Bangkok - Thai police early Thursday raided an orgy, arresting 23 people including 16 foreigners for lewd behavior.

Police raided the "swinging party" at the Elizabeth Hotel in Bangkok at 12:15 am Thursday, nabbing 14 foreign men, two foreign women and seven Thai women.

The foreign nationals netted were from Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and the US, Tourist Police commander Colonel Archayon Kraithong said.

Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva departed Thursday for Japan on a roadshow designed to restore confidence in the kingdom, which was plagued by political chaos last year.

Bangkok - Cobra Gold, an annual Thai-US military exercise inv

Jakarta - Scars and welts suffered by Myanmar's Rohingya boat people rescued by the Indonesian Navy after drifting in the sea for three weeks were consistent with their claims that they had been mistreated by Thai authorities, an Indonesian doctor said Wednesday.

At least 198 refugees belonging to Myanmar's Rohingya ethnic minority who claimed they were fleeing persecution in their military-ruled country were rescued by the Indonesian navy off the coast of westernmost Aceh province early Tuesday.

Taipei  - The 17th Taipei International Book Exhibition opened on Wednesday, this year focussing on Thailand's literature and culture.

Some 328 Taiwan publishers and 578 overseas publishers have set up 2,108 booths at the Taipei World Trade Centre to display books and sign copyright and translation rights deals.

Organizers said the focus of this year's fair is Thailand - Reading Thai. Thai publishers have set up nearly 40 booths and a dozen Thai publishers and authors will meet the Taiwan audience.

During the five-day book fair, there will be about 300 speeches and book signings by local and foreign authors.

Bangkok - Less that two months into its administration, Thailand's new government lost its first minister to a corruption scandal on Tuesday with the resignation of Social Development and Human Security Minister Witoon Nambutr.

"I am resigning in a show of political spirit, although I admit it is painful," said Witoon, a member of the Democrat Party.

Witoon is under investigation for alleged irregularities in the ministry's purchase of canned fish to assist flood victims in Phattalung province last month.