Wires report that Thailand's King commuted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinavatra's jail sentence to one year in response to Thaksin's plea for a royal pardon. The ex-PM was detained on his return to the country. Local press reported that Thaksin was allowed to return as part of a truce between the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) and pro-junta parties, which saw them form a new governing coalition.

• Despite his immediate arrest, Thaksin was quickly moved to a hospital due to ill health and it was clear that he would not serve the full eight-year prison sentence handed to him by the court on several charges. Note that Thaksin remained a dominant figure in Pheu Thai, even during his self-exile.
• Meanwhile, the formal change of guard in pro-junta parties continues, as outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwan announced his imminent resignation as a party-list MP (albeit he intends to remain party leader and focus on party work). This comes after outgoing Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha announced his departure from politics.