Reporter Thanapat Chirajint from Surat Thani visited Khrua Mukda restaurant to sample 'Kuaytiap Khaa Moo Yin Yang'—pork leg noodles stewed with 14 varieties of roasted Chinese herbs steeped in a braising pot. Using a carefully developed recipe, the pork achieves perfect tenderness with elastic skin and aromatic herbal infusion throughout the meat, delivering both delicious flavor and health-nourishing benefits since each herb ingredient carries specific medicinal properties.

Owner Kob Kan Sawat, 54, shared that she operates a sufficiency economy garden at home and enjoys working with medicinal plants. She created this dish following the principle of 'food as medicine' to help customers maintain and restore their health—a growing trend as more people seek nutritious meals. Though initially concerned customers might reject the Chinese medicine aroma, she was thrilled when numerous customers not only enjoyed it but returned many times to order again.

Beyond the noodle dish, the restaurant offers rice with medicinal pork leg and more than 20 additional menu items utilizing Chinese herbal broth, with prices starting at just 60 baht. Visitors coming to pay respects at the temple of Luang Pho Pattana Narote, the revered local teacher, can stop by Khrua Mukda at Wat Pattana Ram temple's food court to try the noodles and rice, or order medicinal pork legs for religious ceremonies. Contact: 06-2224-1591.

Leaving the congested streets of Chiang Mai, winding gray roads lead to Lai Kaew village in Doi Tao District, Chiang Mai Province. Towering mountains evoke memories of highland ethnic communities who once lived self-sufficiently through rice farming and natural resources in traditional ways. Stories tell of self-reliant settlements supporting people displaced from their original settlements. As communities relocated to reservoir edges, they found others already living there. Various ethnic groups historically inhabited the forest border between Tak and Chiang Mai provinces. The Karen Poi Plong people of Lai Kaew claim they never migrated from elsewhere but have lived here for generations. Yet they witnessed other communities flee unexpected flooding sixty years ago—something unimaginable at the time. Vivid memories from those who lived through it survive among elders aged 70-80. Today, improved roads, motorcycles, cars, and vans have reached the community, transforming traditional self-reliant economics into cash-dependent systems. The highlands are no longer isolated from the outside world. Residents adapting across generations now seek opportunities, capital, education, and personal development in the modern era. Entering Lai Kaew village feels dreamlike—a blend of traditional Karen Poi Plong heritage from sixty years ago mixed with efforts to adapt to contemporary life. The village is quiet, with occasional motorcycle engines cutting through the wind. Under elevated wooden houses, wooden cradles sway while elderly residents sit chewing betel nut and gossip about whose motorcycle just passed. A transistor radio hums from another house. Women aged 70-80 astound visitors wearing traditional Karen Poi Plong dress—zigzag patterned graphic shirts and intricately patterned indigo skirts in beautiful colors, adorned with dozens of bracelets covering both arms, shoulder bracelets, silver and brass bracelets with dangling charms like those popular among young city women. Some grandmothers wear tattoos of flowers and geometric patterns on their arms and calves, looking remarkably stylish. "Long ago, tattoo artists rarely visited the village," explains 86-year-old Pud Hongkuo while spinning cotton thread into tennis-ball-sized balls for the next weaving stage. "Men would get full-body tattoos, with their legs completely tattooed black like wearing shorts—that was considered cool. After the men finished, women would ask for tattoos too. Usually the artist would do it free since he'd already been paid by the men. It wasn't cheap." Pud isn't fully retired yet, still helping with fabric weaving and making cotton balls despite her eyesight declining. "These days I don't weave anymore, my eyes aren't good enough."

Tottenham Hotspur has completed the signing of 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Matheus Fernandes from West Ham United for approximately £85 million. Fernandes showed his quality in the Premier League over two seasons with Southampton and West Ham before deciding to leave the Hammers, who have been relegated to the Championship next season. Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi stated: "I have admired Matheus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with intensity and intelligence, which are crucial to how we want to play." De Zerbi continued: "Although he is young, he already has good Premier League experience and has shown quality and consistency at this level. Matheus handles pressure well, can drive the ball forward, works hard for the team, and has the courage to make things happen in difficult situations." Fernandes expressed his excitement about the move, saying: "I am very excited about this next step. Spurs is a great club, and the manager was a key factor in my decision to join the team."

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board announced the results of drug trafficking investigations on July 2. Pol. Col. Suriya Singhakamol, Secretary of the ONCB, along with Deputy Secretary Abhikit Rojpraserit and investigator Kwanchamal Srichaiwan, revealed that the investigation targets an international drug trafficking network.

The operation began on June 30 when authorities seized 8 kilograms of heroin hidden in fabric bags at a Bangkok address in the Bankhok-Lak Si area. On July 1, two additional raids were conducted in Soi Rangnام and Ramkhamhaeng, yielding nearly 9 kilograms of heroin concealed in winter jackets and coffee packages destined for Australia. A third location yielded heroin intended for Taiwan.

Authorities have identified the network's members and coordinated with relevant agencies to apprehend individuals who transported packages from Chiang Khan in Loei Province to Bangkok. International coordination with Australian Federal Police is underway to address the Australia-bound shipments.

Regarding flight attendant Meena, Pol. Col. Suriya stated that authorities have not yet spoken with her or her legal counsel. If Australian authorities can prove she was deceived rather than acting intentionally, she may not be prosecuted. Currently, evidence is still being gathered. The investigation notes that Meena, as a crew member, frequently travels to Australia, and the timing may have coincided with the network's shipment schedule. She is classified as a "mule" who sells baggage weight capacity by posting available space online, which attracts drug trafficking networks seeking to move product.

A van carrying latex paint collided with another vehicle on a Shanghai expressway, with the sudden braking causing paint containers to rupture and spray throughout the vehicle and its occupants. The two people inside were completely covered in white paint from head to toe, making them look like plaster sculptures when spotted on the roadside. Witnesses confirmed both occupants were safe, though they couldn't help but laugh at the unusual sight. Traffic police attributed the accident to inadequate following distance and reminded drivers to maintain safe spacing and properly secure liquid cargo to prevent spills that could impair visibility and increase accident risks.

Origin Hotels, a hospitality subsidiary of Origin Property (ORI), has announced a joint venture with Hotel101 Global, a Nasdaq-listed company (Ticker: HBNB), to develop Hotel101 Bangkok—the first Hotel101-branded hotel in Thailand. The project targets the growing tourism and travel sector in the country.

Pirapong Jaruneuk, CEO of Origin Property, stated that this partnership represents a significant step in expanding the hotel business through global partnerships. The company believes Hotel101's internationally recognized business model will strengthen Origin's recurring revenue streams and align with Thailand's long-term tourism industry growth.

The project will be developed in Don Mueang, Bangkok's key transportation hub, connecting travelers and business visitors to various regions of the country. This location positions the property to capitalize on future tourism and travel market expansion.

Pirapong noted that Origin continues restructuring its business and expanding investments through international partnerships. The collaboration with Hotel101 reflects both companies' confidence in Thailand's tourism potential, combining Origin's real estate development expertise with Hotel101's hotel management capabilities to create an internationally-standard property with sustainable growth.

Edgar Injap Sia II, founder of Hotel101 Global, called the Bangkok partnership a crucial step in the company's global expansion strategy, selecting Thailand as a key regional market. Bangkok serves as Southeast Asia's central hub for travel and commerce.

Located near Suvarnabhumi Airport on Phahonyothin Road with skytrain access, the property will offer business and traveler amenities including conference facilities, 24-hour dining, swimming pool, fitness center, business services, and parking.

Hotel101 operates as a 4-star affordable hotel brand under the "One Room, One Standard" concept, standardizing room designs for construction and management efficiency. Hotel101 Global, trading as HBNB on Nasdaq, has a market capitalization of approximately $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2025. Properties are operational in the Philippines and Spain, with developments underway in Japan, the U.S., Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand. The company aims to expand to over 1 million rooms globally.

ORI operates five core business divisions: condominium development, housing development, services, hotels, and others.