In Thailand, real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin is poised to become prime minister after he won the backing of a coalition of conservative and pro-military parties in the Thai parliament. Thavisin was the sole candidate considered by lawmakers on Monday after Thailand’s Constitutional Court in July suspended lawmaker Pita Limjaroenrat, a top candidate for prime minister whose liberal Move Forward Party garnered the most support in May’s national elections. Hours ahead of Monday’s vote, former Thai prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand following 15 years spent in self-imposed exile after he was ousted in a 2006 military coup. He was jailed shortly after his arrival to face charges of abuse of power.