Thailand

For Apple and other tech companies, Thailand is emerging as an important alternative production base to China. (Source photos by Reuters)
Supply Chain

Apple in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand

U.S. tech giant turning out Apple Watch in Southeast Asian country

13 April 2023
People play with water as they celebrate the Songkran holiday at Khaosan Road in Bangkok on April 13. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand expects $3.5bn boost from water-splashing Songkran days

Chiang Mai loses out as tourists flee PM2.5 and flock to southern beaches

13 April 2023
A Beijing meat stall accepts cashless payments through the use of QR codes. China was the least cash-dependent country in Asia in 2022.
Finance

Thailand, Japan and Vietnam lag in Asia's digital payments rush

Cash remains vital in many nations despite declining usage across region: report

12 April 2023
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left; Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan; opposition candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra; and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (Source photos by Reuters, AP and EPA/Jiji)
Thai election

Prayuth's last run: 5 things to know about Thailand's May 14 vote

Opposition chiefs lead opinion polls as PM faces off against former allies

12 April 2023
The city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand under a haze of air pollution on April 9. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Environment

Dirty air in Laos, Thailand casts pall over health, tourism

Southeast Asian nations now have world's worst particulate concentrations

12 April 2023
PTT's net-zero strategy fits with the Thai government's targets of carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2065.
Energy

Thailand's PTT to invest $7bn in green hydrogen with Saudi firm

State oil giant aims for decarbonization and diplomatic healing at the same time

11 April 2023
From left: Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, Pheu Thai Party's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Democrat Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit. (Source photos by AP, AFP/Jiji and Getty Images) 
Thai election

Can Thailand's Democrat Party survive upcoming election?

Opposition alienates voters by cozying up to military and boycotting polls

9 April 2023
From left: Srettha Thavisin, Paetongtarn Shinawatra and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thaksin's daughter confirmed as Thai PM candidate

Key opposition figure to seek top job without running in election

6 April 2023
Boating in Ban Rak Thai: Located near the Myanmar border, the remote Thai village was not on the author's travel itinerary, but it proved to be a delightful discovery. (Shutterstock)
Tea Leaves

No-reservations travel sets you free

Ditching travel planning turns out to be a liberating experience in Thailand

5 April 2023
Thailand goes to the polls on May 14, with a cast of leadership hopefuls aiming to unseat Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, right. 
Asia Insight

Thailand election becomes game of economic handouts, nostalgia

Prayuth, Pheu Thai and Move Forward eye escape from middle-income trap

4 April 2023
Viu announced new titles to be released in 2023, including the Korean hit “Taxi Driver 2”, during the Filmart trade show in March. (Photo by Takeshi Kihara)
Media & Entertainment

Hong Kong's Viu streaming app eyes Thai, Philippine rural users

Locally geared content key for growth in unit controlled by billionaire Richard Li

3 April 2023
A truck transports a container at a port in Shandong province, China. Economists expect exports of goods and services to China to support ASEAN economies.
Economy

Thai, Malaysian outlooks improve on tourism, China recovery: JCER

Economists say U.S. bank fallouts emerge as new concern for Asia

2 April 2023
The risks of openly criticizing Thai politicians and government employees has not discouraged game developer Opendream's founder, Patipat Keng Susumpow, from tackling taboos.
Society

Thai game 'Corrupt' helps kids think about sensitive social issues

Developer Opendream's apps focus on taboo topics like bribery and sex

2 April 2023
Huawei will expand its support for enterprise clients to test and verify their new businesses at its revamped Singapore lab. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Telecommunication

Huawei steps up ASEAN foray with Singapore lab revamp

Chinese tech giant invests $20m to upgrade research facility for enterprise clients

31 March 2023
A Muslim man reads the Koran during the first day of Ramadan at the Islamic Centre of Thailand in Bangkok on March 23. A Ramadan cease-fire in Thailand's south could get peace talks moving.
Politics

Ramadan overture raises peace stakes in Thailand's troubled south

Lack of violence could be litmus test of sides' willingness for political deal

30 March 2023
Thailand's central bank is expected to maintain its hawkish monetary stance for a few more months as it tries to bring inflation down to its target range of 1% to 3%.
Economy

Bank of Thailand raises key rate to 1.75%, a four-year high

Economists expect central bank to maintain hawkish stance for now

29 March 2023
A subsidiary of Germany's Talanx Group is backing Thai insurtech startup Roojai. (Source photos by AP and screenshot from Roojai's website) 
DealStreetAsia

Thai insurtech Roojai raises $42m led by Germany's Talanx Group

Startup to use some of funds for expansion into Indonesia and the Philippines

29 March 2023
Japan's NTT Corp. will invest $90 million in a third data center in Bangkok to cater to rising demand from cloud service providers. (Source photos by AP and courtesy of NTT) 
Telecommunication

From Thailand to Indonesia, ASEAN leads cloud market growth

NTT expands data center capacity; AWS commits $6 billion in Malaysia

29 March 2023
A satisfying nasi campur meal -- a platter of brown rice served with seven different vegetable dishes -- on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. (All photos by Charukesi Ramadurai)
Tea Leaves

How vegans are stirring Southeast Asia's food scene

Search for sustainability and the pandemic are making diners think again

29 March 2023
Thailand's incumbent Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is running for re-election under the United Thai Nation Party banner, greets supporters during an event in Bangkok on March 25.
Thai election

Thai parties seek to balance old, new industries in economic teams

Pheu Thai and Prayuth push farm support while Move Forward makes a chip play

27 March 2023
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told Nikkei Asia that he will observe Thailand's coming general election from a distance and "comment sometimes on Clubhouse." (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Interview

Thaksin Shinawatra on the record about politics and life in exile

Former Thai prime minister upbeat about approaching political watershed

25 March 2023
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra spoke exclusively with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo early on March 24. (Photo by Yuki Kohara) 
Interview

Thaksin Shinawatra predicts election win for Pheu Thai party he backs

Exclusive Nikkei Asia interview in Tokyo with former Thai prime minister

24 March 2023
BYD Asia-Pacific general manager Liu Xueliang unveils the Thai version of its low-priced Dolphin electric hatchback, which moves the steering wheel to the right side. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Automobiles

EV price war in Thailand heats up as Bangkok Motor Show commences

BYD and Hyundai push new models as kingdom's auto sales decline

23 March 2023
The meeting venue of Thailand's parliament. The government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced the dissolution of the House of Representatives on March 20.
Politics

Thailand dissolves parliament, setting up May elections

Lower chamber paralyzed by political party maneuvers in recent months

20 March 2023
Dusit Thani Kyoto's lobby extensively uses wood, reminiscent of traditional Thai country homes. (Image courtesy of Dusit International)
Travel & Leisure

Thailand's Dusit readies Japan hotel debut in Kyoto with cultural flair

Hospitality group looks to stand out by adding Southeast Asian touch

20 March 2023