Airlines continue to struggle as the effects of the worldwide recession holds back passenger numbers. Two recent examples of the dilemma which is still affecting the world’s airlines are demonstrated in reports by Qantas and JAL. Qantas, the Australian national flag carrier has recently reported a fall in annual net profits of nearly 4.5 percent for the period June 2009 to June 2010. It made 112 million Australian dollars (£64m) during the year, compared to A$ 117 million in the previous period.

The giant replica Manchester City Football Club shirt that toured Abu Dhabi during the summer months has been unveiled at the city of Manchester stadium. The giant shirt, which gained more than three thousand signatures and messages of good luck, was unveiled before the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Liverpool.

Bangkok will experience the 2nd annual Wine Harvest Dinner and Auction, the only one of its kind, being held this year on the evening of Saturday, 16 October, and featuring an outstanding menu created by some of Bangkok’s best and most innovative chefs. All proceeds from the dinner and auction will go to benefit the operations of SCAD Foundation (formerly Soi Dog Rescue). The Wine Harvest Dinner will take place at Maison Chin, on Soi Sala Daeng.

The UK’s Teesside Cast Products (TCP) plant, which was mothballed last February and cost 1,600 jobs, is at the centre of sell-off discussions between its owners Corus, part of India’s Tata Steel Ltd, and Thailand’s Sahaviriya Steel Industries Plc. (SSI).  SSI reported Friday that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to acquire the North of England plant for some £320 million ($500 million). Announcing the news in the UK, Corus MD Kirby Adams told reporters:

Tropical Storm ‘Mindulle’ came ashore in central Vietnam today, August 24, 2010 and brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds with it. NASA's Aqua satellite captured strong convection and thunderstorms in Mindulle's centre before it made landfall close to the city of Vinh, south of the Viet Nam capital. Now, Mindulle is encountering rugged, mountainous terrain as it continues to move inland.

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket participates in ‘Thai Food and Cultural Festival’ in Bangladesh to showcase the royal Thai cuisine on the world stage. By attending this seven-day fair, Mr. Vichan Pachararoongroj, and Mr. Boonram Kamchuy, the chefs from Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket surprise all guests with the secret of Thai cuisine at Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka in Bangladesh held from July 12 – 18, 2010. Mr. Peter Komposch, General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket said:

Thailand and Cambodia have announced that their respective Ambassadors will return to their posts soon, following the resignation of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra from his position as Cambodia’s economic advisor. The Thaksin appointment to the economic post last November was seen as highly controversial by the Thai government and led to the immediate recall of the Thai Ambassador from Phnom Penh and subsequently the reciprocal recall of the Cambodian Ambassador from Bangkok.

Bangkok’s long awaited Airport Rail link is set to begin full commercial services on Monday August 23rd, 2010, following an extensive testing programme which has been in operation since April. The Rail Link, which connects Suvarnabhumi International Airport with downtown Bangkok and is owned and operated by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been under construction since 2005.