A Thai criminal court acquitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of royal defamation charges stemming from remarks he made to foreign media in a 2015 interview. The court dismissed the case due to insufficient evidence, marking the first major ruling in a series of cases involving the influential Shinawatra family, which has played a dominant role in Thai politics for two decades. Thaksin, 76, who has been convicted on multiple other charges, returned to Thailand from self-exile two years ago. Despite the acquittal, the future of the Shinawatra political dynasty remains uncertain, as his daughter Paetongtarn faces a decision next week on whether she will be removed as prime minister. The ruling stands out in a country known for harsh lese-majeste laws that have historically led to near-certain convictions in royal defamation cases. Separately, a Thai woman serving a 43-year prison sentence for royal defamation was released under a mass royal pardon commemorating the king's birthday. Additionally, the heirs of Thai hotel group Dusit Thani are reportedly engaged in a family dispute seeking to remove a brother from the business.