President Barack Obama kicked off a three-country Asian tour with a visit to Thailand, using his first post-election trek overseas to try to show he is serious about shifting the US strategic focus eastwards.

Thailand’s king has called for his countrymen to unite against the worst floods in half a century.

Thai MPs elected Yingluck Shinawatra as the country’s first female prime minister today.

Thai troops clashed with protesters for a third day in Bangkok today, as streets in the centre of the city became battlegrounds and authorities struggled to contain Red Shirt demonstrators demanding the prime minister's resignation.

Thai protesters said today they had accepted a deal to end the violent political crisis that has paralysed central Bangkok for nearly two months.

Thailand’s revered monarch urged the new government to make peace its priority, breaking months of silence about the political turmoil that shut down Bangkok’s airports and sparked deadly violence in the streets.

Government supporters from the Thai countryside converged on the capital today to counter rival protesters who seized control of Bangkok’s two airports and forced the prime minister to run the country from afar.

Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej vowed today that he will not resign despite growing pressure for him to step down as anti-government protesters occupied his headquarters for a fifth day.

Next week’s Royal Trophy in Bangkok – a match play tournament between teams from Europe and Asia – has been postponed after the country entered a period of mourning following the death of the King’s sister.

Loyalists of deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra captured 233 of 480 seats in the lower house of parliament to win Sunday's national election, it was announced today.

The Thai government has retained a ban on the popular YouTube video website despite the removal of a short film deemed insulting to the country’s beloved monarch.

A SWISS man was jailed for 10 years yesterday for insulting Thailand’s revered king by vandalising his portraits during a drunken spree.

Thailand’s deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is in China, the military chief who ousted him said today.

Thailand’s new interim prime minister devoted today to meetings with Asian, European, African and US diplomats, hoping to explain the post-coup political situation and repair the country’s damaged reputation.

Retired army commander General Surayud Chulanont was sworn in today as Thailand’s interim prime minister following the announcement of a temporary constitution which reserved considerable powers for Thailand’s military coup makers.

Retired army commander General Sorayud Chulanont was expected to be named interim prime minister today following the announcement of a temporary constitution which reserved considerable powers for Thailand’s military coup makers.

Fidel Castro, who took control of Cuba in 1959, rebuffed repeated US attempts to oust him and survived communism’s demise almost everywhere else, temporarily relinquished his presidential powers to his brother Raul last night because of surgery.

THAILAND’S king, the world’s longest-serving monarch, marked 60 years on the throne yesterday, calling for unity in his politically troubled country as hundreds of thousands of adoring Thais cheered and waved yellow flags.

Thaksin Shinawatra may return as Thailand’s full-time prime minister, ending a break from politics he took last month amid street protests, a government spokesman said today.

THAILAND’S embattled Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday said he would step down from office, bowing to a mounting opposition campaign seeking his ousting over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

MONACO'S Prince Rainier, fighting for his life in hospital after his health took a dramatic turn for the worse last week, remained in a "stable" yet "worrying" condition.

AROUND 50 Thai Air Force planes yesterday “bombed” the largely Muslim south with paper birds as a symbol of peace for the restive region where nearly 500 people have been killed since January.