Bitkub Capital Group CEO Topp Jirayut Srupsrisopa, right, announces a partnership with Asphere Chairman Pramoth Sudjitporn, center, in July. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Cryptocurrencies

Thai crypto exchange Bitkub looks to gaming to build market

CEO Topp says Bitkub wants to give Thailand a chance as its future IPO site

18 July 2023
HP has lagged other global PC makers in shifting away from China but now plans to move some production to Thailand and Mexico.
Supply Chain

HP to move production of millions of PCs to Thailand, Mexico

Company follows Dell, Apple in diversifying supply chain beyond China

18 July 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat reacts after failing to win parliamentary support to become Thailand's prime minister on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Comment

Thai PM plots thicken with Senate bill, apparent 'judicial coup'

Parliament votes again Wednesday after Pita fails to claim post in 1st round

18 July 2023
Megmilk Snow Brand will add Thailand to the list of Asian markets where its long-life milk products are sold. 
Food & Beverage

Japan dairy companies bet on Asia exports as demand slows at home

Megmilk targets Thailand while Yotsuba Milk seeks higher Singapore sales

18 July 2023
Students at New Blood School in Mae Sot, northwestern Thailand, on June 29 prepare to take the U.S. General Education Development tests. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar kids in Thailand pull off U.S. high school diploma miracle

Mae Sot school helps those who fled military action re-imagine their futures

17 July 2023
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen attends a campaign rally in Phnom Penh on July 1. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

China GDP, Tesla's Malaysia launch, Hun Sen's Cambodia elections

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

16 July 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat speaks in a video he posted to Twitter on July 15. (Screenshot from Pita's Twitter account)
Thai election

Thailand's Pita to give nod to Pheu Thai if his next PM bid fails

Coalition piles pressure on Move Forward ahead of second vote on Wednesday

15 July 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat meets journalists after conservative forces sunk his bid to become prime minister on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand shifts focus to Pheu Thai after Pita fails in PM bid

Country's latest bout of political uncertainty weighs on its biggest businesses

14 July 2023
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai speaks during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting in Jakarta on July 13. (Pool via Reuters)
Myanmar Crisis

Some ASEAN members support Thai diplomacy toward Myanmar

Bloc releases statement following foreign ministers' meeting amid policy divide

14 July 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts after he failed to win parliamentary support to become Thailand's prime minister on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pita fails to secure majority in Thai PM vote

Move Forward leader 'will not give up' on second round next week

13 July 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat arrives at a parliament in Bangkok on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pita pressed on royal reform ahead of Thailand's PM vote

Conservative camp slams Move Forward policy in parliamentary debate

13 July 2023
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai court to rule whether Pita was eligible to run in election

Judicial move deals blow to Move Forward leader ahead of PM vote

12 July 2023
Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of Move Forward, now Thailand's most popular political party, faces a critical vote on July 13. (Nikkei montage/Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

What to expect from Thailand's prime ministerial vote on Thursday

Prayuth's retirement shines brighter spotlight on political battle royal

12 July 2023
A scene from "A Tourist's Guide to Love": Vietnamese media and tour operators are already offering guided tours to the film's main shooting locations. (Courtesy of Netflix) 
Tea Leaves

Dark side of 'A Tourist's Guide to Love'

Hit movie gives Vietnam fresh image, but risks unsustainable visitor boom

12 July 2023
Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks at a polling station in Bangkok on May 14. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)
Thai election

Thailand PM Prayuth announces retirement from politics

Conservative parties in search of challenger to Pita ahead of Thursday's PM vote

11 July 2023
In Thailand, the Yellow Line connecting the outskirts of Bangkok to neighboring Samut Prakan province began operations in July. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)
Transportation

From Bangkok to Manila, Southeast Asia metro rail expands rapidly

Networks across region to grow 20% through 2024, helping to ease congestion

11 July 2023
Japan's Aeon and other Asian retail companies see promise in Indonesia's young and growing population. (Photo by Nana Shibata)
Retail

Indonesia draws Asian mall operators targeting growth

Despite regulation, Japan's Aeon and others see promise in rising economy

10 July 2023
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will chair the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Jakarta this week.
Your Week in Asia

ASEAN Regional Forum, Modi in France, Thai parliament votes for PM

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

9 July 2023
Thailand's household debt has swelled to 90% of its gross domestic product. 
Economy

Thailand's household debt swells amid policy stagnation concerns

Expert says next government must address long-standing problem

9 July 2023
A customer holds a cup of a legally brewed beer at the United Peoples Brewery in Bangkok. (Photo by Papangkorn Bamrungmuang)
Life

How craft beer helped turn Thai politics

By closing the lid on brewing, Bangkok's elite may have unseated itself

8 July 2023
China's BYD has amassed large shares of EV markets in Thailand, Australia and other countries.
Automobiles

Chinese EVs gain in Japanese automakers' key markets

Toyota, other Japan brands risk losing ground as consumers embrace electrics

8 July 2023
Seree Yootanawaraporn, chief operating officer of Phelps Dodge International, said the company could not fill backorders after authorities seized assets of parent company Stark, a Thai wiremaker. (Photo by Francesca Regalado) 
Markets

Stark damage claims could reach $1bn, says Thai SEC

Regulators say they will expand their fraud investigation to 'everyone involved'

7 July 2023
Thailand's parliament is scheduled to convene for the prime ministerial vote on July 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's parliament to hold PM vote on July 13

Pita to stand for Move Forward coalition as conservatives mull whipping votes

7 July 2023
Thailand's Stark said last week that it was negotiating with creditors to swap debt for equity instead of accelerating debt repayment. (Source photo and logo from Stark website)
Markets

Thai stock regulator files fraud charges over troubled Stark

Company to face further investigation as SEC continues to probe wire maker

6 July 2023
The author leaves Bangkok by train, beginning his 1,800-kilometer journey to Singapore. (All photos by Andrew Benfield)
Tea Leaves

Can Europe's 'flight shaming' movement work in Asia?

It may be (much) slower but train travel gives a lot more back

5 July 2023