Former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra was today convicted of abusing his powers to make a personal fortune and almost a billion dollars of his assets seized.

A fourth lawsuit alleging abuse of power by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was accepted by the Thai Supreme Court today.

Arianespace, the European rocket launch group, said Asia will be its biggest market this year, accounting for 40% of revenue, as it gains orders from companies such as Thailand’s Shin Satellite.