Category: Thailand

Entertainment

Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay for Singaporeans to 30 Days Under New Travel Rules

BANGKOK — Singaporeans planning extended holidays in Thailand will soon face shorter visa-free stays after Thai authorities moved to reduce the maximum permitted duration from 60 days to 30 days. The revised rules are scheduled to take effect on Sept. 15, 2026, according to reports by AsiaOne and other regional media, affecting passport holders from 60 countries and territories, including Singapore. The policy marks a significant reversal from Thailand's expanded visa-exemption scheme introduc

September 3, 2026

Business

Thai Jewellers Push India to Lift Import Curbs — A Trade Fight Is Growing Behind the Glitter

Thailand’s jewellery industry is pressing India to reconsider restrictions on precious-metal jewellery imports, warning that tighter trade rules could disrupt a long-standing commercial relationship between the two countries. The dispute comes after India introduced tighter controls on jewellery imports in 2026, particularly products covered by ASEAN trade arrangements. The measures require importers of covered jewellery to obtain government authorization, while exemptions remain for certain ex

September 2, 2026

Politics

AFTER 286 DAYS AT SEA: USS Abraham Lincoln Finally Docks in Thailand — But What Happened to Its 5,000 Crew Members?

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand — After an extraordinary 286 days at sea, the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Thailand, giving thousands of American sailors and Marines a long-awaited opportunity to rest after one of the Navy's most demanding recent deployments. The Nimitz-class carrier reached Laem Chabang in Chonburi province on Wednesday, September 2, accompanied by elements of its carrier strike group. Around 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines are expected

September 2, 2026

Thailand

Mitsubishi Pajero Is Back: Iconic SUV Returns With Thailand Set as First Market

After years away, one of Mitsubishi Motors’ most recognizable names is officially back. Mitsubishi Motors has unveiled the all-new Mitsubishi Pajero, reviving the legendary SUV as its new flagship model and putting Thailand at the center of its global comeback strategy. The fifth-generation Pajero was revealed at a world premiere in Tokyo on September 2, 2026. Unlike the previous generations that were closely associated with Japanese production, the new Pajero will be built in Thailand, with t

September 2, 2026

Business

Singapore–Thailand Ties “In Excellent Shape” as Wong and Anutin Revive Leaders’ Retreat After 11 Years

BANGKOK — Singapore and Thailand are stepping up their strategic partnership after more than a decade without a leaders’ retreat, with Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong and Anutin Charnvirakul agreeing to deepen cooperation in energy, food security, artificial intelligence, digital connectivity, defence and the wider ASEAN agenda. Speaking in Bangkok on Wednesday, Sept. 2, Wong said Singapore–Thailand relations were in “excellent shape,” citing strong trust between the two governments and long-stan

September 2, 2026

Politics

Singapore, Thailand Revive Leaders’ Retreat After 11 Years as Wong and Anutin Push AI, Energy and ASEAN Cooperation

BANGKOK — Singapore and Thailand are moving to turn six decades of close relations into a more ambitious strategic partnership, with Prime Ministers Lawrence Wong and Anutin Charnvirakul reviving their countries’ Leaders’ Retreat after an 11-year break and setting their sights on artificial intelligence, energy security, food supplies and ASEAN’s next chapter. The leaders met in Bangkok on Wednesday, September 2, for the fifth Singapore-Thailand Leaders’ Retreat — the first since 2015 and the f

September 2, 2026

Singapore

Singapore and Thailand Map Out Bigger ASEAN Agenda as Wong and Anutin Put AI, Food Security and Connectivity at the Centre

Singapore and Thailand are preparing to work more closely on the next phase of ASEAN cooperation, with their leaders agreeing to develop a multi-year agenda linking their consecutive ASEAN chairmanships in 2027 and 2028. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul reached the agreement during their first Singapore-Thailand Leaders’ Retreat in Bangkok on Sept. 2, 2026. The meeting also revived the leaders’ retreat after an 11-year hiatus, with the previous

September 2, 2026

Business

THAILAND’S SOLAR SHIELD: 1 Million Homes Targeted as LNG Prices Put Energy Security at Risk — What Comes Next?

BANGKOK — Thailand is accelerating its push into rooftop solar as the government looks to protect households from volatile energy prices and reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG). Energy Minister Akanat Promphan said Thailand plans to help install 5 gigawatts (GW) of rooftop solar capacity within one year, with the program potentially reaching around 1 million households. The initiative comes as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have exposed the v

September 2, 2026

Politics

OVP Seeks ₱785-Million Budget for 2027 — But the Bigger Question Isn’t the ₱104-Million Cut

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President is heading into the 2027 budget season with a smaller spending plan, asking Congress for ₱785.204 million in new appropriations, or roughly ₱104 million less than the ₱889.236 million appropriated to the office for 2026. The proposed reduction translates to 11.7 percent, even as the overall proposed Philippine national budget is expanding to ₱7.2 trillion for 2027. The national spending plan is about 6 percent higher than the ₱6.793-trillio

September 2, 2026

Politics

U.S. Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Thailand After Record-Setting Deployment — Why the Stop Matters

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand — The USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in Thailand after an unusually long deployment, bringing roughly 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines to the country's eastern seaboard for a rare period of rest and recovery. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier entered Laem Chabang on Sept. 2, 2026, following an extended deployment that included operations in the Middle East. Thai officials said the port visit is intended for rest, recuperation and logistical support, rather

September 2, 2026