Violent protests greet Argentine labour reforms
BUENOS AIRES - Argentine workers hurled stones and bottle bombs Wednesday at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets as a protest against proposed labour reforms turned briefly violent.

Taiwanese leader wants more defence links with Europe
TAIPEI - Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has called for greater defence and AI cooperation between Taiwan and Europe, as the democratic island seeks to bolster its protection against China.

World Cup ticket prices skyrocket on Fifa resale site
WASHINGTON - Ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup have skyrocketed on Fifa’s official resale platform, with seats for many matches listed at several times their face value even though most tickets have only recently been distributed following the end of the main sales phase in January.

Tech and healthcare investment outlook good
Foreign investors are expected to continue investing in advanced technology, healthcare and sustainability industries this year, following a record high of 324 billion baht in outlays last year, according to the Department of Business Development (DBD) at the Ministry of Commerce.

Thailand's moon-upon-moon ceremony
Thousands of devotees packed Prasat temple in Muang district of Nonthaburi province on Feb 2, 2026, to take part in a rare “moon-upon-moon” holy-water bathing ceremony.  The rite, held beneath the full moon before the 15th lunar night around the 400-year-old Luang Pho Yai image, is believed to wash away misfortune and bestow charm, luck and blessings.

$100m loan to help cut emissions at Thai industrial estates
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has secured a $100-million loan from the World Bank to support projects to cut carbon dioxide emissions at industrial parks as well as trade carbon credits.

Foreign loan options to be kept in place
The government is refusing to rule out overseas borrowing in order to preserve funding channels in case liquidity needs arise.

Chinese New Year spending up 5%
An estimated 54.2 billion baht will circulate during the 2026 Lunar New Year, marking a six-year high and 5% growth from the previous year, according to the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Report: Thai hotel rates increased 3% in 2025
The average daily rate for hotels in Thailand surged by 3% last year to 4,984 baht and they recorded a longer average length of stay, with Booking.com, Agoda, and direct hotel bookings generating the most revenue, according to SiteMinder.

Bank of Thailand takes closer look at large cash transactions
The Bank of Thailand is tightening oversight of cash transactions by introducing stricter due diligence requirements and clearer verification of the purpose of fund usage, in an effort to curb suspicious transactions.