THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Former 89.5 Sweet FM disc Jockey Pattarasak “DJ Keng” Thiemprasert goes to court today in one of the best know road rage cases. He was caught on video reversing his black pickup into a red Toyota on Jan 8, claimed the Toyota rammed him, threatened bystanders, pretended to apologise and now faces criminal charges of driving without consideration, assault and causing fear. China will test-fire a newer, bigger, family-sized Long March-7 rocket. If it works, it will carry a cargo ship into space next year, part of setting up a full space station. Oh wow, man, like Israel, man, is having like, this big international meeting, you know, on inna... inni... innovative cannabis use, man. For like, two days. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation begins a two-day summit in Jakarta, on Palestine.
TUESDAY
CSB-MILSPORE — the Campaign to Sterilise Bangkok to Make It Look Exactly Like Singapore — moves to Pratunam today. Nearly 600 pavement vendors have been ordered out by this afternoon. It’s International Women’s Day. It is the second anniversary of disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 over the Indian Ocean. Late tonight (2.45am tomorrow if you prefer) Champions League round of 16 second legs will begin. Wolfsburg hold a 3-2 advantage over visiting Gent, while Real Madrid (2-0) host Roma. A day later, same time, it is Zenit vs Benfica (0-1) and Chelsea vs PSG (1-2). US-South Korea war games get under way today. North Korea has pointed out they are rehearsals for the invasion and has announced it will strong attack in retaliation. The All-England Championships of badminton begin today in Birmingham. The finals are on Sunday.
WEDNESDAY
You won’t see a total eclipse from Thailand today; Sumatra, Borneo and Sulawesi are the places to be right under it. But be outdoors between 6.38 and 8.32am, with the maximum blackout at 7.32am, Bangkok times. A Nasa web page allows you to figure out other locations at goo.gl/jXdS9T. Thammasat University will honour its treasured Puey Ungphakorn with all-day celebrations. The military regime is going to hate it, so the question is whether it will intervene, or grin and bear it. Speaking of raids, will the SWAT teams get in position at Suphan Buri, host for the next 11 days of the 32nd National Youth Games of (gasp) bridge. It’s a six-day death match in Seoul: World Go champion Lee Se-Dol of South Korea vs AlphaGo of Mountain View, California — Man vs Google’s Go computer brain. There’s been nothing like it.
THURSDAY
The strange case of Adm Phajun Tampratheep may come clearer. The parliament (NLA) member and BFF of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda is supposed to report to police on charges of violating the Computer Crime Act (five years in prison) for forwarding a Line message about an army general supposedly involved in buying ranks and promotions. Pay-TV operator CTH says it will cut off content to RS Plc — yes, including Premier League coverage. Home Building Focus and House and Condo Expo begin today at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, and run through the weekend. The Thailand International Furniture Fair opens for the weekend at Impact Muang Thong. The True Thailand Classic tees off this morning at Black Mountain, Hua Hin. The US$1.75 million tournament is part of the European Tour and sanctioned by the Asia Tour. Defending champion is Andrew Dodt of Australia
FRIDAY
Four wheels bad, two wheels good is what they say about this weekend’s World Superbike round two at Buri Ram. The always puckish Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will bring happiness to the National Energy Policy Council today. He will request to see the five-year energy policy plan by the Energy Policy and Planning Office. Because he knows if there’s anything that makes energy activists happy, it’s getting out on the street and shouting against the government’s energy plan. Samsung begins selling its new Galaxy S7s in the US tonight, in multiple colours yet. They will be in Thailand presently.
SATURDAY
The 1,650 pandas will be at Santi Chai Prakan Park today, the Giant Swing on Sunday. They’re papier mache and raise awareness of endangered species. The Asian Football Federation is meeting in Vietnam today to decide who will host the AFF Cup starting in November, after the Philippines pulled out. Probably it will be Malaysia. Today is the 56th anniversary of armed, separatist rebellion in the deep South. The Patani Malay National Revolutionary Front (in Malay, Barisan Revolusi Nasional, or BRN) was the first organised group that turned into today’s gangs.