Thailand

Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat attends a session of the House of Representatives to elect a speaker on July 4. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's Pita still 'confident' as House splits on deputy speaker

PM vote to follow after royal endorsement of new speaker

4 July 2023
King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand opened the first parliamentary session in Bangkok on July 3. (Pool photo)
Thai election

Thai king opens parliament as Move Forward aims for PM

Move Forward, Pheu Thai reach compromise ahead of speaker vote on Tuesday

3 July 2023
Move Forward leader and prime minister candidate Pita Limjaroenrat speaks at a press conference on June 7. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand parliament opens to elect new PM: 5 things to know

Real test begins for Pita's Move Forward coalition after historic election

3 July 2023
Chai Eamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways International, has unveiled a new growth plan for the airline as it emerges from restructuring. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca)
Transportation

Thai Airways plans to double fleet with focus on India: CEO

Time for company to expand, according to 40-year veteran Chai

3 July 2023
The IAEA, on July 4, is expected to present a final report on the safety of Japan's planned release of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean from the The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. 
Your Week in Asia

Thai parliament convenes, IAEA Fukushima report, Huawei developer conference

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

2 July 2023
Container terminals in Singapore. The city-state's economy is highly sensitive to external economic conditions. 
Economy

Singapore, Indonesia outlook downgraded on weak China: JCER

Political instability emerges as top concern in Thailand post-election

2 July 2023
The chief of a police unit investigating Stark says his team has seized 100 million baht of Stark assets and called former executives in for questioning, including former CEO Chanin Yensudchai. (Source photos by screenshot from Stark's website)
Markets

Thai police probe potential fraud at troubled wire maker Stark

Stark faces SET expulsion amid new listing rules and market volatility

30 June 2023
Rooms at the Centara Grand Hotel Osaka were designed to represent a fusion of Thai and Japanese culture. (Photo by Shogo Furuta)
Travel & Leisure

Thai, Singapore hotel groups target Japan's tourism boom

Centara and Dusit open hotels this year with Capella and Banyan to follow

29 June 2023
Customers enjoy cold beers at a restaurant in Bangkok on June 28. Thailand’s overall beverage market was worth $20 billion in 2020, with alcoholic tipples accounting for 64% of that. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Food & Beverage

Thailand braces for liquor industry disruption under Move Forward

Craft brewers and distillers call for easing of production curbs

28 June 2023
U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Robert Godec, center, speaks to reporters at a media roundtable in Bangkok on June 27. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Thai election

U.S. denies meddling in Thai vote ahead of parliament opening

Ally watches for Thailand's next move in PM selection, Myanmar and trade

27 June 2023
Photographer Vinai Dithajohn at the opening of his exhibition "Red & Yellow" at VS Gallery on April 22. The show documents Thailand's struggle for democracy between 2003 and 2016. (Photo by Tom Vater)
Arts

A photographer's chronicle of Thailand's democracy struggle

From rural poverty to bus conductor, soldier and photographer, Vinai Dithajohn followed his dream

27 June 2023
From Tehran to Tokyo and beyond, trans people throughout Asia continue to face violence, discrimination and exclusion from society.
Asia Insight

Trans rights progress in Asia hits barricade of tradition, legal maze

Gradual LGBTQ advances in some countries shrouded by stigma, safety concerns

27 June 2023
Toyota sees many options besides electric vehicles that can help decarbonize the transport sector. It is eager to develop hydrogen technology to power fuel cell vehicles.
Automobiles

Toyota to make hydrogen out of waste from Thailand's CP, others

Automaker tests equipment for project to decarbonize Thai trucks

26 June 2023
Concerns over a slowing business environment and climbing interest rates are impacting fundraising by Asian startups.
Finance

On topic: Can Asian startups get more funding?

A collection of stories to catch up on a recent hot topic

24 June 2023
Scorching conditions from the El Nino weather pattern are expected to crimp production at palm oil plantations like this one in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province. 
Economy

From Indonesia to Vietnam, El Nino fans fears of fires and drought

Returning climate pattern set to hit key crops as well as industrial sector

23 June 2023
Thai state-owned energy group PTT is branching out into electric vehicles.
Energy

Thailand's PTT triples 2023 investments to $2.6bn ahead of EV rollout

Energy group's Horizon Plus unit aims to produce first vehicles next year

23 June 2023
Stark Corp. has called default on two bond payments worth 2.24 billion baht ($65 million) and will likely miss three more valued at 6.96 billion baht. (Source photos by screenshot from Stark Corporation's website)
Markets

Thai wire maker faces German arbitration, potential bond default

Stark Corp. shares plunge 98% after audit finds 'irregularities'

20 June 2023
The seats of the Thai parliament in Bangkok are now set to be occupied early in July.
Thai election

Thailand parliament has early July deadline to convene

Progressive and conservative camps jockey for leverage in prime minister battle

20 June 2023
Protesters hold up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi and raise three-finger salutes during a demonstration to mark the second anniversary of Myanmar's 2021 military coup, outside the Embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok on February 1.
Myanmar Crisis

Thailand-led regional meeting on Myanmar divides ASEAN

Move by caretaker government angers bloc's chair Indonesia

19 June 2023
Even though South Korea sent the biggest group of inbound travelers to Thailand this year, more Koreans are traveling to Vietnam and Japan.
Travel & Leisure

Vietnam tourism growing faster than in Thailand, Japan: Agoda CEO

Morgenshtern bets on Thailand as budding regional tech investment hub

16 June 2023
Eight Thai opposition parties have agreed to back Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat, center, as prime minister, but lack enough support to ensure his victory.
Thai election

Thailand's post-election power transfer in limbo as Pita faces probe

Move Forward struggles to secure majority to replace lame-duck government

16 June 2023
Lazada’s estimated gross merchandise value fell from $21 billion in 2021 to to $20.1 billion last year, according to a report by the consultancy Momentum Works.
Retail

TikTok rises, Alibaba's Lazada falters in ASEAN e-commerce

ByteDance-owned platform grows in Southeast Asia but still lags behind rivals

15 June 2023
A Chinese submarine takes part in a naval parade in 2019. China is expanding its presence along Asia’s military equipment supply chain.
Defense

Thailand weighs accepting Chinese engine in submarine deal

Beijing pressures Royal Thai Navy to take 'notoriously loud' powertrain

15 June 2023
The Bangkok skyline. Thailand is 52nd on the startup ecosystem scale, according to one ranking.
Startups

Thailand aims to duplicate Singapore model for startups

Capital gains tax breaks begin to attract investor funds to nascent industry

15 June 2023
CP Foods expects to ship 500 to 600 tons of cooked duck meat to Australia this year, adding 300 million to 400 million baht to its annual revenue. (Photo by Francesca Regalado) 
Food & Beverage

Australia opens cooked duck market to Thailand's CP Foods

Agribusiness giant flags 30% cost increase, potential drought impact

14 June 2023