Thailand: News & Insights

A woman holding a picture reacts as people carry the casket of a victim on the day of a cremation at Wat Rat Samakee temple following a mass shooting at a day care center in the province of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Thailand, Oct. 11.

Politics

Tragic shooting pushes guns, drugs to top of Thai political agenda

Prime minister and opposition bring back 'war on drugs' talk

13 October 2022

Opportunistic pricing and data privacy are concerns as startups bring insurance tech to Indonesia and Vietnam, where people often sell motorbike policies on the roadside. (Photo by Lien Hoang)

Technology

Vietnam and Indonesia don't get insurance. Can fintech help?

Can 'insurtech' achieve profits and data privacy with bite-size products?

12 October 2022

People walk past a Hong Kong Jockey Club off-course branch promoting soccer betting. In 2021, 11 of the 20 soccer teams in the English Premier League had Chinese betting companies as shirt sponsors.

Tea Leaves

Growth in Asian sports corruption causes a flutter

Gambling industry remains a good bet, despite legal handicaps

12 October 2022

A reenactment of the young footballers -- whose ages ranged from 11 to 16 -- asleep while trapped in Tham Luang Nang Non Cave in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. (Courtesy of Netflix)

Arts

Thai cave rescue drama returns to screens, again

Uniquely, the latest documentary features interviews with the trapped children

12 October 2022

Thailand hopes to receive at least 10 million tourists this year.

Travel & Leisure

Thailand shifts to European, U.S. tourists to rely less on Chinese

Tourism head touts sunny weather to those facing surging heating bills

11 October 2022

Flooding in a residential area of Chiang Mai on Oct. 6. (Photo by Yohei Muramatsu)

Economy

Thailand's flood damage spreads, threatening economic recovery

More than 70,000 homes hit as concerns grow over downstream Bangkok

9 October 2022

Coffins of the day care mass killing victims at Si Uthai temple in Thailand on Oct. 8.

Politics

Thailand massacre triggers king's appearance as opposition pounces

Helplessness and anger mount for public mourning over children killed while napping

9 October 2022

Protest leader Thatchapong Kaedam says protests will continue as long as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha stays in power, but demonstrations are not attracting the numbers they once did. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)

Turbulent Thailand

Thai youth cling to hope for change on massacre anniversary

Students seek uncensored history through exhibits and social media

6 October 2022

Bangkok Bank, Thailand's biggest lender, raised its lending rate by 30 to 40 basis points (0.30% to 0.40%) and increased its deposit rate by 15 to 50 basis points on Sept. 29.

Finance

Thai banks' interest rate hikes spark economic concerns

Weaker baht, trade deficit, household debt pose threat as financial costs rise

6 October 2022

A supermarket seafood counter in Bangkok. Thailand's shrimp supply has suffered so much that the government greenlit imports in August. (Photo by Kosuke Inoue)

Food & Beverage

Thai shrimp output plunges by half from peak as disease spreads

World's former top exporter greenlights emergency imports to meet demand at home

6 October 2022

A combination of post-pandemic debt, inflation and currency fluctuations has thrown central banks throughout Asia into chaos this year.

The Big Story

The money blizzard: Asia's central banks reckon with the aftermath of COVID-19

Governments from Japan to Thailand grapple with inflation, currency chaos and 'zombie companies' after biggest-ever bailout

5 October 2022

Leaders of participating countries during the opening ceremony of the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit in Bangkok in June 2018: The push has been slow to yield results.

Opinion

Thailand's efforts to build Mekong bloc deserve support

Diplomatic alignment will strengthen area's hand in dealing with outside powers

4 October 2022

A competition for the best of the best workers is heating up across Asia, as governments and companies seek the talent they need to accelerate growth in the wake of COVID-19.

Asia Insight

From Singapore to Thailand, Asia dangles visas to lure high-fliers

New programs kick off as companies struggle to find skilled workers

4 October 2022

Retail

Thailand's Central Retail leads rush of global retailers to Vietnam

Vietnam's exceptional economic growth draws retailers of all stripes

4 October 2022

Economy

ASEAN economies seen hit by U.S. rate hikes in 2023: JCER/Nikkei

Economists revise down forecasts to 4.3% for five regional countries

3 October 2022

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was suspended from his duties by Thailand's Constitutional Court on Aug. 24.

Politics

Prayuth did not break term limit and can stay in power: Thai court

Decision paves way for APEC summit in November, election due next year

30 September 2022

Tan Son Nhat Airport near Ho Chi Minh City will break ground soon on a $460 million expansion that will boost capacity by 80%.

Transportation

Airport projects in Thailand, Singapore resume after COVID hiatus

Despite traffic recovery, scale of expansion raises concerns about capacity glut

30 September 2022

Han Lay, who was crowned Miss Grand International Myanmar in 2021, was placed on a wanted list after denouncing Myanmar's military government last year.

Myanmar Crisis

Former Miss Myanmar leaves Thailand to seek refuge in Canada

Han Lay, who denounced the Myanmar military government, was denied entry in Bangkok

29 September 2022

Thailand's central bank is trying to tame price hikes, with the country's headline inflation hitting a 14-year high of 7.86% in August. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

Economy

Thailand lifts key rate by 25 basis points to 1% to curb inflation

Central bank eyes gradual tightening, with economy still on recovery course

28 September 2022

Singapore-based Affirma Capital says it oversees more than $3.5 billion in assets, investing in buyout and growth opportunities across emerging markets in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (Source images by Akira Kodaka and from Affirma Capital website)

DealStreetAsia

Singapore's Affirma targets first Southeast Asia-focused fund

Sources say investment vehicle would also cover India

28 September 2022

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Westminster Hall in London on Sept. 14. The pomp that accompanied the queen's funeral was steeped in the kind of elaborate symbolism and arcane rituals seen in parts of Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Tea Leaves

Why Britain's royal succession resonates in Asia

Queen Elizabeth's funeral highlights similar focus on reinforcing national identity

28 September 2022

ThaiBev Group CEO Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi said he would like to see the Vietnamese government sell more of its 36% stake in Sabeco to the public. (Photo by Francesca Regalado)

Food & Beverage

ThaiBev stays course in Vietnam to regain regional market lead

CEO wants Hanoi to sell 36% stake in Sabeco on public exchanges

27 September 2022

Economy

Vietnam emerges as Asia's growth leader as China slows

Food, fuel subsidies risk long-term distortion, warns World Bank

27 September 2022

Mourners gather to offer condolences at Tokyo's Zojoji Temple, where the private funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on July 12. (Photo by Yo Inoue)

Your Week in Asia

Abe state funeral, U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit, World Bank update

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

25 September 2022

A beach in Maya Bay, Thailand. The country hopes to restore tourism revenue for 2023 to around 80% of the 2019 level.

Coronavirus

Thailand to end COVID-19 emergency in bid to jump-start economy

Order had been seen as tool for PM Prayuth to control protesters

24 September 2022