MILESTONES

DECLARED: By the government, Flag Day, every Sept 28, starting 2017. The military regime is said to have instituted Flag Day to atone for not stressing patriotism enough, so far. BANNED: Effective immediately, export of seahorses. Thailand is the leading exporter of the fish, with most bound to be used in traditional Asian (read: Chinese) “medicine”. DIED: At 93, two weeks after suffering a stroke, Shimon Peres. He was a founder of Israel who served as prime minister after the 1995 assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. He, Rabin and Yasser Arafat were awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize for their 1993 peace accord. DIED: At 87 of heart complications, Arnold Palmer. The fabulously popular golfer not only flamboyantly won seven majors, but he was followed by “Arnie’s Army”, one of the great hordes of sports’ followers. SOLD: For 10 billion baht-plus to the Bangkok Hospital group, Park Nai Lert Hotel. It is best known abroad as the place where actor David Carradine masturbated to death. The 31-year-old will be razed and a “wellness centre” is to arise. ACQUITTED: By the Supreme (Dika) Court after a 19-year ordeal, the former director of Wachira Prakan Hospital and two of his surgeons. A family charged the trio with euthanising a relative to harvest his liver and kidney for transplant. The court upheld a verdict of not guilty due to a lack of hard evidence. PROMISED: By Philippines President Rodrigo “The Punisher” Duterte, an end to all US-Philippines war games after this week. The joint Amphibious Landing Exercises (Phiblex) are to go ahead from Oct 4-12 but could be the last.