THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Tier 1, here we come.
The government and Malaysia Airlines will present its final report this morning on the still-missing (since March 8, 2014) MH370 flight at a Putrajaya event. The victim’s families won’t like it.
The annual Asean ministerial meeting and assorted Asean-plus meetings begin today in Singapore.
The badminton World Championships begin today in Nanjing, with the finals scheduled for Sunday. Thailand is there, and one hopes to still be there on Sunday. Zimbabwe votes for a new president and parliament today. Thailand is not voting on anything; maybe next year.
TUESDAY
Back to work. You can’t have another four-day holiday until December, so there. Harley-Davidson of Milwaukee will officially announce its strategy early this morning. The word “Thailand” will be used multiple times.
The bad news: The two-year, visa-free travel to Taiwan for Thais ends today. The good news: The programme is being extended for another year, at least. Tickets for the Asian Cup are on sale today. The tournament will run from Jan 5-Feb 1 in the United Arab Emirates. Thailand are in Group A with the hosts, India and Bahrain.
Look up and see the red planet. Mars is the closest it has been to Earth since 2003 — just 57.6 million kilometres away.
WEDNESDAY
The Bangkok Post is 72 years old today — six cycles since 1946 and a few billion printed words. Phu yai up to and including the general prime minister will celebrate from 12.30-9pm at the Bangkok Post Forum 2018 at Bangkok Convention Centre, Centara Grand at CentralWorld. Details including registration details at (goo.gl/CJ4Jcd). City Hall begins another new stage of its Singaporification Programme today, by removing all vendors from the street and pavements of Khao San Road, because tourists will be so grateful there’s no food or sidewalk-shops they will flock from around the world to enjoy it.
Public vans are moving from the immediate area of the northern bus terminal at Mo Chit. The Transport Co Ltd promises the new, nearby 30-rai parking area across the (busy) road will actually be better because there will be less passenger congestion.
The first formal court session gets under way in a long class action lawsuit against Ford Motor (Thailand) and three subsidiary companies. Remember that the man smashing his car with garden tools? He and others want 24.7 million baht compensation for what they will tell the court were lemons.
THURSDAY
The 43rd Women’s British Open of golf, a major event, begins this afternoon at Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club’s links course. At press time, eight Thai women were entered — seven familiar LPGA pros and amateur Atthaya Thitikul. Another noteworthy tournament is the 2-million baht Singha Championship at Rayong Green Valley Country Club. It’s the first All Thailand Golf Tour competition where the Official World Golf Ranking will be giving points.
The Muaythai Youth World Championships begin today, attracting about 1,000 martial artists as young as 11 from more than 100 countries.
The biennial, five-week-long, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) war games, the largest naval exercise in the world with 25 countries including Thailand on hand, ends today in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
FRIDAY
It is the last day in the temple for the 11 Wild Boars and their coach, who have been making merit since July 25 for their rescue.
It’s also the last day to get information and take part in a mock auction in the always interesting National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission’s actual auction, tomorrow, for a big slice of the 1800MHz spectrum. Mooncakes come out today, a reminder the mid-August Festival is on the way — this year on Sept 24.
The annual Royal Project fair opens for 11 days at CentralWorld today. It features organic and high-quality food and meal ingredients, with some exotic products thrown into the mix such as wild rice, cheese from buffalo milk and edible flowers. And that’s just a small sample of what’s available.
SATURDAY
Well-travelled Uten Chanavan, a former Lumpini Stadium champion, will fight World Kick Boxing Federation Muay Thai welterweight champion Lee Henry “Flash” Garap for his title this afternoon in Garap’s native Port Moresby. Legendary Thai folk singer-writer Pongsit “Pu” Kampee Sut Chai, Mue Puen, Rong
Rien Khong Noo etc, will hold “A Night of Big Striped Cats Kampee Ai Suea Buk” this evening at Impact Muang Thong. Tickets at 7-Eleven.
If you know a scalper, you too can attend the K-pop idols Wanna One’s final tour performance today or tomorrow, also at Impact Muang Thong. The concerts sold out in just a few minutes when tickets were released in June.