Thai Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha led a 2014 coup, later becoming prime minister under the military junta.
Thai election

Thailand heads for 1st Senate election since coup as economy slows

Return to democracy still work in progress after civilian rule was toppled a decade ago

17 May 2024
Grab credits a strong concert lineup in Singapore, visa-free arrangements elsewhere in Southeast Asia and an in-house translation function with lifting its earnings. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Startups

Singapore's Grab lifts annual profit target on strong demand

Ride-hailing super app sees more upside as Chinese visitors return to ASEAN

16 May 2024
Thai workers march along a road to mark International Labor Day 2024. The Thai government is adamant about raising the minimum wage, but businesses are lobbying against the move.
Work

Thailand could lose jobs with minimum wage hike, business lobby says

Labor-intensive industries may move across border or hire migrants at low pay

16 May 2024
Subic Bay, which offers access to the South China Sea, hosts a Philippine naval base. (Photo by Yuichi Shiga)
Energy

South Korean shipbuilder picks Philippines to make floating wind platforms

Marcos says deal with Cerberus will revive maritime manufacturing at Subic Bay

16 May 2024
Lawrence Wong speaks after he is sworn in as Singapore's new prime minister on May 15.
Politics

Singapore PM Lawrence Wong vows to lead in 'own way' at inauguration

Successor to Lee Hsien Loong calls on younger citizens to 'join our team'

16 May 2024
Leaders of Myanmar's parallel National Unity Government and three ethnic armed organizations held an unprecedented joint news conference on May 15 in Tokyo. (Photo by Yuichi Nitta)
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar resistance leaders present united front in Tokyo

NUG and ethnic groups demand that military withdraw entirely from politics

15 May 2024
The Axiata headquarters building in Kuala Lumpur.
Telecommunication

Malaysia's Axiata seeks Indonesia telecom merger with Sinar Mas unit

Proposal would create 'stronger' service provider amid fierce competition

15 May 2024
Chaithawat Tulathon at the Move Forward Party headquarters in Bangkok on May 14, when he spoke to Nikkei Asia. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca)
Interview

Thailand's Move Forward leader says amnesty for political prisoners a priority

Biggest opposition party has an alternative ready in case a court orders its dissolution

15 May 2024
VNG is one of Vietnam's most successful startups, with a range of offerings from data centers to a chat app. (Photo by Reuters and VNG Corporation website)
Startups

Vietnam tech startup VNG becomes Nvidia cloud partner

U.S. giant expands role in Southeast Asian nation's AI, semiconductor sectors

15 May 2024
A Toyota dealership in Petaling Jaya, near Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia's car sales reached nearly 800,000 in 2023. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Automobiles

Malaysia overtakes Thailand as ASEAN's second-biggest auto market

Sales tax exemptions boost demand for national cars Perodua and Proton

15 May 2024
Sea reported group revenue of $3.73 billion for the January-March period, up 23% on the year.
Technology

Singapore's Sea posts record revenue in Q1 on e-commerce growth

Tech group 'on track' for second straight annual profit despite stiff competition

15 May 2024
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's ruling Pheu Thai Party faces challenging economic conditions. (NIkkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Hiroki Endo)
Politics

Thai ruling party grapples with slow economy 1 year after election

Political pledges languish as weak global demand weighs on manufacturing

14 May 2024
Lawrence Wong, left, will succeed Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore's prime minister on May 15. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP and Tomoki Mera)
Asia Insight

New Singapore PM Lawrence Wong's test: Change with continuity

Incoming leader expected to 'refresh' job support, 'listen' to diverse voices

14 May 2024
An oil refinery in Tomakomai, Japan is the site of a key carbon dioxide storage demonstration project: The country's initial CO2 storage plan comprises five domestic and two overseas sites.
Opinion

Japan cannot make CO2 disappear just by exporting it

Plans for overseas storage must involve taking permanent responsibility

14 May 2024
Two Thai telecom towers face west across the Moei River near Myawaddy toward one of some 16 Chinese-funded scam centers that have sprung up just inside Myanmar in recent years.
Myanmar Crisis

Thailand, Japan signal policy shifts on engaging Myanmar's resistance

Bangkok orders telcos to cut internet to casino scam centers along border

13 May 2024
Lawrence Wong attends the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting in Bali in July 2022. He will stay as finance minister after becomes prime minister on May 15.
Politics

Singapore's Lawrence Wong retains finance chief post after becoming PM

Trade Minister Gan to be promoted to deputy prime minister in new cabinet

13 May 2024
Masuda & Partners Law Office in Tokyo is rekindling its efforts to organize holders of AT1 bonds issued by the now-defunct Credit Suisse, as a new approach to funding litigation has become available. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)
Finance

Tokyo law firm reboots drive to build Credit Suisse AT1 bond claims

Funding collaboration via Singaporean firm and litigation financer expected to boost interest

13 May 2024
Lionsbot, a developer of cleaning robots based in Singapore, has expanded its production capacity to 4,000 units a year. (Photo by Tsubasa Suruga)
Startups

Singapore's industrial robot startups eye global markets

Backed by government, hardware makers grow amid labor crunch

13 May 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, center, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at an IPEF event in Tokyo in 2022.
Opinion

Asia-Pacific free trade pacts have been a big success for the U.S.

Singapore agreement shows benefits in terms of strategic competition with China

13 May 2024
One of the strays at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s shelter for dogs and cats in the city's Prawet district. Now under renovation, the facility will be able to shelter 1,000 dogs and cats when it reopens later this year. (Courtesy of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration)
Life

Bangkok mobilizes volunteers to combat stray pet crisis

Hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats roam Thai capital's streets

12 May 2024
Singapore's new leader, currently Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, speaks to media on April 16. 
Your Week in Asia

Wong takes helm in Singapore, Japan economy data, Australia budget

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

12 May 2024
Cambodia's National University of Battambang is home to one of the country's three Confucius Institutes. (Photo from National University Of Battambang website)
Education

China's Confucius Institutes flourish in ASEAN after West's freeze-out

Geopolitical baggage less of a factor, while learning Chinese is seen as a smart move

12 May 2024
Rights & Brands Asia's booth at Hong Kong International Licensing Show 2024, in April. The company is expanding its licensing business throughout greater China and Southeast Asia. (Photo provided by Itochu)
Media & Entertainment

Itochu character goods affiliate to expand into Southeast Asia

RBA acquires exclusive rights to develop Moomin brand in 10 nations

12 May 2024
Located in a converted former residence in the Jakarta neighborhood of Menteng, Common Grounds is a quiet, homey oasis for coffee lovers. (Courtesy of Common Grounds) 
Life

Coffee's 'third wave' gathers pace in Jakarta

Shifting tastes among young Indonesians help brew specialty cafe culture

11 May 2024
Malaysian Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli speaks to Nikkei Asia during an interview in Kuala Lumpur. (Photo by Norman Goh)
Interview

Malaysia aims to lure overseas venture capital to spur startups

Economy minister says such funding is key to sector's development

11 May 2024