Thailand

Royal guards shade Queen Elizabeth II, left, and late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the sun with traditional Thai parasols during a welcoming ceremony at Bangkok military airport on October 28, 1996.
Comment

Epic Thai and U.K. royal reigns lay bare struggles in digital age

Queen Elizabeth II matches late Thai King Bhumibol's 70-year, 126-day reign

12 June 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha may soon face another vote of no confidence.
Turbulent Thailand

Three years on, walls start closing in on Thai leader Prayuth

Cracks form within ruling coalition as countdown to next election begins

11 June 2022
The retention pond at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park acts as a leisure amenity. (Courtesy of Chulalongkorn University/Landprocess)
Life

Central Bangkok redevelops around new green heart

Major public open space projects aim to transform urban face of Thai capital

10 June 2022
A Thai smokes a joint in Bangkok on April 20 during a demonstration promoting the recreational use of marijuana.
Politics

Thailand delists marijuana as narcotic, releases 3,071 inmates

De facto cannabis decriminalization ahead of new law stirs concerns over misuse

9 June 2022
Grab will license data it collects from partner drivers and users to tech companies, logistics services and telcos. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Grab)
Startups

Singapore's Grab takes on Google in digital mapping

Diversifying Southeast Asian super app group markets its 'hyperlocal' data

8 June 2022
Piti Disyatat, secretary of Thailand's monetary policy committee, says four committee members voted to stand pat "to ensure that the recovery will continue to gain traction." (Photo by Rie Ishii)
Economy

Bank of Thailand keeps rate steady at 0.5% despite inflation fears

Board approves decision in 4-3 vote; 2022 inflation projection raised to 6.2%

8 June 2022
By becoming the first Southeast Asian nation to decriminalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, Thailand has caught the eye of the business community, which smells opportunity.
Business trends

Thailand companies make marijuana investments after legal shift

Decriminalization prompts conglomerates and small businesses to grow thousands of plants

8 June 2022
Protest objects of the group Thalufah are displayed at Cartel Gallery, including cooking implements, wire cutters, gas masks and a handmade pipe device to spray colored water. (Photo by Philip Cornwel-Smith)
Arts

Thais see art in everyday objects of protest

Exhibitions and a mobile museum record the ephemera of political struggles

8 June 2022
Carbon dioxide from the Arthit offshore gas field will be sequestered below the sea in Thailand's first carbon capture and storage project. (Photo courtesy of PTT Exploration and Production)
Climate Change

Thai PTTEP to debut nation's first carbon capture project by 2026

State energy company pursues tie-ups toward 2050 carbon neutrality target

8 June 2022
Solar panels in Thailand. The Southeast Asian country in 2021 shipped $1.07 billion worth of solar cells to the U.S.
Trade

U.S. waives tariffs on solar panels from Thailand, Vietnam

Malaysia and Cambodia also exempt for 24 months after being hit by probe

7 June 2022
People dine outdoors at a restaurant during the Dragon Boat Festival, the first public holiday in the city since the lifting of the lockdown for the COVID-19 outbreak, in Shanghai on June 3.
Your Week in Asia

More reopening in Shanghai, Japan opens to tourists, Singapore security summit

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

5 June 2022
City Energy users will have access to about 70 charging stations in Malaysia by the end of this year. (Photo courtesy of City Energy)
Automobiles

Cross-border networks charge EVs across Thai-Singapore-Malaysia corridor

City Energy and Shell poised to cash in on anticipated market growth

4 June 2022
Grab has teamed up with Hyundai Motor Group to encourage adoption of electric vehicles in Southeast Asia. (Photo courtesy of Grab)
Startups

Southeast Asian ride-hailing services race toward green mobility

Grab vows carbon neutrality by 2040 while ComfortDelGro expands EV fleet

3 June 2022
Boston Consulting Group Global Chair Rich Lesser speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo. (Photo by Sayumi Take)
Environment

Selling fossil fuel assets is no answer to climate change: BCG chair

Lesser urges activists, shareholders to push companies to be more transparent

3 June 2022
From left, Prawit Wongsuwan, Prayuth Chan-ocha and Anupong Paochinda: The men known as the "three Ps" have ruled Thailand since the 2014 coup.
Politics

Is Thailand's top trio of ex-army chiefs marching into the sunset?

Military camp's loss in Bangkok polls ups pressure on Prayuth-led 'three Ps'

2 June 2022
As LGBT+ communities in Asia prepare to celebrate Pride Month in June, the picture of gains and regression in their battle for recognition and rights is mixed.
Asia Insight

LGBT+ rights in Asia: Small steps forward and big steps back

Biggest setback in Afghanistan, while Japan inches toward marriage equality

31 May 2022
Kasikornbank hopes to operate in 10 Southeast Asian markets and has set its sights on Indonesia, home to Southeast Asia's largest economy and population.
Finance

Thailand's Kasikornbank to buy majority stake in Bank Maspion

Nation's 2nd-biggest bank grows in Indonesia to counter weak domestic performance

30 May 2022
A woman pushes a bicycle through a checkpoint manned by Thai security forces in the troubled southern province of Yala in 2013.
Politics

Thailand and militants in south poised to advance peace talks

Relative quiet during Ramadan creates atmosphere to move process forward

30 May 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework initiative is "solid proof of how important and relevant Asia is today." (Photo by Tomoki Mera) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Thailand's Prayuth: Open, rules-based Asia key to post-COVID growth

Singapore's Lee warns of arms race, Malaysia PM highlights supply risks at Nikkei forum

26 May 2022
A merger of True and DTAC may hinder healthy competition in Thailand's mobile telecommunication industry, hearing participants warned. 
Telecommunication

Thailand's True and DTAC skip regulatory hearing on merger

Aggrieved telecoms commissioner says merger not a done deal

26 May 2022
Yi Xiaozhun, China's former vice minister of commerce, warns the Ukraine war could trigger economic problems comparable to the 2008 financial crisis. (Photo by Tomoki Mera) 
The Future of Asia 2022

China ex-official warns of Ukraine war's impact on Asian trade

Economic setback may be similar to 2008 financial crisis, says former WTO envoy

26 May 2022
Yun Duk-min, chair-professor at Hankook University of Foreign Studies, is expected to become South Korea's ambassador to Japan. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

South Korea to restore Japan ties 'as soon as possible,' next envoy says

On North Korea, Yun Duk-min says U.N. is 'paralyzed' due to Ukraine issue

26 May 2022
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says Asia must revive growth by "keeping the market open and inclusive." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Thai PM Prayuth says states 'must support' multilateral trading systems

Digitalization, clean energy will be 'key drivers' for economic growth

26 May 2022
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh says Asia "should strengthen its sense of responsibility in creating and maintaining a peaceful environment." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
The Future of Asia 2022

Vietnam Deputy PM urges world to 'put aside' disagreements

Asia needs stronger 'sense of responsibility' to maintain peace, pursue prosperity

26 May 2022
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says Southeast Asia is "one of the most vulnerable regions to the effects of climate change." (Photo by Suzu Takahashi) 
26 May 2022