15 May 2006

• The King of Thailand will receive a U.N. award on 26 May "in recognition of his dedication to the development of Thailand and its People". The award will be made by Secretary General Annan at Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. If these names sound difficult, wait till you hear that of Thailand's candidate for the post of U.N. Secretary General.

• The President of the new General Assembly Session opening next September will be officially elected in early June. Sheikha Haya, of Bahrain, is the agreed candidate.

• The Secretary General will be spending most of May in Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Thailand) returning to New York over Memorial Day weekend.