Samui Bulletin

10/07/2025

𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗞𝗼𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗶 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗿

A prominent Australian lawyer was found dead in a Koh Samui massage parlour on July 7, 2025, in a case now under investigation by Thai authorities after a suspicious white powder was discovered in his clothing

A prominent Australian lawyer was found dead in a Koh Samui massage parlour on July 7, 2025, in a case now under investigation by Thai authorities aft

10/07/2025

𝗥𝗮𝗷𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗸𝘆𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced that construction of the Rajavithi Skywalk, a 1.341-kilometre elevated walkway connecting Victory Monument to the Thaksin Building Intersection, is on track for completion by April 2026. The project is part of the city’s broader goal to become a “walkable and accessible urban environment,” enhancing pedestrian connectivity in key economic and medical districts.

Bangkok's 1.3km Rajavithi Skywalk will open in April 2026, improving pedestrian access while preserving trees and minimizing sidewalk disruptions.

10/07/2025

𝗔𝗻𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sharply criticized the use of trade tariffs as geopolitical tools during the opening of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sharply criticized the use of trade tariffs as geopolitical tools during the opening of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on July 9.

10/07/2025

𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱

A German national accused of participating in an online fraud operation targeting Australian citizens was arrested on July 8, 2025, by Thai authorities on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province.

𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 !

10/07/2025

𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗺 𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 $𝟳𝗠 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗺

Thai cybercrime investigators have arrested six individuals linked to a sophisticated email fraud operation that siphoned $7 million from a Japanese company, with authorities freezing a majority of the stolen funds through international cooperation.

Thai cybercrime investigators have arrested six individuals linked to a sophisticated email fraud operation that siphoned $7 million from a Japanese company, with authorities freezing a majority of the stolen funds through international cooperation.

10/07/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗕𝟮𝟭 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸

A Thai company has been left facing a 21-million-baht bill after its Google Cloud account was hacked, allegedly to run cryptocurrency mining operations, according to a complaint posted on social media on July 9, 2025.

https://samui.locality.guide/2025/07/10/thai-firm-hit-with-b21-million-cloud-bill-after-hack/

09/07/2025

𝗫𝗶 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘅-𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿

On July 9, 2025, former Thai interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally urged Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to withdraw a proposed bill that would legalize casinos in Thailand. The warning was reportedly delivered during an official state meeting held earlier this year in Beijing.

On July 9, 2025, former Thai interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul revealed that Chinese President Xi Jinping personally urged Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to withdraw a proposed bill that would legalize casinos in Thailand.

09/07/2025

𝗨𝗦 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗳 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿

Thailand’s manufacturing sector is bracing for a significant downturn following the United States’ proposal to impose a 36% import tariff on Thai products, set to take effect on August 1, 2025.

A proposed 36% US tariff on Thai imports could slash exports and trigger major job losses in the country’s manufacturing sector by late 2025.

09/07/2025

𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼-𝗣𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗶𝗱𝘆

Thai restaurant operators are urging the government to revive the “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment subsidy scheme, saying current domestic tourism incentives such as “Tiew Thai Khon La Khrueng” are insufficient to support the sector during the low season.

https://samui.locality.guide/2025/07/09/restaurateurs-call-for-return-of-co-payment-subsidy/

09/07/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Eight years after the initial proposals, Thailand’s regional mass transit plans in four major provinces remain stalled, with none of the lines breaking ground. Despite completed feasibility studies and initial timelines for construction between 2020 and 2022, the projects remain in limbo amid shifting government priorities and repeated rounds of new consultancy contracts.

https://samui.locality.guide/2025/07/09/regional-rail-projects-see-delays-despite-years-of-planning/

09/07/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗶-𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗢 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘁𝗲

A diplomatic and cultural dispute has emerged between Thailand and Cambodia following Cambodia’s recent application to UNESCO for recognition of Khmer wedding traditions as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The submission, made in 2025, has triggered concern among Thai nationalist groups who argue that elements of the proposed heritage — particularly wedding attire — resemble Thailand’s own traditional garments.

Thailand and Cambodia are at odds over traditional attire amid UNESCO heritage applications, reflecting deeper regional tensions and debates about cultural ownership.

09/07/2025

𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗼𝗸 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝘁𝟮𝟬 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿

Starting October 1, 2025, all electric train fares in Bangkok and its surrounding areas will be capped at 20 baht per trip for Thai citizens, following Cabinet approval of a proposal from the Transport Ministry on July 8.

Bangkok train fares to be capped at 20 baht per ride from October 1, 2025, for Thai citizens, following Cabinet approval of a transport ministry proposal.