"koh Phangan"

Police on Koh Phangan have launched a manhunt for a man who allegedly raped a Norwegian tourist early Sunday after she had spent time at the Half Moon party late Saturday night, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Krabi Police say that they have arrested the second of three young men who alleged attacked an American tourist on Koh Phi Phi on March 9.

Tens of thousands of tourists have fled some of Thailand's most popular islands and resort areas as Tropical Storm Pabuk closes in and threatens to batter the southern part of the kingdom with heavy rains, winds and seven-metre (22-foot) waves.

A combined force of military and police in Surat Thani province began regulating hostel operators on Koh Samui on Saturday.

Passenger boats from Surat Thani’s Don Sak pier to Koh Phangan and Koh Toh remained suspended for the second day on Thursday as the sea was still rough with waves as high as four metres.

The Soi Dog Foundation on Friday started its canine sterilisation and vaccination programme in Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan to prevent further unwanted dogs being born, eliminate rabies, create a smaller, healthier and more sustainable population of dogs, and improve the environment for both animals and humans.