THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Asean International Fleet Review 2017 begins today and runs for nine days at Pattaya, celebrating Asean’s 50th anniversary, with 23 ships from 17 navies. Plenty of activities. Bali Hai Pier will be closed next Sunday and Monday for the big climax.
For foreign residents and visitors only, (Thais don’t need it) blogger Richard Barrow has a continually updating guide to visiting the royal crematorium, including the best drone photo yet, at www.goo.gl/ gFxWtj.
Prosecutors have 350,000 pages of evidence in the New York trial of three South American ex-officials of Fifa. It’s the biggest football corruption scandal ever to go to court. The Thailand connection never went to court.
Venezuela has called foreign creditors to a meeting at Caracas today because it can’t pay any of its outstanding debts.
TUESDAY
The Edge of Cybersecurity comes under close examination today and tomorrow at the Cyber Defence Initiative Conference 2017 at Bitec Bang Na. Apec-Asean excitement pretty much ends today with an official meeting of negotiators for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in Manila. Italy host Sweden in a do-or-die World Cup 2018 football qualifier late tonight (early tomorrow, 2.45am). Ireland face Denmark 24 hours later. Christie’s auction at Geneva this evening features the Grand Mazarin, a pink diamond of 19.07 carats.
WEDNESDAY
Get in line at any news-stand for the bilingual Bangkok Post-Post Today book on the royal cremation ceremonies. The cost is 199 baht but for every 200 baht, you will receive the book plus the cash equivalent of 100 satang.
In three o’clock football friendlies this morning, England play Brazil, while Germany face France and Portugal host the US.
Australia meet Honduras at 4pm in their World Cup qualifier; one will go through. Very punny, Italy. The world’s largest food theme park opens today in Bologna, and it’s called … wait for it … Eataly. Results will be announced of Australia’s mail-in referendum on whether to legalise same-sex marriage.
THURSDAY
Senior DSI officials will be in Phuket to press the investigation of land encroachers in the area of Layan and Lay Phang beaches and Sirinat National Park, all in Thalang district.
Ed Sheeran performs at Impact Muang Thong tonight. It’s sold out, so you’ll need to know someone or have a convincing roll in your hand if you want a ticket. The 10th International Bangkok Bike opens the doors of Impact Muang Thong today through Sunday. Right next door the whole time will be the China Import-Export Commodities Fair. Senior Chinese official Li Fei will outline in Hong Kong how much more pain Beijing will inflict on the territory before it finally crushes it.
New Zealand’s footballers play at Peru at 9.15am in their home-and-home World Cup qualifier.
FRIDAY
Time’s up today on the 30-day deadline requested by Lord Voldemort’s male issue, Panthongtae. He and his lawyers are to carry “information and evidence” in the Krungthai Bank money laundering case by today. He and three friends are the subject of a complaint about 36 million baht, total.
The general prime minister is to chair a meeting of his precious Eastern Economic Corridor Policy Committee to discuss whether to go ahead with the planned Bangkok-Rayong high-speed rail system. But there’s no “whether”; they will decide to go ahead.
Today is the official end of COP 23, the global warming conference in Bonn that is supposed to set actual emission output targets for every country.
Air Race 1 World Cup Thailand begins today and runs for three days at and around U-tapao Royal Thai Naval Airfield. If you have never seen aircraft racing at low-level, this is your chance. Indonesia says its three-day Bangkok festival opening today is so wonderful it has two names: Wonderful Indonesia Festival and “Never Ending Story of Magical Land and Legends”. It is at CentralWorld Square.
SATURDAY
The Miss World pageant is tonight in Sanya, Hainan. Professional beauty pageant contestant Milkey Patlada Kulphakthanapat will be there as Miss World Thailand 2017. The 25-year-old is a graduate in communication arts from Siam University. Yugpurush: Mahatma na Mahatma contains two legends of Indian history, Gandhi and his mentor, Shrimad Rajchandraji. It will be performed tonight in Hindi, tomorrow in English at M Theatre, New Phetchaburi Road. Arsenal host Spurs at 7.30pm to start the Premier League weekend.