Thailand
Thailand’s parliament votes to make amendments in constitution, likely to delay general election
The military-backed parliament of Thailand has voted in favour to make amendments to the constitution as suggested by the new king's office. Of 231 members of the assembly, 228 voted in favour of the changes on Friday (13 January), according to a televised session of the proceedings. The draft of the amended constitution,...
Thailand school dormitory fire kills 17 schoolgirls
At least 17 girls have been killed by a fire which swept through their school dormitory in northern Thailand. The fire broke out on Sunday evening when many of the girls, aged between five and 13, were asleep, said police. One official told AFP that 38 students had been in the dorm at Pithakkiart Witthaya school in Chiang Rai,...
Thailand to close Koh Tachai island over tourism damage
Thai authorities are set to close the island of Koh Tachai, saying heavy tourism is negatively affecting natural resources and the environment. The island, off Phang Nga province, is part of the Similan National Park. Almost all Thai marine national parks close from mid-May to mid-October, for monsoon season, but Tachai will...
Thailand: Boat blast injures 60 in Bangkok
Thailand: Boat blast injures 60 in Bangkok. Sixty people have been hospitalised, mostly for burns, after the engine on a Bangkok commuter boat exploded and sent passengers leaping to a nearby pier or into the water. The crowded boat was ferrying passengers on Saturday on a major canal in the eastern outskirts of the Thai...