Category: The Bangkok Post

Thai authorities are continuing to coordinate with their Japanese counterparts over the case of a 28-year-old Thai woman arrested at Fukuoka Airport after crystal methamphetamine was found hidden in coffee sachets she was carrying into Japan.

Japanese prosecutors are due to decide on Friday whether to indict Juthathip Thongnoi, according to Areepak Ngernbamroong, deputy secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB).

If prosecutors decide not to press charges, any further action, including possible deportation, will depend on Japanese law and the circumstances of the case, Ms Areepak said on Tuesday.

Foreign nationals who are not prosecuted are often barred from re-entering Japan, although each case is considered on its own merits, she added.

ONCB investigators on Monday interviewed Ms Juthathip’s father, Thanasak Thongnoi, and her boyfriend, who recently returned from Japan.

Ms Areepak said both provided photographs and Line chat records to assist the investigation. However, officials said the boyfriend had not personally collected the parcel before the trip, leaving Ms Juthathip as the person best placed to explain how she came into possession of it.

She stressed that Thai authorities were not rushing the investigation to meet the Japanese prosecution deadline, saying officials needed sufficient time to gather all relevant evidence.

Risky business

The risky business of people hiring out their services as couriers has come under a harsh spotlight since the arrest of a Thai flight attendant in Australia in late June. She was caught with 1.8 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in souvenir tote bags that she had agreed to bring on a flight to Melbourne.

Investigators have yet to determine whether the latest case in Japan is linked to another recent drug-smuggling operation in which a Vietnamese suspect was arrested after methamphetamine was found concealed in containers of tamarind paste.

Although the organisers in both cases are believed to be Vietnamese nationals, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether they are connected or part of the same trafficking network, Ms Areepak said.

The case came to light after Ms Juthathip’s family sought help through local media, insisting she had unknowingly transported the drugs after accepting a job delivering parcels for Thai customers living in Japan.

According to her family, she travelled to Japan with her boyfriend and another companion on July 11 after agreeing to deliver a 12-kilogramme parcel for a customer using the Line account name ‘ing ing’ in return for 3,600 baht. The customer had reportedly used her parcel-delivery service once before.

She was detained on arrival at Fukuoka Airport the following day after Japanese authorities found crystal methamphetamine concealed in coffee sachets among the nine parcels she was carrying. Her travelling companions were questioned and later released.

Her father has maintained that she was an unwitting courier and has appealed to authorities to identify those behind the operation.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has identified 10 emerging technologies it believes are nearing commercial maturity and could transform industries, addressing global challenges ranging from clean energy and healthcare to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI).

Released at the forum’s recent Summer Davos meeting in Dalian, China, the report said innovation is shifting from laboratory research to practical deployment, with governments, businesses and researchers now facing critical decisions that will determine how these technologies are adopted.

According to the WEF, this year’s technologies were selected based on their novelty, development progress and potential economic and social impact.

Three broad trends underpin the list. Technologies are becoming increasingly personalised, delivering solutions tailored to individual patients or specific environments. Innovation is also becoming more decentralised, enabling energy, food and raw materials to be produced closer to where they are consumed.

At the same time, many advances promise to deliver more with fewer resources, lowering costs while improving efficiency.

Energy breakthroughs

The report highlights everything-to-grid systems as a key technology supporting renewable energy. Instead of relying solely on power plants during peak demand, idle assets such as electric vehicles, factory batteries and data centres can feed stored electricity back into the grid, improving resilience while reducing carbon emissions.

Another breakthrough is direct lithium extraction, which can recover lithium from brine within hours rather than years. The technology is expected to diversify battery supply chains while reducing water consumption and dependence on conventional mining methods.

The WEF also points to passive radiative cooling materials, coatings capable of reflecting up to 95% of sunlight without consuming electricity. Such materials can significantly reduce cooling demand for buildings and infrastructure, lowering energy costs in hot climates.

Meanwhile, new technologies capable of destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals”, are emerging to address persistent environmental pollution through advanced thermal, electrical and ultraviolet treatment methods.

Precision medicine

Several technologies reflect the growing shift towards personalised healthcare.

Precision fermentation uses genetically engineered microbes to manufacture proteins, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals more efficiently than conventional agriculture or fossil fuel-based production.

The report also highlights exosome drug delivery, which uses naturally occurring cellular particles to transport therapies directly to diseased cells, potentially improving treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Another promising development is personalised mRNA cancer vaccines, which tailor treatment to each patient’s tumour profile. Early clinical trials have shown significant reductions in cancer recurrence when combined with existing immunotherapies.

AI and quantum computing

AI continues to evolve beyond generative models. The WEF identified world models as the next stage of AI development. Unlike current systems that primarily recognise patterns, world models learn how the physical world behaves, enabling AI to reason, predict and adapt in unfamiliar environments.

The technology is expected to accelerate advances in robotics, autonomous systems and climate simulation.

The report also highlights quantum simulation for drug discovery, allowing researchers to model molecular interactions with far greater accuracy than conventional computing, potentially reducing the high failure rate of pharmaceutical development.

As quantum computing advances, cybersecurity is also entering a new era.

The report identifies lattice-based cryptography as one of the most important technologies for protecting digital communications against future quantum attacks.

The encryption method is already being deployed in commercial platforms and is expected to become a cornerstone of post-quantum cybersecurity.

A former bank manager has been arrested after shooting five relatives, killing two and injuring three, in a long-running dispute over an access road in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi on Tuesday.

The shooting occurred at a house in Moo 2 of tambon Lahan in Bang Bua Thong district, said Pol Col Thassakorn Konthong, chief of the Bang Bua Thong station, who was alerted on Tuesday morning.

Police, forensic officers and Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuers found the bodies of a married couple outside the house. The victims were identified as 71-year-old Sanga and his 74-year-old wife, Suda. Their surnames were withheld. Three other people were injured.

The gunman, identified as 59-year-old Anek Wanaelor, a former manager of a commercial bank branch, was detained at the scene by the village headman before being handed over to police.

The daughter of the deceased told investigators that Mr Anek arrived at the family home at around 6.30am and became involved in a heated argument with her parents and other relatives before opening fire.

Another relative, 51-year-old Pichai, said the violence stemmed from a dispute over access to the property that had persisted for more than a decade. The conflict centred on a shared access road between the suspect and the deceased couple, who were his aunt and her husband.

According to Mr Pichai, the suspect had sought to widen the access route, but the couple refused.

Pol Col Thassakorn said preliminary investigations indicated that all those involved were relatives. The suspect reportedly used a 9mm handgun to shoot the victims.

The suspect was also wounded during the incident after being attacked with a knife by one of the victims, said the officer.

The dispute centred on an easement – a legal right allowing access across another person’s property. The issue had been the subject of legal proceedings and repeated arguments for more than 10 years, said Pol Col Thassakorn.

Police were preparing to charge the suspect with premeditated murder.

Land and Houses Financial Group, the holding company of LH Bank, expects its international lending portfolio to grow by 50% this year, driven by strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Thailand and continued growth in cross-border trade.

Amid heightened geopolitical tensions, FDI and international trade are expected to continue shifting towards Southeast Asia and Thailand, particularly from China.

Against this backdrop, LH Bank set an ambitious target of 50% growth in international loans for 2026 after recording 27% growth in the first half of the year, said Shih Jiing-Fuh, president and chief executive of LH Bank.

In the first half of 2026, the bank’s outstanding international loan portfolio expanded to 23 billion baht, up 27% from the end of 2025.

International loans now account for 8% of the bank’s total loan portfolio, compared with 6% at the end of last year. The bank aims to increase the share to 10% by 2027.

“The strong growth is expected to be driven primarily by investments in digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence-related industries, in line with investment promotion by the Board of Investment [BoI],” Mr Shih said.

In the first quarter of 2026, BoI’s investment promotion applications tallied 623 projects with a combined investment value of 1.02 trillion baht, up 142% year-on-year. The digital sector accounted for 86% of total investment value, reaching 874 billion baht, surging 823% from a year earlier.

In addition to strong growth in its international banking business, LH Bank reported solid overall lending expansion during the first half, with total outstanding loans rising to 364 billion baht, up 9.1% year-to-date.

Growth was broad-based across all business segments, with corporate and conglomerate loans increasing 10%, retail loans 10.3%, and commercial and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) loans 6.6%.

Supported by rising FDI inflows, cross-border trade and export activity, the bank also posted strong growth in fee-based income. Revenue from trade finance increased 148%, while foreign exchange income rose 75% during the first half of the year.

Mr Shih said the bank plans to expand its SME lending business in the second half after recording 6.6% growth in the first six months, compared with banking industry loan growth of only 1.8%.

LH Bank is preparing to launch 14 financial products and programmes tailored to support local SMEs.

The bank is also offering SME loans under the Bank of Thailand’s credit support schemes, SME Credit Boost and SME Secured Plus, to enhance liquidity for small businesses.

Under its business strategy, LH Bank expects total loan growth of 10-12% for the year, while maintaining its non-performing loan ratio at no more than 3% by year-end, compared with 2.56% currently, he said.

Despite volatile fuel prices and sluggish demand, Vietjet Thailand said the aviation situation remains manageable as it is still ramping up capacity and building a new regional hub in Udon Thani.

Chief executive Woranate Laprabang said the fuel price outlook remains volatile as the conflict in the Middle East continues, despite earlier reports of a US-Iran deal that temporarily eased prices.

He said travellers are expected to remain cautious with spending for the remainder of the year, particularly during the low season as many continue to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

However, the airline still expects a positive performance in the fourth quarter, banking on the high season as Thailand remains Asia’s leading tourism destination, said Mr Woranate.

Vietjet Thailand operates a fleet of 11 Boeing737 Max 8 aircraft and 12 Airbus A320 and A321 planes. By the end of this year, the airline expects to operate 25 Boeing737 planes and four A320 aircraft, with the target to expand its fleet to 50 jets by 2028.

The airline reduced capacity on some routes following the Middle East conflict, particularly to India and China, but has already restored some services and increased domestic capacity.

For the cool season, Vietjet Thailand plans to increase frequencies to Osaka and Tokyo, as well as launch a new Phuket-Taipei-Fukuoka route.

NEW ISAN HUB

The airline also plans to develop Udon Thani as a hub for the northeastern region, aiming to capture a larger share of the domestic market as its fleet continues to expand.

According to the Airports Department, Udon Thani airport handled more than 2 million passengers last year. The city is also scheduled to host a Horticultural Expo from November until March next year.

The airline introduced a new check-through service called “SkyConX” at Udon Thani airport for passengers travelling to Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam via Suvarnabhumi airport. The service allows passengers to check in, drop off their baggage and complete immigration formalities at their departure airport before continuing to their final destination.

Vietjet Thailand plans to increase the frequency of its Bangkok-Udon Thani service from two to four daily flights by September. If demand remains healthy, it might increase services to five flights a day, said Mr Woranate.

The airline is studying the feasibility of launching a direct route between Udon Thani and a Vietnamese city such as Ho Chi Minh City to promote two-way tourism, he noted.

Government plans to promote regional airports should include incentives for airlines, such as reductions in landing fees and air navigation charges, said Mr Woranate.

Cities should also improve facilities for foreign visitors by expanding foreign language signage and develop new attractions and festivals, he said.

The airline wants to extend its check-through service to Khon Kaen and Surat Thani later this year and in early 2027.

Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit said Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Surat Thani airports, operated by the Airports Department, are undergoing operational upgrades to accommodate direct international flights in line with International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

Another airline has already approached Udon Thani airport about launching a new route from Kunming in China, said Mr Phattrapong.

Thailand is positioning itself as a leading destination for wellness and longevity in Asia within three years, combining modern medical technology, world-class tourism and traditional Thai medicine.

Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat announced the government’s ambitious plan to transform the nation’s medical and wellness sector into a major health economy, citing strong infrastructure development as a key driver of growth.

The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 Global Wellness Summit, scheduled for Nov 10-13 in Phuket. The event, marking its 20th anniversary, gathers more than 600 participants, including business leaders, doctors, academics, investors, tech innovators and policymakers.

The government expects the summit to generate at least 300 million baht in economic value, reinforcing Thailand’s role in the global wellness industry.

Cathy Feliciano-Chon, co-chair of the summit, said Thailand’s wellness industry is expanding, alongside global growth trends.

According to the Global Wellness Institute, the worldwide wellness economy is projected to grow by 7.6% annually between 2024 and 2029, increasing from US$6.8 trillion in 2024 to $9.8 trillion in 2029.

This surge is driven by factors such as an ageing population managing chronic diseases, rising consumer demand for longevity and mental resilience and increased investment in health-focused infrastructure.

Asia has emerged as a powerhouse in the wellness sector, representing around $2 trillion of the global market. The region leads with an impressive 31% annual growth rate, outpacing the Middle East and North Africa.

In 2024, Asia set a record in wellness tourism with 563 million trips, surpassing Europe’s 348 million. Traditional and complementary medicine, wellness tourism and spas are among the fastest-growing sectors in the region.

Thailand has shown remarkable resilience. Despite a pandemic-induced contraction in wellness revenue from $41.7 billion in 2019 to $31 billion in 2020, the market rebounded to $39 billion in 2023 and $43 billion in 2024. This rapid recovery ranks Thailand as the ninth-largest wellness market in Asia-Pacific.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed concerns that allegations of collusion in the Senate election could undermine the coalition government’s stability.

He was commenting on Monday after Yingcheep Atchanont, the director of the election watchdog group iLaw pledged to continue releasing evidence about alleged manipulation of the 2024 election.

Mr Yingcheep recently submitted a petition to opposition chief whip Parit Wacharasindhu seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the alleged involvement of nine senior Bhumjaithai Party figures including the prime minister in orchestrating irregularities.

iLaw alleged that Mr Anutin had attended a gathering at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel while other senior party figures were involved in different stages of the operation.

Mr Anutin reiterated his insistence that his party and its members were not involved in the Senate election process, and that there was no need to establish a ‘war room’ to respond. He said he had issued a written directive to all party members one month before the 2024 election, instructing them not to become involved in the selection process.

Responding to the Pullman allegation, the premier said he was a frequent guest of the hotel and rejected any suggestion that his visits were linked to the election. He also dismissed speculation that the allegations could lead to the party’s dissolution, while confirming his intention to pursue legal action against Mr Yingcheep.

PM’s Office Minister Paradorn Prissananantakul, one of those named by iLaw, insisted the planned legal action was not a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP). ‘This is not a SLAPP suit. The allegations have damaged not only me personally but also the party, making legal action necessary,’ he said.

PM’s Office Minister Suksomruay Wantaneeyakul, also named by iLaw, urged the opposition to verify its information before making public allegations. ‘Mr Parit is a little late. It’s been two years, and he’s only now raising issues based on information that has already been examined,’ she said.

At a recent forum marking the second anniversary of the Senate election, Mr Parit outlined his own evidence of collusion and concern the Election Commission might not pursue all complaints.

The 2024 Senate election gave rise to allegations of systemic fraud and vote-buying by at least 130 of the 200 senators who were ultimately chosen in the three-stage poll.

The vote produced some highly unusual results, notably a preponderance of winners from provinces where the Bhumjaithai Party, which now leads the government, is strong electorally.

After months of reviewing complaints from candidates and the public, the Election Commission appointed an investigative committee in March 2025. It spent four months investigating before recommending action against 229 people, including 138 senators. The case was then reviewed by an adjudication panel, which reached the opposite conclusion in March this year and recommended dismissing all the allegations.

The second panel’s decision only reached the full seven-member EC in June, and it has 90 days, or until Sept 8, to issue a final ruling on whether to send the case to the courts. The commission has said it hopes to release its decision in August.

The Department of Special Investigation, meanwhile, has interviewed hundreds of people about reports of money-laundering related to the election and is now reviewing the findings.

People’s Party deputy leader Sirikanya Tansakun has urged the government to rethink its proposed early retirement scheme for civil servants, arguing that it has put the cart before the horse by prioritising workforce reductions before deciding which state agencies should be merged or abolished.

Her comments followed Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt’s announcement of a broad civil service reform plan, which includes dissolving agencies with overlapping responsibilities and offering voluntary early retirement packages to affected personnel. The first organisation slated for dissolution is the Land Bank Administration Institute, whose functions will be transferred to the Office of the National Land Policy Board from September.

Ms Sirikanya said the government should first conduct a comprehensive review of ministries and state agencies to determine which functions remain necessary before deciding which organisations should be merged or dissolved.

“It is illogical to discuss early retirement before deciding which agencies should be dissolved,” she said, adding that the government appeared to be announcing reforms on a piecemeal basis rather than presenting a coherent blueprint.

Once that review is complete, authorities should restructure the workforce based on operational needs rather than relying solely on voluntary departures, she said. Otherwise, the scheme could encourage the most capable officials to leave while doing little to reduce the overall size of the bureaucracy.

She also questioned whether the proposal would attract enough participants. More than 8,000 comments had been submitted within three days of the public consultation opening, reflecting widespread concern over the scheme, she said.

Ms Sirikanya argued that the compensation package, capped at 12 months’ salary, offered little incentive, particularly for civil servants aged 40 to 49 who would not yet qualify for pension benefits if they resigned.

“The project is unlikely to attract even the government’s target of 4,000 to 5,000 participants,” she said. “If the long-term goal is to reduce the state workforce from three million to two million people, this scheme simply is not attractive enough.”

She said the proposal should undergo a six- to 12-month study rather than being rushed, arguing it would have little impact on the budget.

Thai energy authorities and oil traders are preparing to import more crude oil from outside the Middle East as the escalating conflict disrupts two key shipping routes – the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the war, Thailand relied heavily on the Middle East for crude oil, with 58% of imports coming mainly from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The remaining 42% was sourced from the US and Asia-Pacific.

Recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, claimed by Yemen’s Houthi fighters, and the collapse of a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran have forced traders to diversify supply routes.

An oil company executive who requested anonymity said the global energy outlook is tightening again and may prove more severe than earlier conflicts in the region.

Refiners and traders have already activated contingency plans, including buying crude from ships that left port before the latest disruptions.

Additional supplies are being sourced from producers in Africa, the US and Southeast Asia.

If conditions worsen, shipments may be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, following ancient trade routes between Europe and Asia. However, this detour would add about 30 days to transport time and significantly raise costs, said the executive.

The source warned that the crude oil premium – the extra charge above standard market prices – has surged more than 400%, similar to spikes seen during conflicts earlier this year.

The premium reflects either the quality of the oil or risk of supply disruption, meaning refiners are paying far more to secure barrels.

Plans to purchase Russian crude remain uncertain due to international sanctions imposed on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.

Instead, Thailand has increased imports from the US and Argentina, said Veerapat Kiatfuengfoo, deputy energy permanent secretary.

As of July 23, Thailand holds combined reserves of 2.353 billion litres of commercial oil, 3,385 billion litres of legal reserves, 4.299 billion litres in transit and 3.280 billion litres confirmed for shipment, enough to meet demand for 108 days.

Thailand uses nearly 1 million barrels of crude oil a day, with 92% imported and 8% sourced domestically.

Despite rising costs, the Thai restaurant industry is expected to continue expanding this year, according to an executive of Central Restaurants Group Co Ltd (CRG).

Nath Vongphanich, chief executive of CRG, anticipates the government’s “Thai Chuay Thai Plus” co-payment scheme will help lift sales among small restaurateurs in the second half of 2026.

He said the scheme is expected to boost Thai consumers’ purchasing power while it is in effect, supporting industry growth.

The scheme runs from June to September and should provide support to the industry during the low season, said Mr Nath.

Eateries should also benefit from increasing foreign arrivals starting in October as the country enters its tourism high season.

However, larger restaurant operators ineligible for the co-payment scheme may be affected as diners are expected to favour participating restaurants during the scheme, he noted.

Thai restaurants and beverage stores are projected to tally revenue of 673 billion baht this year, according to a May analysis by Kasikorn Research Center.

Low barriers to entry have encouraged new players to join the restaurant sector, a trend expected to continue into the latter half of the year and signal continued opportunities for market expansion, said Mr Nath.

He also observed that the moo krata segment may be entering a period of sluggish growth.

To survive in this competitive business environment, Mr Nath recommended that existing restaurant operators stay active by introducing new products or launching promotions.

Operators must also prioritise managing their cost of goods sold, he noted.

War in the Middle East has driven up logistics and raw material costs, with packaging expenses 10-15% higher than before the conflicts.

At a press briefing earlier this year, CRG announced plans to open 140-160 new stores in 2026. The company has launched more than 110 new stores year-to-date, according to CRG.

Mr Nath said the company is proceeding with its expansion plans cautiously.