THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
The board of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand will try to move along the progress of the mangmoom “spider cards” that will link all payment for all public transportation in Bangkok. US President Donald Trump will host a meeting of leaders from Thailand and 13 other allies at the UN tonight, to ask them to support the pledge by secretary-general Antonio Guterres to make concrete changes to the United Nations. Mr Trump addresses the General Assembly on Tuesday evening.
Nepal will try to complete the third and final round of local elections today. Voting has been delayed continuously by pro-communist protesters.
TUESDAY
The smiling “babes of Khon Kaen”, accused of killing and carving up their “friend”, a karaoke bar worker, begin the murder trial today with evidence and witness lists.
Reading host Swansea this evening (2am tomorrow, Thailand time) in the Carabao Cup, sponsored by an energy drink company without a single Ferrari killer or homicide fugitive.
The colourful five-day Um Phra Dam Nam Ceremony begins today at Petchabura Buddhist Garden, Wat Bote Chana Mara which (a reminder) is in Phetchabun.
It is the 11th anniversary of the military coup by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin, the catalyst that eventually sent Lord Voldemort na Dubai into permanent exile. With his little sister.
Qatar Airways begins a week-long bargain-ticket sale, including lottery-type giveaways. The airline will be flying directly to and from the Gulf and Chiang Mai as of Dec 7, with U-tapao-Doha flights to follow.
WEDNESDAY
The stern-faced men and women of the audit team UN’s International Civil Air Organisation start work today checking every airline for safety and proper paperwork. It will take them a week. Airline executives will try to convince shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting they should authorise yet another, second share sale to increase Nok Air capital.
The 20th Sahapat Admission Project will provide free tutoring for the aspiring university students of your family, but only if they complete registration by today via (www.sahapatadmission.com).
The trial of 51 bankers involved in the high-stakes fraud of Ocean Bank winds up today in Hanoi.
THURSDAY
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will hold its Save Food conference today at Bitec Bang Na — it’s that big.
The four-day Digital Thailand Big Bang “summit” begins today at Impact Muang Thong. As you already know, the international digital teaching event, the largest to be hosted in all of Asean, is sponsored by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
More Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters will likely get the jail sentences that Beijing wants. This time, the defendants are University of Hong Kong students.
Students in Manila will protest against President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs and other abuses of decency.
Long boats, the annual Yor Kong Boat Race and presentation of the Royal Trophy will take place during the five-day Nara Specialities, at the Royal 50th Anniversary Celebration Throne, Tha Phraya Sai Dam in Narathiwat.
FRIDAY
Chinese engineers begin a class in pandering to 430 Thai engineers at Tianjin today, on the pretext the Thai specialists will be allowed to work on railway construction in Thailand, when actually the Chinese plan on hogging all the work. Samsung is sneaking in its Galaxy J7+ (12,900 baht) today to beat the new Apple iPhones (33,000 baht-plus). The Korean import reportedly has a supergood camera and support for Bixby, the Android version of Siri. Celebrities are selling their precious brand-name items at “special prices” at the Praew Charity, in two locations at (of course) Siam Paragon. Reminder: “special” is not the Thai word for “cheap”.
SATURDAY
The final of the 7th Asian Football Confederation U-16 Women’s Championship will be played this evening at Chonburi Stadium.
New Zealand will hold a peaceful general election today. Thailand will not.
It’s the last day of the Asean Para Games, the follow-up to the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Wife killer and ex-doctor Wisut Boonkasemsanti wins total freedom tomorrow. Just 16 years after he killed her, carved her into tiny pieces and flushed her, the former gynaecologist ends his last parole session. He originally got the death sentence but is free because he is such a model citizen, except for that one time he strayed.
West Ham play Spurs in the Premier League weekend opener at 6.30pm, followed by a slew of matches at 9, with Southampton-Man Utd and Stoke-Chelsea looking the cream of the crop. Leicester entertain Liverpool at 11.30. Brighton host Newcastle tomorrow at 10pm in a clash between promoted clubs.