THE WEEK AHEAD

MONDAY

Thailand open their Women’s World Cup campaign early this morning (midnight Sunday to be precise), in Ottawa, against Norway. The country’s first World Cup team ever faces the longest odds in the tournament — 500-to-1 against them winning the world title. Malaysia is scheduled to wrap up the exhumation of Rohingya bodies from the former human trafficking camps near Thailand. Many of the 139 known graves hold murder victims, killed when their relatives could not raise ransom money. Malaysia has made even less progress in tracking their murderers than Thailand. Seven Khon Kaen students have been ordered to report to police today, perhaps to collect the 7,500 baht bail they posted after their arrest on May 22 for a protest against the court, or perhaps for something more … punitive. Apple phonies are on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the release of an iPhone today that is (are you ready?) rose-gold.

TUESDAY

If you’re a car fan, and if you’ve been putting it off, today is the last day of the supercar show at Em Quartier, including (but not limited to) Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, Bentley, Aston Martin, Maserati, Aventador, Porsche and Lotus. It is the last day of the Visakha Bucha celebrations, at Sanam Luang and the Grand Palace. Golfers tee off at the SEA Games today, with Thailand hoping for a gold-medal sweep at the events. It is the first anniversary of the Iraq attacks by the Islamic State or, as President Barack Obama called them, “the junior varsity of terrorists”.

WEDNESDAY

A new Fisheries Act takes effect today, spurred by the threats and whingeing from the dying continent. The new act was cobbled together quickly, and authorities have ignored explanations from experts that it will license and legalise dangerous and illegal seine-netting by formerly rogue trawlers, so expect the complaints to begin almost immediately. The Commission for the Management of Land Transport will take up the most important question in mass transportation history today, to wit: Should the 35km Orange Line, which will link Taling Chan and Min Buri, pass near Rama IX Road, or the Thailand Cultural Centre? The Bank of Thailand’s Monetary Policy Committee is going to get a lot of attention today. In April, the MPC dropped the key interest rate 25 basis points for the second time in a row. The “experts” who wrongly predicted no cuts for two meetings in a row are now saying there likely won’t be any further cuts, meaning they are going for three wrongs in a row.

THURSDAY

The Philippines parliament (the country still has elections) looks likely to approve autonomy for Muslims in their deep South. When they do, it will be the official end of the decades-old insurgency. Game 2 of the Women’s World Cup for Thailand tonight, against Ivory Coast in Ottawa. Gen Prime Minister Prayut will fly to Singapore today, and return tomorrow. Coach Kiatisak “Zico” Senamuang and the War Elephants (world ranking 142) will open their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign against Vietnam (125) at Rajamangala National Stadium. The team visit Taiwan (179) next Tuesday. You can buy, learn or just look around at organic food at the four-day “Eat Right Eat Organic” fair at Paradise Park mall, Srinakarin Road.

FRIDAY

A court in Lille will give its verdict in the trial of accused rapist and serial misogynist Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was once head of the International Monetary Fund. In this case, he is charged with a sideline business, pimping. The US State Department is on the verge of releasing its annual Trafficking in Persons report, possibly today, maybe Monday. Even though the whole recent Rohingya-murders episodes won’t count until next year’s report, there are just two chances for Thailand to rise from Tier 3: slim and none. Today is the deadline imposed by residents to get those dreadful HIV people out of the Lang Nern community of Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.

SATURDAY

The 1990s boy band Blue is playing tonight at Thunder Dome, Muang Thong, and thinks you’ll pay 2,000 or even 6,500 baht to see them, but you won’t, will you? Hillary Clinton, beaten like a Singapore graffiti artist by Barack Obama eight years ago, holds her first big campaign rally for the second time tonight, on the exact site of the former New York City Lunatic Asylum. She apparently forgot she already kicked off her campaign once. With the Women’s World Cup under way in Canada, the Great Frozen North’s version of gridiron football season opens tonight with Montreal playing an exhibition game against Ottawa. Michael Sam, the first openly gay professional footballer, will play for the Alouettes.