Thailand

“I have to go now mom. I can’t breathe.” The last words of a backpacking son, in the grip of dengue fever, spoke to his mother on the phone in the back of a Thai ambulance

by

A grieving mother whose son died of dengue while traveling in Asia with friends has spoken out following a global spike in the deadly virus. Jayne Toulson-Burke, from Stockport, warned travelers to take precautions after the Foreign Office issued a health warning last week amid an ‘unexpected rise’ in dengue cases and deaths. Her son … Read more

Why Thai farmers launch homemade rockets powered by gunpowder

by

With the homemade rocket strapped high above them, the crew pauses for a moment of quiet reflection at the base of the launcher. Then they scribble. “Ha, sii, saam, soong, nung…” a male voice echoes through the speaker, counting down from five. Soon a thick cloud of smoke has enveloped the dusty field, the ground … Read more

How the gruesome discovery of a ‘fetal mortuary’ reshaped Thailand’s abortion laws

by

The discovery of the ‘fetal mortuary’ in a Buddhist temple in 2010 forced Thai society to debate a topic usually pushed aside – Sakchai Lalit/AP The stench revealed the creepy secret. Wandering through the temple in southern Bangkok, the terrible smell led to the morgue – and the grim discovery of more than 2,000 fetuses, … Read more

The controversial issue of charging foreigners more than locals

by

A visitor to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia holds up his ticket and foreigners now have to pay an entrance fee of €25 – Anadolu If you had stood outside Hagia Sophia, in the heart of Istanbul’s historic center, on Monday morning, you might have noticed something of a commotion. Maybe. Or maybe not. There is always … Read more