markets Qualifications: ● Male, age 25-35 years ● Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing or related fields ● A minimum 2 years' experience in bancassurance ● Highly competent in Sales, active, honest and looking for development opportunities ● Good interpersonal skills, communication skills, consulting skill, passion to learn & share

IT Project Manager

1 Position

Major Areas of Responsibilities: Responsible for lead and to be part of the team member in IT Project Team to initiate and review business units to identify improvement opportunities & support the implementation of business improvement recommendations in order to enhance work efficiency for customers, agencies, and back office staff throughout the organization.

Qualifications:● Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Computer Science or other related fields together with some IT Management ● At least 3-5 years of work experience in project management experience ● Excellent communication & interpersonal skills ● Excellent analytical skills with problem solving, decision making, planning and management skills ● Excellent knowledge in formulating corrective action plans ● Project planning & management expertise ● Excellent command of English ● Good PC literacy (including MS Project)

Network and System Administrator

1 Position

Major Areas of Responsibilities: ● Lead and manage all IT infrastructure of system, security and network team

Develop and implement an IT operating procedure, relevant operational flow and documents for the operations and maintenance of a 24x7 Data Center ● Set up and supervise the management of high availability IP-networking LAN, WAN and server systems such as MSWindows Server, AD, Exchange, AS/400 and/or UNIX ● Implement server/network monitoring system in the Network Operation Center ● Responsible for implementing security solutions and enforcing data center network security policies ● Perform design for collection of server and networking performance data such as system availability, system logs for the server and network capacity planning ● Establish system management criteria and policies ● Plan and manage the disaster recovery plan for the entire server and network systems ● Required standby after office hours and public holiday Qualifications:● At least 5-years hands-on experience in data center man agement ● Degree in Computer, Electrical, Electronics or Telecommunication Engineering, or Network-related fields ● Experience implementation and operations of WAN routing protocols ● Working knowledge in installing and maintaining hardware, software and network such as structured cabling, IP layer 3-switch, router, firewall, etc. and experience in UNIX services or MS-Windows Server, DNS, FTP, DHCP, Web Service, SMTP, POP, etc. ● Understand the principles of VPN, Remote computer on-line, LAN/WAN, TCP/IP,ISDN and any related functions ● In-depth experience in large-scale system and network security ● Skill in implementation and operation of backup/restore solutions, AS400, Unix-based systems, system load balancing, and internet content management, Strong customer service orientation ●

Programmer

5 Positions

Major Areas of Responsibilities: Provide system support including application assistance, problem solving and training. Help to create and consistently promote programming standards and development procedures. Train end users or technical support staff to use programs.

Qualifications: ● Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or other related fields. ● At least 1 year of work experience in programming ● Excellent communication & interpersonal skills ● Excellent analytical, problem solving and decision making skills

Hire Purchase Marketing officer 2 Positions Provide recommendations and services to customers in the area of new and used cars hire purchase. Build up and maintain the good relationship with dealers.

Qualifications: ● Male, age not over 30 years old,Bachelor's degree in any field of studies ● At least 1 year of work experience in hire purchase business ● Excellent communication and coordination skills ● Able to work under pressure

Sales Manager, Senior Sales Executive 1, 4 Positions Assist in developing marketing strategy for use in above the line and below the line in accordance with business policy and marketing plan. Survey and sell real estate. Prepare and assist in developing sales tools and reports, and other jobs as assigned in order to achieve company goals.

Qualifications: ● Bachelor's degree in any fields of studies,Highly competent in Sales, active, honest and looking for development opportunities ● Good interpersonal skills with an ability to collaborate with various organization partners ● Excellent analytical skills with problem solving, decision making, planning and management skills ● Able to work up-country (permanent or temporary) ● Good talent, service minded ● Able to work out of working hours, good PC literacy

We are looking for successful people, and if you are, don't miss this opportunity to call for an interview and we are sure that you can get some added value after meeting with us. Interested applicants are invited to apply in person or send application with full resume indicating qualifications and experience, transcript, expected salary and a recent photo to the address or e-mail address below:

Contact Name: Ms. Parichart Rattanasareechai Address: 170/74-83, Ocean Tower 1 BLDG., Rachadapisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok, 10110 Telephone: 02-261-2300 ext. 440 Fax: 02-204-0099 E-mail: hrm@ocean.co.th or hrservice@ocean.co.th

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1059/2546

Nippon Consulting Recruitment Co., Ltd. “Let us be your professional Career Consultant” We are looking for many positions according to our clients requirement as follow :

Marketing Executive Sales Co-ordinator Sales Engineer Sales Excutive Sales Manager Sales Manager HR & Admin Manager Safety Officer HR Officer Japanese Interpreter Legal Officer

Service Engineer Engineering Production Engineer R&D Manager Process Engineer Design Engineer Electrical Engineer Warehouse Manager Warehouse Supervisor QA / QC Staff QA / QC Supervisor

Import Officer / Export Officer Purchasing Manager Administrative Officer Secretary Accountant Cost Accountant Receptionist Customer Service Programmer IT Officer

All positions required : ◆ Thai or Japanese Nationality ◆ Good command of English or Japanese ◆ With computer literacy Please send your resume, present photo together with relevant documents or apply in person at: Sino-Thai Tower, 16th Floor, Unit B, 32/41 Sukhumvit 21 Road (Asoke), Klongtoey-Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Tel. 02-261-7165, 02-665-2505 Fax: 02-665-2510 E-mail: info@ncrecruitment.com Website: www.ncrecruitment.com

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22

THE SPORT

Friday January 30, 2009

THE SPORT

DAILY XPRESS

LYON vs MARSEILLE

1-0 Lyon took another step towards a successful defence of their French Cup crown with a narrow home victory over rivals Marseille on Wednesday that took them into the last 16.

briefly House catches fire as Celtics crown Kings

Eddie House

On a rainy night outside, sharpshooter Eddie House was raining down three-pointers inside.

House scored a season-high 28 points, including a career-best eight from behind the arc, and the surging Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to nine, by giving the visiting Sacramento Kings a royal thrashing, 119-100. “I’ve been knocking the ball down with consistency the past four games,” said House. – DPA

McIlroy red hot in Desert Classic Rory McIlroy underlined his storming start to the season with an eight-under par 64 in a fog-hit first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

The 19-year-old Ulster prodigy is currently lying 10th in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai chart following three top 10 finishes in his last five starts although a first tour title remains elusive. The former world amateur No 1 opened in style from the 10th with four birdies in his first six holes against one bogey to reach the turn in 33. He then birdied the third, fifth, seven and ninth holes to complete a barnstorming start that left him as the early clubhouse leader one shot clear of world No 8 Robert Karlsson of Sweden. – AFP

Pacquiao, Hatton to fight on May 2 Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton formally agreed to fight for Hatton’s IBO junior welterweight belt on May 2, ending several weeks of negotiating and posturing on Wednesday.

Pacquiao (48-3-2, 36 KOs), generally considered the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, will go after Hatton’s 140-pound (63{kilogram) title at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao nearly scuttled the bout several times in recent

JOLLY

weeks while demanding a bigger share of the lucrative purse, even forcing Golden Boy Promotions to cancel a media tour planned for this week. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum finalPacquiao ly persuaded Pacquiao to sign the necessary contracts after reaching a reworked deal with Hatton’s representatives this week. – AP

Teams eager for Obama invite There’s more than just a Lombardi Trophy on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals play in the Super Bowl.

There’s the prospect of being the first team to be invited to the White House to meet the new president, Barack Obama.

The election of the first AfricanAmerican commander-in-chief has created a titanic shift in the locker room, turning a fringe benefit into a cherished reward.

Some voted for the first time; others engaged in fierce debates over tax policy rather than the play of the day. Come Sunday, Pittsburgh and Arizona will take the field knowing the team that scores the most points likely will get a chance to meet Obama in person. – AFP

ROGER Swiss master Federer storms into Australian Open final with clinical win AFP, Melbourne

S

witzerland’s Roger Federer blasted Andy Roddick offcourt in another fearsome display to reach the Australian Open final and stay on course for a record-tying 14th Grand Slam title yesterday.

The second seed absorbed Roddick’s serve and dominated the rallies to take it 6-2 7-5 7-5, with arch-rival Rafael Nadal playing Fernando Verdasco in the all-Spanish second semi-final today.

Federer, now in his 18th Grand Slam final, has not lost any of his three previous Australian Open title matches and continues his unbeaten record against Roddick in Major tournaments.

“I had a great start and that

helped because I played really solid out there,” he said. “I thought the level was high throughout the match. Andy played good too, so it was fun.”

Nadal is hot favourite for his semi with Verdasco, raising the prospect of a mouth-watering seventh Grand Slam final between the world’s top two players. “People sort of forgot about him leading up to the Australian Open,” Federer said of Nadal.

“But he’s showing why he’s the best player in the world. I would love to play him in the final, that’s for sure.”

It was demoralising for Roddick, who came into the match revitalised by a change in coach but got off to an appalling start and argued with the chair

umpire as the first set slipped past in 32 minutes.

Federer had the seventh seed on a string and he reeled off 12 straight points to take the second, breaking for 6-5 and serving out with grim precision for the two-set lead.

Roddick tangled again with the umpire when he swore loudly and received a code violation, and was left staggered when Federer dug himself out of trouble with a brilliant drop shot, lob and stop-volley to hold for 5-5.

The American was then guilty of a howler as he patted the ball to Federer’s feet with the court begging, gifting the crucial break point which the Swiss converted with an unstoppable forehand before calmly serving out the win.

An ailing Federer lost in the semis here last year and was beaten in the Roland Garros and

Friday January 30, 2009

THE SPORT 23

DAILY XPRESS

Rafael Nadal, ON NOTIFICATION OF

Fernando Verdasco

WHEREABOUTS FOR DOPING CODE

ON MATCH AGAINST RAFAEL NADAL

“I think it shows a lack of respect for privacy... Even my mother or my uncle do not know where I am sometimes, so having to send a message or be scared all day in case there is a lastminute change seems to me to be a complete exaggeration.”

“I know Rafa and he knows me, I don’t think that is gonna help me or him. I’m just thinking about the match, how I can make it tougher for Rafa. I just want to go out there for first time in a semifinals of a Grand Slam and enjoy that moment, do my best.”

Safina, Willams to fight for title and top ranking

S

Roger Federer

Wimbledon finals by Nadal, who ended his record 237-week stint as world number one.

But he rescued his season by winning his fifth US Open title to move to 13 Grand Slam victo-

ries, one fewer than American great Pete Sampras.

“This year I do feel mentally, and I’m obviously more healthy so that helps and I can really focus on playing well,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with how I’ve played in this tournament because the draw was difficult and dangerous.

“Right now is where I start playing my best,” he said.

“When it comes to the end of the tournament, that’s where you should judge a great player not in the early rounds.”

Federer also reached the semi-finals at the previous five Australian Opens, winning in 2004, 2006 and 2007, and last failed to make the last eight in 2003. He can join Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Jack Crawford and Ken Rosewall as the only men to have won four or more titles here.

be number one. My goal is to obviously now win one more match here at the Australian Open.”

Said Safina: “Since I was growing up, it was my dream.

To fight for this would be unbelievable. I hope it will be a great match with the winner deserving to be number one.”

Williams handed Dementieva her first loss of the season after winning her first 15 matches, including titles in Auckland and Sydney.

“I just had a good run from the beginning of the year,” said the 27-year-old who reached two Grand Slam finals in 2004. “I played a lot of matches, I won all of them.

“Today I was not quick enough. I was not maybe aggressive enough against her.

But I have no regrets. I had just a great time here.”

Dementieva had beaten Williams in their last three encounters dating to 2007 in Moscow. The Russian also won in the Beijing Olympic quarters and Sydney semi-finals just under a fortnight ago. The semi-final was played with the roof of the Rod Laver arena closed in outside air temperatures of mid 40s Celsius.

Williams was happy to get her win in some comfort.

“It suits anyone’s game because they don’t have to deal with the elements like the wind,” said Williams of the decision.

Elena Dementieva reacts after missing a point.

Australians hit back at cheeky Brits AFP, Melbourne

A

AFP

RAFA IS SHOWING WHY HE’S THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD.I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY HIM IN THE FINAL.

AP

,,

Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after beating Andy Roddick of the United States.

erena Williams will bid for her tenth Grand Slam title to mark a decade of play at the Australian Open when she faces Dinara Safina in tomorrow’s final.

Second seed Williams, who has lifted Melbourne trophys during odd-numbered years dating to 2003, is going after her fourth at the venue.

The American snapped a three-match loss streak to Elena Dementieva as she knocked the Russian out 6-3 6-4 in the Thursday semi-finals.

Third seed Safina followed in the footsteps of her big brother Marat Safin, the 2005 champion, by beating fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

Safina said that the Australian final means much to her. “I watched my brother on TV when he won it. Even now, if I watch it would bring tears to my eyes.

“He’s always been my idol, to do as well as him is just amazing.”

Dementieva, the fourthseeded Olympic champion, has now exited the discussion for possibly taking over the top spot. But Williams and Safina can each claim top honours by winning the event.

“Right now that would be just a bonus,” said Williams, adding: “But my goal isn’t to

AFP

DPA, Melbourne

Serena Williams, left, will battle for her 10th Grand Slam title and the world No 1 ranking against Dinara Safina.

ustralians bit back yesterday after cheeky British media suggested the blazing heatwave beating down on the Australian Open showed the country was no place to hold sports events.

“Too hot for the Poms,” read a headline in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper, as players and fans continued to swelter in scorching 44 C (111.7 F) heat.

The London Times had earlier poked fun at the conditions. “Are these any conditions in which to play tennis?” a column said.

“Sooner or later you have to face up to the only sensible conclusion: Australia is no place to host big international sporting tournaments; except maybe the world kangaroo long-jump.”

Former Aussie Rules player Sam Kekovich said England was good at producing “bottom-feeding billionaire bankers” but not sportspeople. “The Poms don’t even know what the great yellow orb looks like,” Kekovich told the Herald Sun. “England has been engulfed in darkness for the bulk of its sporting life.”

Singer Mike Brady was quoted as saying: “I was born in England and didn’t know sport existed until I was 11.”

24

THE SPORT

Friday, January 30, 2009

FOOTBALL

Asia pose a threat as WC host

HEATED EXCHANGES Wilkins defends Scolari after card controversy AFP, London

,,

EPA

C

helsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins defended Luiz Felipe Scolari after the Blues boss appeared to encourage referee Lee Probert to send off a Middlesbrough player at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

Scolari and Boro assistant Malcolm Crosby were involved in heated exchanges moments before half-time when Crosby took exception to the Brazilian waving an imaginary card from the touchline after Mohamed Shawky handled the ball.

Shawky had already been cautioned and Scolari’s actions were perceived to be an attempt to get the Egyptian midfielder dismissed.

“It’s a very emotional game,” said Wilkins after Chelsea’s 2-0 victory. “Passions do run high – they ran high on their bench, they ran high on ours.”

Wilkins said he was all in favour of the Football Association’s recent ‘Respect’ campaign which is designed to reduce such behaviour by management and players.

“I’m all for respect – but if the referee felt he needed to be sent to the stands then he would have done so. “[Assistant referee] Steve Bennett was on the side so he didn’t advise the referee to send him to the stands so they must have felt it was OK.” Boro boss Gareth Southgate played down the incident though he was puzzled at Scolari’s refusal to shake hands with him after the game.

Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou misses an easy chance against Middlesborough goalkeeper Ross Turnbull.

“There were words exchanged between my assistant and Scolari – he wanted to get one of our players booked and we weren’t happy with that,” said Southgate.

“He didn’t shake hands with me, which is a bit strange, but that’s his prerogative.”

A pair of goals from Salomon Kalou saw Chelsea to a comfortable win, moving them to second spot in the table.

The Ivory Coast striker netted in the 58th and 81st minutes to ensure the Blues condemned relegation candidates Boro to an 11th consecutive league game without a win.

Victory Scolari’s side saw them close to within two points

HE DIDN’T SHAKE HANDS WITH ME, WHICH IS A BIT STRANGE ,BUT THAT’S HIS PREROGATIVE. Gareth Southgate

of league leaders Manchester United and ahead of Liverpool on goal difference after the Merseysiders were held 1-1 at Wigan Athletic.

Chelsea travel to Anfield on Sunday and Scolari will be confident after seeing his side notch up their fourth straight victory in all competitions.

Captain John Terry returned to the Blues’ defence following a back injury.

The Blues had the lead in the 58th minute when Kalou lashed home. Kalou wrapped up the points when Boro keeper Ross Turnbull missed a Frank Lampard cross and the striker nodded in from six yards, nine minutes from the end.

DAILY XPRESS

Just as a consensus was forming that the 2018 World Cup will return to Europe or the Americas, there has come a sharp reminder that Asia is preparing a serious challenge.

At least three countries from the Asian confederation – Australia, Qatar and Indonesia – will be among those putting their names forward to Fifa by the February 2 bidding deadline. Indonesia announced their candidacy on Wednesday, and China and Japan were also anticipated to follow suit in the coming days. All prospective hosts for both the 2018 and 2022 events must notify Fifa of their intention to bid by February 2, with the winners announced in December 2010.

In a time of financial austerity, the European bids – from England, Spain/Portugal, Netherlands/Belgium/Lux embourg and Russia_ have the advantage of existing stadiums that would allow them to host a World Cup without much additional investment. The same can be said of the likely North American bidders: the United States, Canada and Mexico, who were all thought likely to submit applications.

However the growing wealth of nations like China and India in the Asian viewing timezone makes it potentially the most attractive for advertisers, which drives the value of television rights.

Milito spoils Beckham’s day as Genoa draw AFP, Rome

EPA

D

David Beckham, right, and Kaka celebrate Beckham’s goal.

iego Milito equalised three minutes from time to deny David Beckham a winning goal as AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa at the San Siro on Wednesday.

Just three days after scoring his first goal for Milan, in the 41 win at Bologna, former England skipper Beckham netted his second from a free-kick but it wasn’t enough to guide

the Italian giants to victory.

The goal, however, will have done little to calm the developing Beckham drama in Milan where both club and player have admitted they wish to extend his proposed two-month loan stay in the Italian financial capital. Milan coach Ancelotti was understandably disappointed after the game and gave short shrift to a question about Beckham staying.

“We haven’t managed to win a match in which we played really well and which we deserved to win,” he said.

“I’m disappointed that we’ve tripped up because the team was on the right path but the championship goes on.”

When Beckham, under contract with LA Galaxy in the US, lined up wide on the left of the area just after the half hour it seemed more likely that a cross

was coming. But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder stunned Genoa’s Brazilian goalkeeper Rubinho by shooting into the top corner at the near post.

However, Serie A joint top scorer Milito poked home from close range late on to dampen the party atmosphere in the San Siro. It means that third placed Milan fell to eight points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE SPORT 25

DAILY XPRESS

TENNIS

ROOT CAUSE Paradorn says broken bone in his hand caused all the problems

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam DAILY XPRESS

P

aradorn Srichaphan believes a broken bone in his hand is what’s kept him on the sidelines for almost two years.

Thailand’s former No 1, whose injury problems date back to March, 2007, is due to undergo an operation at Chulalongkorn University with specialist Ass Prof Adisorn Patradul, the dean of the Faculty of Medicine, taking care one of his most famous patients.

The tennis ace admitted he had considered retirement but had a change of heart when the surgeon found a broken hamate bone in his hand, believed to be the cause of the problem.

“I almost gave up but now I’m convinced that they have at last found the actual reason. I’m very positive that after the bone operated on, I can return to the tour again,” said Paradorn who revealed that the fracture didn’t show up when he had MRIs in the United States and Germany.

According to the doctor, the former world No 9 will have to take a month’s rehabilitation before picking up the racquet again. Paradorn hopes to make a return after

Paradorn Srichaphan has a final check-up before his operation on Monday.

Wimbledon.

“If things go the way we expect, I should be able to return to practice in March and compete again after Wimbledon,’’ said Paradorn who’s itching to reignite the “tennis fever” that gripped the Kingdom during his prime in 2002-2003.

The operation is probably the last chance the tennis ace has to rescue a career that hit its peak in 2003 when he was ranked No 9 in the world.

“We’ll just have to see whether I can get back in the top 10. My main hope though is that Thai interest in tennis picks up. It’s been down since the time I picked up the injury.”

Steffi Graf, former grand slam tennis champion and an icon of competitiveness, has been selected by Swiss watchmaker Longines as its latest brand ambassador.

Noppawan enters the semis DAILY XPRESS

N

oppawan Lertcheewakarn has a score to settle with Wimbledon champion Laura Robson as they square off today in the Australian Open girls’ singles semi-finals.

The world top junior, who went down to the British teenage prodigy 3-6 6-3 1-6 in last year’s Wimbledon final, made light of the scorching heat to crush Anna Orlik 6-1 6-0 in the quarter-final in just 47 minutes.

Robson, seeded fifth, booked

a date with the Thai after Romanian Elena Bogdan retired with an ankle injury when the Briton was leading 6-3 5-2.

Noppawan is now in her second Grand Slam semi-final after reaching the final at Wimbledon last year.

Though she’s currently No 1 in the world, this would be Noppawan’s first singles Grand Slam trophy if she wins the next two matches. Last year she claimed the US Open doubles title.

Noppawan and her partner

Beatrice Gulmulya of Indonesia advanced to the doubles semifinals when they got a walk over from Robson and Orlik, who retired through illness.

If the Thai-Indonesian pair win their semi-final match today, they will have to play the final in the evening.

Robson shrugged off the pressure as she faced a 20strong press pack including TV cameras and photographers.

“No pressure,” she joked. “I’m not really focusing on that. I’m just focusing on my matches.”

26

THE SPORT

Friday, January 30, 2009

DAILY XPRESS

FOOTBALL

WIGAN AGONY R

afa Benitez admitted Liverpool must improve quickly after they suffered another major setback in their pursuit of the Premier League title.

Having started January on top of the table, Liverpool find themselves two points behind Manchester United, who have a game in hand and a far superior goal difference, following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Wigan.

Liverpool were seven minutes away from drawing level with United as they held onto Yossi Benayoun’s first half goal, but Wigan’s Egyptian striker Mido scored a late penalty, leaving Benitez to conduct yet another inquest into his side’s failure to protect a lead.

Throwing away two points

Bosses rally around star Manchester City and Brazil national coach Dunga threw their support behind Robinho on Wednesday after he was arrested and bailed over allegations of rape in a British nightclub.

Manchester City said the Brazil international had its “full support” and club manager Mark Hughes praised his “excellent” performance in the team’s 2-1 victory against Newcastle late Wednesday.

In Rio de Janeiro, Dunga said the player had called him and denied all wrongdoing, adding: “I have no reason to doubt the word of Robinho.”

He said he had always been able to rely on the star and insisted Robinho would be called to the Brazil squad.

AFP

at the JJB Stadium is the latest in a worrying sequence of results. Title rivals Chelsea visit Anfield on Sunday and Benitez knows his players will have to produce a much improved performance after they were forced to settle for a seventh draw in 10 league games.

“When you are at the top you know every game is important,” said a clearly frustrated Benitez.

“It’s a very important game on Sunday for us. We know we have to improve.”

Benitez appeared to be unhappy that his players were not offered more protection from the match officials during a scrappy and niggly contest.

“The second half was a crazy game,” he added. “It was just crazy.”

The Spaniard refused to

,,

Mido of Wigan, centre, levels the score after sending Liverpool goalkeeper Reina the wrong way.

WHEN YOU ARE AT THE TOP YOU KNOW EVERY GAME IS IMPORTANT.WE KNOW WE HAVE TO IMPROVE. Rafa Benitez

elaborate on his remarks but he did admit that his side’s failure to defend a lead was proving a real concern.

Mido made no mistake from the penalty spot after Lucas Leiva needlessly fouled substitute Jason Koumas.

This was the second successive league game they have been forced to settle for a point after taking the lead.

Benitez once again started without striker Robbie Keane, fuelling speculation that the £20 million signing from Tottenham could be on his way out of Anfield.

Keane has played just seven of the last 180 minutes and there are strong suggestions

his former club Tottenham could make a move to take him back to White Hart Lane before the transfer window closes next Monday.

“I think so,” said Benitez when asked whether Keane would be staying.

The Liverpool manager received some consolation from Wigan manager Steve Bruce.

Bruce, the former Manchester United defender, refused to write off Liverpool’s title chances despite this latest setback.

“It’s too early yet,” Bruce said. “You don’t win titles at the end of January. There are lots of games to go. It’s whoever handles the situation best.”

Owen injury jinx strikes again A F P , Manchester

M

ichael Owen is facing a two-month lay-off after the Newcastle striker’s injury jinx struck again during a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City.

The 29-year-old former England star, playing only his 62nd game for Newcastle since arriving from Real Madrid in a £16-million transfer in August 2005, limped out of Wednesday evening’s Premier League clash after nineteen minutes after landing awkwardly following a challenge with City debutant Nigel de Jong.

Owen, out of contract at St James’ Park at the end of the season, left Eastlands on crutches and his injury was compounded by the loss in the second-half of Joey Barton,

EPA

A F P , Wigan, England

EPA

Manager Benitez demands a big improvement from his side as Reds stutter again after taking a lead

Manchester City scorer Shaun Wright-Phillips, right, celebrates with team-mate Robinho. who faces nearly three months out with a broken metatarsal.

Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear said: “Owen is on crutches. He has cracked his

ankle and he will have a scan on it, but the doctors are saying he could be out for six to eight weeks.”

City win was secured by

goals from Shaun WrightPhillips and Craig Bellamy.

Robinho, playing for the first time since his arrest on Tuesday over an allegation of serious sexual assault, teed up Wright-Phillips’s opener and manager Mark Hughes praised the Brazilian for his performance.

He said: “I spoke to Robbie in the morning and he was very focused, looking ahead to the game and preparing as normal.

“After the conversation I had with him I had no qualms about putting him in because mentally he was in the right place and focused on the job in hand. He created the first goal with an intelligent ball and I thought his overall play was excellent.”

Friday, January 30, 2009

THE SPORT 27

DAILY XPRESS

FOOTBALL

ARSHAVIN COMING SOON Arsenal deal very close, admits manager Wenger AFP

A

rsene Wenger believes that Arsenal are on the verge of finally sealing a deal to sign Andrei Arshavn from Zenit St Petersburg. The Gunners’ pursuit of the Russia playmaker, who is valued at around £15 million, has been one of the most protracted deals of the current transfer window.

Arshavin’s Russian club have claimed that a fee has been agreed and although Wenger Arsenal’s Robin van Persie celebrates after scoring the equaliser at the Goodison Park. remains cautious, he admitted following the 1-1 draw at pened today [Wednesday]. In Goodison Park – earned by tor for their Champions League Everton on Wednesday that he this kind of job sometimes the Robin van Persie’s injury-time place as Martin O’Neill’s men. is on the verge of making his 10 per cent is more important equaliser of Tim Cahill’s openHe added: “A point is never first signing of the month. than the 90 per cent because ing goal – the Gunners are enough because you always “I have been focused on the people can change their minds struggling in the race for fourth play for three but it was a diffiEverton game and didn’t pick quickly.” place. cult game and I maintain that up any phone-calls so nothing Wenger could do with And Wenger, whose team are Everton are as big a threat for has happened,” he said.

Arshavin as, following Aston five points behind Villa, stands us as Aston Villa.

“It is 90 per cent [finished] Villa’s 1-0 win at Portsmouth by his claim that David Moyes’ “Everton are a good side and and I don’t know what hap- and Arsenal’s point at Blues are as much of a competi- they will be a threat for a top

RESULTS basketball NBA Yesterday’s results: Indiana 107, Milwaukee 99; New York 112, Atlanta 104; Miami 93, Washington 71; Toronto 107, New Jersey 106; Boston 119, Sacramento 100; Oklahoma City 114, Memphis 102 (OT); Detroit 98, Minnesota 89; New Orleans 94, Denver 81; Philadelphia 95, Houston 93; Dallas 117, Golden State 93; Portland 88, Charlotte 74; Chicago 95, LA Clippers 75.

ice hockey NHL Yesterday’s results: Pittsburgh 6, NY Rangers 2; Calgary 5, Buffalo 2; Chicago 3, Anaheim 2; Nashville 5, Vancouver 3

5-2 90+1); Borussia Dortmund 1 (Frei 11) Werder Bremen 2 (Almeida 62, Pizarro 80); Karlsruhe 0 Wiesbaden 1 (Konig 73); Wolfsburg 5 (Grafite 58, 86-pen, 90, Bulow 65-og, Gentner 79) Hansa Rostock 1 (Fillinger 68) Italian Serie A Yesterday’s results: AC Milan 1 (Beckham 33) Genoa 1 (Milito 87); Atalanta 0 Bologna 1 (Volpi 80); Cagliari 1 (Acquafresca 37) Siena 0; Catania 0 Inter Milan 2 (Stankovic 5, Ibrahimovic 71); Chievo 1 (Mantovani 88) Lecce 1 (Vives 56); Fiorentina 2 (Santana 47, Montolivo 79) Napoli 1 (Vitale 49); AS Roma 2 (Totti 23, Brighi 45) Palermo 1 (Cavani 31); Sampdoria 3 (Delvecchio 13, Cassano 51, Stankevicius 54) Lazio 1 (Rocchi 29); Torino 0 Reggina 0; Udinese 2 (Quagliarella 20, Di Natale 74) Juventus 1 (Iaquinta 77-pen)

tennis

soccer English Premier League Wednesday’s results: Blackburn 2 (Warnock 66, McCarthy 87) Bolton 2 (Taylor 15, Davies 35); Chelsea 2 (Kalou 58, 81) Middlesbrough 0; Everton 1 (Cahill 61) Arsenal 1 (Van Persie 90); Manchester City 2 (Wright-Phillips 17, Bellamy 77) Newcastle 1 (Carroll 81); West Ham 2 (Di Michele 33, Cole 51) Hull 0; Wigan 1 (Mido 83-pen) Liverpool 1 (Benayoun 41) German Cup Wednesday’s results: Bayer Leverkusen 3 (Helmes 12, Kadlec 23, Renato Augusto 43) Energie Cottbus 1 (Skela

Australian Open Yesterday’s results (x denotes seeding): Women's singles: Serena Williams (USA x2) b Elena Dementieva (RUS x4) 6-3 6-4; Dinara Safina (RUS x3) b Vera Zvonareva (RUS x7) 6-3 7-6 (7/4) Men's Doubles: Semi-finals: Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Mark Knowles (BAH x3) b Lukasz Kubot (POL)/Oliver Marach (AUT) 6-3 6-1; Women's doubles: semifinals: Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)/Ai Sugiyama (JPN x9) b Nathalie Dechy (FRA)/Mara Santangelo (ITA) 6-4 6-3; Serena Williams/Venus Williams (USA x10) b Casey Dellacqua (AUS)/ Francesca Schiavone (ITA x12) 6-0 6-2

four place.

“We’re on a good run so it was very important not to lose once we were 1-0 down and to keep Everton at a distance. To keep our run going was vital.”

Wenger admits he is full of admiration for Australia midfielder Cahill, who has scored four goals in nine games.

He said: “He’s a fantastic player. Tactically very good, very intelligent and if you look at all the defenders in the league, they’re all a head higher than he is but he always pops up with a header.

“He has something that you can’t give to anybody. He knows where to be on a football pitch.”

Moyes revealed that he has been thwarted in his attempts to bring two un-named loan targets to Goodison Park.

Cahill limped off with a foot injury but Moyes revealed it was only a minor knock and the Australian will be in contention for tomorrow’s trip to Manchester United.

Cammalleri’s streak continues in Flames win The All-Star break did nothing to slow down Michael Cammalleri’s goal streak, as he scored three times in the Calgary Flames 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

ON TV The Willams sisters

BOXI NG

Thailand has third female world champ DAILY XPRESS

N

ongmuay Korkiat Gym yesterday ensured that the women’s WBC light-flyweight title stays in Thailand with a unanimous decision over South Korea’s Kim Dan-bi in the 10-roundscheduled title fight in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Nakhon Ratchasima-native claimed the title, which was left vacant after the WBC’s decision to strip Samson Sor Siriporn of the crown because she failed to defend her title for months.

In the opening two rounds, the South Korean crowded forward in a bid to negate her rival’s height advantage but the home fighter opted to box from the outside and managed to land several hard rights to Kim’s face.

Kim’s cause didn’t improve in the next round following a point deduction for using her head.

The South Korean had a point

deducted once more in the fourth round for the same offence.

The Thai dictated the fight in the next four rounds, making good use of her longer reach to keep her opponent at bay.

The South Korean’s misery was completed when she suffered a point deduction for the third time in the penultimate round before the Thai sealed the victory.

The three judges scored the fight 97-91, 97-90 and 97-91 in Nongmuay’s favour.

“I thought of Thao Suranaree, the legendary folk heroine of Nakhon Ratchasima, all the time during the fight.

“I’m glad that my home town witnessed the win and thank all those who supported me before and during the fight,” said Nongmuay, who is now the third Thai female boxer to become a world champion.

Andy Roddick

Basketball NBA Cleveland v Orlando 8am/ESPN

Tennis Australian Open 11am &3.30pm /Star Sports