Picture a globe-trotting teenager on a journey of a lifetime, only for it to take an unexpected detour into a drama straight out of a thriller. Bella Culley, a spirited 18-year-old from Billingham, County Durham, embarked on what her family believed was a solo backpacking adventure through Thailand. They had last seen her waving enthusiastically from pictures taken in the sun-drenched beaches of the Philippines before she landed in bustling Thailand on May 3. The enchantment of Southeast Asia offered Bella limitless adventures—until she mysteriously vanished from the radar, leaving her family in a whirl of confusion and worry. Alerted on May 13, her family feared the worst, desperately searching for her in the tropical lands of Thailand. Imagine their shock when Bella was finally found not in the paradise of Southeast Asia but 4,000 miles away at Tbilisi International Airport, Georgia, where her vibrant story took a dark twist.…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
It was just another Monday morning at Surathampitak School in the bustling city of Nakhon Ratchasima when the unthinkable happened—a ninth-grade student suddenly collapsed in the classroom. Panic was quick to spread among students, but three brave twelfth-graders stepped up to the plate, saving a life and becoming local heroes overnight. The incident, which took place around 9am, has since gone viral, lighting up social media and filling the community with pride. Meet Jirapat Srisawang, fondly known as Tonkla, Kittiphop Khaisai, aka Prite, and Rattaphum Khajornsathit, nicknamed Pun. These three incredible students vividly remember how it all unfolded. One minute, the class was focused on their morning lessons—a typical start to the school day—and the next, it was a scene of chaos. Fortunately, their instincts and training kicked in as they saw their ninth-grade peer lying unresponsive on the floor. With invaluable quick thinking, they sprang into action. Realizing their…
On a warm April evening in Hua Hin, a heart-wrenching tale of courage and treachery unfolded, casting a sobering spotlight on the darkest corners of human desperation. A brave 13-year-old girl reached out, unraveling a harrowing story of betrayal at the hands of those who should have cherished her the most — her own mother and aunt. Their sinister plot began when she was a mere 11 years old, thrust into a world of exploitation to feed a vicious cycle of drug dependency and crippling debts. The painful revelations came to light on April 26, when the young girl confided in her father and stepmother. Her plight initiated immediate action, as her father, with a determination borne of love and heartbreak, reached out to the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women. This call for help set in motion a series of events aimed at both justice and healing. The girl’s…
Amidst the vibrant nightlife and bustling streets of Bangkok, there’s a concerted effort underway that touches the heart of the city—an endeavor ensuring that every child finds a place within the educational fold. On July 6, last year, through the dusty lanes of Klong Toey, one of Bangkok’s most densely populated slum communities, parents eagerly guided their children towards a bright intervention—the Equitable Education Fund’s ‘Mobile School’ Open House. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul) The Ministry of Interior, embracing the tide of educational reform, has embarked on a compassionate crusade to eradicate educational inequality across the nation. With Anutin Charnvirakul at the helm, the ministry has galvanized efforts along with the Ministry of Education and other pivotal agencies to echo an unwavering commitment to the mantra, “no one is left behind.” Central to this mission is the inspiring “Thailand Zero Dropout” policy, sanctified by the cabinet in May 2024. This initiative ambitiously…
In an unsettling turn of events, Northern Thailand finds its waterways teetering on the brink of a toxic crisis. Recent revelations from the Office of Environmental and Pollution Control Region 1 in Chiang Mai have unearthed alarming levels of arsenic and lead in the Sai River and sections of the Kok River in Chiang Rai. This discovery has thrust the spotlight onto critical public health, environmental safety, and the well-being of local food sources. According to a revealing report, surface water samples collected from multiple locations feeding into the Kok, Mekong, and Sai rivers brought this vexing contamination issue to the forefront. As highlighted in the findings, the usually serene Mekong and Sai rivers have become hazardous, violating safe water standards by a wide margin. While rivers such as the Korn, Lao, and Sruay have been given a clean bill of health, the Mekong and Sai rivers are showing signs…
Ah, Phuket! The island’s pristine beaches are a siren call to tourists, luring them into its picturesque embrace. Yet beyond the sunlit shores, there’s a storm quietly brewing. Despite its allure, Phuket is wrestling with a COVID-19 surge, catapulting it into the spotlight as one of Thailand’s top three provinces in terms of infection rates this year. A surprising twist in this tale? Not a single fatality has been reported. Intrigued? Let’s dive into the details. According to the Department of Disease Control, Phuket has documented 1,287 cumulative COVID-19 cases from January 1 to May 10, 2025. This equates to an infection rate of 317.82 per 100,000 people. It’s a statistic that places Phuket right behind bustling Bangkok and vibrant Chon Buri, says Dr. Kusuma Sawangphan, the czar of disease control at the Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO). “Phuket finds itself in the third spot, yet remarkably without any fatalities,…
The gentle calm of the early morning was shattered on Kanchanaphisek Expressway towards Bang Khun Thian in a most unexpected way. Imagine driving along a well-trodden road, the wheels humming beneath you, the world still dark, when unforeseen danger strikes—an oddity that can only be described as a peculiar prelude to chaos. At 3:50 AM on May 20, a black Mazda sedan met its tragic end after skidding on an unusual hazard—pineapple peels. Yes, you read that right, pineapple peels! This bizarre circumstance set the scene for a most unfortunate accident involving a ten-wheel truck, leading to the untimely demise of a 34-year-old driver, whose name was Chatchai. The dramatic sequence of events unfolded with Lieutenant Iserat Tansoo from the Phra Pradaeng Police Station in Samut Prakan receiving an urgent call. Upon his arrival, the scene portrayed a picture of tragic devastation—Chatchai’s car was unrecognizable, its roof crushed and windows…
Politics in Thailand is never short of intrigue, with shifting alliances, compelling characters, and strategic maneuvers that could rival the best chess games. This time, all eyes are on Suchart Chomklin, the deputy leader of the United Thai Nation (UTN) Party and a key figure in the country’s political landscape. Photo ops with Suchart don’t just add another face to the collage of Thai leaders—they hint at bigger moves in the fabled game of Thrones in the kingdom’s power corridors. Suchart recently found himself at a crossroads, orchestrating a tête-à-tête with 20 of his fellow Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss future trajectories amid a swirling political potpourri that could see them captivated by the Klatham Party’s allure. A man of deliberation, Suchart has stated that the fate of this faction won’t rest solely on his shoulders. After all, these MPs rode the wave with him into UTN’s harbor ahead…
In an unfolding narrative that could easily belong to a thriller’s gripping plot, the city of Bangkok is abuzz with a rescue mission that brings together seasoned professionals and concerned citizens alike. The protagonist in this real-life drama is Dao, a native of Sisaket province, who finds himself trapped beneath a hefty layer of soil and submerged hopes near Soi Lan Luang 6 in the well-known Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. The protagonist’s current predicament—buried under vast swathes of earth—is believed to be a silent testament to the cruel combination of soil accumulation and the insistent, unyielding invasion of water. Unfortunately, these elements have conspired against him, stifling the very air Dao strives to breathe. The maestro orchestrating this dramatic rescue attempt is none other than Suriyachai Rawiwan, the unflappable director of the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department. With a resolute gaze and a heart pounding in synchrony with the…
In what’s become an all-too-frequent fiasco along the notorious stretch of the Rama II Road, a chunk of rebellious concrete took a nosedive onto a car below, sensationally shattering its rear window. This wasn’t a scene from an action movie; it was a rather gritty reality experienced by commuters on May 19, 2025, as they traversed this perilous route. What unfolded next was nothing short of internet theatrics—the incident, captured by one unfortunate driver, quickly escalated into a viral spectacle. The video graphically depicted the concrete assault, showcasing a battered car roof and a rebellious rear window lying in ruins. A note to adventure-seekers: the road had more tricks up its sleeve that day. Two more unsuspecting vehicles, trailing right behind, became victims of this concrete barrage, resulting in similar automotive carnage. The expression on the drivers’ faces would have made for a meme-worthy moment, I assure you. Though the…