In a landmark move towards supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the Public Health Ministry of Thailand has allocated a whopping 145.63 million baht to the National Health Security Office to supply hormone medication for 200,000 transgender citizens. According to Deputy Government Spokesperson Anukool Pruksanusak, this initiative is in line with the government’s commitment to marriage equality and focuses on the holistic well-being—both physical and mental—of sexually diverse individuals. The acceptance of varied gender identities is on the rise, and with it comes the critical need for hormone therapy, a medical necessity for many transgender people seeking to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. It’s a vital step that not only validates their identity but also promotes their overall mental health. As part of the 2025 budget, the National Health Security Board has sanctioned this substantial budget—145.63 million baht, or roughly US$4.32 million—to make health services, including essential hormone therapy,…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Picture this: a tranquil evening with friends in the heart of the bustling Ratchaprasong area in Bangkok, where laughter dances through the air like the city’s shimmering lights. As the night rolls into the early hours, a 42-year-old woman decides it’s time to head back to her cozy condominium, hailing a Toyota taxi for the journey home. What she couldn’t foresee was that this ride would soon plunge her into a spine-chilling ordeal. Her world turned upside down when she opened her eyes in an unfamiliar room. The disorienting scent of confusion lingered as she realized her clothes had been removed, and the taxi driver hovered nearby with ill intentions. Adrenaline surged through her veins as she fought back, her cries echoing through the room like a clarion call for help. The driver, startled by her sudden resistance, bolted, leaving behind a trail of questions and fear. The woman’s story…
Welcome, news enthusiasts, to the pulse of Thailand and Southeast Asia, where the stories are as diverse as the landscapes. Today’s news platter serves up a savory mix of intrigue, drama, and some serious head-scratchers. We begin with a gripping real-life saga that could rival any crime thriller—a British man, David Stuart Armitage, has been nabbed by the Thai police, ending a two-decade-long mystery. The 62-year-old is suspected of his wife’s murder back in 2004, affectionately dubbed the “Lady of the Hills,” after her remains were unearthed in the scenic Yorkshire Dales. DNA sleuthing finally gave Lamduan Armitage a name in 2019, and David faced the music of justice this January, all thanks to global collaborations cracking down on cold cases. In a not-so-pleasant vacation narrative, six Britons found themselves on the wrong side of the law in the sun-soaked paradise of Phuket. While a tropical destination should promise sunshine…
In a tragic turn of events today, January 27, a serene stretch of Highway 3043 in the Uthai district of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province was suddenly thrust into chaos. It all began when a seemingly normal drive went awry; a pickup truck, navigating a curve, lost control. The vehicle strayed across lanes, colliding with a trailer truck before plummeting into an irrigation canal. This catastrophe sadly resulted in the death of the pickup’s driver. This unfortunate incident prompted Police Lieutenant Colonel Somchit Sirisawang from the Uthai Police Station to immediately coordinate with the Phutthai Sawan Foundation, dispatching rescue teams to the scene. The focus quickly centered on an upturned Isuzu four-door white pickup truck, which lay partially submerged in the canal. Bearing the registration number กพ 8465 Lop Buri, the truck was a somber sight, particularly when it was confirmed that its driver, 31-year-old Piyyathat Kongsorn from the Ban…
Ah, Thailand – land of stunning beaches, mouth-watering cuisine, and, unfortunately, increasingly suffocating air pollution. The National Health Security Office (NHSO) isn’t taking this matter lightly and has jumped into action with an urgent directive aimed right at the heart of this murky menace. With PM2.5, the villainous particulate matter, clouding the air, the call to arms resonates across local administrative organisations and the bustling vibe of Bangkok. As we slid into the new year, signs of worsening pollution began to taint the crystalline blue skies. On a mission to curb this invisible foe, Doctor Jadej Thammatacharee, the NHSO’s Secretary-General, waved the news baton, spotlighting the simmering pollution problem. The health minister, donning the hat of NHSO board chair, tagged along to underscore the urgency of the situation, rallying organisations, agencies, and determined citizens to launch projects on this very subject. Now, picture an assembly line, but instead of churning…
In an extraordinary twist of fate, a 65-year-old South Korean man named Park Sukhee narrowly dodged legal peril while vacationing in the tropical paradise of Phuket. What began as a seemingly innocuous vacation turned into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse worthy of a blockbuster spy thriller. It all unraveled on a regular Saturday night, the date being January 25, when Sukhee, comfortably settled in a hotel in the Thalang district, prepared to jet off to the City of Lights, Paris. However, just as he was about to leave, a strange sensation tugged at his intuition like a persistent mosquito on a humid Thai evening. The source of his unease? One unusually hefty piece of his luggage. This mysterious bag was bestowed upon him by a foreign acquaintance, a man Sukhee had chanced upon during his stay in Phuket. Despite the notion being as fishy as a seafood market,…
As the first rays of dawn kissed the ancient city of Nakhon Ratchasima, a remarkable scene unfolded at the local branch of the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives. A parade of eager faces, wizened by time yet gleaming with anticipation, lined up early Monday morning. These elderly citizens had come to check or withdraw the eagerly awaited handout from the government, marking a significant moment in their lives. You could sense the blend of excitement and relief hovering in the crisp morning air. This spectacle was part of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s ambitious plan to distribute a 10,000-baht handout to each of 3 million elderly residents. The prime minister, a charismatic figure, had ceremonially set the wheels in motion for this second stage of aid distribution at the distinguished Government House around 10 AM. Yet, the real magic had begun much earlier, as the funds stealthily streamed into accounts…
In the bustling heart of Bangkok, where vibrant streets weave tales of urban life, a dramatic episode unfolded on Phaya Thai Road. On a seemingly ordinary day—January 23 to be precise—a motorcyclist named Kwanchai transformed routine traffic into a tragic scene of chaos. Kwanchai’s mistake was unsparing in its swiftness; he stormed past a red light, colliding with a 68-year-old Korean tourist in the sanctuary of a zebra crossing. Phaya Thai Road, nestled amidst the dynamic Ratchathewi district, became the stage for this unfortunate repeat performance. It’s the same tragic spot where, a mere three years before, Dr. Waraluck Supawatjariyakul, a distinguished faculty member from Chulalongkorn University, met a heart-wrenching fate. Struck down by an off-duty police officer’s speeding super bike, her death ignited fires of national outrage. The harrowing event involving Kwanchai was immortalized by the unyielding eye of a dashboard camera. This digital witness unveiled the reckless ballet…
In a scene reminiscent of a dramatic action movie, Phu Lam Yai Mountain has been left with a stark, charred landscape following a raging forest fire that blazed through the area, affecting more than 2,000 rai of precious forest. The aftermath was captured from above by aerial footage that painted a heart-wrenching picture of the destruction, with blackened trees standing as silent witnesses to nature’s fury. The heat was truly on as Vichit Kitwirat, the Deputy Governor of Nakhon Ratchasima and the valiant commander of the incident response team, stepped into the fray. He reported on the fiery saga that gripped not just Phu Lam Yai Mountain but also tested the resolve of communities in the Khon Buri district. The blaze blazed through the boundaries of villages 4 and 9 in Khon Buri Tai subdistrict, and intruded into Udom Sap subdistrict of Wang Nam Khiao district. With a coalition united…
Hold onto your hats, folks! Bangkok is in for a chilly surprise as a fresh blast of cold air from our northern neighbors in China is gearing up to make everyone’s morning slightly brisker. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has forecasted that temperatures are set to dip by a noticeable 1 to 3 degrees Celsius. And while we’re talking weather, brace yourself for some lingering dust and haze. Thankfully, these nuisances are expected to clear up soon, like that cousin who overstays their welcome at parties. This cold air mass is not just confined to Bangkok, oh no! It’s spread across northeastern Thailand and wafting over the upper stretches of the South China Sea, bringing a chill to the air and making strong-winded waves in the northeast and central regions. Meanwhile, a moderate northeast monsoon continues its reign over the Gulf of Thailand, the southern region, and the Andaman Sea,…