Thailand

• PV Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and doubles pair Satwik-Chirag progressed to the quarterfinals of the Thailand Open Super 500 badminton tournament on May 14, continuing India's strong showing at the event. • The Indian contingent's advancement marks a significant presence in the later rounds of the Super 500-level competition, with multiple medal prospects in contention. • Thailand Open serves as a key tournament on the BWF World Tour calendar, offering valuable ranking points ahead of major international competitions.

• Malvika Bansod advanced past her Thailand Open second-round match despite facing a stern challenge, demonstrating resilience in her campaign at the Super 500 tournament. • Anmol Kharb fell in the opening rounds, unable to replicate his BWF World Rankings position in on-court performance. • Though separated by just two spots in the BWF rankings, Bansod and Kharb showed contrasting results, highlighting the unpredictability of tournament badminton.

• North Korea crushed Thailand 6-0 in the quarterfinals on May 11 at Taihu Football Sports Center in Suzhou, China, maintaining a perfect record of 4 matches, 27 goals scored, and 0 conceded. • Defending champions North Korea now face China in the semifinals on May 14, with the winner advancing to the final on May 17 at Suzhou Sports Center Stadium. • Their dominant run, dubbed 'scary' by observers, positions them as favorites for a World Cup spot and showcases their youth team's offensive prowess.

• TikTok has received approval from Thailand’s Board of Investment for three data centres in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chachoengsao provinces valued at $25 billion or 842 billion THB. • The facilities will serve as regional hubs to store and process data, supporting TikTok's expanding user base across Southeast Asia. • This massive investment underscores TikTok's commitment to infrastructure growth amid rising demand, alongside other approvals like DAMAC Group's $1.4 billion and Bridge Data Centres' $746 million projects.

• Singapore and Thailand topped rankings as the world's 'least miserable' economies in the 2026 HAMI index by Johns Hopkins economist Steve Hanke, due to low inflation, steady employment, manageable borrowing costs, and income growth.• Southeast Asia identified as one of the 'healthiest economic neighbourhoods' globally, with households experiencing minimal economic strain amid positive indicators.• The index highlights regional resilience, contrasting with higher misery levels elsewhere, boosting consumer confidence and investment appeal.• Future editions may track if these trends persist amid global uncertainties.

Anutin Charnvirakul warns country is vulnerable over reliance on oil imports as countries across Asia introduce conservation measuresThailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has called on the public to conserve energy, urging work-from-home measures and carpooling, as he warned of the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.In a statement posted on social media, Anutin said Thailand was exposed to the crisis because of its reliance on imported oil and gas, and the country could not be complacent. Continue reading...