Thailand

A view of "Get to the Point," part of an installation by art collective AWKNDAFFR at Singapore Biennale 2022, also known as Natasha. (Singapore Biennale 2022)
Arts

Thailand and Singapore lead comeback for Asia's art fests

Post-pandemic biennales challenge Hong Kong's regional dominance

11 November 2022
Flooding in Bangkok in July 2022. Disasters caused by rising temperatures and sea levels are costly, and the risk is outsized in industrializing Asia. 
Business Spotlight

Thailand's businesses prepare to face the storm of climate change

Better risk management helps readiness as regulators and investors seek disclosure

11 November 2022
A woman receives a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Jakarta.
COVID vaccines

Indonesia's COVID vaccine shows region's push for third way

Jakarta now has homegrown halal alternative to Western, Chinese shots

10 November 2022
The bZ4X will be Toyota's first EV sold in Thailand, one of the carmaker's most important markets.
Companies

Toyota enters Thailand's EV market with long-range bZ4X

Vehicle first Japanese product that qualifies for government subsidies

10 November 2022
Named after Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr, the department store will house luxury brands and Austrian clothing brands. (Rendering courtesy of Central Group)
Retail

Thailand's Central to open luxury department store in Vienna

Retailer bets on recovery in European tourism with plans for Austrian debut

9 November 2022
Flaring, or burning off gas from oil production, is a key emitter of methane -- the second-most common greenhouse gas and the most powerful one.
Asia Insight

Soaring methane emissions raise stakes for Asia at COP27

Poor nations face astronomical cost as cycle of warming, thawing spins out of control

8 November 2022
October saw fatal crushes at a soccer stadium in Indonesia, left, and a Halloween parade in South Korea, center, as well as mass shooting in Thailand by a former police officer. (Source photos by Reuters)
Society

South Korean, Indonesian police slammed for fatal crowd crushes

Mass shooting by Thai ex-cop also raises questions over law enforcement

7 November 2022
Around 70% of the items Tops Club sells are imports. (Photo courtesy of Central Retail)
Retail

Thai retailer opens Tops Club, a membership-only supermarket

Around 70% of items on sale are imports, for which members can get a discount

6 November 2022
Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, WHA's group CEO, plans to invest 50 billion baht over five years in its four core businesses -- logistics, industrial estates, utilities and technology. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)
Supply Chain

Thai developer sees faster supply chain shift after China congress

Relocations to deal with geopolitical risks fuel WHA Group's profit growth

4 November 2022
A sugarcane farmer works in a burned field in Suphan Buri province, north of Bangkok. Sumitomo Corp. plans to build a plant that recycles sugarcane waste into biofuel.
Energy

Japan looks to Thailand for bioethanol that doesn't fuel food insecurity

Sumitomo, Kao explore projects to turn sugar and cassava waste into energy

4 November 2022
Kerry Express reported a net loss of 1.2 billion baht ($32 million) in the first six months of 2022 as a price war heated up in the Thai delivery business. (Photo courtesy of Kerry Express)
Transportation

Thailand's Kerry Express eyes efficiency gains to return to profit

Partnership with China's SF Holding, Hive Box to help performance: CEO

3 November 2022
Southeast Asian countries are hosting three major international conferences in November, coming at a time when the world is faced with highly divisive issues. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
International relations

Southeast Asia hosts rush of global meetings in November

Political tug of war likely to unfold amid intensifying U.S.-China tension

2 November 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, center, on Oct. 27: He has been talking up his successes as uncertainty mounts about his continuance in office after elections next year. (Photo by Dominic Faulder)
Politics

Pre-APEC, Thai PM touts infrastructure, EVs and bank reform

Prayuth Chan-ocha speaks on his place in history as his possible end looms

27 October 2022
Fintech company Stripe, which is launching in Thailand, is the latest in a string of U.S. tech companies to expand in Southeast Asia's increasingly digital economies. (Source photos by screenshot from Stripe's website) 
Companies

Stripe enters crowded Thai payments market with global strategy

Government's digital agenda draws global tech to Bangkok

26 October 2022
A man is dressed for the occasion at a marijuana legalization expo in Buriram, Thailand, on June 10. (Getty Images)
Tea Leaves

In Thailand, hold the drinks and pass the cannabis

Thais embrace new 'ganja' craze but adhere to draconian alcohol restrictions

26 October 2022
Thai Air Asia's reservations for flights to Japan are on the rise ahead of the holiday season.
Travel & Leisure

Thailand, Singapore tourists jump in line as Japan opens borders

Southeast Asia travel industry eyes recovery with weak yen fueling strong demand

26 October 2022
CP Group's chicken processing plant in Vietnam is the largest in Southeast Asia. 
Food & Beverage

CP Group's chicken plant in Vietnam starts shipping to Japan

Thai company eyes exports to 10 nations from Southeast Asia's largest facility

26 October 2022
Solar panels in Thailand's Phetchaburi province. The Southeast Asian country aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Climate Change

Toyota, PTT and others discuss advancing Thailand's carbon efforts

Japanese companies seek to provide green technologies to Thai partners

21 October 2022
The Ukraine war has overshadowed Thailand's year as host of the APEC meetings. (Photo by Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
International relations

Ukraine war thwarts last APEC communique before leaders' summit

Some finance ministers draw link between Russia's invasion and inflation

21 October 2022
True and DTAC have said their aim in merging is not to raise prices but to invest jointly in Thailand's digital transformation. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Telecommunication

Thai telecoms regulator allows $7.3bn True-DTAC merger

Agency hands market lead to CP Group subsidiary despite opposition

20 October 2022
Children are seen at the Mae La refugee camp in April 2022. Three generations of Burmese children, many of whom do not speak Burmese, have grown up in the camp, the largest of nine refugee camps established in the 1980s along the Thai-Myanmar border inside Thailand. (Courtesy of Visual Rebellion Myanmar)
Arts

Bangkok photo exhibit portrays plight of Myanmar refugees

Those forced to live in Thai borderlands face an "Endless Escape"

20 October 2022
MT30 mini trucks are slated to hit the road next year.
Environment

Thai renewable energy leader develops electric mini truck

Energy Absolute will show vehicle in December with deliveries to begin next year

20 October 2022
A bidder among many at new auctions at Bangkok's River City mall. (Courtesy of The Art Auction Center)
Arts

Thai collectors embrace new art of auctions

Prices and demand increase for 'character-driven' figures and toys

19 October 2022
Foxconn Chairman Young Liu lays out the company's EV strategy at its annual tech day in Taipei on Oct. 18. (Photo by Cheng Ting-Fang)
Automobiles

Foxconn to expand EV production in Thailand and U.S.

Chairman says electric car assembly will remain outside China for now

18 October 2022
A protester takes a selfie next to a picture of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in Bangkok on Aug. 24, when Thailand's top court suspended the premier from official duties. 
Comment

Thailand's military-backed regime braces for another legal time bomb

End to Senate participation in election of PM could lead to change of power

16 October 2022