Politics

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
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
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
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 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
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
Chinese customers pose in Thai student uniforms at the Sriphan store. (Photo from Sriphan's Facebook page)
Travel & Leisure

Thai school uniform boom in China fuels hope for tourism recovery

Social media post by Chinese actress starts cosplay trend among visitors

19 March 2023
Riding the elevated trains is a good way for Bangkokians and tourists to avoid the city's infamous traffic jams.
Transportation

Bangkok trains face strike risk as dispute with government escalates

Workers demand city pay debt; anti-corruption body alleges operator BTS broke law

17 March 2023
The port of Bangkok. Thailand aims to eliminate tariffs on exports to the European Union's 27 countries through resumption of trade talks.
Trade

Thailand, EU agree to restart trade talks halted by 2014 coup

Bangkok aims for tech transfers and boosting exports in critical industries

16 March 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan are expected to vie for the top job in the upcoming general election. (Source photos by Reuters and EPA/Jiji)
Politics

Thailand generals' election rivalry places military on new footing

PM Prayuth, Deputy PM Prawit poised to compete for votes -- and army support

11 March 2023
The new True Corporation debuts on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on March 3 at about 24 cents per share. (Source photos by Reuters and Yumi Kotani)
Telecommunication

True stock debuts as CP finalizes Thai telco megamerger

New entity with Telenor's DTAC announces $200m startup fund

3 March 2023
Soldiers take part in an amphibious assault exercise during the 2020 Cobra Gold multilateral military exercises in Thailand's Chonburi province.
Defense

Thailand, U.S. resume Cobra Gold military exercise at full scale

America sends 6,000-strong contingent in a show of regional commitment

28 February 2023
Thai election czar Sawaeng Boonmee, left, and TikTok Thailand's head of public policy, Chanida Kiyphun, announce a partnership on Feb. 24. (Photo courtesy of Election Commission of Thailand)
Politics

TikTok teams with Thai election body in disinformation battle

Chinese social media platform seeks lessons from Philippine, Malaysian polls

25 February 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha hopes that his United Thai Nation Party will gain enough votes in this year's general elections to be able to put him forward as a candidate for premiership again.
Politics

Prayuth plays Thai poll timing guessing game in reelection bid

Incumbent PM still needs to get backing to run again, sources say

23 February 2023
The new Singapore-India payment link is set up to allow real-time virtual transfers of money across borders in seconds, and has been billed as a means to reduce the cost and inefficiencies of remittances between both countries.
Finance

Singapore links digital payments with India after Thailand

Prime Ministers Lee and Modi laud connection of finance infrastructure

21 February 2023
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha campaigns in Bangkok on Jan. 9.
Politics

Prayuth says Thailand parliament to be dissolved in 'early March'

Move would pave way for general election due by early May

21 February 2023
Myanmar migrant workers at a camp for construction staff in Bangkok. Experts say the longer military rule in Myanmar lasts, the more people are likely to leave for Thailand.
Myanmar Crisis

Myanmar citizens eye escape to Thailand to avoid conflict at home

Strife-torn country pushing out the weary looking for peace of mind

21 February 2023
Protesters hold up a portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi and raise three-finger salutes outside Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok to mark the second anniversary of the February 2021 military takeover.
Interview

ASEAN working-level talks key to Myanmar peace: Japan special envoy

Yohei Sasakawa expects chair nation Indonesia to take the lead

10 February 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, attends a welcoming ceremony in Bangkok with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha. This was the leaders' first meeting since Anwar took office in November.
Trade

Thailand, Malaysia leaders agree to bolster bilateral trade

Anwar 'optimistic' on facilitating Bangkok's talks with southern rebels

10 February 2023
A customer holds a piece of cannabis at a dispensary in Bangkok following its legalization last year.
Politics

Thailand scrambles to control cannabis sales and curb abuse

Buyers must show ID under new measures following decriminalization

7 February 2023
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim: "There must be a peaceful and amicable resolution to the conflict." (Source photo by Reuters)
Politics

Malaysia PM Anwar enters Thai peace talks with separatist rebels

Leader may help jump-start negotiations in Thailand's troubled south

5 February 2023