THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
The Thai-Belgium Bridge was scheduled to reopen today after repairs made necessary by a fire on Feb 28, but it did so ahead of schedule on Wednesday. Christie’s New York will try to sell Picasso’s Femme assise, robe bleue (Seated woman in a blue dress) for more than $35 million tonight.
The most important auto event since Charles Wallace Chapman died: Mercedes-Benz Thailand will launch the E350e hybrid series, available to you in a special deal for a few baht short of four million.
A federal appeal court in Seattle will hear President Trump’s case to ban all refugees and tourists from six countries. The European Parliament begins its usual heavy workload of four days.
TUESDAY
The Office of the Ombudsman will announce today whether to accept and mull the complaint by gadfly Srisuwan Janya that the submarine purchase is an expensive, duplicitous swamp of nonsense.
The six people arrested in a midnight swoop for Facebook-connected lese majeste and sedition, including lese majeste lawyer Prawet Prapanukul, will get a bail hearing today.
Three words: Arab Fashion Week. It’s in Dubai. You’ll need to stand by around midnight in order to be able to bid at Sotheby’s Geneva on the blue and pink diamond earrings that will have a reserve price of a mere $68 million.
The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg will rule tonight on whether the EU-Singapore free trade deal can proceed.
WEDNESDAY
Pakistani Commerce Secretary Younus Dagha begins a three-day visit to Bangkok. There’s a 90% chance he’ll sign a Pakistan-Thailand Free Trade Agreement. The International Association of Measurement and Evaluation in Communications will start its two-day global summit today at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.
In this globalised world, a Dubai court will hear a case against Bahraini activist Nabil Rajab, charged with tweeting too-strident criticism of Saudi military actions in Yemen.
US NBA (pro basketball) championship finals begin this morning, best of seven.
THURSDAY
The “Trump probe” of Thailand and 15 other countries with lopsided trade surpluses with the US opens public hearings in Washington. The government has made a defensive submission, will send delegates and observers and overall feels confident no fallout will blemish Thailand.
The 2017 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights will be given in absentia this evening to Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa, accenting the May 18 Memorial Foundation’s point.
The renewal of the $300,000 Thailand Open tees off today at the Thai Country Club, Chachoengsao. The tournament has not taken place for eight years. Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat are the favourites.
FRIDAY
Phetchaburi province, which actually does have some excellent beaches, will host the three-day 8th Muddy Sea World Festival, with everything from muddy-water fights to mud baths at Ban Laem district.
Adults beware. Tonight, all night, it is the EDM “music and crazy visual effects” at Saisawan Beach. It’s usually sold out. Details at www.goo.gl/9p8Kh2. Iranians vote for president today in an election that could bring Mahmoud Ahmedinejad back for us to kick around again — but probably not. Volleyball’s elite US Women’s Collegiate National Team begins a Thailand-based training session today. Over the next 10 days, the Americans will play matches against the national team, the Thailand U-23 team and Bangkok Glass, plus two other friendlies.
SATURDAY
It’s crunch day for Mahakan Fort. The community and academics are to meet Bangkok Metropolitan Administration house wreckers at City Hall to choose houses that will be spared destruction. Andaman Jazz by the Sea begins at Loma Park, Patong, Phuket, at 7pm today. The entire concert honours King Bhumibol, and songs by the musical king will be heard all through the concert.
The two-day auto racing Blancpain GT Series Asia begins today at the Chang International Circuit in Buri Ram. Tomorrow is the final day of the Premier League football season, with every team in action and every match at 9pm. Interesting matches include Arsenal vs Everton, Chelsea vs Sunderland and Man United vs Crystal Palace.