MILESTONES

APPOINTED: By the Privy Council, Tanin Kraivixien as interim president. Mr Tanin, a one-term prime minister after the 1976 Thammasat massacre, will head the Privy Council only while its president Prem Tinsulanonda remains as Regent pro tempore.

BANNED: From football worldwide until 2021, the former national soccer phuyai and Fifa enabler Worawi Makudi. Mr Worawi was set down for forging documents involved in obtaining a Fifa grant of millions, and for clamming up about it. Despite the ban from his beloved game, Mr Worawi is not expected to suffer personal financial difficulties.

APPOINTED: With the Super-44 powers of the prime minister, Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang as governor of Bangkok. The city functionary became governor when Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha waved his finger to dismiss the corruption suspect, MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

DIED: At 84 of a lung infection, Jaran Phetcharoen, far better known as Sithao. The instantly recognisable Surat Thani native was the country’s best known and longest enduring comedian. His career began with a 1956 movie, and he was still working, usually in minor TV bits, until last year.

UNEARTHED: By miners in Kachin State, the largest jade stone recorded since the Xia dynasty. The 175-tonne, dark green stone is 4.3 metres high and 5.8m wide. Experts estimated you could personally buy it for $170 million, or, let’s call it an even six billion baht in real money.

CHARGED: With the Myanmar version of lese majeste, two villagers who allegedly insulted the dear leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. One of her flunkies brought the charges after learning the pair launched a “drunken tirade” during a village drinking session. The pair was charged with insulting Ms Suu Kyi, calling her a three-letter word, and now face 10 years in prison.