THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
It is 90 days until there either will or won’t be a Feb 24 election. So today is the last day you can sign new members to your political party and then rush on down to register it at the completely fair and independent, non-junta influenced Election Commission.
It’s the 70th anniversary of the first sale of the first instant camera, called Polaroid, also known as the day in-home porn began.
An ink-on-paper scroll painting, Wood and Rock by Su Shi (1037-1101) is the leading item at Christie’s autumn auctions opening today in Hong Kong. You’ll only need $50 million to meet the reserve. Eastern Region Asia Cup 2021 qualifying games of the International Basketball Federation open today (Thailand vs Singapore) and play through Saturday at Stadium 29 in Nonthaburi. Seven teams vie for four slots in the finals. Former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato and cronies go on trial in Spain this evening for corruption while in office.
TUESDAY
It’s back surgery today for the female fugitive felon’s ex-commerce minister, Boonsong Teriyapirom, who is handcuffed to a bed at Police General Hospital. Rangsit University will mark the one-year death anniversary of Surin Pitsuwan (actually on Friday) with an academic forum: “From Islamic Studies to the World”.
The European Court of Justice will endure Scottish whining about wishing to reject Brexit.
Uefa Champions League group matches resume tonight and tomorrow (and end next week).
The featured Tuesday night/Wednesday matches are Lyon vs Man City and Man United vs Young Boys.
Matches are at 3am.
WEDNESDAY
Prosecutors will decide today whether to take eight core Pheu Thai members to trial for holding a “more than four people” meeting on May 17. Junta judge advocate general officer Col Burin Thongprapai demands a trial, a guilty verdict and total dissolution of Pheu Thai. He could win.
The World Stamp Exhibition, today through Monday, 9am to 6pm at the 5th floor of Siam Paragon is one of the world’s top philatelic events, with displays said to be worth 4 billion baht.
The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business is holding a two-hour executive MBA programme information session-cum-networking session today at 7pm at Central Embassy, the Park Hyatt Hotel on Wireless Road.
THURSDAY
Thailand International Motor Expo begins today and runs through Dec 10 at Impact Exhibition Center, Muang Thong Thani.
Procedural arguments will proceed today on Langkawi Island in the murder trial of 51-year-old English national Samantha Jones of Somerset, who says she had to stab her 62-year-old husband John to death in self-defence. The trial highlights the fun life of retired expat couples and their positive role in keeping Malaysian courts on their toes.
Asean’s largest money and investment show, Money Expo 2018, opens today through Sunday at Bitec Bangna, 10am to 8pm daily.
The three-day Group of 20 summit begins this evening in Buenos Aires.
FRIDAY
The newest, changed, final, unchangeable deadline for the totally fair, completely independent Election Commission to announce new constituency boundaries is today, unless the chairman needs more work on his teeth.
The poorly considered and debated law on child boxing “must” pass by today, its sponsors insist. Otherwise, it won’t go into effect in January.
There haven’t been many examples in Thailand for four and a half years, but ISIS Thailand will have a peaceful discussion this morning of Women In Politics, with a keynote address by ex-prime minister Helen Clark of New Zealand. Please RSVP with the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS), through ISISThailand.org.
River Kwai Bridge Week begins today and runs through Dec 9. There are a lot of special events, but the nightly light and sound shows near the bridge are noteworthy.
SATURDAY
The former (violent) monk Buddha Isara, proper name Suwit Thongprasert, will, er, enter the monkhood today. Since the 2013-14 Bangkok Shutdown that set up the coup, he assaulted police and is a convicted felon. Premier League games tonight at 10 feature Man City vs Bournemouth followed by Southampton vs Man United.