Category: The Bangkok Post

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a bottle of Le Labo and wondering what the number after the name actually means, you’re not alone.

While the fragrance brand’s minimalist labels have become iconic in their own right, the numbers aren’t random – they’re one of Le Labo’s most deliberate design choices.

Every fragrance name follows a simple formula: the fragrance’s dominant note, followed by the total number of ingredients used to create it.

For example, Thé Matcha 26 spotlights the soft, creamy aroma of matcha tea and is composed of 26 ingredients. Rose 31, meanwhile, reimagines the classic floral with a spicy, woody twist, while ’31’ denotes the number of ingredients in the blend.

The only fragrance that breaks the rule is Another 13.

Despite what its name suggests, ‘Another’ isn’t an olfactive note. The fragrance was created in 2010 as an exclusive collaboration with AnOther Magazine under editor-in-chief Jefferson Hack, borrowing its name directly from the publication.

The ’13’ still stays true to Le Labo’s naming convention, referring to the number of ingredients, but the fragrance itself revolves around the radiant, skin-like molecule Ambroxan rather than a note called ‘another’.

It’s a detail that’s easy to miss, but once you know how to read Le Labo’s labels, every bottle becomes a little less mysterious.

A Bangkok gelato shop is facing backlash online after a customer said she bit into a shard of glass hidden in her ice cream, cutting her tongue and cheek.

The customer posted on Facebook July 19 that on June 14 she bought two PARAMETER gelatos, including a nut flavour, at 259 baht each.

While eating, she encountered something unusually hard and at first assumed it was another peanut. Her friend then noticed blood in her mouth. When she spat it out, she found a piece of glass roughly the size of a peanut and realised she had already swallowed part of it.

The shop, located at Siam Paragon in Bangkok’s Pathum Wan district, reportedly inspected the ice cream immediately and advised her to seek medical attention. Doctors found minor cuts to her tongue and inner cheek and administered a tetanus shot as a precaution, noting that the glass had been chewed finely enough to avoid deeper injury.

The customer said she was less upset by the incident itself than by the shop’s response, which she felt was limited to a refund and reimbursement of medical expenses.

The woman said she had expected a personal apology from management, an explanation of what went wrong, and details of preventive measures, not just messages relayed through staff.

She added that she hoped the case would prompt the shop to strengthen its quality control.

In a LINE screenshot captured by the customer, the shop said that one of the employees accidentally dropped a glass during service.

In a statement, PARAMETER’s management apologised “sincerely” for the incident, saying it recognised the impact on customer trust. The company said staff had assisted the customer as soon as they learned of the incident, covered medical costs, followed up on her condition, and had since reached out to solicit her feedback and offer further support.

The shop said it was reviewing and upgrading safety measures across its service process, including glassware handling, pre-serving checks, standard operating procedures and staff training, to prevent similar incidents. It thanked customers for their trust and feedback, calling the episode “an important lesson.”

Separately, PARAMETER has faced criticism on social media over a response by Krit Sripoomseth, who describes himself as a chef and is a former actor, about the dessert’s prices (159 to 299 baht for 90 to 100 grammes of gelato), in which he said Thai consumers need to change their mindset or they will continue settling for poor-quality products.

The shop has also become the target of online jokes about the fragility of its ‘ultra-smooth’ gelato, including quips that customers should not chew or photograph the ice cream because it melts and loses texture within moments of serving.

The House subcommittee on prison reform invited four former inmates to share their experiences and propose improvements in welfare, healthcare and rehabilitation.

Their suggestions included better medical treatment along with vocational training consistent with the needs of the modern-day job market.

The hearing was organised by the House Subcommittee on Justice, Quality of Life, Access to Healthcare for Prisoners and Social Reintegration chaired by Democrat party-list MP Radklao Inthawong Suwannakiri.

Those invited to testify were rock musician Seksan Sookpimay, better known as Sek Loso, and three former inmates known by pennames – L Oras (Sarayut Srikamnoed), Earn Wat Yai (Naphanan Thongkluea) and Lang Phra Nakhon (Akarin Puri).

Ms Radklao said the subcommittee wanted sustainable reforms in four key areas: improved justice and legal access for inmates, better living conditions and education in prisons, expanded access to quality healthcare, and better rehabilitation through vocational training and cooperation with the private sector to reduce repeat offending.

Earn Wat Yai, who spent 21 years and eight months in prison, said rehabilitation should focus not only on vocational skills but also on moral development and personal growth.

“Inmates are part of society,” he said. “If they are treated as worthless, they will remain worthless. But if society recognises their value, they can become valuable members of the community.”

He argued that long-term prisoners should receive education and practical job training instead of remaining idle.

“Current prison training often focuses on folding paper bags or repairing shoes. Those skills are difficult to use to build a livelihood on after release,” he said.

Instead, prisons should offer training in occupations such as barbering, video editing, computer technology, artificial intelligence and the arts. He noted that many inmates who spend decades behind bars struggle to adapt to today’s rapidly changing society upon their release, increasing the risk of recidivism.

L Oras urged authorities to lift standards of healthcare services for prisoners, saying medical treatment often failed to match patients’ actual conditions.

Inmates suffering from varioius illnesses frequently received only paracetamol, he said. Those with stomach ailments were commonly given oral rehydration salts and sugar solutions, and prisoners with knee problems were sometimes prescribed muscle relaxants instead of appropriate treatment.

He called on authorities to review prison healthcare policies and provide inmates with proper medical attention, including referrals to outside hospitals when necessary.

A US Customs and Border Protection sniffer dog has again made headlines after uncovering prohibited items, including a dead monitor lizard, in luggage arriving from Thailand at Los Angeles International Airport.

The CBP Office of Field Operations on Monday shared a photograph of CBP K9 Maisy, a beagle trained to detect agricultural products, posing with the seized items. The caption reads: “If you discovered all this in a suitcase, wouldn’t you be this happy?”

According to the agency, Maisy alerted officers to a suitcase containing 50 pounds (22 kilogrammes) of meat products, including raw meat, as well as 33 pounds (14kg) of mangoes, garlic, bamboo shoots and banana shoots.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service also seized a 16-pound (7kg) monitor lizard carcass found in the luggage, the agency said.

The discovery of the dead lizard created a buzz online, with many expressing surprise at the attempt to smuggle it into the United States, as well as the large amount of food discovered.

“Omg, the smell should have alerted anyone, but Maisie did her job perfectly. Give Maisie extra treats,” said Facebook user Lorraine Anthony.

Others also jokingly said the smuggler, whose details were not released, should share their packing tips.

In April, another detector beagle named Merla gained international attention after intercepting more than 100 pork and chicken sandwiches concealed in the bag of a traveller arriving from Thailand.

A Thai student team won two silver and two bronze medals at the 58th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO 2026), held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from July 10-19, reflecting the country’s strong performance in one of the world’s leading science competitions.

Thiradet Jiarasuksakun, director of the Institute for the Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology (IPST), said on Sunday the four-member Thai team competed against 362 contestants from 92 countries.

The silver medallists were Nonthapawit Koheng and Chanathan Paruemon, both from Kamnoetvidya Science Academy in Rayong. The bronze medals went to Phatthanaphong Tantravorasin of The Prince Royal’s College in Chiang Mai and Phattharaphon Phutthachaksri of Triam Udom Suksa School in Bangkok.

The team was led by Nattapong Paiboonvorachat, an assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University, with Pumidech Puthongkham, also an assistant professor at the university, serving as deputy leader.

Thanthapatra Bunchuay of Mahidol University, Natthawat Semakul of Chiang Mai University and Charoensak Mueangkaew of the IPST also joined the delegation.

This year’s competition awarded 41 gold, 71 silver and 112 bronze medals, along with 30 honourable mentions.

The US won the highest practical score, China claimed the highest theoretical score, while the overall highest score went to a contestant from Russia.

A landlubber who stole a small trawler and headed out to sea soon found himself in deep trouble, swimming for his life after big waves overturned it off the coast of this resort island.

The boat was sighted on Sunday, floating and possibly without any crew, off Nai Yang beach in tambon Sakhu, Thalang district, in the island’s north.

Sakhu police, accompanied by the vessel’s two owners and volunteer rescuers, began a search for the boat. It was found hours later about four nautical miles off the island in the Andaman Sea.

Piyawat Pimolpattanakul, 22, was found floating nearby and was rescued, police said.

Sakhu police chief Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul said Mr Piyawat was from Lampang, in the far north of Thailand. He now faces two charges – theft of the vessel and driving it without a licence.

Mr Piyawat did not say why he stole the fishing boat, which was moored at Nai Yang beach, according to the Association of Mass Communication News Radio and Television Facebook page. He did tell police he encountered rough seas and lost control of the vessel.

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” sailed straight to the top of the North American box office, bringing home $124.5 million in its opening weekend — the best live action debut of the year, industry estimates showed Sunday.

The latest remake of the nearly 3,000-year-old epic captured another $139 million in overseas sales for a total of $263.5 million, according to Exhibitor Relations, more than paying for the film’s reported $250 million price tag.

The film — with a high-voltage cast led by Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway, and produced by Universal — pillaged earlier estimates that forecast an opening weekend haul of less than $100 million.

“Nolan is the only filmmaker working today who could take an ancient story like this, attract a cast as sprawling and accomplished as this, and make it a pop culture event,” said veteran industry analyst David A. Gross.

Based on Homer’s ancient epic poem, the film tracks hero Odysseus as he faces obstacle after obstacle on his way home from the Trojan War.

It is the first film ever to be shot entirely on IMAX film cameras, as Nolan leaned into filmmaking heritage for this modern adaption of one of humanity’s oldest stories.

In distant second place, Disney’s “Moana” brought in $19 million in its second week for a total of $82 million in North America and $178 million globally.

Trailing “Moana” was Universal’s “Minions and Monsters,” which earned another $14.8 million over the weekend domestically for a global three-week total of nearly $357.6 million.

Disney’s “Toy Story 5” fell to fourth place in its fifth week, with an estimated domestic weekend take of $13 million, for a global total of nearly $958 million.

“Evil Dead Burn” from Warner Bros. raked in $5 million over the weekend domestically, bringing its domestic total over the last two weeks to more than $24 million or $51 million globally.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“The Invite” ($3.9 million)

“Young Washington” ($3.7 million)

“Obsession” ($2.5 million)

“Supergirl” ($1.5 million)

“Disclosure Day” ($1.45 million)

A man was killed when a natural gas filling station exploded in tambon Bor Win of Si Racha district on Monday afternoon.

Bor Win police were informed of the explosion at the PTT station for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) on Highway No.331 at 3.30pm. At the scene, concrete walls had been blown apart and a technician’s body was found trapped beneath a collapsed wall.

It was reported that before the explosion, station attendants detected a burning smell coming from the power control room. Two technicians were sent to inspect it. The explosion occurred while one of the technicians was inside the room. The deceased was identified as Santi Duangsri, aged 40.

PTT later described the incident as a severe fire. The energy company said that its emergency response team shut down the station’s systems and temporarily closed the facility to ensure public safety.

PTT said it was investigating the incident and extended condolences to the victim’s family.

The body of a third crew member of a fishing boat that capsized off the coast of this eastern province more than a week ago has been found floating in the Gulf of Thailand, with two crew still unaccounted for and believed dead.

The body of Cambodian Wanthong Nuan, 44, the engineer on the fishing boat Choke Kanya, was found about 80 kilometres from where the boat sank in stormy seas on July 10, according to volunteer rescuer Chakrit Sangpart.

The 17-gross-tonne trawler carried a crew of five, a Thai captain and four Cambodians. The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre began a search after it was reported missing.

The vessel was found to have overturned and sunk in 25-metre-deep water three nautical miles off Koh Kut. Its demise was attributed to rough seas and strong winds.

On Friday, searchers found the bodies of two of the missing crewmen washed up on a beach on Koh Kut. They were identified as Thit Yim, 47, a Cambodian, and the 31-year-old captain, Thatthep Phutthakasorn.

At 9.30am on Monday, another body was found floating in the sea by a fishermen, off Ban Yai Mom in Laem Ngop district.

Rescuers sent to recover the body said the man was floating face down, his head nibbled to the bone by fish and crabs, the body already decomposing. He was wearing only his underpants.

The body was taken ashore at Laem Ngop Pier. The boat’s owner, Amnat Sutsanguan, formally identified him. Forensic identification procedures were to follow, in accordance with legal requirements.

Narong Chaisiri, president of the Trat Fisheries Association, said the search was continuing for the remaining two crew members, identified as Chuen and Lan Thuem and both presumed dead.

Mr Narong said the crew had gone out to fish and refuel before the vessel encountered a storm and capsized.

The association and the boat’s owner will cooperate in providing assistance and compensation to the victims’ families, in accordance with the applicable insurance policies and welfare schemes for the crew and the vessel.

Compensation payments were expected to amount to 700,000 to 800,000 baht per victim, with beneficiaries required to prove they are biological relatives.

The sunken vessel would be salvaged and examined and the findings submitted to relevant authorities as part of the compensation process, Mr Narong added.

About 400 local officials descended on Hat Nui in tambon Karon, Mueang district, on Monday to dismantle buildings encroaching on the shore.

The huge group was led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin, who emphasised that it was a government priority to solve the encroachment problems that have plagued the tourist island for decades.

The minister said local people were aware of the government’s intention to return encroached forest and marine park areas of Phuket to the public, and they had challenged him to implement the policy on the beach.

“Fishermen who approached the beach were fired at or assaulted. This is not private property. It is public land. We cannot tolerate it,” Mr Suchart said. Influential people illegally occupied many beaches in Phuket, the minister said.

Mr Suchart said they had begun the dismantling of 50 buildings that encroached on Hat Nui. Officials would later guard the area to ensure they did not return.

The operation would expand to other beaches that have been encroached on in Phuket. It would take time because there would be legal disputes, he said. Encroachers would be ousted from about 300 public locations in Phuket.

A huge number of officials would be needed to end all encroachment at about 10 other beaches like Hat Nui.

“The bottom line is that beaches are public land supervised by the Royal Forestry Department and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. They cannot belong to any individual,” Mr Suchart said.

Hat Nui covered about 18 rai of land with a market value of nearly 2 billion baht.

After the offending structures were removed the government would develop the beach as part of a recreational forest area extending over a total area of 540 rai, Mr Suchart said.