Trees and utility poles were levelled and city streets and country roads flooded on Friday as rain, winds and surging seawater from Tropical Storm Pabuk hit coastal villages and world-famous tourist resorts in Thailand.

The UN refugee agency has determined that a Saudi woman who fled her family and refused to leave a Bangkok hotel room is a legitimate refugee, and has asked Australia to consider resettling her.

One street artist, known only as Headache, said he graffitis for freedom

While many are celebrating New Year's Eve with countdowns and fireworks, in Thailand worshippers at a temple in suburban Bangkok lay inside coffins and took part in traditional funeral rituals.

Watch : Elephants dressed up as Santa interact with children

Environmental campaign aims to reduce rubbish outflows from the Chao Phraya River and prevent trash reaching the sea.

A sanctuary in Thailand hopes classical music can 'rehabilitate the souls' of the old, overworked and disabled elephants it cares for.

The latest annual bridal race in the Thai capital has attracted 300 couples hoping to win a dream wedding.

A group of senior police officers witnessing the operation stood in silence for one minute on Saturday in commemoration of the victims.

Thailand passed a regulation 13-years ago banning “public displays of affection” for all students in the country. A debate has now sprung up in the country, with some arguing that this amendment was created to force conservative cultural values on Thai youth.

A primary school in central Thailand has provided a six-week course for students to give haircuts.

The world-famous buffalo race of Chon Buri continues on its 147th year along with buffalo conservation activities to promote knowledge in buffalo rearing and rice farming.

Rescue workers excavating a mosque flattened by an earthquake on the Indonesian island of Lombok carried a body from the wreckage on Tuesday.

A powerful 7.0 magnitude quake hit Lombok and was felt in Bali on Sunday evening, killing dozens and leaving a trail of destruction across several communities.

The village of Koh Panyee in Thailand is famous for its floating football field, which was built by young people.

The young football teammates and their coach who were trapped in a Thai cave have attended a Buddhist ceremony as they prepare to be ordained to become Buddhist novices and monks.

The 12 boys and their soccer coach rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand left a hospital on Wednesday to make their first public appearance at a nationally-broadcast news conference in the northern province of Chiang Rai.