Politics

Former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat leaves the Constitutional Court in Bangkok on Jan. 24. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Politics

Thai Constitutional Court allows Pita to keep parliamentary seat

Former Move Forward leader clears media shares case but faces larger challenge

24 January 2024
The World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos closed on Jan 19. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)
Davos 2024

Trump, wars in Ukraine and Gaza overshadow Asia in Davos

Eurocentric gathering shifts spotlight on conflicts in and close to home

20 January 2024
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand, right, takes part in a panel on ASEAN at Davos with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Jan. 17. (Photo by Kenji Kawase)  
International relations

Thailand's Srettha pushes 'seamless ASEAN' in Davos

Prime minister says plan for '4 countries, 1 destination' coming 'soon'

18 January 2024
Phuket's famous Patong Beach. Dubbed the Pearl of the Orient, the island is the jewel in Thailand's tourism crown thanks to its numerous beaches and clean air. (Photo by Dominic Faulder)
Business Spotlight

Phuket booms as wealthy Russians seek a new home

Residential sales skyrocket but bring traffic and infrastructure headaches

17 January 2024
The Bank of Thailand raised its benchmark interest rate to a decade-high of 2.5% in September 2023, a move that the government complains is weighing on the economy.
Economy

Thailand's central bank shrugs off political pressure to cut rates

Executive says recent price falls 'not a cause' for monetary easing

16 January 2024
Bank of Thailand Gov. Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, left, meets with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok on Jan. 10. (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Government House)
Inflation

Thai PM pressures central bank to cut rates to boost economy

Srettha offers to exchange ideas on monetary policy every week

10 January 2024
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin delivers policy statements to parliament in September after a monthslong delay in the formation of a government.
Economy

Thai lawmakers greenlight delayed $101bn fiscal budget

Srettha government allocates 20% to investment in narrow spending window

5 January 2024
Children play in the courtyard of Ban Rom Sai in the suburbs of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, after coming back from school on Nov. 13. "Everyone here is like a family member," one employee says. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Life

Japanese-run Thai orphanage bets on resort for its survival

Ban Rom Sai beckons tourists with spa and organic vegetables grown by orphans

31 December 2023
Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in Hong Kong in 2019
Politics

Thai court dismisses criminal case against ex-PM Yingluck

Supreme Court finds no evidence of conspiracy in 2011 personnel change order

26 December 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin poses for a photo before an interview with Nikkei Asia at Government House in Bangkok on Dec. 12. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Turbulent Thailand

Thai PM Srettha seeks longevity as political factions bide time

Newcomer's fate seen as resting on party's favor, rollout of digital wallet

24 December 2023
The annual LGBTQ Pride parade in Bangkok on June 4. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Gender

Thailand's parliament to discuss bills legalizing same-sex marriage

Kingdom steps closer to becoming first ASEAN country in granting the rights

21 December 2023
Supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra welcome him home at a Bangkok airport in August 2023. Thaksin brokered, and then broke, a secret deal that allowed him to end 15 years of self-exile, sources say. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Thailand prison rule sparks accusations of favoritism for Thaksin

All eyes on whether jailed former PM will receive parole early

21 December 2023
Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several cabinet members gather after a swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Bangkok on Sept. 5. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
International relations

Thai PM seeks foreign investment to complement fiscal expansion

Srettha looks to strengthen his political standing at home amid criticism

15 December 2023
The Move Forward Party's MP Rukchanok Srinork, left, walks with former prime minsterial candidate Pita Limjaroenrat, right, as they arrive at Thailand's Criminal Court in Bangkok on Dec. 13.
Turbulent Thailand

Thailand court sentences Move Forward MP to jail for lese-majeste

Embattled opposition party faces more pivotal court dates

13 December 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin speaks to Nikkei Asia at Government House in Bangkok on Dec. 12. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Srettha pushes Thailand for lead role in Myanmar talks

PM wants to 'protect border' as conflict drives drug trafficking, influx of refugees

13 December 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin poses for a photo before the interview at Government House of Thailand in Bangkok on Dec. 12. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Interview

Thailand's 'bad' economy must grow to get investment, PM Srettha says

Srettha Thavisin tells Nikkei Asia he will not resign if digital wallet plan fails

12 December 2023
Henry Kissinger and Vietnam's Le Duc Tho speak to the press in a Paris suburb on June 13, 1973, the year they were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize -- which Tho declined.
Obituaries

Kissinger cast a long and uneven shadow in Southeast Asia

Controversial bringer of war and peace left mixed messages in the region

1 December 2023
The first group of Thai hostages released from the Gaza Strip arrive in Bangkok on Nov. 30.
Middle East crisis

First Thai hostages freed from Gaza return to tearful families

PM Srettha 'delighted' as government vows to bring home remaining captives

30 November 2023
Thai Prime minister Srettha Thavisin outlines the government's digital money handout plan at a news conference in Bangkok on Nov. 10. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Economy

Thailand lacks baht for Srettha's digital wallet plan, economist warns

Risk of crisis from local currency shortage 'should not be underestimated'

30 November 2023
Prayuth Chan-ocha retired from politics when he stepped down as prime minister in September.
Politics

Ex-Thai PM Prayuth named to king's advisory body

Leader of 2014 coup follows past prime ministers in joining Privy Council

30 November 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says that the country faces an economic crisis, and that the antidote is for citizens to "take pride in spending."
Asia Insight

Thailand PM Srettha faces hard sell in e-wallet plan to stoke economy

'Salesman' turns to domestic woes after foreign focus in first 100 days

28 November 2023
Kyi Pyar Win, 48, the wife of a Myanmar military defector, is photographed in an undisclosed location near the Thailand-Myanmar border. (Photo by Valeria Mongelli)
Myanmar Crisis

Inside Myanmar's military bases: Wives stand guard as war escalates

Rare interviews reveal growing alarm in the face of intensifying armed opposition

24 November 2023
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin poses during a welcome ceremony on Sept. 25 for the first Chinese tourists arriving under a five-month visa-free entry scheme. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
International relations

Thai government in hot water over idea to invite Chinese police

PM Srettha Thavisin proposed controversial plan after Bangkok shooting incident

18 November 2023
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed at a press conference on Nov. 10 that a controversial 10,000 baht handout his party campaigned on will be late and go to fewer people. (Photo by Hiroki Endo)
Politics

Thailand's Srettha delays digital money handout for 3 months

PM also scales back beneficiaries of Pheu Thai's flagship election pledge

10 November 2023
Thai officials have floated a new approach to long-stalled negotiations over the overlapping claims area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand. (Source images by AP)
Energy

Rising energy prices rekindle Thai, Cambodian interest in disputed waters

New governments could find a way to tap long-dormant oil and gas reserves

7 November 2023