Bahrain’s shock decision to drop its extradition request against Australia-based former Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi seemed to have come after behind-the-scenes negotiations, including a visit by the Thai foreign minister to Bahrain.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai is at risk of losing his post over a Constitutional issue as the Election Commission (EC) reportedly agreed that his spouse’s undeclared stockholdings could be deemed illegal.