The day's most relevant stories from the Philippines and Asia's major countries. Links to original sources.
Thailand authorised 971 foreign businesses and firms linked to more than 271 billion baht in foreign investment during the first nine months of 2026, even as the government intensifies its nationwide crackdown on illegal foreign nominee companies and land ownership. The Ministry
A UK court has ordered a worldwide freeze on assets belonging to Vietnamese budget airline VietJet Aviation as an aircraft financing company seeks to recover approximately US$250 million in unpaid judgments arising from a dispute over four Airbus A321 aircraft. The Commercial Cou
Thailand is preparing new rules requiring major ride-hailing and delivery apps to justify service fee increases, after regulators found that some platforms’ charges had risen by as much as 400% over five years. The Trade Competition Commission of Thailand (TCCT) is scheduled to o
Thailand is moving closer to introducing a 50,000-baht solar panel subsidy for up to one million households after a government screening committee approved a proposed 50-billion-baht funding package. The scheme is expected to go before the Cabinet on October 26, with registration
Former Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Yuthasak Supasorn has warned that Thailand’s tourism industry can no longer sustain the country’s economy on its own, as declining visitor numbers, high household debt and growing regional competition weaken its contribution to
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has paid out 5.2 billion baht (US$156 million) in flood relief to 683,286 households, and will ask the Cabinet on Tuesday, October 20, for 10.5 billion baht more. The money was sent through the Government Savings
Thailand and Switzerland are moving to fast-track implementation of their EFTA free trade agreement while advancing plans for about US$120 million in carbon-credit purchases. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Swiss President Guy Parmelin discussed the plans in Bangkok today,
Thailand’s Finance Ministry has defended its proposed 1,000-baht departure tax after mounting opposition from the tourism industry, arguing that the measure would strengthen government finances and help support tourism. Finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said the tax wo
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank annual meetings begin in Bangkok today, October 12, bringing more than 15,000 delegates from around the world to the capital for a week of discussions on the global economy. The event, running until October 18 at the Queen Siri
Thai Airways has reportedly asked employees to avoid potentially damaging social media posts following the suspension of its chief executive, as new details emerge about a disputed wine and champagne purchase worth a reported 180 million baht. According to Daily News, on October
Thailand-US tariff negotiations are entering their final stage after President Donald Trump wrote to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, expressing hope that a deal could be signed during his planned Asia visit in November. Government Spokesperson Ekkapop Pianpises said Anutin in
Foreign film productions generated more than 7.51 billion baht in Thailand during the first nine months of 2026, the highest figure on record. Deputy government spokesperson Ploythalay Laksameesangchan said today, October 4, that 423 foreign productions applied for permission to
The Thai government has warned retailers against unjustified price hikes and hoarding essential goods as flooding affects Bangkok and other parts of the country. Businesses that raise prices without justification face up to seven years in prison. Deputy Government Spokesperson Pl
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has signed an agreement with a US government agency to study American small modular reactor technology as the country considers its first nuclear power plant. The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) announced yesterday, Septemb
The precision motor-parts factory in Poipet will end production on October 22, affecting 724 workers after prolonged border disruption drove up logistics costs. The story Japan’s Nidec to close Cambodia plant and shift production to Thailand as seen on Thaiger News.
Thailand’s diesel prices are set to fall from 16 September, after the Energy Policy Administration Committee approved a cut of 2.40 baht per litre (roughly $0.07) at the refinery level. The reduction, published in the Royal Gazette, will apply to all three grades of diesel sold i
Bank of Thailand and 11 financial-sector associations launch a joint framework tightening KYC and fraud screening across banks, e-payment providers and non-bank lenders. The story Bank of Thailand and lenders tighten customer checks against illicit money as seen on Thaiger News.
Thailand has approved a regulatory policy framework for Small Modular Reactors (SMR) as the government begins preparing the laws, specialist workforce and safety systems needed for possible future nuclear power generation. Officials stressed that no decision has yet been made to
Companies with foreign shareholders hold 1.06 million rai of Thai land and 76,840 condominium units, according to figures the Ministry of Commerce released on Monday. Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the Department of Business Development, put the total at 1,064,265 ra
The Airport Rail Link may face a temporary extension of two to three months while the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) works out how to keep trains running, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said, after the private operator submitted a letter seeking to exercise its righ
Toyota Motor Vietnam will upgrade its Phu Tho manufacturing complex for electrified and CKD vehicles, with total registered capacity of approximately 52,000 cars per year. Toyota Motor Vietnam has secured approval for an investment project worth more than US$283 million, approxim
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun has clarified that a widely cited 75% drop in nominee businesses refers only to newly registered entities in the nominee-risk category, not to all nominee arrangements in Thailand. Suphajee raised the issue on Faceboo
BOI met Airbus Thailand as it named Bangkok the regional Skywise base for ASEAN, China, India, Japan and South Korea, expanding staff and local suppliers. The story BOI, Airbus shake hands on Bangkok’s Skywise Asia hub role as seen on Thaiger News.
Thai officials seized more than 1.84 million intellectual property-infringing and counterfeit items in 512 cases during the first seven months of 2026, with the damage estimated at more than 809 million baht. The Department of Intellectual Property released the figures yesterday,
A dispute over Thailand’s flagship three-airport high-speed rail project has escalated, with the government warning that a private operator cannot simply walk away from a multi-billion-baht contract. The warning follows a bid by a CP Group-linked firm to terminate its role in the
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat says a unilateral termination has no legal effect yet and urges settlement before Sept. 30. The story CP Group presses again for three-airport rail contract termination as seen on Thaiger News.
Thailand and Qatar are looking to turn their diplomatic relationship into concrete cooperation across energy, food security, medical tourism and finance, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said during a courtesy call with Qatar’s newly posted ambassador. Anu
The Ministry of Interior ordered a wider investigation into suspected nominee businesses, with 112 juristic persons on Koh Pha Ngan under scrutiny over possible illegal land ownership. Deputy Interior Minister Worawit Liangprasert said today, August 25, that authorities had been
Thailand’s unemployment rose to about 400,000 people in the second quarter of 2026, even as the overall number of people in work grew. The jobless rate reached 0.95%, according to Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). Total employment rose 5.1% year
Anutin told reporters in Australia and New Zealand that Thailand will not add conditions on established Japanese investors as it courts new EV players, and tasked Ekniti with a fairness review. The story Japan’s automakers told their base in Thailand is safe as seen on Thaiger Ne
A court in Shenzhen has sentenced China Evergrande Group founder Hui Ka Yan to life in prison, closing the criminal case tied to the collapse of the world’s most indebted property developer. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court handed down the ruling yesterday, August 20, ord
Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) is seeking more information about why Thai inhalers have reportedly been prevented from participating in trade exhibitions in China following complaints from Thai manufacturers. DITP Director-General Sunanta Kangwal-Ku
The Cabinet has approved a draft host country agreement with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), part of a plan to establish Thailand as a regional centre for settling international disputes. Deputy government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said today, August 18, that the
Commerce Ministry inspectors found no business activity at the registered addresses in Khok Si Suphan, the department's director-general said The story Broker sold villagers’ IDs to register 35 Chinese nominee firms as seen on Thaiger News.
Thai officials are investigating whether a suspected nominee network is using naturalised citizenship to disguise foreign ownership of businesses in Phuket and several other provinces. The Interior Ministry has ordered checks on more than 100 Phuket companies and a wider list of
Thailand plans to rewrite the way it taxes cars, as excise rates are expected to fall for vehicles built in the country and rise for fully imported models from carmakers with no factory here. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced the plan and
Central Retail made just over 5 billion baht in core profit in the first half of 2026. That is 42.5% more than it made in the same six months last year. Revenue for the half came to 126.6 billion baht, up 2.4%. The second quarter did most of the work. Revenue rose 3.5% to 60.1 …
BANGKOK — The Thai government has rejected foreign media reports alleging that it intends to use its long-standing military alliance with the United States as leverage in ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. The clarification follows a Bloomberg report citing an undisclosed offi
A senior Toyota Motor Thailand executive has warned the Thai government that the country’s automotive competitiveness is at risk unless EV industry policy improves. Supakorn Ratanawaraha, Senior Executive Vice President of Toyota Motor Thailand, made the comments days after Indon
Hospitality has never had a talent problem when it comes to women. It has a seniority problem. Women make up 51.2% of the global hospitality workforce, according to industry data reported by Hospitality Investor in March 2025, yet hold only 30% of executive roles. Thailand’s hote
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