Srettha Thavisin speaks at the Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok after he was elected as the next prime minister on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's new PM Srettha to lead next government: 5 things to know

People pin hope on new leader, with money handout promised

23 August 2023
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok after 15 years in self-exile on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Thai election

Thaksin moved from jail to hospital for 'immediate treatment'

Doctor requires 'bigger, well-equipped' place for former PM, official says

23 August 2023
Stock Exchange of Thailand President Pakorn Peetathawatchai, right, and Senior Executive Vice President Manpong Senanarong at the bourse's headquarters in Bangkok on Aug. 18. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Markets

Stock Exchange of Thailand plans reform for post-election market

Bangkok bourse rushes to restore investor confidence after volatile year

23 August 2023
Doomed to demolition: The Chao Mae Thap Thim Chinese shrine in Bangkok’s gentrified Sam Yan neighborhood. (Photo by Max Crosbie-Jones)
Tea Leaves

How a Bangkok shrine became a gentrification battlefront

Students make a principled stand against university's property arm

23 August 2023
A woman uses her phone in a Bangkok shopping center. A new service will allow app-based money transfers from Thailand to Myanmar.
Finance

Thai bank debuts mobile remittances to Myanmar

Kasikornbank eyes workers sending money home to family, while KBZ collects baht

23 August 2023
Srettha Thavisin greets his supporters after Thailand's parliament elected him as prime minister on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Thai election

Srettha Thavisin elected as Thailand's next prime minister

Coalition of pro-democracy, conservative groups to form new government

22 August 2023
Srettha Thavisin arrives at Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Who is Srettha Thavisin, Thailand's next prime minister?

Property boss to take helm of Thailand at key economic juncture

22 August 2023
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves to supporters as he arrives at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on August 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thaksin jailed on return to Thailand after 15 years

'It's time for me to be with Thai people,' former prime minister says

22 August 2023
Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew, center, joins hands with coalition party leaders after a news conference at the parliament in Bangkok on Aug. 21. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's Pheu Thai coalition adds largest pro-military party

Crossover alliance risks alienating pro-democracy voters as parliament convenes

21 August 2023
Heavy traffic in Bangkok. A joint Thai-Taiwanese venture called Aionex will produce and sell e-bikes plus operate battery-swapping services for them. (Photo by Kenya Akama)
Automobiles

Thailand energy group PTT to make e-motorbikes with Taiwan's Kymco

State-owned company eyes Southeast Asia, world's third-largest bike market

21 August 2023
Tourists at the Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok on Aug. 7: Thailand's GDP growth slowed to 1.8% in the second quarter despite recovery in the tourism sector. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand Q2 GDP growth slows to 1.8% despite tourism recovery

Annual outlook lowered to 2.5-3.0% as weak exports weigh on economy

21 August 2023
A view of the moon from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on Aug. 5 in this screengrab from a video released Aug. 6. (Photo by ISRO/Handout via Reuters)
Your Week in Asia

China prime rate, Cambodia's new PM, India moon landing mission

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

20 August 2023
Investors consider that China’s rate cuts are small and will only help the economy modestly amid the ongoing property turmoil.
Markets

ASEAN markets grow cautious as China's property crisis worsens

Investor sentiment weakens as fears of further economic slowdown mount

18 August 2023
A farmer works in a rice paddy in Thailand's central Khon Kaen province. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Commodities

India's rice export ban brings chaos to Thai market

Surging demand sparks speculative hoarding, undercuts export opportunity

17 August 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat in parliament on July 19, when his renomination for prime minister was blocked. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand court rejects petition on Pita's renomination for PM

Parliament set to hold next prime ministerial vote on Aug. 22

16 August 2023
The Yindii app helps users find deals on food from local shops. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Food & Beverage

Thai food app serves up deals on restaurant leftovers

For motivation, Yindii shows users how much in CO2 emissions they cut

16 August 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at SemiconIndia 2023 in the western state of Gujarat on July 28. (Photo by Ryosuke Hanada)
Semiconductors

India and Thailand jockey for spot on Asia's chipmaking map

Asian rivals roll out red carpet for global investments in local industries

15 August 2023
Move Forward supporters distributed leaflets critical of Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew on Aug. 7. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pheu Thai struggles to exclude military as political vacuum hits 3 months

Pending court ruling no guarantee to break Thailand's deadlock over next PM

15 August 2023
The Bangkok skyline on July 3: The economic costs of shoddy politics are incalculable for Thailand, a country that was once Southeast Asia's star performer. 
Opinion

Business is out of patience with Thailand's political mess

Economy will continue to perform below potential without major reforms

14 August 2023
Foreign tourists check out downtown Bangkok in July. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand lures foreign tourists looking to escape heat at home

Tropical climate offers cool respite as blistering temperatures bake the globe

13 August 2023
Thai Airways' earnings are up on increased demand for routes to East Asia, including China and Japan.
Transportation

Thai Airways returns to net profit on travel rebound

Flights to China and other key markets propel embattled carrier in April-June

12 August 2023
A Thai FamilyMart shop in 2020. The Japanese convenience store brand will disappear from the market where it debuted in 1993. (Photo by Marimi Kishimoto)
Retail

Japan's FamilyMart exits Thailand as 7-Eleven's dominance grows

Chain's 200 stores will be converted into Tops Daily small supermarkets

11 August 2023
Tourists at the Wat Phra Kaew temple complex in Bangkok on Aug. 7. The Tourism Authority of Thailand fears budget delays could affect its tourism promotion plan. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's prolonged political deadlock weighs on economy

Businesses fear government spending, FDI will be hit by transition delay

10 August 2023
According to its website, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has a total of eight bronzes from Thailand’s so-called Prakhon Chai hoard in its collection, some of which rank “among the most important Southeast Asian bronzes of their age.” (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Arts

Art crime investigators close in on stolen Thai antiquities

Intrigue surrounds struggle with Western museums over return of smuggled Prakhon Chai statues

10 August 2023
The Thai baht touched a 26-year high against the yen this month.
Currencies

Baht, won soar against yen as smaller Asian economies outperform

Thai, South Korean currencies bolstered by rate hikes and years of current-account gains

10 August 2023