BORDEAUX — 14 May 2026, French authorities barred more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the British cruise ship MS Ambition from disembarking after around 50 people fell ill in an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, officials said.

Authorities said there was no indication the outbreak was linked to the recent hantavirus cases reported aboard the Dutch-operated cruise ship MV Hondius.

The MS Ambition, operated by Ambassador Cruise Line, was on a 14-night voyage departing from Belfast and Liverpool, with scheduled stops in northern Spain and along France's Atlantic coast.

The vessel arrived in Bordeaux on the evening of 13 May.

Étienne Guyot, prefect of the Gironde department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, ordered passengers and crew to remain on board and restricted contact between the ship and Bordeaux port authorities following recommendations from regional health officials.

Authorities said about 50 passengers showed symptoms consistent with acute gastrointestinal infection after the ship's captain alerted French officials. Sick passengers were initially treated by onboard doctors and isolated in their cabins.

Medical teams supervised by France's maritime medical coordination centre were later deployed to the ship, while infectious disease specialists at Bordeaux University Hospital began analysing patient samples to identify the pathogen, assess transmission risks and determine additional health measures.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 16 gastrointestinal outbreaks were reported on cruise ships in 2024, the highest annual total in more than a decade. Most were linked to norovirus, including a recently identified strain believed to spread more easily.

At 9:15 a.m. on May 14, 2025, Pheu Thai party held a meeting at parliament led by Labor Minister Julapun Amorvivatpun as party chairman, with Manoporn Charoensri, an MP from Nakhon Phanom, as deputy chairman, and Prasert Chantruangtong, a party-list MP, as secretary-general. Julapun informed the meeting about the 400 billion baht emergency decree, noting that despite a constitutional court petition filed for interpretation, the decree's binding power has already taken effect. The House of Representatives understands that the parliamentary president has referred the matter to the constitutional court, making it the court's responsibility to rule on it. Whatever the court decides will return to parliament for approval by both chambers. This represents cooperation among coalition parties in addressing public concerns during the economic crisis, with voting requiring unity among members. Julapun stated that while the decree attempts to reallocate some budget portions, the amounts are limited, though there are mechanisms to review other budget sections. Given the current tight fiscal situation and urgent public hardship, immediate action is needed on cash handouts and welfare card top-ups. These matters must return to parliament for discussion, and he called for all members to participate in deliberations, raise questions, and offer constructive suggestions. If the government provides complete clarifications during the vote, coalition parties are ready to move forward with approving the decree. Julapun noted that the constitutional court is expected to take about two weeks to consider the matter before it returns to parliament. Manoporn stated that opposition parties filed a challenge to the 400 billion baht borrowing decree last week, now before the constitutional court for ruling. Historically, such rulings take about 20 days, after which the parliamentary president will place it on the agenda. Manoporn added that Pheu Thai has been allocated 40 minutes for debate, with six MPs registered to speak. The party will present arguments supporting the decree, emphasizing efficient budget use amid current economic conditions. The first 200 billion baht will provide relief to those affected by the economic downturn, while the remaining 200 billion baht will fund energy transition initiatives.

Fans expressed concern after photos emerged of singer Jackie Chakrin using a wheelchair at the OLYMPOP 2 event on May 14th. He attended to launch the "est Cola 3×3 Basketball U-League" campaign at the Chulalongkorn Sports Center (CU Sports Complex) on the fourth floor, where he provided an update on his health condition.

Jackie explained that he had to use the wheelchair due to acute bronchitis and severe breathing difficulties, requiring oxygen support before going on stage. He confirmed the condition was not life-threatening but emphasized that doctors advised him to rest extensively and reduce voice usage. He plans to undergo further medical checkups in the coming days.

During the interview, Jackie described the incident: "At that moment, it felt like I couldn't breathe properly. I had bronchitis, and since I was about to perform, they had to give me oxygen." He revealed he had experienced similar symptoms before, particularly after exercising, and the coughing had persisted for one to two months.

When asked about receiving steroid injections, Jackie admitted: "Yes, I did, but I need to use my voice. Without the injection, I would have developed a fever. I should have been more cautious, but because I had already committed to the performance, I wanted to make sure the stage went smoothly."

Doctors advised him to rest more and take medications consistently. Despite the health scare, Jackie remains committed to his work schedule, though he acknowledged plans to take a break and undergo a comprehensive health check later.

Regarding his vocal future, he confirmed he must be careful and reduce his voice usage. He is proceeding with the release of his new song "Don't Forget the Cruelty" on May 18th, which he described as a cautionary message about people who have betrayed him in the past. Jackie wrote the song's concept himself, inspired by life experiences and the belief that everyone encounters betrayal at some point.

Chanaathip Songkrasin, the Thai national team's midfielder and captain, escaped punishment after receiving a flare from football fans following Thailand's 2-1 home victory over Turkmenistan on March 31, which secured the team's advancement to the AFC Asian Cup 2027 final round in Saudi Arabia. The AFC (Asian Football Confederation) has issued a fine of 22,500 US dollars, approximately 720,000 baht, to the Thai Football Association for violating regulations by allowing flares to be lit during the match. Chanaathip himself faced no disciplinary sanctions whatsoever for receiving the flare. Thailand has drawn a challenging group for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 final round, grouped alongside Japan, Qatar, and Indonesia.

Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, formally accepted the royal decree appointing him as opposition leader in the House of Representatives during a ceremony held at 9:00 AM on May 14, 2025, at parliament. The ceremony officially recognized his appointment as the 12th opposition leader in the House. Following the standard procedure, parliament's secretary invited the royal decree to be read aloud, in which His Majesty issued a royal decree granting the appointment. The decree noted that following Prime Minister Anupong Paojinda and his cabinet's assumption of government and their policy statement to parliament on April 9-10, 2025, Anutin Charnvirakul—as leader of the Pheu Thai Party, the largest political party in the House whose members hold no ministerial, Speaker, or Deputy Speaker positions—was appointed opposition leader under Article 106 of the Thai Constitution. The decree was proclaimed on May 8, 2025, Year 11 of the current reign. Parliament Speaker Sopon Sarirum countersigned the decree. Anutin then paid respects to the portrait of His Majesty the King, completing the ceremony.

Kanchai attended the launch of PULZAR engine oil products at Park Hyatt Bangkok's Ballroom (B1) and opened up about two major issues: the family drama involving Nai Naphatt and Mae Moo Pim Phoka following the son's public statements about family relationships and apparent estrangement. Kanchai firmly denied being behind the scenes or influencing any decisions, and asked society not to hastily judge the situation as ungrateful behavior since not all facts are known. He also addressed the Sai Scott controversy, suggesting that if true, it represents a domestic violence case society should learn from, but if false, the other party should clarify the facts.

When asked if he consulted with the younger family member before he spoke publicly, Kanchai replied he couldn't answer that, explaining he doesn't want to overstep in such sensitive family matters. He acknowledged hearing about these issues over time but emphasized he knows both Mae Moo and Nai Naphatt and therefore couldn't give advice, leaving the decision to Nai Naphatt himself as an adult. Regarding the 2-3 year communication gap, Kanchai rejected the term "estrangement," viewing it instead as each person living their own life. He criticized calls labeling the younger man as ungrateful, stating such judgments are premature since the full situation remains unknown. He also criticized lawyer Songkran's public comments, noting he's not family and doesn't understand the full situation, potentially causing more pain. Finally, Kanchai mentioned he recently called Mae Moo to check on her wellbeing, and had gone shopping with Nai Naphatt without discussing these family issues.