Thailand was set for an earlier than expected election after its king endorsed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's bid to dissolve parliament on Friday, as a border conflict with Cambodia raged and the government moved to head off a no-confidence vote.

US President Donald Trump has said the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia will halt fighting "effective this evening".

Ousted by Anutin, Pheu Thai is also licking its wounds after its main backer, billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, was jailed in September, and faces flak for his clan's close links with former ...