An overcrowded tourist ferry capsized and sank near a popular Thai seaside town today, killing six tourists, including two Russians and a Chinese, police said. The rest of the roughly 200 people aboard were rescued.

Recently, we heard about the smoke bomb being flung at a sideline official in a Tottenham v Aston Villa match.

Nitrous oxide balloons no laughing matter

Daniela Hantuchova proved her recent title win in Pattaya was no fluke as she fought back from a break down in the final set to knock sixth seed Victoria Azarenka out of the Qatar Ladies Open in Doha.

A SWIMMING world record holder who became a contract killer after blowing a fortune on a flamboyant lifestyle in Thailand is facing life in jail today.

A renowned Russian musician arrested in connection with child sex charges returned to Thailand for a court hearing today, honouring the terms of his controversial release on bail.

A RUSSIAN pianist and conductor charged with raping a teenage boy has left Thailand, his housekeeper said yesterday.

Mass killer Derrick Bird’s funeral finally took place today, the final of 13 services held in just a week.

The body of an Irishman has been found in a hotel room in southern Thailand.

Police investigating Thailand’s biggest jewel heist have arrested three men in connection with the theft of €1.1m worth of jewellery from a Bangkok gems fair.

AUSTRALIA said yesterday that it is set to raise its swine flu alert level as the number of victims hit by the pandemic continued to mount while Thailand urged calm after a sharp increase in cases.

Thailand’s anti-government movement will stage new protest actions in the next few days following a military crackdown that ended deadly rioting last week, the group’s fugitive leader said.

Thailand has imposed a state of emergency in its capital, Bangkok, and surrounding areas.

Thailand today declared a state of emergency in Pattaya, the city hosting a summit of Asian leaders, and cancelled the event for security reasons after more than 1,000 anti-government protesters stormed the venue.

A leader of anti-government protesters in Thailand today agreed that demonstrators will leave the venue of a weekend summit of Asian leaders, easing concerns that the meeting might have to be canceled.

Thailand said today it would call in army reinforcements if necessary to assure the safety of 15 Asian heads of state in the face of mass street protests demanding the resignation of the government.t

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.

Two British men were arrested in Thailand today as part of a child abuse investigation.

Tourists today spoke of “chaos and confusion” after they were caught in anti-government protests that have forced the closure of Bangkok airport.

Manchester City's European qualification seemed to relax manager Sven-Goran Eriksson - but the Swede continued to sidestep questions relating to the future.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has opted to remain silent on his future as Manchester City manager ahead of his imminent meeting with owner Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok.

Sven Goran-Eriksson remained silent today on the persistent rumours he is set to be relieved of his duties as Manchester City manager.

Director Oliver Stone is planning to turn Thailand into the new Hollywood, after buying a plot of land to build a studio on.

Additional charges will be filed against a Canadian paedophile suspect after a second boy testified that he had been sexually abused four years ago, Thai police said.

The Canadian teacher who became the world’s most wanted paedophile suspect was arrested in north-eastern Thailand today.

Police in Thailand have arrested a 40-year-old Irishman in connection with the murder of a young Thai woman.

The suspect in the murder of JonBenet Ramsey arrived at Bangkok’s international airport today for a flight to the US where he will face charges in relation to the death of the six-year-old beauty queen.

A fire broke out at a nightclub in the Thai resort town of Pattaya today, killing at least seven and injuring 49, police said.

Thai police in the beach resort of Pattaya have arrested a British man on charges of drug trafficking.

The Thai prime minister said that he has put Thailand’s major tourist spots on full alert today, hinting of links between Muslim militants in the south of the kingdom and the terrorists who staged the latest Bali bombings.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, whose family shot to fame on the reality television series The Osbournes, were in Thailand to watch their son Jack fight in his first Thai kickboxing match, a newspaper reported today.

TWO Irishmen living in Thailand spent some time drinking together before one launched a fatal attack on the other — stabbing him first in the neck, then in the back, police in a popular beach resort said.

John Breslin

TSUNAMI-wracked south east Asia appealed to would-be helpers today: take a holiday.

Tsunami-wracked Asia appealed to would-be helpers today: Take a holiday.

A WESTERNER who died when he jumped out of a plane over the Gulf of Thailand was an Italian pilot who apparently committed suicide to avoid suffering the final stages of leukaemia, police said yesterday.

A Westerner who died when he jumped out of a plane over the Gulf of Thailand was an Italian pilot who apparently committed suicide to avoid suffering the final stages of leukaemia, police said today.

THE Miss International Queen contestants looked more feminine than many women could dream of, even though they were all born boys.

A COURT in Nepal yesterday sentenced notorious criminal Charles Sobhraj, also known as the ‘Serpent’ and the ‘Bikini Killer’, to life imprisonment for killing an American backpacker in 1975.

A 39-YEAR-OLD Kerry electrician was in a critical but stable condition in a Thailand hospital last night following a motorcycle accident.

TWO men had a close brush with death over the Christmas holidays after a fire trapped them on the sixth floor of their Thai hotel.

Authorities in Thailand have arrested a senior member of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Islamic terrorist group that is linked to al-Qaida and was blamed for the Bali nightclub bombings.

Two Irish men are in a Thai jail cell after their arrest for suspected drug possession at the weekend.

Thai police have arrested and fined an English tourist after raiding a bar following an attack on a Japanese TV crew blamed on 'football hooligans'.