THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
India takes its military outlook to a new level today, with a two-week joint war games called Maitree in Chachoengsao, focusing on rural and urban anti-insurgency operations.
The fabulous photo exhibit by Luke Duggleby of disappeared Thais, “For Those Who Died Trying” opens in Toronto in a full-scale human rights protest. Canadian composer Frank Horvat will introduce a new work, The Thailand HRDs, to be performed by the New York City String Quartet. Protection International will attend. The Premier League is back. Almost. Bayern Munich host Manchester United for a warmup club friendly this morning at 1.15. The European Championships of track and field begin tonight in Glasgow and Berlin. The finals are on Sunday. New US sanctions on Iran kick in today. President Donald Trump says they will likely bring face-to-face talks.
TUESDAY
Today is the deadline for Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai to explain to the Constitutional Court the now-illegal shareholdings of his wife, or start cleaning out his desk. Regulations concerning spousal riches came into effect after Mr Don was already in office, so the case concerns both legal and ethical issues.
Today is also the deadline for you to pick up your bidding documents for tomorrow’s bandwidth auction by the unfailingly interesting National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission. The Min Buri Provincial Court will try again to read the verdict in the murder-case appeal in the killing of former Olympic Games shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum. His wife, her mother and their lawyer all are involved but the lawyer, 31-year-old Santi Thongsem, is missing and presumed to have skipped bail.
WEDNESDAY
The new, permanent border crossing opens today between Ban Huak trade centre in Phayao and Laos. Trade in the past year was 1.38 billion baht, a figure now expected to increase rapidly. Dance fans should get along to the Bangkok Arts and Culture Centre at 7pm to see the Dana Lawton Dancers from California perform Holding Space. The company will be back next month on their international Fluid Tour.
The National Geographic Explorers Fair 2018 opens today (until Sunday) at Bitec Bangna, with heavy emphasis on outdoors travel, stuff and adventure. Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrado will try to talk with drug cartel members about not killing so many people from now on.
THURSDAY
It’s the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People or, in English, Commemoration for the disappeared. William Heineke and Minor Group expect to sign today to take 44% ownership of NH Hotel Group of Spain, although at press time Hyatt was trying to horn in and spoil the deal.
The Bank of Thailand will publish its monetary policy report this morning. The biannual Thai International Travel Fair (TITF, pronounced “Titf”) runs from today through Sunday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, with travel and tourist deals galore.
The US PGA tournament, a major, begins tonight at Bellerive, Missouri. The English Premier League transfer window closes tonight.
FRIDAY
Today is the deadline for every owner of every crocodile in Phuket to report every animal to the Provincial Fisheries Office. The Asian Games football tournament begins today in Indonesia, a full week before the official opening of the Games themselves. Thailand are in Group B, and play their first match next Tuesday at noon against Qatar. Ratchaburi Art Centric, a three-day expo on the banks of the Mae Klong River that begins today, is one of the coolest art shows of the year.
The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale runs from today until Aug 20 at Impact Muang Thong.
Calling all otaku. Get on your cosplay, because the three-day, 94th Comiket, the world’s biggest fan convention (500,000 attendees) starts today at Tokyo Big Sight.
SATURDAY
It’s a little weird that you even need a nudge and a hint, but anyhow ... tomorrow is Mother’s Day.
Bistro 33 on Sukhumvit will go silent tonight for “All About Panto”, at 6.30. The Premier League returns this morning at 2, with Man United hosting Leicester. The 6.30pm early match is Newcastle v Spurs, with four matches following at 9 and Wolverhampton Wanderers (yes, Wolverhampton Wanderers) v Everton at 11.30pm. Tomorrow night features a doubleheader at 7.30. PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED BY PRESSREADER