All articles tagged with #thailand
The Eurovision Song Contest is expanding beyond Europe for the first time, with Bangkok set to host the 2026 Grand Final on November 14 as ten nations including South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Laos compete in the inaugural Asian edition, highlighting the region's voices amid Eurovision's flamboyant spectacle and ongoing political controversies surrounding participation and voting.
During the Miss Grand Thailand prelim, 18-year-old Kamolwan Chanago’s dental veneers popped out mid‑speech. She calmly popped them back in and continued, turning a potentially awkward moment into a display of poise that sparked lighthearted jokes and admiration for her composure.
British reality TV star Jordan Wright, known for Ex On The Beach and The Only Way Is Essex, was found dead at 33 in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach, Phuket, Thailand, on March 14; authorities say he had likely been dead no more than two days, there were no signs of foul play or forced entry, and autopsy results are pending as the investigation continues; Wright had recently relocated to Thailand after leaving TV work.
A Thai man was arrested for trespassing after entering the pygmy hippo enclosure of Moo Deng at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. He remained inside briefly, no interaction with the animals occurred, Moo Deng and her mother Jona were monitored but unharmed, and the suspect was released on bail as police continue the investigation.
A Thai retailer reportedly listed Samsung’s Galaxy A57 (and the A37) with prices suggesting a potential hike over the prior A56. The listings show a 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant around THB 17,999 (~$555) and a 512GB option near $650, with official pricing and specs to be confirmed. Rumored specs include a 6.7-inch 120Hz display, Exynos 1680, 5000mAh battery, IP68, and a larger vapor-chamber cooling system.
The Thai-registered bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz; 20 crew were rescued by the Omani navy, three remain missing, and investigators are looking into the incident as regional shipping tensions rise.
Move Forward’s challenger in Rayong lost to the Pitutecha clan, highlighting Thailand’s enduring 'Baan Yai' patronage networks that supply resources and influence local votes. The setback illustrates why reformist candidates struggle in rural provinces even as urban centers show stronger support for progressive parties; alongside the overall shift toward Bhumjaithai, the election underscores how entrenched patrons still determine many local outcomes.
Thai authorities say 72 tigers died at two Chiang Mai area tiger parks from canine distemper virus, not bird flu. Autopsies detected CDV and bacterial infections but no avian influenza, and there have been no reported animal-to-human infections; health officials will monitor exposed people and contact tracing if needed as the Tiger Kingdom parks remain closed and investigations continue.
Thai authorities are investigating the deaths of 72 tigers at two Tiger Kingdom Chiang Mai facilities over about two weeks, with samples indicating canine distemper virus and other pathogens; no humans have been infected, the park is temporarily closed for disinfection, and officials have recommended euthanising gravely ill tigers as investigations continue.
Authorities in Thailand are investigating the sudden deaths of 72 tigers across two Tiger Kingdom sites in Chiang Mai. Tests detected canine distemper virus; no human infections have been reported, and the parks have been closed for two weeks while samples are collected and containment is assessed. Wildlife groups warn about the risks of captive wildlife, with euthanasia advised for gravely ill animals.
Quentin Griffiths, a co-founder of the online fashion retailer ASOS, died after a 17-story fall from a luxury Pattaya condo in Thailand on Feb. 9. Thai police said early indications pointed to suicide with no foul play, and CCTV reportedly showed no one entering his apartment, where he lived alone. Griffiths helped launch ASOS in London in 2000, stepped away in 2005 but remained a major shareholder; he later co-founded Achica, EBTM, and Adili. Police also found documents related to ongoing court cases in his apartment.
Thailand's election defied polls as Anutin Charnvirakul's conservative Bhumjaithai party won about 190 seats and looks set to form a government with coalition partners, while reformist Move Forward and its allies faltered. The result reflects Thailand's mixed electoral system, strong rural networks for conservatives, the absence of a unifying issue this time, and legal barriers that hamstring reformists, with turnout dipping to about 65%.
Thailand’s conservatives, led by Anutin Charnvirakul’s Thai Pride Party (BJT), won an outright general election—the first such victory this century—potentially bringing political stability while delaying monarchy and military reforms and leaving key economic policy questions unresolved.
With about 90% of polling stations reporting, Bhumjaithai is on course to lead the next government, ahead in 194 of 500 lower-house seats, but appears unlikely to secure an outright majority. The opposition’s People’s Party and Pheu Thai trail behind. Separately, voters backed a constitutional referendum to draft a new charter by a wide margin, potentially accelerating reforms to Thailand’s political framework.
With about 89% of votes tallied, Bhumjaithai—the conservative royalist party—won 194 seats in Thailand’s 500-seat House, edging out the reformist People’s Party and signaling a shift toward stability. Leader Anutin Charnvirakul’s bloc could control both chambers, aided by a senate favorable to his coalition. The result ends a wave of earlier reformist momentum and comes amid ongoing security concerns, including border tensions with Cambodia, which Anutin leveraged to push a tough-on-security platform. Analysts say voters prioritized continuity and governance over rapid reform.