Thailand Raises 2026 Growth Forecast to as Much as 2.5% as Technology Investment and Exports Strengthen

Thailand’s leading business groups raised their annual growth forecast to a maximum of 2.5%, citing stronger semiconductor and artificial intelligence investment and exports while warning that smaller domestic companies risk missing the benefits of the foreign-led technology boom.
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Thailand Uses Airline Baggage Incentives to Promote Agricultural Tourism

Thai aviation and tourism authorities introduced incentives including higher free baggage allowances for agricultural products on domestic flights, aiming to encourage provincial travel and direct more tourism spending toward farming communities.
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Thailand Introduces Measures to Reduce Electric Vehicle Battery Repair Costs

Thailand’s automotive sector launched new initiatives intended to lower battery maintenance expenses, addressing one of the main long-term ownership costs as the country seeks to strengthen its electric vehicle market.
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Indonesia Begins Construction of Major Waste-to-Energy Power Plant

Indonesian authorities broke ground on a new waste-to-energy facility designed to reduce urban waste while producing renewable electricity in support of the country’s longer-term decarbonisation goals.
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Southeast Asia Redesigns Industrial Parks Around 45-Minute Connectivity Standard

Governments and developers across Southeast Asia are integrating industrial zones more closely with housing and public transport, using a 45-minute connectivity target to improve labour access and operating efficiency.
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Singapore Strengthens Position as Regional Artificial Intelligence Hub Ahead of Major Technology Events

Singapore is preparing to host enterprise technology forums expected to draw more than 29,000 participants as the city-state uses its cloud infrastructure and regulatory environment to attract a growing share of regional digital investment.
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Singapore Considers Tighter Social Media Rules for Young Users

Singapore regulators are considering stricter requirements for social media platforms serving younger users as authorities place greater emphasis on child safety and mental health risks linked to online content.
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Thailand Reviews Civil Servant Healthcare Benefits as Public Costs Rise

Thailand’s Finance Ministry is examining possible changes to medical benefits for state employees and retirees as the government seeks to contain rising healthcare spending while preserving broader budget discipline.
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Indonesia and Malaysia Step Up Cooperation Against Transboundary Haze

Indonesia and Malaysia established stronger joint response mechanisms to combat illegal agricultural burning and reduce the risk of severe cross-border air pollution returning to the region.
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Malaysia and Brunei Expand Cooperation on Energy, Trade and Border Security

Malaysia and Brunei formalised new agreements to strengthen cross-border trade, economic integration and energy cooperation while expanding coordination along their shared maritime borders in the South China Sea.
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Southeast Asian Economies Deepen Strategic Ties With Taiwanese Technology Firms

ASEAN economies are expanding Taiwanese high-tech investment and supply-chain integration while maintaining ties with both China and the United States, reflecting continued efforts to balance competing geopolitical relationships.
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Thailand Launches National Program to Expand Access to Artificial Intelligence

Thailand introduced a nationwide initiative to broaden access to artificial intelligence tools across workplaces and businesses, aiming to raise productivity and accelerate digital adoption throughout the economy.
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Cambodia Says Crackdown Has Dismantled More Than 700 Online Scam Operations

Cambodian authorities carried out nationwide raids against more than 700 large-scale cyber-scam operations as the government faces international pressure to disrupt transnational criminal networks and restore confidence among legitimate investors.
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Vietnam Secures Nearly $12 Billion in Semiconductor Projects as Foreign Investment Accelerates

Vietnam has attracted almost $12 billion in semiconductor project registrations across more than 170 foreign-invested projects while updating tax incentives to deepen its role in global chip supply chains.
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Malaysia Draws More Than $30 Billion in Data Centre Investment as AI Infrastructure Expands

Malaysia has more than $30 billion in data centre projects under development as it seeks to become one of Southeast Asia’s leading hubs for cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
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United States and Indonesia Begin Super Garuda Shield Military Exercises

Thousands of personnel from the United States, Indonesia and allied Indo-Pacific countries began joint combat and maritime defence drills as Washington strengthens regional security partnerships amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
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Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia Renew Security Pact for Malacca and Singapore Straits

The three Southeast Asian states reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the Malacca and Singapore straits open and secure for international shipping, reinforcing cooperation around one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.
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Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days for Travellers From 60 Countries

Thailand published new rules reducing visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 for citizens of 60 countries, including the United States and United Kingdom, with the change taking effect in mid-September as authorities tighten oversight of longer-term visitors.
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Indonesia Surpasses Investment Targets as Prabowo Projects 6% Economic Growth

Indonesia attracted more than $56 billion in direct investment during the first half of 2026, strengthening job creation and industrial development as President Prabowo Subianto forecast economic growth of 6%.
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Thailand Launches $6 Billion Rooftop Solar Initiative as LNG Prices Surge

Thailand plans to help one million households install five gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity within a year, using a $6 billion energy transition fund to reduce exposure to rising liquefied natural gas prices linked to conflict in the Middle East.
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Singapore Sends Disaster Identification Team to Nepal-Tibet Flood Zone

Singapore has deployed a specialist police disaster-victim identification team to the Nepal-Tibet border to support recovery efforts after catastrophic glacial floods and landslides killed more than 1,000 people.
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Severe Haze Forces School Closures and Health Warnings in the Philippines

Authorities suspended public school classes and urged residents across Luzon and the Visayas to use protective masks as heavy haze sharply reduced air quality.
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Prabowo Subianto Weighs Possible Diplomatic Visit to North Korea

Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto is considering a visit to Pyongyang as Jakarta explores a more prominent non-aligned diplomatic role, according to foreign-policy analysts.
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Hong Kong Leads 200-Company Delegation to Malaysia to Expand Regional Investment

Hong Kong’s commerce minister led more than 200 mainland Chinese and Hong Kong companies to Malaysia as businesses seek deeper investment and commercial links with Southeast Asia.
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Malaysia Turns to Chinese Rice-Farming Techniques as Domestic Yields Decline

Malaysia is adopting high-yield rice production methods developed in China as the country seeks to address falling domestic output and growing climate-related food-security pressures.
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UK Deepens Security and Trade Engagement Across Southeast Asia

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy and senior UK delegations have stepped up engagement with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries as Britain expands its post-Brexit security and trade relationships in the Indo-Pacific.
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Thailand Expands Crackdown on Illicit Foreign Capital Beyond Bangkok

Thai police and financial regulators are widening investigations into foreign-owned shell companies and illegal capital networks, extending scrutiny to provincial tourism and real estate centers.
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Thailand’s Manufacturing Sector Expands in August as Business Optimism Hits Eight-Month High

Thailand’s manufacturing sector remained in expansion territory in August as factory output, new orders and exports strengthened, lifting business optimism to its highest level since January.
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Indonesia Posts $3.7 Billion Trade Surplus in First Seven Months

Indonesia recorded a $3.7 billion trade surplus over the first seven months of the year, supporting foreign-exchange reserves as global commodity markets remain volatile.
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Thailand Pushes Domestic Semiconductor Development as Regional Supply Chains Shift

Thai industrial planners and technology companies are promoting new semiconductor and materials projects as the country seeks a larger role in Southeast Asia’s expanding chip supply chain.
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Philippines Collects More Than $300 Million in Taxes From Foreign Digital Platforms

Philippine authorities collected 17.5 billion pesos from overseas digital service providers during the first half of the year as the government increases taxation of international technology companies.
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Indonesia Investigates Alleged Trafficking of Citizens Into Russian Military

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry is investigating the identities and recruitment routes of eight nationals allegedly trafficked into serving with Russian forces in Ukraine.
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Thailand Launches Nationwide Probe Into Unlicensed Data Centers

Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society Ministry has ordered a crackdown on unlicensed data centers as authorities focus on cybersecurity and power-grid stability amid rising foreign investment in artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
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Thailand Approves Major Railway Expansion for Eastern Economic Corridor

Thailand’s cabinet approved a large railway expansion designed to improve freight links in the Eastern Economic Corridor, reduce logistics costs and support further industrial investment.
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UN Refugee Agency Rejects Involvement in Malaysia’s Plan to Repatriate Myanmar Refugees

The United Nations refugee agency distanced itself from Malaysia’s proposed return of thousands of Myanmar nationals, warning against sending vulnerable people back to a country still engulfed in civil war.
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Myanmar Junta Leader Travels to Thailand as Military Faces Mounting Battlefield Losses

The head of Myanmar’s military government traveled to Thailand for high-level meetings as his administration seeks diplomatic engagement while facing major territorial losses to armed resistance groups.
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Philippine Seabed Claims Risk Complicating ASEAN South China Sea Negotiations

The Philippines’ pursuit of extended continental shelf rights in the South China Sea could complicate ASEAN efforts to reach a maritime code of conduct with Beijing, according to diplomatic analysts.
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China-ASEAN Trade Exceeds $1 Trillion for First Time

Trade between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations reached a record $1.05 trillion over the past year, reinforcing Beijing’s position as the region’s largest economic partner despite continuing geopolitical tensions.
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Thailand Cuts Visa-Free Stay to 30 Days for Travelers From More Than 50 Countries

Thailand will reduce the maximum visa-free stay from 60 days to 30 days from mid-September for visitors from more than 50 countries, including India and Singapore, as authorities tighten immigration controls while seeking to protect tourism revenue.
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US Aircraft Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Arrives in Thailand for Strategic Port Visit

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its carrier strike group docked at Laem Chabang after a Middle East deployment, bringing more than 5,000 US sailors ashore and underscoring close military ties between Washington and Bangkok.
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Thailand Luxury Property Backlog Approaches $1 Billion as High-End Sales Rise

Thai property developers reported strong first-half revenue from luxury condominium sales and international corporate buyers, with high-end property backlogs approaching $1 billion despite broader inflation and borrowing-cost pressures.
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Cambodia and ADB Plan Electric Vehicle Infrastructure and High-Tech Agricultural Zones

Cambodia has secured technical and financial support from the Asian Development Bank for electric mobility networks and upgraded agricultural zones aimed at modernizing rural production and attracting investment.
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Malaysia Secures More Than $300 Million in Agricultural Export Agreements

Malaysian agricultural authorities have signed 14 agreements worth more than $300 million covering high-technology farming and agricultural exports as the country seeks to expand its role in international food supply chains.
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Thailand Launches Subsidized AI Training and Digital Identity Initiative

Thailand’s Electronic Transactions Development Agency has introduced digital identity frameworks and subsidized artificial intelligence training intended to improve technology skills and business productivity.
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Thailand Expands Biofuel and Biogas Programs to Reduce Oil Dependence

Thailand’s Energy Ministry is expanding biodiesel and agricultural waste-to-energy programs in an effort to reduce the transport sector’s exposure to volatile imported petroleum prices.
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Vietnamese Companies Approve More Than $1 Billion in Overseas Investment

Vietnamese businesses approved more than $1 billion in foreign investments over the past seven months as domestic companies increasingly acquire production and logistics assets outside the country.
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Indonesia Eases Export-Revenue Rules for Mining Companies

Indonesia has relaxed requirements governing how long mining exporters must retain foreign-exchange proceeds domestically, giving companies greater financial flexibility as the government seeks to sustain investment in mineral extraction.
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Philippines Evacuates Thousands of Students After Threats Against Schools

Philippine authorities ordered mass school closures and evacuated thousands of students across several urban districts after security forces intercepted threats of coordinated violence against educational institutions.
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Glacier Collapse, Not Earthquake, Triggered Deadly Nepal-Tibet Flood
Swiss Tourist Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Insulting Bali's Sacred Day of Silence
Father Reprimanded After Leaving Seven-Year-Old Son Alone on Mount Fuji During Summit Climb
Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy
China’s Kimi Launches AI-Focused Credit Card With Agricultural Bank of China and American Express
Success: Nvidia Turned Gaming Chips Into the Engine of the AI Boom
AI’s Next Bottleneck Is Power, Not Just Nvidia Chips
Meta Raises AI Spending Target to as Much as $145bn Despite Pressure Over Returns
Joe Biden’s Cancer Has Spread Beyond His Bones, Hunter Biden Says
Why 2027 Could Be a Strong Year for Stocks—and Why the Forecast Is Fragile
Why Markets May Look Quiet in August After Big Tech Earnings
UFO: Pentagon Releases Video of Unidentified Object Tracked Over Middle East
Ukraine Tells Senate Republicans Its Drone War Offers a Blueprint for America
Weight-Loss Drug Boom Tests the Limits of Prescription Advertising Rules
Taiwan’s President Joins Wartime Command Drill as China Pressure Grows
Lightning Strike Kills Yala FC Player During Match in Southern Thailand
AI Is Remaking the US Economy, From GDP Growth to iPhone Prices
Indonesia’s Free School Meals Plan Has Been Hit by Poisoning, Corruption and Cuts
US and Japan Step In to Support the Yen in Rare Joint Intervention
FIFA’s Retreat Leaves a Larger Question Over Who Guards the Game
Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
US Says It Has Carried Out Heavy Strikes on Iran After Attempted Attacks on Its Forces
Over 24 Hours in the Air: Qantas Airbus Completes Record-Breaking Test Flight
Nvidia Reportedly Takes Vast Texas Data-Centre Lease to Underwrite AI Expansion
FIFA’s Private-Investment Plan for World Cup Rights Draws European Revolt
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
Trump Readies New Tariffs as Temporary Global Levy Nears Expiry
EU Imposes Record €550 Million Digital Services Fine on AliExpress
Between Deliveries, Wang Jibing Wrote His Way to China’s Literary Heights
Morgan Stanley Builds a Wall Street Lead in AI Infrastructure Finance
High Prices Push Coffee Drinkers Toward Whole Beans and Home Brewing
Trump Draws Boos and Podium Scrutiny at Spain’s World Cup Triumph
Spain Defeats Argentina in Extra Time to Win Second World Cup
Police Block Cockroach Janta Party’s March to Parliament as Education Protests Intensify
Singapore Considers Lower Taxes for Fund Managers as Hong Kong Intensifies Talent Contest
Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards
Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist
Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia
Reported CIA Mission Helped Clear the UAE’s Path to Advanced US AI Chips
Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests
China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost
Gold and Cash Seizure Puts Indonesia’s Senior Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Under Investigation
The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith
Ukraine’s Leadership Rift Spills Into the Streets as Protesters Target Army Chief
The Ten World Cup Finals That Defined Football History
Smartphones Are Getting More Expensive, Sales Are Collapsing, and Even Apple Admits: "Prices Will Rise"
Leadership Change and Strategic Rivalry Redraw the Political Map
The AI Race Enters Its Infrastructure Era