Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be eligible to apply for parole in May, in accordance with regulations requiring inmates to serve two-thirds of their sentence, said Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat.

Thailand’s army said it exchanged fire with Cambodian forces along the disputed border in Si Sa Ket province on Tuesday, accusing them of violating the December truce.

Canine distemper caused the deaths of 72 tigers at two animal parks in Chiang Mai earlier this month, not avian influenza, and there was no transmission to humans, it was announced on Tuesday.

As the Bhumjaithai Party prepares to lead the next government, one significant campaign pledge was to revive the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme. However, people in the wholesale and retail sectors view this initiative as a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution to the country’s sluggish economy.

A legal expert from the People’s Party (PP) says the use of traceable barcodes and QR codes on ballot papers used in the election could violate the principle of secret voting outlined in the constitution.

The deaths of 72 tigers at a tourist attraction in Chiang Mai last week have been called into question, with the source of the virus and bacteria blamed for the fatalities yet to be clearly identified.