A Thai influencer has sadly passed away after accepting a challenge for $875.

Thanakarn Kanthee, known on social media as ‘Bank Leicester,’ was only 21 when he collapsed and died on December 25 in Chanthaburi’s Tha Mai district, Thailand, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

The Bangkok native was reportedly hired to attend a birthday celebration, where he was paid to consume bottles of whiskey for money.

The Nation Thailand revealed Kanthee was compensated 30,000 baht for consuming two 350ml bottles as part of the challenge, equivalent to roughly $875.

Unfortunately, soon after completing the task, he seemed unwell.

After vomiting and losing consciousness, he was transported to Songpeenong Hospital, where he was declared deceased at 3.40am on December 26, just hours after reaching the event.

According to Thai Enquirer on Facebook, Thanakarn’s death has been listed as acute heart failure, though autopsy results have yet to ascertain if alcohol played a role or if there were other underlying health concerns.

Before this unfortunate incident, the influencer was a student at the Ritthiyawannalai School and was involved in selling garlands.

He initially gained fame on Facebook through his rap songs designed to attract buyers.

It is suggested that Thanakarn engaged in similar risky challenges to financially support his family and grandmother, as another video has emerged showing him consuming hand sanitizer.

A post on his Facebook page stated: “I am willing to be bullied and insulted to just get scraps of money from the rich people in order to provide for my family.”

A different Facebook post, made days prior to his death, read: “Nowadays, I don’t care who hates me, who doesn’t like me, I just ignore it and let it go because these days, I only care about the people around me.”

“If they don’t like me, that’s their problem, not my problem. My duty is to earn money and find happiness for myself, that’s enough.”

On Saturday, police officers arrested two other social media influencers, Ekachart “Em” Meephrom from Chanthaburi province and Theerawat Srirot from Pathum, in connection with Thanakarn’s death, as reported by The Independent.

If it is determined that the victim was paid to drink a lethal amount, those responsible could be charged under Section 291 of the Penal Code for causing death through negligence.

Those found guilty of this crime may face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($580), or both.

Since this tragedy, tributes have poured in on his Facebook page, with friends remembering him as a ‘very good person’ who brought ‘smiles to everyone’.

The ex-girlfriend of the individual who caused an explosion with a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas has revealed the text messages she received from him in the days leading up to the incident.

Authorities identified the man as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, a decorated Army soldier from Colorado Springs. He was on approved leave when he traveled to the Trump hotel.

On January 1, Livelsberger shot himself just before the Tesla vehicle exploded, leading to minor injuries for seven people.

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill suggested that the explosion was aimed at causing more harm to the hotel, but the building remained largely unaffected because the steel-sided truck caused the blast to vent ‘out and up’.

The explosive was described as ‘crudely built’. Kenny Cooper, a special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, remarked: “The level of sophistication is not what we would expect from an individual with this type of military experience.”

In the days preceding the explosion, Livelsberger communicated via text with his ex-girlfriend, Alicia Arritt, a former Army nurse. Arritt later spoke to The Denver Gazette about their exchanges.

On December 29, at 9am, Livelsberger texted Arritt from Denver, saying: “I rented a Tesla Cybertruck. It’s the s***.”

The exchange was light-hearted, without any hint of what was to come. Livelsberger added: “I feel like Batman or halo.”

He continued texting Arritt until New Year’s Eve, sharing photos and videos of the vehicle.

Though Arritt was pleased to hear from him, she found it odd given their difficult breakup in 2021.

Livelsberger updated her on his life, saying: “I’m building drones in my new position. You would love it.”

Arritt inquired about the Cybertruck, particularly its speed.

Livelsberger responded: “Ungodly.”

As the investigation into the explosion continues, Arritt told The Denver Gazette that Livelsberger was ‘the kindest man’ she’d ever known.

“He got me through a difficult time,” she recalled, mentioning how Livelsberger had also bought a house for his mother when she fell ill.

She noted a change in his behavior towards isolation in 2019, after returning from the Middle East with a traumatic brain injury. Yet, she described Livelsberger as a patriotic man, which leaves her puzzled over the events on New Year’s Day.

At the time of his death, Livelsberger was married and had recently become a father.

An airline traveler was shocked when they were reportedly asked to give up their seat to make room for a dog.

The unhappy passenger shared their experience on Reddit, expressing frustration with the situation they encountered. They claimed that a service dog was ‘too large to fit on the floor’ and therefore was permitted to occupy their seat during a United Airlines flight from San Diego to Denver.

“I boarded a flight from SAN to DEN and an enormous ‘service’ dog was sitting on my seat,” the passenger stated.

“He was way too big to fit on the floor. The flight attendant was a few rows away and when asked if she saw the dog, she just shrugged.

“My husband and I tried to resolve it with the passenger but there was no way that dog could fit under his legs in his window seat. Since we were told that it was a completely full flight, and the dog was taking my seat, I thought I was going to get bumped off the flight by this dog.”

The passenger recounted that eventually a flight attendant managed to find them another seat, while the dog remained on their original seat, which they found ‘absurd’.

“A United staff member came onboard and spoke to the passenger but the dog remained,” they added.

“Finally, somehow they located another seat for me. The dog stayed on my seat for the whole flight. Totally absurd that an oversized dog can displace a paying passenger from their seat. United needs to crack down on passengers abusing the ‘service’ animal allowance.”

“How can someone be allowed onboard with a dog that big without buying an extra seat?

“United’s policy is that service dogs ‘can’t be in the aisle or the floor space of the travelers next to you’. Also it is nasty to have a dog outside of a carrier sitting on passengers’ seats with his butt on the armrests.

“The gate agents carefully check the size my carry-on, but apparently they don’t monitor the size of people’s ‘service’ dogs! WTH?!”

The incident sparked a lot of debate, with many people sharing their views in the comments.

One person remarked: “Service dogs are required to sit on the floor at the passenger’s feet. Not on a seat. This is for the animal’s safety since it can’t wear a proper seatbelt.”

Another individual commented: “As a disability lawyer, you need to start making mass complaints to the airline. They know that an SD has to be either: in the floor space and or under the seat in front of its handler, or the handler has to purchase a second seat. If the dog encroaches on another passenger’s foot space (or seat), the handler has to buy a second seat, and the dog can be IN the FOOT space of the their seat, and the 2nd seat. A non-lap dog can NOT be in the seat for takeoff & landing.”

A third commenter noted that the dog ‘should have been removed from the seat’ regardless of whether the passenger was relocated or not.

According to the United Airlines website: “Your dog should sit in the floor space in front of your seat. They can’t be in the aisle or the floor space of the travelers next to you.”

A woman decided to experiment with a trending music technique claiming it helps alleviate insomnia, and she experienced positive effects in just 45 minutes.

With the arrival of the New Year, numerous viral trends are sweeping through social media, including ‘microretirement’ which is rapidly gaining popularity on TikTok.

Another trend that’s gaining attention online focuses on health and is purported to aid individuals struggling with insomnia, anxiety, and similar issues.

Tahira Ali shared her personal experience in the Daily Mirror, illustrating how a viral music technique has proven effective in tackling persistent insomnia.

She stated: “I’ve just moved to London and am feeling jangled by the busy pace of life. I’ve also suffered from insomnia for three years so when London fitness chain, Gymbox, started offering a binaural beats relaxation class, I jumped at the chance to try it. When it starts, however, I’m anything but relaxed.”

As she settled in and attempted to get comfortable, Tahira detailed her anticipation for the ‘effects of this neuroscience-approved brand of electronic music’ to manifest.

But what exactly makes this type of music conducive to falling asleep at night?

Neurologist Dr. Faye Beget explained to the Daily Express: “Binaural beats are an auditory phenomenon that occurs when two tones of slightly different frequencies are played in each ear.

“When each ear hears tones of different frequencies, the brain perceives the difference between the two frequencies as a third sound. For example, if a 300Hz tone is played in one ear and a 310Hz tone in the other, the brain perceives a 10Hz beat.”

Initially skeptical, Tahira experienced noticeable changes within just 45 minutes.

“My thoughts, while not silenced completely, are far quieter and I have a feeling of gratitude that wasn’t with me before,” she wrote.

Tahira reflected on feeling ‘more grounded’ after engaging with binaural beats at the gym, and the effects had left her feeling ‘more awake’.

She mentioned: “The buzzing tiredness of a morning headache has faded. I feel more present and positive: I was more generous when asked to give to charity, I helped two groups of tourists navigate the Tube, I bought casual gifts for my family. The most surprising result was that night when, for the first time in a long time, I had a solid eight hours of sleep.”

Would this new trend be something you’d consider trying?

Apple is a global tech powerhouse, yet even they couldn’t get one of their ambitious products to succeed, leading to its abandonment.

For many, Apple is synonymous with technology. Their influence is pervasive, and they’ve long strived to dominate the smartphone sector.

However, Apple was working behind the scenes to enter a new market. Despite a decade of effort, they decided to abandon the project.

It’s not unusual for large tech companies to scrap projects regularly, but this particular endeavor was a costly one.

Over ten years, Apple invested $10 billion in attempting to launch this product, but it was ultimately not successful.

The project in question was their secretive car initiative, known as Titan, which they decided to discontinue.

Although the exact reasons for the project’s termination in early 2024 aren’t clear, Apple informed the 2,000 employees working on it that it was being shelved.

Originally, the project aimed to challenge Tesla by developing an electric car, later pivoting to focus on self-driving technology. Eventually, it reverted to being an electric vehicle contender against Tesla.

It’s easy to ponder the financial losses incurred while changing the project’s direction.

When Apple terminated the project in 2024, they shifted their focus to generative artificial intelligence, which resulted in 600 employees losing their jobs.

A post on Instagram highlighted Apple’s misstep, but sympathy for the company was limited despite the financial hit.

One user quipped: “They can afford it from all the money they annually collect from re-releasing the same phone.”

Another joked: “So this why y’all stop giving us a charger in the box?” while another speculated: “Imagine a car that starts glitching when the new model comes out.”

Someone else commented: “Billion dollars… I guess iPhones is about to cost us $10.00 more so they can make that money back up lol.”

Yet, another user offered a positive note: “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”

Attentive fans of Squid Game’s second season have uncovered an intriguing detail that alters the way you view the first episode.

The inaugural season of the popular South Korean series captivated Netflix audiences during the 2021 Covid pandemic.

The eagerly awaited second season of Squid Game was released on December 26, 2024, maintaining its intense action-packed plot.

Be advised: Spoilers for Squid Game season two follow.

The new season opens with Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), fresh from his season one victory, as he embarks on a quest to find the salesman who first lured him into the perilous games.

Using his substantial earnings, Gi-hun sets out to track the recruiter, intending to infiltrate the games and confront the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun).

The previous Squid Game victor eventually catches sight of the recruiter involved in a game of Ddakji at a subway station. Does this ring a bell for anyone?

However, when Gi-hun chooses to pursue him, things take a turn for the worse for him and his companion, Choi Woo-seok (Jeon Seok-ho), as they are detected and compelled to partake in Squid Game once more.

The first game they are coerced into playing is Rock, Paper, Scissors, with the added tension of Russian Roulette.

The threat of death seems to escalate when more bullets are introduced into the game, but one observant viewer has noticed an ‘intriguing’ detail suggesting the game might not have been as lethal as it appeared.

A Reddit post pointed out: “Why’d the recruiter use dummy bullets in the Russian roulette scene?

“In the recruiter’s first Russian roulette game between the loan sharks, if you look closely you can see that the recruiter actually loaded a dummy bullet (you can tell by the ‘hole’, it’s caused by the primer already being hit by the firing pin).

“So there was actually a 0% chance of the gun firing at first.”

The viewer speculated further about the implications of the first episode, stating: “Then in the second game when they play with 5 bullets, the recruiter adds 3 more dummies and 1 real bullet (you can tell as it’s flat, so the primer hasn’t already been hit). So there was actually only a 1/6 chance of dying.

“Maybe he just enjoyed their suffering and wanted to make them panic even more by adding more bullets, making them think death was pretty much imminent, even if it was only 1/6.”

You can now watch Squid Game season two streaming on Netflix.

A shocking incident unfolded during a safari trip, leading to the tragic death of a visitor who was dragged away by a tiger.

The video, captured at Badaling Wildlife World in Beijing, China, in 2016, depicts a woman exiting her vehicle while passing through the Siberian tiger enclosure with her family.

Warning: Distressing Footage:

Similar to other safari-style attractions, Badaling Wildlife World allows visitors to drive their own cars around the park, but prohibits exiting the vehicle in certain enclosures.

The woman in the footage, identified as Zhao, had signed an agreement prior to entering the park which stated she would not leave her vehicle.

However, Zhao later claimed she misunderstood the agreement, thinking it was merely a registration form for park entry, and alleged that the ticket taker did not clarify the document’s purpose.

As they drove through the park, Zhao reportedly began feeling carsick and decided to step out of the car. The video shows her getting out and moving to the other side of the vehicle where a car door was open.

Suddenly, a tiger appears and drags her away from the screen.

Zhao is seen attempting to move away before the tiger drags her off, but the animal is too swift.

A man is seen quickly exiting the car to pursue the tiger, along with a woman later identified as Zhao’s mother.

Tragically, Zhao’s mother was killed by another tiger while trying to rescue her daughter.

READ MORE:

TEEN DETAILS MOMENT HER LEG WAS RIPPED OFF IN SHARK ATTACK

ZOOKEEPER EATEN ALIVE AFTER FILMING HIMSELF WITH ESCAPED LIONS TRYING ‘TO IMPRESS GIRLFRIEND’

SHOCKING MOMENT CIRCUS BEAR ATTACKS AND PINS DOWN TRAINER IN FRONT OF AUDIENCE

Following the tragedy, the Yanqing district government confirmed the occurrence of the incident at the park and noted that another individual, presumably Zhao, was receiving medical treatment for her injuries.

The video of the incident elicited varied reactions online, with many defending the park and asserting that the visitors had breached park rules.

Subsequently, Zhao initiated legal action against the park, arguing she had not been adequately informed about the park’s risks and that a nearby park official failed to intervene.

Nevertheless, authorities in the Yanqing District issued a report post-attack stating it was not considered an ‘industry security accident,’ which meant the park was not deemed liable.

The report concluded that the attack resulted from the involved parties not adhering to the park’s regulations.

A medical expert has highlighted five subtle effects that abstaining from alcohol for a month can have on the brain.

It is widely understood that overconsumption of alcohol can wreak havoc on vital organs such as the liver and heart, as well as on gut health and overall well-being.

During the holiday season, many people tend to drink more than usual due to numerous social events, family gatherings, and New Year celebrations, all packed into a few weeks.

This is why millions participate in the ‘Dry January’ challenge to commence the year on a healthy note.

Even for those who are not heavy drinkers, a 30-day alcohol hiatus can lead to noticeable improvements in the body and, notably, in brain function.

In The Independent, two UK doctors, Dr. Peter Rice from the Institute of Alcohol Studies and Dr. Richard Piper from Alcohol Change UK, detailed how refraining from alcohol can significantly enhance health and brain function.

What are the brain benefits of cutting out alcohol?

According to Dr. Piper, excessive alcohol intake can result in brain damage related to drinking, which increases the risk of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia and can alter personality, cognition, and decision-making processes.

However, there is positive news for those who maintain sobriety. After about three weeks, individuals might experience enhancements in mood and memory.

“We might also find that we can retain information for longer, are less forgetful and more able to focus our attention”, he added.

Drinking alcohol prompts a temporary surge in dopamine, the hormone associated with happiness and pain relief, Dr. Piper explained.

Consequently, people often continue drinking to maintain these effects or become dependent on alcohol for relaxation and stress relief, he noted.

Regular or excessive drinking causes the brain to produce less dopamine, leading to a shortage.

Abrupt cessation might result in feeling ‘a little grumpy’, so Dr. Piper advises finding alternative activities for self-care, like running, which can help stabilize dopamine levels.

Among the numerous issues caused by alcohol, research indicates that consuming just one alcoholic beverage daily can negatively affect brain tissue.

Dr. Rice pointed out that long-term alcohol consumption can lead to ‘brain shrinkage’, with some studies indicating shrinkage even at moderate drinking levels.

As a diuretic, alcohol leads to dehydration, which Dr. Piper stated can cause ‘brain cells to shrink and die’.

Nevertheless, stopping alcohol intake can help the brain reconstruct damaged neural pathways, potentially allowing for partial or full recovery from alcohol-related brain injury.

Thiamine, or vitamin B1, is essential for brain function but is depleted by alcohol consumption, which hampers vitamin absorption.

Dr. Piper stated, “The outcomes for people who stop drinking and who receive high-dose vitamin B1 treatment can be very good, with much of the damage to the brain being reversed.”

One of the most significant benefits of quitting alcohol is the improvement in mental health.

Alcohol Change UK warns that using alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, or depression is only a temporary fix and can worsen mental health over time.

Dr. Piper commented, “Managing your alcohol intake is one way of reducing your risk of developing depression.”

A Tesla FSD V13 owner reached out to Elon Musk following a frightening situation where they had to ‘run a red light’ to avoid danger.

Many are pondering the impact of artificial intelligence (AI): will it help us or harm us?

In this particular scenario, it seems the latter was more likely, as a Tesla owner expressed their concern on Twitter, addressing founder and CEO Elon Musk after a distressing experience with their self-driving car.

Jesse Lyu, founder and CEO of AI startup Rabbit Inc, shared a video on Twitter on January 2, showing footage from their FSD v.13.2.2 Tesla vehicle.

In the clip, Lyu can be heard saying: “Yeah so the autopilot is engaged waiting for the left turn.

“[…] You’re going to see something crazy. So here we go, it turns green and it’s making a turn, but it f**king turns into the train line right?

“[…] I got nowhere to go and you can tell from behind […] the train’s right here. It’s f**king right here. I’ve got nowhere to do. And it’s a red light.”

Lyu quickly ‘disengaged autopilot’ and ‘had to run a red light to get out of’ the train line because he ‘didn’t know where to go’.

“I’m just waiting for all these pedestrians to get out and I did that,” he added. “I got nowhere to go, the train’s right behind me, this is crazy.”

The tech CEO concluded: “I could’ve [been] killed because of this. I mean I’m very happy with the autopilot, but this one time, that’s scared the s**t out of me. That’s crazy. It’s insane. I was literally shaking. […] I had to run the red light to save my life.”

Social media users quickly chimed in. Warning: Explicit language.

Some questioned why Lyu didn’t take action sooner before the vehicle reached the tracks.

However, another countered: “A lot of people seem to be reporting this, and yes the person should have intervened but at the same time, we need a fix for this asap. We do not want to see this with unsupervised self driving which WILL be rolled out this year.”

Lyu later tweeted a follow-up: “To all people saying that why i didn’t take over, i did. from my experience it’s really hard to predict how the FSD would turn the wheel during turns. (and during FSD turns you don’t keep your hand on the wheel) the previous FSD handles this turn correctly and i saw the wheel starts to turn so i disengaged immediately when i saw the radius is wrong.”

He explained the situation was ‘particularly tricky’ as he was unable to back up or make lane changes due to a fence on his left and a curb on the right within ‘single lane traffic’.

Lyu concluded: “My immediate reaction is to check if there’s a train approaching behind me and there is. so my only option is to drive forward and exit at the very next exit. not knowing for sure how this particular train will react, i figured i should move out of it regardless. i just hope tesla fix it and make improvements.”

A teenage girl who had been missing for nearly a month has been found safe, all thanks to her father’s relentless efforts.

Emmarae Gervasi from East Patchogue, Long Island, mysteriously disappeared on December 9 when she stepped out to retrieve items from a car outside her Tyrell Street home.

Just 14 years old, she was spotted entering another vehicle without a jacket or shoes in the rain. Surveillance footage later showed her at a motel in Bohemia the following day, knocking on doors.

Following this, she vanished again, causing great distress to her family. Her father, Frank Gervasi, alongside local authorities, organized numerous search efforts to locate her.

The Suffolk County Police Department conducted extensive searches with the aid of police dogs and helicopters throughout upstate New York but came up empty-handed.

Determined to find his daughter, Frank utilized social media to gather leads on her location and offered a $10,000 reward for information. He also drove around Long Island tirelessly searching for her.

After receiving some peculiar calls from unknown numbers, Frank managed to locate Emmarae alive on a Friday afternoon.

An anonymous tip led him to a large boat docked in Islip, near the White Cap Fish Market, about 13 miles from their home.

Frank shared with News 12, “I did find her myself before police got there. It was the end of 26 days of hell seeing her alive in my arms. It was a gift from God.

“I can’t describe the feeling I had when I grabbed her.”

Emmarae is currently receiving medical attention, while investigators continue to look into the circumstances of her disappearance.

In a Facebook video posted on Saturday morning, Frank expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the search and shared how he located his missing daughter.

He said, “I’d like to thank the community for all the support you gave us. Posting all the videos, pushing all the content, handing out flyers, donating your time to look for my missing girl. It is those things that are going to help bring other kids home.

“I got an anonymous tip yesterday, and I want to thank that person for coming forward and giving me information about my daughter. The phone call that I received was that she was on a boat in Islip. I followed it up on my own and I went down there to check.

“I bust into the boat and recovered my daughter. She has been saved and is alive.

“I believe it was persistency that helped bring her home.”

Frank suspected Emmarae initially left with an acquaintance but was afraid to return due to potential repercussions.

He also speculated she was later picked up by a stranger who took her to a trailer park and subsequently the boat.

FOX5NY reported that Emmarae had a history of drug addiction and had left home before, though never for such an extended period.

Her court-monitored ankle bracelet was discovered cut-off near her home.

Emmarae’s mother, Melissa Dervay, shared with Greater Long Island, “The moment I heard her voice and knew she was OK, I felt a weight lifted off my body.

“I’ve been so tense for the past four weeks, quietly fighting a battle. Now, I’m elated. I feel light, and I just want to scream, ‘She’s OK. She’s been found.’”