Filipino singer Carmelle storms to victory in Eurovision Asia debut in Bangkok

BANGKOK (AP) — Filipino singer Carmelle won the first Asian edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday with a fiery performance of her dance-pop song “Sobra-Sobra.”

Carmelle beat 10 other competitors in the grand finale held in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. National juries in participating countries and viewers around the world voted together to decide the winner.

Thai duo Mang x Daou placed second with an energetic performance of “Aroma,” a romantic pop number. Vietnam’s Tóc Tiên finished third with her upbeat and stylish stage presence during “Em Tiên."

The contestants were introduced one by one, riding onto the stage aboard tuk-tuks — motorized three-wheeled vehicles commonly seen in Bangkok’s tourist districts — while proudly waving their national flags. Thousands of fans inside the city-center venue erupted in cheers as the performers made their entrance.

Bulgarian singer Dara, the winner of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, which was held earlier this year in Vienna, performed as a special guest with her song “Bangaranga.”

The European contest strives to put music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which prompted protests outside the venues and led organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.

Five longtime participants — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — boycotted this year’s competition in protest against Israel's participation.

Tóc Tiên from Vietnam performs the song "EM TIEN" during the final of the Eurovision Asia 2026 Song Contest, in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Mang x Daou from Thailand perform the song "Aroma" during the final of the Eurovision Asia 2026 Song Contest, in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Dara, right, presents the trophy to Carmelle from the Philippines after winning the final of the Eurovision Asia 2026 Song Contest, in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Carmelle from the Philippines performs the song "Sobra-Sobra" during the final of the Eurovision Asia 2026 Song Contest, in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Carmelle from the Philippines wins the final of the Eurovision Asia 2026 Song Contest, in Bangkok, Thailand, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Wales shocked New Zealand 35-28 for its first victory over the All Blacks in 73 years in a pulsating Nations Championship rugby match on Saturday.

Wales set the tone with a second-minute try by Tomos Williams and never trailed, but had to survive waves of attacks for the last, tense 27 minutes to preserve a seven-point lead.

It is perhaps the biggest upset in test rugby since Japan defeated South Africa in the 2015 World Cup.

The Welsh had lost 34 straight matches to the All Blacks after their last win in 1953. They had conceded 50 points to the All Blacks on their last three visits to Cardiff.

Wales has fallen on hard times of late. It was last again in the Six Nations and was second-to-last in the northern hemisphere pool of the Nations Championship; it barely beat Japan last weekend.

The odds were so stacked for the All Blacks that only 55,000 people attended — 20,000 below a sell-out — the lowest crowd for a Wales-New Zealand match since the national stadium opened in 1999.

A Wales win for the ages came on the back of an outstanding attack followed by an equally unbelievable defensive performance of 346 tackles led by lock Dafydd Jenkins' 36.

The All Blacks, trying to bridge that seven-point gap, got over the Wales tryline three times in the last quarter but were held up each time.

Wallace Sititi was held up by Gareth Thomas in the 60th, Xavier Numia by James Botham in the 65th and Leicester Fainga'anuku by Dan Edwards in the 70th.

New Zealand also had two attacks of 20-plus phases but were turned over both times in the Wales 22 by Taine Plumtree.

See AP’s full rugby coverage here

Wales players celebrate as New Zealand players look on after the Nations Championship rugby match between Wales and New Zealand in Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Wales' Taine Plumtree and Blair Murray celebrate following the Nations Championship rugby match between Wales and New Zealand in Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

Wales' Louis Rees-Zammit, left, attempts to get past New Zealand's Fehi Fineanganofo during the Nations Championship rugby match between Wales and New Zealand in Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)

New Zealand's Richie Mo'unga, left, is tackled by Wales' Max Llewellyn during the Nations Championship rugby match between Wales and New Zealand in Cardiff, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. (Joe Giddens/PA via AP)