Thai boys and coach granted citizenship

Three young football players who were trapped with other team-mates for almost three weeks in a cave in northern Thailand were granted Thai citizenship yesterday, along with their 25-year-old coach.

All four had been stateless, and their lack of citizenship deprived them of basic benefits and rights, such as the ability to travel outside of Chiang Rai.

The boys and coach were among 13 who were trapped until their dramatic rescue by a team of scuba divers.