THE WEEK AHEAD
MONDAY
Indonesia celebrates the 20th anniversary of the reluctant, burning-buildings departure of the thankfully former dictator Suharto.
The people of upper Na Ranong Road, Klong Toey district, mark today’s eighth anniversary of the day the red shirts tried (but failed) to burn down the Bangkok Post building. It’s also the ninth anniversary of the declaration of the first national assembly of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to form a political party, although not much happened about that.
Construction tycoon and accused tom yam- leopard tail gourmand Premchai Karnasuta will be back at the Thong Pha Phum district court in Kanchanaburi to deny he killed the leopard or did anything at all about animals in any alleged so-called wildlife sanctuary. Why can’t people just leave him alone?
The annual World Health Assembly meeting begins this evening in Geneva, with China trying to keep Taiwan out.
TUESDAY
Thailand celebrates and mourns (not together; depends on the individual) the fourth anniversary of the latest of many absolutely unnecessary and dictatorial declarations of martial law, as well as the fourth anniversary of the best-planned coup d’etat ever.
The 2018 winner of Man Booker International prize is to be announced this evening in London.
French workers are striking today to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s plans for reforming public services. Oh, and also they want more pay. President Trump will greet South Korean President Moon Jae-in this evening at the White House. There is speculation they might discuss the upcoming Singapore summit with the other Korean leader, the one with the weird haircut.
WEDNESDAY
The Constitutional Court is to hold final debate and issue a decision today on the two important laws concerning the election of members of parliament and the selection of senators. A third decision on whether the strange law on political parties is constitutional will also be issued.
The prime minister is heading up-country today, destination unknown at press time. But don’t fret, it has absolutely nothing to do with politics.
You may never have heard of the Hazardous Substance Control Committee of the Ministry of Industry but you will by tomorrow. It’s meeting today to consider (and, our prediction) probably reject a full ban on paraquat insecticide, a full ban on insecticide nerve agent chlorpyrifos and very tight restrictions on the hated (by greenies) glyphosate, aka Roundup from its most popular commercial branding.
THURSDAY
Sharpen your elbows, then you’ll be ready to head to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre for Thailand Mobile Expo 2018. “Mobiles and gadgets under one roof” is the event’s unofficial slogan. It will be packed.
Final demolition of the North Korean nuclear test site is today, in front of many witnesses.
A closed-door cybersecurity conference between business and the government will be held today at the Grant Hyatt Erawan hotel. It’s sponsored, especially for fans of irony, by Open Government Asia of Singapore.
Remember the Clintons? They’ve apparently gone full shameless. For only $100,000, even you can buy a table for 10 and direct contact for minutes with Mr Bill, Ms Hillary and even Ms Chelsea. You can get a chair at a table near the washroom, plus inclusion in a mass-group photo, for only $2,500 at the Clinton Foundation benefit in New York, the “benefit” meaning the Clinton lifestyle.
FRIDAY
Photography experts and hobbyists will undoubtedly enjoy the the 150 photo reprints and physical displays at “Celebrating the National Glass Plate Negatives” expo opening today for a twomonth run at the National Gallery. You can take photos with your iPhone — if you don’t mind being laughed at. Today is the final day of a museum-quality Russian icons and art works on loan from Russia’s Nevyansk Icon Museum. The display, at River City, marks the 120th anniversary of Thai-Russian relations. Yangon hosts Myanmar’s first-ever “Miss Trans” contest this evening.
The EU’s internet privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), kicks in today. Here’s the deal: Any European can order a Thai company to delete any data it has on the European, and if the company fails to do it, European punishment kicks in.
SATURDAY
Wall-to-wall beds, bureaus, bedsteads and everything else that goes inside a house are the attraction at Furniture Living and Design 2018 at Bitec Bangna from today through June 3.
The finals of the Thomas and Uber Cup are today and tomorrow at Impact Muang Thong, advance tickets at (where else?) www.thaiticketmajor.com. Liverpool face Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League final tonight (or early tomorrow if you prefer, at 1.45) at the Olympic Stadium, Kiev.
The newly expanded Fairtex Training Center reopens with a solid punch tonight — a smoker, featuring a three-way knockout (no pun intended) tournament in which the first four bouts are boxing, the next round is muay Thai, and the final fight is under MMA rules.