The luxurious Ocean Sky Pattaya dinner cruise, once a beacon of elegance gliding down Thai waters, is currently navigating some turbulent seas. Once brimming with Chinese tourists eager to indulge in its culinary delights and scenic charm, the cruise is now forging a new path amid dwindling visitors and mass layoffs. In a valiant attempt to stay afloat, the cruise has bid farewell to 30% of its dedicated staff, hoping these drastic cost-cutting measures offer a life raft against these challenging tides. Buncha Kullawanich, the executive mind behind Ocean Sky, paints a stark picture of the current situation. “We’ve seen a 30% reduction in footfall since early 2025,” he explains. The decline was catalyzed by unsettling incidents: notably, a high-profile kidnapping using Thailand as a waypoint to Myanmar, and a disastrous earthquake that toppled a government edifice. These calamitous events have left a dent in the perception of Thailand’s safety,…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
In a heart-wrenching incident that has left the local community in a state of shock and mourning, a 65-year-old woman tragically lost her life after falling into a septic tank in Phitsanulok province. The heartbreaking discovery was made by her granddaughter, leading to a police investigation to understand the sequence of events that led to this unfortunate accident. The grim report reached Police Colonel Chanasak Phueanghuengkaew at the Wang Thong Police Station on the evening of May 5th. He received news that the lifeless body of an elderly woman had been discovered submerged in a septic tank at a residence in the Mueang Phitsanulok district. Without delay, emergency services, including the dedicated team from the Burapha rescue unit, were dispatched to the site of the tragedy. The residence, a modest single-storey concrete home, had an aged septic system adjacent to it. Sa-ing, the victim, was heart-wrenchingly found head-first in the…
In the early dawn of Tuesday morning, an unexpected mishap unfolded beneath the sprawling sky of Samut Sakhon. A trailer truck, stoic and perhaps a bit disgruntled, sat parked beneath the shadowy incomplete expressway on Rama II Road. It had tangled with a rebellious steel cable hanging from the construction above, which leapt at it with the zeal of an overzealous acrobat. The truck was not alone in its misfortune, for a humble pickup was also caught up in this unfortunate embrace. Miraculously, as if shielded by the benevolence of the traffic gods, there were no injuries to lament. Under the veil of the morning mist, the incident became the unlikely subject of a snapshot—captured and immortalized on the spirited Sakhon News Facebook page. The digital world stood as an unwitting witness to this modern-day tale of vehicles versus infrastructure. Thankfully, the tale was devoid of human casualties, leaving only…
The British Embassy in Bangkok recently orchestrated a whirlwind three-day roadshow across the scenic vistas of southern Thailand. This tour marked a significant milestone as it commemorated the 170th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between the United Kingdom and Thailand. From April 28 to 30, the embassy’s dynamic team embarked on a journey that took them to the sun-kissed islands and lush landscapes of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, and Surat Thani. Their mission was not only about serious diplomacy but also about infusing some vibrant community engagement along the way. At the helm of this diplomatic odyssey was the charismatic British Ambassador Mark Gooding. Accompanying him were the savvy Agriculture and Commercial Counsellors, each with a keen eye on sustainable tourism, agriculture, and environmental cooperation. The trip embraced the evocative theme, “Our Shared World: Environment, Wildlife, Marine, Nature, Climate, Agriculture, and Sustainable Tourism.” This wasn’t just about formal discussions behind…
Family businesses are the unsung heroes of a nation’s economy, quietly driving sustainable business growth and lending backbone to the market structure. A surprising number of renowned corporations that we know today as public giants started humbly as family endeavors. In Thailand, a lion’s share, precisely 80%, of small to medium-sized enterprises are family-led, while 67% of publicly traded companies on the Stock Exchange of Thailand owe their roots to family origins, accounting for half of the total market value. These enterprises play a vital role in not just job creation but in cultivating economic resilience that spans across generations. For this reason, one of the paramount obligations of family business owners is to ensure their legacy thrives beyond their tenure. Crafting a succession plan that deftly navigates generational transfer of power can safeguard this legacy, embedding continuity into the family DNA, often documented in a family charter or as…
In a dramatic turn of events, a chilling saga played out along the banks of the mighty Mekong River yesterday, May 5, as a teen became entangled in the sinister web of drug smuggling. Rear Admiral Narong Emdee, the vigilant commander of the Mekong Riverine Unit, was instrumental in orchestrating a swift crackdown on this illicit scheme, thanks to a timely tip-off about a cross-border operation that had cast its net from the nearby lands of Laos into Thailand. This clandestine operation was set to unfold near the picturesque riverbanks at Ban Bung Suai, nestled within the Mueang subdistrict of Khong Chiam district in Ubon Ratchathani province. The serene beauty of the location starkly contrasted with the tension brewing that day. The scene was set – a white pickup truck lay in wait by the riverbank, its occupants blissfully unaware of the watchful eyes of the law. The anticipation reached…
The Asian Institute of Technology’s renowned School of Management (SOM) recently metamorphosed into a vibrant hub of visionary ideas and groundbreaking discussions at their much-anticipated event, “AI & The Future of Asia.” This forum was no ordinary gathering; it was a beacon for the best and brightest from academia and industry. The allure of artificial intelligence’s transformative prowess in crafting Asia’s destiny drew an eclectic mix of CEOs, policymakers, researchers, and the AIT alumni collective, all under one roof. Here, the air was thick with high-level dialogue and strategic networking, as luminaries debated AI’s indelible impact on business innovation, leadership, and sustainable development across the vast pan-Asian landscape. The opening chords of this symphony of intellect were struck by Prof. Yuosre Badir, the esteemed Dean of the School of Management, whose address set a tone of innovation and foresight. Augmenting this was the welcome speech by AIT President Prof. Pai-Chi…
Tensions escalated dramatically yesterday, May 5, when a video emerged on the Koh Pha Ngan Conscious Community Facebook page, showcasing an Israeli tourist caught in a heated exchange over a simple “shoes off” rule at a local café. This 15-second viral clip has since sent ripples across social media, sparking a frenzy of backlash and discussions about etiquette and respect for local customs, particularly by tourists in Thailand. The protagonist, an unnamed woman, was asked to remove her shoes—a standard practice meant to maintain hygiene and respect in many Thai establishments. Instead of complying, she reportedly snapped with a striking comment: Israeli tourism “makes Thailand more prosperous.” The reaction from netizens, both Thai and foreign, was swift and unforgiving, with many criticizing her actions as entitled and disrespectful. The video, posted with subtitles for clarity, set the stage for the social media storm that followed. Attempting to justify her behavior,…
In a serene corner of Lop Buri, where picturesque landscapes and bustling enterprises collide, a heart-wrenching saga unfolded, revealing the complex tapestry of love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Pongsathon “Kwan” Saengchaipaisarn, a man whose ambitions soared sky-high, tragically chose to end his life, leaving behind a tangled web of emotions and unanswered questions. It was a distressing Sunday, the 4th of May, when the owner of Subprayun Farm and Cafe, Yo, made a startling discovery. His ex-boyfriend, 44-year-old Kwan, lay – silent and motionless – within a bronze Toyota Corolla Altis, a haunting silence enshrouding the scene. As the early morning mist began to clear, Yo’s apprehension grew, prompting a review of the security footage that captured Kwan’s last moments. At approximately 2 a.m., Kwan’s car was seen pulling into the farm’s vicinity. The heart-dropping realization struck when Yo spotted him lighting a fire inside the vehicle. It was a grim…
Under the bright yet solemn skies of Bangkok, the atmosphere hangs heavy as workers diligently clear the debris from what once stood as the proud State Audit Office (SAO) tower. The tragic collapse of the building has cast a spotlight on a web of alleged improprieties at the construction site, and the ensuing investigation has become a gripping tale of deception and intrigue. Central to this unfolding drama is the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which recently uncovered a significant twist in the narrative. In their probing fingers pointed at China Railway No.10 (Thailand), one of the firms implicated in the construction, the DSI discovered a staggering 30 forged engineers’ signatures on official documents. Imagine the shock as, of those 30 unsuspecting engineers, a mere eight could authentically claim their signatures were genuine. As the plot thickens, DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Praedam finds himself orchestrating a meticulous investigation timetable.…