Former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra released from prison on parole

Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released from prison on parole after serving eight months for abuse of power. He had been convicted in a case related to his time in office and was initially sentenced to several years, but the sentence was reduced by a royal pardon.

Thaksin's release has drawn attention because he remains a polarizing figure in Thai politics. Some analysts suggest his return is unlikely to dramatically reshape the country's political landscape, though his influence within certain factions is still noted. Separately, a Thai diplomat named Sihasak has denied reports that Thailand agreed to a maritime conciliation process, but that issue is not directly connected to Thaksin's release.