Politics

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, center, flanked by son Panthongtae Shinawatra and daughter Paetongtarn Shinawatra, arrives in Bangkok on Aug. 22 after years of self-imposed exile.
Politics

Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin requests royal pardon

Influential former leader faces 8-year sentence after returning from self-exile

31 August 2023
About two-thirds of Thailand's parliament voted on Aug. 22 for Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin, left, to become the next prime minister as Thaksin Shinawatra returned to the country the same day. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Comment

Thailand grand coalition marks calculated about-face for Pheu Thai

Thaksin's party regains power by abandoning pledge to shun pro-military rivals

30 August 2023
Sandbanks in the Mekong River in Nakon Phanom province, Thailand surface due to unusually low water levels in 2019.
Opinion

New Thai government must show more responsibility with the Mekong

Power production has been prioritized without consideration of area residents

29 August 2023
New Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's Pheu Thai Party carried much of the fertile northeast in this year's election, but Move Forward's inroads raise the pressure to follow through on lofty economic promises. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Getty Images)
Asia Insight

Thai PM Srettha faces pivotal test over pledges to party heartland

Pheu Thai promised northeasterners hefty handouts and better days; can it deliver?

29 August 2023
Thailand's new prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, speaks to reporters at the Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok on Aug. 24. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand political transition begins as Srettha meets Prayuth

Pheu Thai lays claim to foreign, health and finance ministries

24 August 2023
Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat reacts as lawmakers vote for a second time for a new prime minister, at the parliament in Bangkok on July 19. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Comment

The real winners and losers of Thailand's political drama

Broad coalition put populists and reformers on clashing paths

24 August 2023
Srettha Thavisin speaks at the Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok after he was elected as the next prime minister on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's new PM Srettha to lead next government: 5 things to know

People pin hope on new leader, with money handout promised

23 August 2023
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrives at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok after 15 years in self-exile on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Thai election

Thaksin moved from jail to hospital for 'immediate treatment'

Doctor requires 'bigger, well-equipped' place for former PM, official says

23 August 2023
A woman uses her phone in a Bangkok shopping center. A new service will allow app-based money transfers from Thailand to Myanmar.
Finance

Thai bank debuts mobile remittances to Myanmar

Kasikornbank eyes workers sending money home to family, while KBZ collects baht

23 August 2023
Srettha Thavisin greets his supporters after Thailand's parliament elected him as prime minister on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi) 
Thai election

Srettha Thavisin elected as Thailand's next prime minister

Coalition of pro-democracy, conservative groups to form new government

22 August 2023
Srettha Thavisin arrives at Pheu Thai Party's headquarters in Bangkok on Aug. 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Who is Srettha Thavisin, Thailand's next prime minister?

Property boss to take helm of Thailand at key economic juncture

22 August 2023
Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra waves to supporters as he arrives at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on August 22. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thaksin jailed on return to Thailand after 15 years

'It's time for me to be with Thai people,' former prime minister says

22 August 2023
Pheu Thai Party leader Cholnan Srikaew, center, joins hands with coalition party leaders after a news conference at the parliament in Bangkok on Aug. 21. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's Pheu Thai coalition adds largest pro-military party

Crossover alliance risks alienating pro-democracy voters as parliament convenes

21 August 2023
Tourists at the Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok on Aug. 7: Thailand's GDP growth slowed to 1.8% in the second quarter despite recovery in the tourism sector. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Economy

Thailand Q2 GDP growth slows to 1.8% despite tourism recovery

Annual outlook lowered to 2.5-3.0% as weak exports weigh on economy

21 August 2023
A view of the moon from the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on Aug. 5 in this screengrab from a video released Aug. 6. (Photo by ISRO/Handout via Reuters)
Your Week in Asia

China prime rate, Cambodia's new PM, India moon landing mission

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

20 August 2023
A farmer works in a rice paddy in Thailand's central Khon Kaen province. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Commodities

India's rice export ban brings chaos to Thai market

Surging demand sparks speculative hoarding, undercuts export opportunity

17 August 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat in parliament on July 19, when his renomination for prime minister was blocked. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand court rejects petition on Pita's renomination for PM

Parliament set to hold next prime ministerial vote on Aug. 22

16 August 2023
Move Forward supporters distributed leaflets critical of Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew on Aug. 7. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pheu Thai struggles to exclude military as political vacuum hits 3 months

Pending court ruling no guarantee to break Thailand's deadlock over next PM

15 August 2023
The Bangkok skyline on July 3: The economic costs of shoddy politics are incalculable for Thailand, a country that was once Southeast Asia's star performer. 
Opinion

Business is out of patience with Thailand's political mess

Economy will continue to perform below potential without major reforms

14 August 2023
Tourists at the Wat Phra Kaew temple complex in Bangkok on Aug. 7. The Tourism Authority of Thailand fears budget delays could affect its tourism promotion plan. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's prolonged political deadlock weighs on economy

Businesses fear government spending, FDI will be hit by transition delay

10 August 2023
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, second from right, and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, center, pose for photos at a press conference in Bangkok on Aug. 7. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand's Pheu Thai forms new coalition with third-largest party

New grouping says no to lese-majeste reform and Move Forward

7 August 2023
Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat attends a parliament session on July 19. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand PM vote postponed as court reviews Pita petition

Formation of government further delayed until after Aug. 16

3 August 2023
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, center, speaks during a news conference in Bangkok on Aug. 2. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Pheu Thai splits from Move Forward to secure PM vote for Srettha

Pro-democracy coalition's breakup puts Thailand election winner into opposition

2 August 2023
Thailand's parliament was supposed to convene on July 27 to elect a new prime minister, but the vote has been postponed. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thailand postpones parliamentary PM vote

Caretaker cabinet approves six-day holiday from July 28 to Aug. 2

25 July 2023
Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew, right, and Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul speak at a news conference after their meeting on July 22. (Screenshot from Pheu Thai's YouTube channel)
Thai election

Thailand's Pheu Thai courts conservative parties

No. 2 grouping's move could force Move Forward into opposition

24 July 2023