Reappearance of Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse raises questions over succession

The estranged second son of Thailand’s king has returned to Bangkok for the first time in almost three decades, in an unannounced visit that surprised many and raised questions about the succession plan.

Footage of Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse making what appeared to be a low-key arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday, and visiting sites in the capital, was shared widely on social media.

More than 100 injured and hundreds of homes reportedly damaged near border with Malaysia

An explosion has ripped through a firework warehouse in Thailand , killing nine people and injuring more than 100, a senior official has said.

The blast in the town of Sungai Kolok, in the southern province of Narathiwat, on Saturday is thought to have been caused by welding during construction work on the building.

Young pro-reform candidate won over many in the electorate – but not military appointees who blocked him from being PM

After almost a decade of rule by the former army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha, many voters in the recent Thai election longed for change. More than 14 million turned to pro-reform politician Pita Limjaroenrat and his party Move Forward.

Pita, aged 42, is far younger than most politicians in Thailand, and he and his party were able to use social media to reach new voters.

Court suspends Move Forward’s Pita Limjaroenrat from parliament as rivals vote against him taking office

The leader of Thailand’s pro-reform party has had his final attempt to become prime minister blocked by military royalist opponents, as a court suspended him from parliament.

Pita Limjaroenrat’s Move Forward party won the most votes in May’s election after promising bold changes to remove the military from politics and overhaul a law that shields the powerful monarchy from criticism. But the party is strongly opposed by the conservative establishment and has faced significant challenges in trying to take power.

Pita Limjaroenrat fails to get parliamentary backing required to take office but can run again

The leader of Thailand’s pro-reform party has been blocked from taking power by a parliamentary vote that includes military-appointed senators despite winning the most seats in the election in May.

Pita Limjaroenrat’s progressive Move Forward party, which campaigned on a promise of change after nine years of rule by a former army chief, gained the most votes two months ago, but election rules rewritten after a military coup in 2014 require him to have majority support from parliament to become prime minister.

Prayuth Chan-ocha announces resignation after his party suffered a humiliating defeat in May election

The Thai prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, has said he will retire from politics, more than nine years after the former army general seized power in a military coup.

In May, his party suffered a humiliating defeat, coming fifth, well behind an upstart opposition party that promised to remove the military from politics. He will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed.

Campaign to reform laws that shield royal family is now part of mainstream but making it happen will be difficult

• Thai opposition parties start alliance talks

Just a few years ago, talking publicly about the status or role of Thailand’s monarchy was taboo. But on Sunday night, a political party that had campaigned for reform of strict laws that shield the royal family from criticism came out on top in a general election, winning the most votes and seats, according to an unofficial count.

Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, said it was an “extremely significant” moment. “They have the popular mandate – 14 million people voted for this party. And, of course, the party will proclaim this as a sign that Thailand has some readiness for more extensive structural reforms, no matter the institution.”

Leader of liberal Move Forward says he is ‘next prime minister of Thailand’ and ready to form coalition government

Thailand’s opposition parties have secured by far the largest number of votes in national elections, delivering a damning verdict to the military-backed government that has ruled for nearly a decade.

Move Forward, a progressive opposition party popular with young Thais, surpassed expectations by winning the most votes and seats and said on Monday that it was ready to form a government. Its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, told media he had invited Pheu Thai, the party associated with the exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and four other opposition parties to form an alliance.