At least 72 tigers have died from a viral infection at a zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, according to a statement issued Friday by the provincial livestock department. Tests confirmed that the animals were infected with the highly contagious canine distemper virus and also suffered from bacterial respiratory infections. The zoo, known as Tigers Kingdom, has been temporarily closed following the mass deaths.

Somchuan Rattanamungklanon, director of Thailand’s national livestock department, told local media that detecting illness in tigers is more difficult than in domestic animals such as dogs or cats, and by the time symptoms become apparent, it is often too late. The zoo, a popular tourist attraction, allowed visitors to hug and take photos with tigers.

Animal rights group PETA said in a statement to AFP that the tigers lived and died in distressing, confined, and fearful conditions. The organization added that if tourists stayed away, such facilities would quickly become unprofitable and tragedies like this would not occur.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced on Friday that his Bhumjaithai Party will form a coalition government with the Thaksin-backed Pheu Thai Party, which finished third in the February 8 general election. According to the Election Commission, Bhumjaithai won 193 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives, followed by the reformist People’s Party with 118 seats and Pheu Thai with 74 seats.

The alliance would give Anutin’s party a parliamentary majority, paving the way for a stable coalition after a period of political turbulence. Anutin said after discussions with Pheu Thai leaders that they would work together to govern the country effectively. Pheu Thai, once Thailand’s most successful party, suffered its worst electoral performance this time, raising concerns about its future.

Bhumjaithai previously belonged to a Pheu Thai-led coalition formed after the 2023 election but withdrew in June following a leaked phone call between then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Paetongtarn was later dismissed by court order, and Anutin replaced her before dissolving parliament in December, triggering the snap election.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party has secured a decisive victory in the country’s recent general election, winning around 190 seats and moving toward forming a coalition government. The result defied most pre-election surveys that had predicted a lead for the reformist People’s Party. The outcome delivered a major setback to young reformists who had hoped to build on earlier momentum.

The mixed electoral system played a key role in shaping the result. Thai voters cast two ballots—one for local candidates and another for party lists. Although the People’s Party received about 10 million votes nationwide, surpassing Bhumjaithai’s 6 million in the party-list count, only 20 percent of the 500 parliamentary seats are allocated from party lists. The remaining 80 percent are decided through direct local contests, where Bhumjaithai’s long-standing local networks and influential figures proved decisive.

Anutin’s strategy of recruiting experienced politicians and consolidating conservative voters through nationalist and pro-monarchy positions strengthened his party’s dominance, marking an unexpected turn in Thailand’s political landscape.

Thailand’s interim Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party has won the country’s general election, according to preliminary vote counts released on February 9, 2026. Early results show the party leading with a significant margin, securing an estimated 194 of the 500 parliamentary seats. The People’s Party is projected to come second with 116 seats. Following the announcement, Anutin said the victory belongs to the people of Thailand.

The election was called in December after Anutin’s coalition government collapsed just three months into his interim tenure. Despite no party expected to achieve an outright majority, Anutin’s position in power now appears almost certain. The leader of the People’s Party, Nathaphong Ruengpaniyaut, stated that his party is prepared to serve in opposition if Anutin forms the next government.

Thailand’s election outcomes are often unpredictable, and this year’s results have again defied expectations, reinforcing Anutin’s political standing amid a fragmented parliamentary landscape.

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel named MV Siloed ARC sank off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday afternoon while en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Chattogram port in Bangladesh. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, approximately four nautical miles from the Phuket coast. All 16 Bangladeshi sailors aboard were rescued safely by a team from the Thai Navy.

According to Borhan Uddin, operational manager of Alvi Lines Bangladesh, the ship tilted 30 degrees before sinking in deep waters. The vessel’s captain declared it abandoned before the rescue operation. The rescued sailors were taken to a hotel in Phuket, where they are reported to be in good health.

Borhan Uddin added that the sailors are expected to return to Bangladesh within a few days following their rescue.

Thailand began voting in its general election on Sunday, with polls opening at 8 a.m. local time and set to close at 5 p.m. The election features three main political blocs: reformist, military-backed conservative, and populist forces. Alongside the parliamentary vote, a national referendum on constitutional change is also being held. According to the Election Commission, more than 2.2 million people had already cast ballots during early voting that began on February 1.

The election takes place against a backdrop of sluggish economic growth and heightened nationalism. Although over 50 parties are contesting, only three — the reformist People’s Party, Bhumjaithai, and Pheu Thai — are seen as having the nationwide support to form a government. Thailand has 53 million registered voters for this election.

Surveys suggest no single party will win an outright majority in the 500-seat parliament, but the People’s Party, led by Nathaphong Ruangpanyawut, is projected to secure the most seats.

Thailand held national elections on Sunday to form a new government after changing prime ministers three times in two years. The vote pits the reformist People’s Party, which won the most votes in the previous election, against the ruling conservative bloc. Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, currently imprisoned, continues to exert significant influence over Thai politics. Alongside the election, a referendum is being held on whether constitutional reform is needed, though no specific proposal has been presented.

According to reports from Bangkok, the incoming government will face challenges including a long-standing border dispute with Cambodia that turned deadly twice last year and the growing threat of transnational cyber fraud networks. Economically, Thailand is under pressure from weak growth and a tourism sector still below pre-pandemic levels, while Vietnam is overtaking it in attracting foreign investment.

Analysts predict no party will win an outright majority, raising the possibility of another fragmented outcome similar to the disputed election less than three years ago. They warn that entrenched military and judicial influence continues to weaken elected representatives and hinder democratic consolidation.

Voters in Thailand will head to the polls on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in a snap election marked by political volatility and a fragile truce with Cambodia after deadly border clashes. The contest features Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party, aligned with the royalist conservative establishment, against the progressive, youth-led People’s Party. Pheu Thai, long a dominant force in Thai politics, is also seeking a comeback after its founder Thaksin Shinawatra’s imprisonment and the removal of two of its prime ministers by the courts.

The election will fill 500 seats in the House of Representatives through a mixed system, with 400 constituency and 100 party-list seats. For the first time in recent cycles, the appointed Senate will not participate in selecting the prime minister, who will require 251 votes in the House. Voters will also decide in a referendum whether to rewrite the 2017 constitution drafted under military rule. Polls show the People’s Party leading, followed by Bhumjaithai and Pheu Thai trailing.

Analysts say no party is expected to win an outright majority, making coalition-building inevitable but potentially unstable. The vote is widely viewed as a test of whether Thailand can end decades of coups, protests, and judicial interventions.

Reformist candidate Nathaphong Ruengpaniyaut of the People’s Party is leading public opinion polls ahead of Thailand’s general election scheduled for February 8. A Suan Dusit University survey released on Friday showed Nathaphong receiving support from 35.1 percent of respondents, ahead of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the conservative Bhumjaithai Party with 16.1 percent, and Pheu Thai Party candidate Yosanan Wongsawat with 21.5 percent. The poll was conducted between January 16 and 28 among 26,621 participants.

The People’s Party is the successor to the Move Forward Party, which won the 2023 election but was blocked from forming a government by conservative lawmakers. Prime Minister Anutin, who succeeded former leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra, called an early election on December 12, less than 100 days after taking office, amid a tense border conflict with Cambodia.

A separate poll by the National Institute of Development Administration also placed Nathaphong ahead, with 29 percent support compared to 22.2 percent for Anutin, indicating growing momentum for the reformist bloc before the vote.

The Trump administration has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Thailand, citing high rates of welfare claims by migrants. The decision has upended the plans of many Thais, such as 27-year-old Khaochat Mankong, who had been preparing to move to California with her American husband. The freeze affects EB-class employment visas and K-class spousal and dependent visas, leaving families and workers uncertain about their futures.

Thailand’s government has voiced disappointment at being grouped with poorer, conflict-affected nations like Afghanistan and Haiti. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with US Charge D’Affairs Elizabeth J Konick to seek clarification, questioning the logic of the inclusion given Thailand’s long-standing alliance and economic contributions to the United States. The move comes amid already strained relations between Washington and Bangkok, worsened by US tariffs and stalled trade talks.

While some Thais support the policy as a measure to curb welfare misuse, others view it as unfair and damaging to bilateral ties. Analysts suggest the suspension reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to sharply restrict legal immigration.

At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometers from Bangkok, as the train was traveling from the capital toward the northeast. The crane, used in the construction of a high-speed rail line, suddenly fell onto one of the train’s carriages, causing it to derail and briefly catch fire.

Provincial police chief Thachaporn Chinnawong confirmed the death toll and said the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities reported that the fire was quickly brought under control and rescue operations began immediately after the incident.

Thai officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. The total number of passengers on board at the time of the accident remains unclear, according to police.

Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers three days after both countries agreed to a renewed ceasefire. The soldiers had been detained since July during border clashes between the two Southeast Asian neighbors. Thailand’s foreign ministry confirmed the release, describing it as a gesture of goodwill and confidence-building. Cambodia’s defense ministry said the soldiers returned home on Wednesday morning after 155 days in Thai custody.

The border conflict, which began in July, had previously been halted through mediation by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. However, fighting resumed earlier this month, resulting in at least 101 deaths and the displacement of about half a million people from both sides. The two nations reached another ceasefire agreement over the weekend, which took effect on Saturday afternoon.

The soldiers were initially scheduled to be repatriated on Tuesday, but Thailand delayed the handover, citing alleged ceasefire violations. Cambodia denied those allegations, maintaining that it had not breached the agreement.

A ceasefire has taken effect along the Thailand–Cambodia border after several weeks of deadly clashes, but many displaced residents remain too fearful to return home. In Thailand’s Surin city, 21-year-old Kanlaya Somjettana said she would not go back until authorities confirm the area is safe, citing past ceasefire breakdowns. In Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, 35-year-old So Cheun, who is expecting a child, also plans to wait several days to ensure peace holds before returning.

Officials from both countries confirmed the ceasefire was in force on Sunday, though normal conditions have not yet been declared in most areas. The recent three-week conflict killed at least 47 people and displaced over one million across both nations. A previous truce in July collapsed after five days. Under the current agreement, both sides pledged to halt shelling, suspend troop movements, and facilitate civilian return, while Thailand promised to repatriate 18 detained Cambodian soldiers.

Some residents, such as Thai farmer Saichon Wongpitak, have decided to return home for agricultural reasons despite doubts about the ceasefire’s durability.

Thailand and Cambodia have signed a ceasefire agreement following 19 days of border clashes that left 96 people dead. In a joint statement released on Saturday, the defense ministers of both countries announced an immediate ceasefire, effective from noon local time. Both sides agreed to maintain their current troop positions without movement and to allow civilians living in border areas to return home. The statement also said that Thailand would release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect.

The conflict between the two Southeast Asian neighbors had intensified in recent weeks. Cambodia’s state news agency reported that Thai forces shelled a village in Banteay Meanchey province on Thursday morning, killing one Cambodian civilian. Cambodia’s National Assembly condemned the attack as “brutal and inhumane.” Meanwhile, the Thai military accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets into a village in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.

Thai authorities confirmed that 23 Thai soldiers, one civilian, and 41 other civilians were killed during the fighting, underscoring the heavy toll of the border violence.

The border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia entered its 18th day on Thursday, with a total of 96 people reported dead. According to Cambodia’s state news agency Kampuchea Press, citing the Ministry of Defense, Thai forces shelled a village in Banteay Meanchey province on Thursday morning, killing one Cambodian civilian. Cambodia’s National Assembly condemned the attack as “brutal and inhumane.”

Thailand’s Daily Nation reported that the Thai army accused Cambodia of firing BM-21 rockets into a village in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure. Thai authorities said 23 Thai soldiers and one civilian were killed, while 41 civilians also lost their lives in the ongoing clashes.

In a related development, India condemned the destruction of a statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu in the disputed border area of Cambodia, allegedly by Thai forces. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that such acts hurt the sentiments of followers worldwide and should not occur.