Posts published in “Thailand”

The vibrant and bustling streets of Thailand are soon to feel the winds of change as the Customs Department gears up for a major overhaul of the nation’s e-commerce landscape. From January 1st, the department plans to impose taxes on all imported e-commerce goods, a move hailed as a positive stride according to an economics lecturer from the prestigious Thammasat University. For years, Thailand has allowed imported items priced below 1,500 baht to enter the country duty-free, sparing them from import duty and the all-too-dreaded value-added tax (VAT). This policy, however, has been a double-edged sword. It has kept prices tantalizingly low for consumers but has simultaneously created a challenging environment for domestic small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they struggle to hold their ground against a tidal wave of competitively priced goods from neighboring countries. While the move is drawing applause, especially from Kiatanantha Lounkaew, an astute assistant professor…

In the vibrant heart of Phuket, a tale of deception unfolded that seemed straight out of a crime novel. Beneath the sunny skies and sandy beaches, a covert operation was underway, threatening the serenity of this island paradise. The scene opens on a bustling warehouse in the Muang district, where endless streams of parcels flowed like secrets in the moonlight. This unexpected warehouse hub, however, wasn’t what it seemed. The protagonist—or perhaps the antagonist?—of our story is a 30-year-old woman, now finding herself at the center of a police investigation. The clever enterprise she orchestrated was as ripe and baffling as a plot twist. Allegedly, she dispatched unsolicited, subpar goods to unsuspecting recipients who hadn’t ordered them, raking in an impressive 80,000 baht a day. Yes, you read that right—a day! Phuket’s chief of police, the vigilant Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, elaborated on the unfolding drama. For weeks, his…

What began as an ordinary night on Route 117 in Phichit province ended in a scene of shocking violence that left one dead and another fighting for life. Late on September 20, emergency crews found 31‑year‑old nurse assistant Pochana lifeless in the back of a Ford pickup truck, while 61‑year‑old construction contractor Sombat — her partner — lay gravely injured in the driver’s seat, clutching a kitchen knife. Police Lieutenant Sanan Butraya and rescue teams arrived at the roadside in Nong Lum subdistrict, Wachirabarami district, at around 10:30 p.m. The Ford, registered in Nakhon Sawan, had become the grim center of a relationship tragedy: Pochana had sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest, back and neck. Sombat, police say, had attempted to take his own life after the attack and was found unconscious and in severe pain. First responders transported Sombat to Wachirabarami Hospital for immediate care before he was…

In the kind of small-town drama that turns a quiet mountain village into yesterday’s headlines, police and local officials in Chiang Mai arrested a 27-year-old Myanmar national named Bounthong on September 20. Authorities say he shot and killed his 65-year-old father-in-law, Ta, after a heated family argument two nights earlier in Mueang Mae Chaem district. The suspect was found hiding in the forested slopes of Ban Pang Ung Kao, Mae Chaem, bringing a tragic episode to a close and setting the stage for legal proceedings. The timeline: from domestic dispute to manhunt According to reports, the fatal confrontation unfolded on the evening of September 18. A domestic dispute between Bounthong and his 25-year-old wife escalated inside their home. When Ta intervened to try to calm the situation, the argument turned violent. Investigators allege that Bounthong produced a firearm and shot the 65-year-old. He then fled into nearby mountains, initiating a…

Patong municipality has stepped in to tamp down a brewing controversy, denying that it approved a public Jewish New Year celebration on Patong Beach that had been reported to take place between September 22 and 23. In a clear and concise Saturday statement, officials said no authorization was granted for religious activities on public land—citing the sensitivity of the issue and the potential for community friction. The denial followed a formal complaint from the Thai Friends of Palestine Club, who penned a letter to the Phuket governor urging the event be blocked. The group warned that allowing an Israeli-linked celebration on the open sands of Patong could run counter to Thailand’s public posture on the Gaza conflict and risk stirring tensions in a largely Muslim area of the island. Local officials say the decision is rooted in keeping the peace and preserving Phuket’s reputation as a congenial destination for tourists…

When Thai Rice Became the Star of the Sydney Food Scene What began as a booth at a major Sydney food expo quickly turned into a fragrant celebration of Thai grain craftsmanship. From September 8 to 11, more than 2,000 visitors flocked to Thailand’s stand — not for flashy gadgets or celebrity chefs, but for the irresistible scent and silky texture of Hom Mali rice. If you’ve ever wondered how a humble grain can steal the spotlight, this was that moment. Hom Mali: aroma that does the talking Department of Foreign Trade Director-General Arada Fuangthong put it plainly: the campaign aimed to present Thai Hom Mali as a “world-class, high-quality product with a unique taste, softness, and aroma.” And judging by the crowds, the message landed. Visitors sampled steaming spoons of Hom Mali and left with the sort of slow, satisfied smiles that come from perfect rice — the kind…

Bangkok’s commuters are facing a familiar mid‑week stomach‑knot: the government’s comforting 20‑baht flat fare for electric trains is due to expire on September 30, and unless the new Cabinet presses “extend,” the country’s urban transit budget could leap back to its full, tiered rates come October 1. For millions of daily riders who’ve come to treat 20 baht as a small, predictable oasis in an otherwise increasingly expensive city, that’s not just a policy decision — it’s a pocketbook drama with morning‑rush stakes. The fare cap, introduced by the Pheu Thai‑led government last October, covered both the Red Line and the Purple Line and quickly became one of those rare transport policies that had commuters quietly thanking the heavens — or at least the transport ministry. It kept every ride at a flat 20 baht, smoothing out the math for students, office workers, and seniors who tally costs down to…

Late-night tragedy in Sukhumvit: foreign woman falls from Bangkok hotel balcony A somber scene unfolded in Bangkok’s bustling Sukhumvit district in the early hours of September 20 when a 25-year-old foreign woman fell from a seventh-floor hotel balcony and later died. The incident — which occurred around 2:30am in the Wattana area — has prompted an active police investigation led by Lumpini Police Station and drawn attention because of its location in one of the capital’s busiest nightlife and tourist corridors. What happened Officers from Lumpini Police Station, under the direction of Pol. Lt. Chakrapong Pitakgornsakul, were called to the hotel after the woman’s body was discovered in the building’s car park. First responders included forensic specialists and medical examiners from Chulalongkorn Hospital, along with volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation. Authorities reported the woman suffered multiple fractures and a severe head injury; her body has been transported to Chulalongkorn Hospital…