Despite eight months in jail, a coup, and legal challenges, supporters of former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra doubt his political career is over, with some hoping for his retirement while acknowledging his continued influence.
Authorities in Thailand are unspooling a “phantom birth’’ racket involving possibly hundreds of babies – mainly Chinese – falsely registered as Thais by corrupt officials so that their parents can gain land and company ownership rights. Scores of birth certificates have come under scrutiny, with several officials arrested for suspected bribery in a scam that first came to light in northern Chiang Mai, but has now clustered around a Bangkok suburb and northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima...
Northern Thailand faces public health crisis as dry season wildfires blanket provinces with toxic PM2.5 pollution. Over 600 fire hotspots recorded, with hospitals seeing surge in respiratory illness patients. Senator demands government action as air quality remains at critical levels for over two months.
