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Crime Housekeeper Arrested for Role in Tax Evasion Scheme
Picture courtesy of Khaosod. A 54-year-old housekeeper has been arrested after allegedly being listed as a company director in a fraudulent shipping business involved in a large-scale tax evasion case worth more than 180 million baht. Authorities believe the same woman was also connected to two additional cases, bringing the total damage to the state to over 430 million baht. Mrs. Sombun was apprehended in the car park of an apartment complex in Si Racha district, Chonburi, under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on 18 February 2025. The arrest was ordered by Pol Col Thatphoom Jaruprach, commander of the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD), and carried out by a team led by Pol Col Naruephon Karuna. The charges against Mrs. Sombun include “conspiring to deliberately evade value-added tax (VAT) through fraudulent, deceitful, or similar means.” Investigators allege that Mrs. Sombun was listed as a director of a shipping company that acted as a customs clearance agent for imported goods. The company reportedly failed to issue VAT invoices and receipts, paid employees in cash without documentation, and understated or failed to file sales figures with the Revenue Department. These actions triggered a retroactive tax assessment covering 64 tax months, with a calculated liability including fines totalling 186 million baht. Further investigations revealed Mrs. Sombun was also involved in two other similar cases, with combined damages to the state exceeding 430 million baht. During questioning, the accused denied any knowledge of the fraudulent activities. She claimed that around 2015, while working as a housekeeper for a company in Laem Chabang, her employer asked her to sign documents. Trusting her employer, she signed the papers without understanding their contents and said she received no compensation. She stated she only became aware of the legal consequences when she was summoned for questioning earlier this year but failed to respond to the summons. Her arrest followed shortly after. Mrs. Sombun has been handed over to investigators at the Economic Crime Suppression Division for further legal proceedings. Authorities continue to probe whether additional individuals or entities were involved in the tax evasion scheme. Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-19. -
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Britain Plans Civilian Home Guard Force to Shield Infrastructure in New 'Pre-War' Strategy
Britain Plans Civilian Force to Shield Infrastructure in New 'Pre-War' Strategy The UK government is preparing to launch a modern version of the wartime Home Guard as part of a sweeping defence overhaul designed to confront rising global threats. Thousands of civilian volunteers may be recruited to protect key infrastructure sites across the country, from nuclear power stations and telecom facilities to vital energy hubs and undersea internet cable landings, under proposals set out in the upcoming Strategic Defence Review (SDR). This modern Home Guard, inspired by the citizens’ militia formed in 1940 to defend against Nazi invasion, would form part of a broader national strategy focused on homeland security and resilience. Officials behind the plan say it reflects the gravity of the current geopolitical landscape, describing it as a “pre-war era” marked by growing tensions with an axis of hostile states including Russia, Iran and North Korea. According to senior government sources, the volunteer force will be tasked with safeguarding critical infrastructure from potential sabotage or attack by enemy states or terrorist operatives. Recent events, such as the fire that disrupted operations at Heathrow Airport, are cited as evidence of the need for increased protection of essential facilities. While Britain is not facing an imminent military invasion, officials acknowledge that the threat of hybrid or "greyzone" attacks—particularly from Russia—has revealed vulnerabilities in national infrastructure that must be addressed urgently. The SDR, expected to be released within weeks, will lay out a comprehensive vision for strengthening national defence both at home and abroad. The document is also expected to pave the way for further military investments and strategic shifts. Among the key developments are plans for a new generation of nuclear-powered hunter submarines—dubbed SSN-Aukus—as part of Britain’s trilateral defence pact with the United States and Australia. These vessels would replace the ageing fleet of seven Astute-class submarines and bolster underwater defence capabilities. In parallel, Defence Secretary John Healey is pushing to reverse years of military downsizing by increasing the British Army’s headcount to 76,000, up from the current target of 72,500. The move is part of a broader push to address what critics have described as decades of underinvestment and erosion in the UK’s armed forces. A new national security strategy, led by National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell and foreign policy expert John Bew, will complement the SDR in the lead-up to a major NATO summit in June. There, former US President Donald Trump is widely expected to renew calls for higher defence spending among European allies. A follow-up defence capability command paper is also due this autumn, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her spending review. That document will outline how the UK intends to implement its new defence programmes in detail. As for the new Home Guard, officials say the force will be composed of civilians drawn from local communities across the UK, operating in regional hubs. Though distinct from the army reserves, it is expected to share a similar structure and work closely with existing agencies like the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, an armed police unit responsible for securing the nation’s nuclear sites. Details of recruitment, training and deployment will be finalized by the Ministry of Defence in the coming months. The original Home Guard, known initially as the Local Defence Volunteers, was formed during the Second World War and eventually swelled to more than 1.5 million members. Comprising mostly men deemed too old or too young for front-line combat, their role was to provide a last line of defence in the event of invasion. They also patrolled industrial sites, transportation links, and maintained order on the home front. Today’s iteration may serve a different purpose, but the driving logic remains consistent: a citizen force ready to respond to threats against the nation’s vital lifelines. As Britain rethinks its place in an increasingly unstable world, the return of the Home Guard signals a significant shift in how the country prepares for the challenges ahead. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-19 -
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BBC Under Fire Again Over Gaza Analyst's Hamas Connections
The BBC is facing intense scrutiny after revelations emerged that Wesam Afifa, a frequent guest on its Arabic-language broadcasts, previously held top positions at media outlets linked to Hamas. The corporation has launched an internal investigation into how Afifa, who led the Hamas-controlled Al-Aqsa TV, was repeatedly introduced as an independent “journalistic writer” and “political analyst” on BBC Arabic without acknowledgment of his affiliations. Afifa served as editor-in-chief of Al-Aqsa TV, which the BBC itself has described as a Hamas-controlled outlet, from 2017 until September 2023. He also held the same title at the al-Resalah news website, a platform widely regarded as closely tied to Hamas, from January 2006 until the same date last year. According to his professional profile, Afifa continues to contribute articles to al-Resalah. Despite this background, the BBC introduced him in a recent May 2 interview simply as “a journalistic author.” During that appearance, Afifa described “atrocious massacres” and widespread “hunger” in Gaza. His appearances stretch back to at least August 2023, when he was still running Al-Aqsa TV. At that time, the BBC also referred to him as a “journalistic author” in a discussion about ceasefire negotiations. In December 2023, he appeared again, this time described as an “author and political analyst,” to criticize the Palestinian Authority's actions against Hamas in the West Bank. According to one source, Afifa has featured on the BBC Arabic service at least six times. A spokesperson for the BBC World Service acknowledged the controversy, stating: “We strive for the highest standards of transparency with audiences, including about the contributors we use and their background. We are investigating the way this specific contributor was introduced and how he was used on air.” The issue has reignited a broader debate about BBC Arabic’s editorial standards and impartiality. Nick Robinson, host of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, recently pushed back against accusations that the BBC gives a platform to Hamas operatives masquerading as journalists. Responding to Israeli government spokesman David Mencer’s claim that many Gaza-based journalists are “simply Hamas operatives wearing press vests,” Robinson said, “I think the BBC knows how to judge real journalists from not real journalists.” Yet critics remain unconvinced. Danny Cohen, the BBC’s former director of television, said: “Even by the standards of BBC Arabic, it is staggering that the man who led a Hamas-run television station has been appearing regularly on a BBC service. BBC Arabic has become a propaganda channel for a terrorist organisation. Licence-fee payers are funding this service and the BBC must confirm whether they have been paying a prominent Hamas figure for his appearances.” Cohen laid blame squarely on BBC leadership. “Responsibility for BBC Arabic rests with the director-general, Tim Davie, and head of news, Deborah Turness. Their utter failure to deal with serious issues of racism and impartiality on this BBC service over a lengthy period is both shocking and indefensible.” This isn’t the first time BBC Arabic has faced allegations of bias. Samir Shah, the BBC’s chairman, described a previous incident involving the documentary Gaza: How To Survive a Warzone as a “dagger to the heart” of the broadcaster’s impartiality. The programme failed to disclose that its child narrator was the son of a Hamas minister, and that the child’s mother had been paid by the independent production company involved. In response to these repeated controversies, Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch has called for “wholesale reform” of the BBC Arabic channel. In a letter to Tim Davie, she warned that her party may no longer support the licence fee if the corporation does not address concerns over antisemitism and anti-Israel bias. Hamas’s military wing was classified as a terrorist organisation by the UK in 2001, with its political wing receiving the same designation in 2021. The Times has reached out to Wesam Afifa for comment through his social media accounts. Related Topics: BBC Contributor in Gaza Sparks Outrage ‘We’ll burn Jews like Hitler did’ BBC Doc Features Son Of Hamas Leader but Fails to Disclose to Viewers BBC Faces Backlash Over Use of Term ‘Revert’ in Islam Coverage BBC Faces More Serious Accusations of Bias in Gaza Hostage Release Coverage "Controversy Surrounds BBC Arabic's Coverage of Israel-Gaza Conflict" BBC uses account of journalist working for Iran-backed news agency in Gaza deaths article MPs demand inquiry Gaza doctors at centre of harrowing BBC report are Hamas supporters BBC criticized For failing To Disclose Affiliations of Palestinian Journalists Hamas Ties BBC Faces Backlash Over Terminology in Hamas Coverage BBC Chairman Calls For a Thorough Review of Israel-Hamas War Bias BBC Accused of Bias in Israel-Hamas Coverage: Over 1,500 Breaches of Guidelines Jeremy Bowen Defends BBC Amid Allegations of Bias Over Israel-Hamas Coverage New Report from former BBC Director Criticizes Coverage of Israel-Hamas Conflict Whistleblower Alleges Normalized Anti-Semitism at the BBC Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-05-19 -
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Nelson: Inside Muslim-majority northern town “Britain’s valley of strangers”
In the once-thriving Lancashire mill town of Nelson, change has been constant, but integration has not always kept pace. Today, many locals describe their home as “Britain’s valley of strangers,” where linguistic and cultural divides have grown deeper over the years, and where communication—literally—often stops at the language barrier. Tariq Hussain, who has lived in Nelson for over 20 years, typifies this disconnect. A 57-year-old clothing merchant who sells traditional Asian garments, Mr Hussain admits he was unaware of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s recent immigration proposals, saying he has more immediate concerns. “I speak little English even though I have been in this country for quite a long time,” he explained in Punjabi. “I don’t watch the British news because I don’t understand it, so what’s the point?” His days are spent catering to Pakistani customers and checking on family in Pakistan, a country grappling with fresh tensions with India. “All my work involves dealing with other Pakistani people and my friends are all Pakistani, so I don’t need to speak English,” he said. “If I do, I get somebody to help me.” He chuckled, “No knowledge without college,” acknowledging that his lack of formal education may have held him back. But Mr Hussain is far from an anomaly. According to census data, Pendle Borough Council, which includes Nelson, has the highest rate in the UK of residents who speak little to no English. Nearly 38% of people in the borough whose first language isn’t English fall into that category, with the majority living in Nelson. In some parts of the town, as many as one in five residents struggle with English. Zafar Ali, 65, moved to Nelson from Pakistan in 1968 and spent his life working in mills and other jobs. Speaking in a thick Lancashire accent, he lamented, “A lot of the new arrivals from Pakistan and other countries don’t make much effort to learn and speak English, but it wasn’t like that in my day. Of course, speaking English is important. But the immigration system is so messed up that they let anybody in, and no Government is bothered if people integrate or work. It’s all wrong.” Indeed, many of the town’s institutions have changed dramatically. The local pub culture, once a cornerstone of social life, has all but vanished. Samantha Barrett, 39, who runs the Lord Nelson pub, said business is slow and rarely sees more than a handful of customers. “We are a pub in a Muslim-majority town, so it’s never going to be good,” she said. “The town centre is dead, a lot of people who live here don’t speak English, and they certainly don’t like a drink.” Nearby, shopfronts cater to a predominantly Asian customer base, with bustling bazaars filled with vibrant fabrics and traditional food outlets. In stark contrast, the town’s main shopping centre is slated for demolition, a symbol of broader economic decline. For Azhar, a mosque official and community organiser, the English language issue is nuanced. “A lot of our women don’t speak English because they don’t go out to work,” he explained. “In recent years, we’ve had a lot of Pakistanis from European countries settling in Nelson because they feel more comfortable here. They might not speak English but they’re fluent in Italian or Spanish. We’ve also had a lot of asylum seekers settling in Nelson and people from Eastern Europe.” One such asylum seeker is Umid Ehsani, an Afghan hoping to become a professional boxer. He clutches an English language study book and relies on a friend to interpret. “One day I want to be fluent in English,” he said through his interpreter. “But at the moment I can’t speak with anybody apart from my fellow Afghans.” Even long-time residents have noticed the growing gap. Basharat Ahmed, 72, reflected on the changing character of his town. “Nelson is a great place, but it’s definitely become more divided over the years and a lot of that is because of the new arrivals who have trouble speaking English,” he said. Yet there are glimmers of hope. Baligha Sahfi, 24, arrived from Pakistan in 2023 after marrying a British-Pakistani man. “Before I came, I did a course in English and am now trying my best to improve because this is now my country,” she said. “I love Nelson and living in England, especially the food. I like fish and chips and cheese and onion pies.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Mail 2025-05-19 -
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Ireland’s Balancing Act Collapses as Trump Redraws the Global Map
Title: Ireland’s Balancing Act Collapses as Trump Redraws the Global Map For decades, Ireland enjoyed the rare luxury of not having to choose sides. Straddling two powerful spheres, it reaped the rewards of European Union membership while serving as a gateway for American corporations into Europe. It was a masterclass in geopolitical hedging: Brussels provided infrastructure and legitimacy, while Silicon Valley giants lined Ireland’s treasury. But that era of strategic ambiguity is rapidly coming to an end, and Donald Trump’s resurgence on the political stage may be the final shove. Since the 1990s, Ireland has walked a tightrope between two worlds. On one hand, it played the loyal EU partner, gladly accepting subsidies and integrating into the single market. On the other, it became a low-tax haven for American tech and pharmaceutical firms, making it an indispensable node in global supply chains. For a while, the formula seemed untouchable. The Irish economy boomed, boasting the fastest growth in the developed world. In hindsight, that success may have been a double-edged sword. Now, with Trump threatening renewed tariffs and the EU preparing retaliatory measures, Ireland finds itself caught in the crossfire of an unraveling global order. The country's dependence on American capital is stark. Ten American companies account for 60 percent of Ireland’s corporate tax revenues. Around 350,000 jobs — in a population of just over five million — are tied to U.S. firms. Its trade surplus with the U.S. is among the highest in the world per capita. As the political winds shift, those economic foundations look increasingly fragile. Meanwhile, Ireland’s loyalty to the EU has cost it critical sovereignty. In recent years, powers over trade, monetary policy, and even fiscal levers have been ceded to Brussels. Attempts to shield its tax structure from European oversight have grown harder to justify. What little economic autonomy remained after the 2008 financial crash has largely been sold off or surrendered. Ireland’s post-crisis mantra — “It’s the economy, stupid” — now feels outdated as geopolitics and ideology return with force. The tensions are not merely financial. Ireland is being pulled ideologically in opposite directions. The European Commission recently issued a two-month ultimatum to Dublin, demanding it enact shelved hate speech legislation or face legal action. The proposed law, widely criticized at home, would grant authorities expansive powers over what qualifies as punishable speech. The government blamed its legislative delay on a lack of “consensus,” but the truth is it was poorly drafted and deeply unpopular. American figures weren’t impressed either. The law’s implications for social media — much of which is headquartered in Dublin — triggered concern in the U.S. Elon Musk pledged to fund legal opposition, while American politicians voiced alarm. Then-Senator JD Vance wrote pointedly to the Irish ambassador: “If this were happening in Russia or China… we would call it totalitarian and threaten economic sanctions.” Trump himself has begun calling out Ireland directly. He’s accused the country of “taking our pharmaceutical companies away,” and reports suggest fresh tariffs on the sector are being readied. Pharma exports to the U.S. from Ireland exploded from €5.5 billion to €28 billion between March 2023 and March 2024. The surge is impressive, but the underlying fear is that it's a final cash grab before the door closes. Reshoring those industries won’t be easy, but Trump doesn’t need to move factories to cause pain. A single change to U.S. tax policy could strip billions from Ireland’s economy overnight. Earlier this year, the Irish government was still counseling patience. “Don’t take Trump literally,” officials said. That advice has since vanished. Ministers are now bracing for economic downturn, revisiting once-buried concepts like “budget deficits.” Forecasts warn tax receipts could revert to 2020 levels, potentially putting Ireland €15 billion in deficit by the end of the decade. For years, Ireland avoided difficult choices by outsourcing them — Europe made the rules, America brought the profits. But that comfortable balance has broken down. Both blocs are now demanding clarity and loyalty. The EU is tightening ideological controls. The U.S., under Trump, is poised to punish divergence. The middle ground, once so lucrative, is rapidly disappearing. Ireland’s greatest national strategy was its refusal to choose. That luxury is gone. Now the only question is who will make the choice for Ireland — and at what cost. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph 2025-05-19 -
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Trump Plans Monday Call with Putin in Bid to End Ukraine Conflict 'Bloodbath'
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to speak directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a renewed attempt to mediate an end to the war in Ukraine. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that the call would take place at 10:00 EDT (14:00 GMT) on Monday and would be followed by conversations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several NATO leaders. The announcement comes on the heels of unsuccessful face-to-face talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials in Istanbul last Friday—their first direct engagement in three years. While the meeting yielded a prisoner exchange agreement, it failed to make any substantial progress toward peace. Trump had offered to participate in the Istanbul negotiations if Putin also attended in person, but the Russian leader declined. Despite the lack of breakthrough in Turkey, Trump remains confident in the power of diplomacy. “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,” he wrote. He also reiterated his belief that meaningful progress would only come through direct dialogue with Putin. The Kremlin confirmed preparations were underway for the call. “The conversation is in the works,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian state-run Tass news agency. While this won’t be the first time Trump and Putin have discussed Ukraine, the former U.S. president’s renewed involvement signals his determination to insert himself as a key player in the peace process. Moscow’s reaction to Trump’s mediation efforts has been mixed. During a separate conversation on Saturday between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the Kremlin expressed cautious openness to American involvement. However, a Ukrainian official disclosed that Russia had introduced “new and unacceptable demands,” including calls for Kyiv to withdraw troops from significant portions of its own territory as a condition for a ceasefire. Despite those sticking points, the Russian delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, reported satisfaction with the discussions and signaled willingness to continue diplomatic contact. “We are ready to maintain dialogue,” Medinsky said, hinting at further talks in the near future. Meanwhile, tensions on the ground remain high. Just hours after the Istanbul summit, a Russian drone strike targeted a passenger bus in Ukraine’s Sumy region, killing nine civilians. President Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it “a deliberate killing of civilians,” and urged the international community to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow. Russian state media, however, claimed the strike had hit a “military staging area,” not a civilian target. As the international community watches closely, all eyes are now on the proposed Trump-Putin call. While the prospects of an immediate ceasefire remain uncertain, Trump's direct engagement signals a dramatic shift in tone and approach—one that he hopes will bring an end to what he described as a “very violent war” that “should have never happened.” Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-05-19
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