Thai police have banned imports of a book written by a Scottish journalist because they view it as insulting the country’s monarchy.

Thailand’s military government gave preliminary approval for a draft law to make commercial surrogacy a criminal offence, following a spate of dramatic surrogacy scandals in the past two weeks.

Thailand’s prime minister has refused to resign ahead of national elections set for February 2, despite opposition demands she step down as the caretaker head of government.

US President Barack Obama has launched a three-day Southeast Asia tour, hailing alliances with countries such as Thailand as cornerstones of the administration’s deeper commitment to the Asia-Pacific region.

The complex network of flood defences erected to shield Thailand’s capital from the country’s worst floods in nearly 60 years was put to the test today as coastal high tides hit their peak but no major breaches were reported.

THAI authorities have arrested an American citizen on charges he insulted the country’s monarchy, in part by posting a link on his blog four years ago to a banned book about the Southeast Asian nation’s ailing king.

Thailand is marking the 83rd birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch, but elaborate celebrations fail to mask concern over his health and the future of the royal institution.

Thailand's government has demanded an end to the spiralling violence in Bangkok - but as yet neither side has laid down their arms.

Thousands of defiant anti-government demonstrators have fanned out to other parts of Thailand's capital today, ignoring police orders to end their occupation of Bangkok's paralysed commercial district.

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.

Thailand’s fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra arrived in Cambodia today following his appointment as economic adviser to the government, fuelling tensions between the neighbouring countries.

A Thai court sentenced an activist to 18 years in prison today for insulting the monarchy in speeches during political rallies.

Tens of thousands of protesters are marching in Bangkok in the biggest challenge to Abhisit Vejjajiva’s four-month-old government, as the Thai prime minister called for calm amid fears of violence.

Thailand’s prime minister has vowed to prevent a “civil war” as the nation braced for a massive anti-government protest tomorrow amid fears of bloodshed, just two days before Asian leaders gather in the country.

Thai police were today urged to drop complaints against a BBC reporter accused of slandering the country’s king.

Victorious anti-government protesters lifted their siege of Bangkok’s two airports today while the ousted government’s leaders met to decide on a caretaker prime minister to lead Thailand.

THAILAND’S prime minister attended a Buddhist ritual yesterday, seemingly indifferent to a deepening political crisis that has paralysed his government, shut down two main airports and stranded 300,000 foreigners.

More than 300,000 travellers were today stranded in Thailand, trapped in the siege of Bangkok’s two airports by anti-government demonstrators.

The Royal Trophy is set to return for its third edition in Thailand in January, a year after the match-play event between Asia and Europe was postponed following the death of the sister of the King of Thailand.

THAILAND’S revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the world’s richest royal, according to a Forbes magazine list, dominated by Middle Eastern monarchs riding high on surging oil prices.

A man in Thailand is facing prosecution for failing to stand in a cinema at the playing of the anthem to honour King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Thailand successfully hosted its leg of the Olympic torch relay today, as minor anti-Chinese protests remained peaceful and thousands of people followed the flame through the streets of the Thai capital, Bangkok.

Thailand’s leg of the Olympic torch run got off to a peaceful start today, as thousands of flag-waving supporters in Bangkok’s Chinatown celebrated while a lone protester stood nearby.

OUSTED Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra made an emotional return from exile yesterday, preaching reconciliation and forgiveness in a country still polarised by his five years in elected office.

Pakistan’s government has banned access to the video-sharing website YouTube because of anti-Islamic movies users have posted on the site, an official said.

Pakistan's government has banned access to the video-sharing website YouTube because of movies that the authorities consider 'anti-Islamic', an official said today.

Darren Clarke is looking to kick-start his bid for a sixth successive Ryder Cup appearance with a good performance in next week’s Joburg Open in South Africa.

Princess Galyani Vadhana, the elder sister of Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, died today aged 84.

A new constitution for Thailand, set to usher in December general elections and end military rule, has been approved by millions of voters in a nationwide referendum, according to exit polls today.

Thailand’s king has pardoned a Swiss man who was given a 10-year sentence for spray-painting over images of the revered monarch.

Coup leaders have chosen a former army commander and close adviser to Thailand’s powerful monarch to lead the country until promised elections next year, the auditor general said today.

An exiled Muslim rebel leader welcomed Thailand’s military overthrow of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra today, saying the coup could help resolve a bloody Islamic uprising in the country’s south.

The army commander who seized Thailand’s government in a rapid, bloodless coup pledged today to hold elections by October 2007 while hinting that the ousted premier, Thaksin Shinawatra, may face prosecution for wrongdoing.

The military leader who ousted Thailand's prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said today the coup was necessary to end mounting rifts within Thai society and Thaksin's efforts to undermine democracy.

The Thai military launched a coup against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra tonight, circling his offices with tanks, seizing control of television stations and declaring a provisional authority loyal to the king.

Tonga’s prime minister made a bedside visit to the elderly and ailing king of the tiny Pacific island nation today, as the country made preparations for the end of one of the world’s longest reigns by any monarch.

The Constitutional Court today annulled Thailand’s April 2 parliamentary election and ordered fresh polls in a bid to end the country’s months-long political crisis, a court official said.

Protesting against the government of outgoing Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, voters in southern Thailand wore black and tore up their ballots today, in another round of parliamentary elections to avert a looming constitutional breakdown.

Thailand’s opposition celebrated the fall of prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra today after weeks of anti-government rallies, but warned of fresh protests if he did not keep his promise to leave after a new parliament convened.

A small bomb blast outside the residence of the Thai king’s chief adviser injured a British tourist in Bangkok today, police said, heightening tension amid weeks of protests aimed at ousting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Skydivers from 31 countries say they have set a new world record of 400 people holding hands in a midair freefall formation.

Thailand’s Parliament today endorsed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a second four-year term, following a landslide victory by the former telecommunications tycoon’s party in elections last month.

Teams of forensic experts packed bodies in dry ice today as Thailand’s government announced that its death toll in the tsunami disaster had doubled to more than 4,500 people – almost half of them foreigners – and hopes faded that more survivors would be found.

Aid agencies all over the world prepared today for what the United Nations said would be the biggest relief effort in history, following the Asian earthquake disaster that killed thousands upon thousands.