THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Deputy governor Santi Chudintra of the Tourism Authority of Thailand kicks off a four-city, four-day tour of “secondary cities” in China because we haven’t nearly enough Chinese tourists yet. Around 50 Thai travel companies are involved in the hard-sell tour to Jinan, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou and Wuhan. Royal rain making flights are supposed to begin today, although they require certain weather conditions. The air force is to turn over 12 aircraft for the operation, designed to alleviate both drought and haze — and mitigate hailstorms. Thailand’s No 30 ranked women’s football team visits Perth this evening for the Westfield Matildas’ first-ever international friendly.
Canada begins the trial of a man who killed six people at a Shia mosque in Quebec 15 months ago.
TUESDAY
The cabinet will discuss, probably approve and then pass to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha a recommendation to soak taxpayers tens of billions of baht in digital TV and mobile phone licence fees. Gen Prayut will use Section 44 to let multi-millionaires off the hook for their payments.
Today is the day that every state agency will give and receive electronic payments if you demand it. Well, that’s what’s been ordered by Thailand 4.0 masterminds including economy tsar Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak. Bets taken here on the actual meaning of “all”.
G7 “employment and innovation” ministers are scheduled to meet in Montreal tonight to discuss jobs of the future, starting with whether there will be any at all.
WEDNESDAY
The two-day 4th Thai Rail Industry Symposium and Exhibition opens this morning at the Airport Rail Link Makkasan station. Per the adverts, the top display will be a model of a highspeed train that China intends to flog to Thailand.
The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee meets today. The MPC hasn’t changed the benchmark policy interest rate since March-April 2015 and probably won’t change it today, either — but that’s why they hold the meeting. Expect a prediction of 4% growth this year, though. It’s time to make the big decision, and buy either a really sturdy, good-fitting helmet, or a lot of tinfoil. It’s the start of a two-week window during which the ungodly humongous Chinese space station Tiangong 1 will plunge to Earth, possibly right into where you are.
THURSDAY
Construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta can’t make your lunch invitation today. He has to be in Kanchanaburi for his court appearance, the first since the judge gave him bail — and warned him to show up or be arrested.
Country singer, red shirt, political activist, prison inmate Thanat “Tom Dundee” Thanawatcharanon hears the verdict today on his fourth lese majeste case, involving a comparison of Thailand and Norway.
If it’s about grain and animals, including fish, it’s at the third and final day of Victam 2018 today at Bitec Bangna. Commercial and pet markets alike are included.
The one-year countdown begins for Britain to complete its separation from the European Union.
FRIDAY
The Ranong Provincial Court is to give its verdict today in the murder trial of four Myanmar migrant workers who allegedly killed 16-year-old Thai student “Apple” in September, 2015. Some are crying “scapegoats”.
The first postage stamps bearing the image of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun are on sale today. Pre-order forms for delivery for collectors should be available at all Thai Post offices.
The art fair Crafts Bangkok 2018 runs from today through Sunday at Bitec Bangna.
The 46th National Book Fair and 16th Bangkok International Book Fair open today at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. The exhibition runs until a week Sunday, April 8. Lots of details, deals and come-ons at www.pubat.or.th.
SATURDAY
Today is the last day to register your political party for the election next year or whatever year it’s going to be. Starting today, no plastic water bottle will have one of those annoying seals on the cap. This will save billions, but more probably trillions of fish. Also, this is the day you won’t be able to tell if someone opened your plastic water bottle and spat in it just before you bought it.
The internet will be closed for cleaning all day, from midnight on March 31 through the early hours of April 2, so enjoy your chance to enjoy a day without the web. Caution: Not an April Fool’s item. Starting today, Pattaya City Hall will dispatch up to 2,000 “special forces” and its money-grabbing thetsakit (municipal officers) daily to enforce the no-smoking, no-pets, no-rubbish rule on the resort’s pristine beaches.