The house always wins: How the establishment finally came out on top in Thailand
CNN
A billionaire former owner of English soccer giants Manchester City who dominated politics in his homeland now watches his dynasty fade from inside prison.
A billionaire former owner of English soccer giants Manchester City who dominated politics in his homeland now watches his dynasty fade from inside prison.
Former policeman Thaksin Shinawatra reshaped Thailand’s politics. He served twice as the kingdom’s prime minister and commanded such a huge and loyal following that parties associated with him have won almost every election since 2001.
Now, Thaksin is behind bars and his political party just had its worst ever performance in general elections earlier this month that saw the conservative order he once challenged returning firmly to power for the first time in a quarter of a century.
Analysts say the result could mean more stability for modern day Thailand, which has had three prime ministers in as many years and a 20-year cycle of military coups, violent street protests and paralyzing political instability.
Only one image was released from Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting Wednesday: a handshake in the Oval Office, distributed by the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Beyond that single frame, there were no reporters, no statements, no spontaneous gaggle with shout-out questions
Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, DC, this week, Israel has taken a series of sweeping steps to tighten its grip on the occupied West Bank.
The first week of the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt was marked by confusion, and logistical hurdles, according to Palestinians attempting to cross and multiple sources who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity.
Delegations from the United States and Iran concluded indirect talks in the Gulf Arab state of Oman Friday. It was the first round of negotiations between the two sides since the US and Israel struck the Islamic Republic last summer.
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran’s supreme leader should be “very worried,” as both sides prepare for their first formal negotiations since the United States bombed Tehran’s nuclear program last year.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi is on hunger strike in detention by Iranian authorities, according to a letter by the Narges Foundation, which is run by her family.
Iran conditionally agrees to nuclear talks with US, first since Trump’s military strikes last summer
Iran has tentatively agreed to resume nuclear talks with the US as it tries to avert the threat of strikes, in what would be the first such negotiations since the Trump administration bombed three of Iran’s nuclear sites last summer.
Gaza’s only border crossing with Egypt reopened partially on Monday morning after Israel closed it nearly two years ago, according to an Israeli security official, allowing a small number of Palestinians to enter and leave the war-torn enclave.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt began a trial phase on Sunday ahead of its planned reopening that will allow a limited number of Palestinians to leave the war-torn enclave and completing the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire plan.