CHONBURI — Four foreign divers who went missing during a technical diving exercise off Samae San in Chonburi were found safe on Friday night after managing to reach shore at Nam Sai Beach.

The Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 1 was alerted at 16:35 on 14 August after the captain of a boat carrying the group reported that four divers had failed to return from a dive near Ko Rong Khon and Ko Rong Nang, off Samae San in Sattahip district. The dive site is about eight nautical miles from U-Tapao Airport.

The group, led by British diver Gary Philips, entered the water at around 14:30 and had been expected to return to the rendezvous point at about 15:15. When they failed to surface as scheduled and no surface marker was seen, the boat captain began searching and requested assistance from the Naval Special Warfare Command. Two of the missing divers were instructors and the other two were students. They had entered the water in instructor-student buddy pairs for technical diving training at a depth of around 40 to 50 metres.

One additional vessel was unable to join the search from the Sattahip Bay side because of strong winds and rough seas. Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 1 deployed a Royal Thai Navy aircraft to search from the air and coordinated with authorities in Chonburi, fishing-vessel control officials, naval radio networks and maritime rescue groups. Fishing vessels operating nearby were also asked to watch for the missing divers.

Authorities said the dive site lies in a deep-water channel with naturally strong currents. On Friday, the tide reached a low of 0.91 metres at 11:12 before rising to 3.02 metres at 19:36. The divers entered the water while the tide was rising, when currents in the area were relatively strong. Another diver who remained aboard the boat as an assistant to the captain said the two instructors were physically fit and highly experienced at sea. He believed they could potentially have fought the current and reached one of the nearby islands.

As conditions remained difficult after dark, authorities had been preparing to resume a larger search at first light. However, at about 20:50, a team on Samae San reported that all four missing divers had been found after making their way through the water to Nam Sai Beach. All four were reported safe, allowing authorities to end the search and rescue operation.

A policy adviser emphasizes the National Police Commissioner's approach to public engagement, laying out a strategy for a modern police force with civilians as safety partners to rebuild public confidence.

On August 15, 2025, Asst. Prof. Dr. Napdol Kannika, a member of the National Police Policy Committee representing civil society and chair of the public participation subcommittee, discussed progress on the Community Police Volunteer program for proactive policing alongside the public. Throughout his time working with the National Police Office and observing the leadership of National Police Commissioner General Kittarat Panpetch, he has seen one clear principle: the commissioner's leadership is not measured only by decisiveness, but by how effectively he aligns an organization of over 200,000 personnel in one direction, opens the police to public collaboration, retains good people, addresses wrongdoing, and makes citizens feel they are part of the National Police Office.

From his experience, he has witnessed many qualities in General Kittarat that he never expected to see at this level in the police system before. There is a shift in perception: from "police acting on the public" to "police working with the public."

The first observable change is the genuine opening of space for public participation in police operations. This is significant because the police force has a clear command structure and strong organizational culture and internal systems. Allowing outsiders to collaborate, offer input, ask questions, and help design policy requires both confidence and openness from leadership. What he has observed is that the Police Commissioner is positioning the public as "safety partners." This is taking concrete form in developing the Community Police Volunteer network for community security. The National Police Office's directive clearly outlines the goal: to educate the public about their role in community care, reduce the gap between police and civilians, and create opportunities for public participation in crime prevention. General Kittarat personally signed this directive.

This is meaningful change because police cannot be present everywhere 24/7. Instead, Thailand can develop citizens who observe, report, prevent, and know when to involve professional police. It is not about making civilians into police officers, but about creating "mutual safety partners between police and the public." Good leaders must address wrongdoers firmly while ensuring good people are not left unsupported.

Another critical dimension is people management. The police force employs many officers working in the field under difficult conditions, yet their good work often goes unreported. Leaders must do two things simultaneously: decisively and swiftly address police misconduct, while also protecting morale and recognizing the contributions of officers who perform well.

Integrity and transparency in personnel management are equally important. If we want clean-handed police, we must start with a clean-handed system of administration. If positions are seen as gained through money, commitment to reform will falter.

Bangkok, August 15, 2026 – True Corporation, led by Group Chief Executive Sigve Brekke, has launched True Customer Day 2026 under the theme "Filling Hearts Through Meaningful Connection" at True Tower. The company is elevating its customer appreciation mission from a passive exercise to an active field engagement designed to capture authentic customer insights and drive service improvements across all dimensions. The initiative will deploy more than 2,000 managers, frontline staff, and support teams across nine strategic routes spanning the entire country, including Bangkok, its metropolitan area, and major cities such as Chiang Mai, Nakhon Pathom, Chonburi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla. Teams will interact with customers directly in communities, business districts, shopping malls, and real-world living spaces.

This initiative represents one of True's major strategic moves in customer experience enhancement, bringing together every department—from executives and retail staff to network teams, digital teams, customer service, and cybersecurity teams—to ensure customer feedback does not end at listening but is translated into genuine service development at every interaction point. The effort reinforces True's commitment to delivering accessible, empathetic, and supportive experiences for customers every day, encompassing reliable connectivity, practical everyday value, and digital security.

Mitsubishi Motors Thailand has refreshed its brand image with Mitsuru, a new brand ambassador character, to celebrate 65 years of business operations in the country. Mitsuru, an energetic young character full of positive energy who loves travel and adventure, represents the "Enjoy the Ride" philosophy and reflects Mitsubishi's mission to enhance and complete everyday life.

The name Mitsuru combines "Mitsu" from Mitsubishi with the Japanese ending "Ru," symbolizing reliability and completeness. Though rooted in Japan, Mitsuru has grown up in Thailand and understands Thai culture and lifestyle, much like Mitsubishi Motors itself, which has served Thai society with trust for over 65 years.

Mitsuru comes in four character designs: Master, the original confident ambassador; Motorsport, embodying adventure and determination inspired by Mitsubishi Rally Art's 2025 Asia Cross Country Rally wins; HEV, featuring blue tones representing Mitsubishi e:MOTION hybrid technology with full hybrid drive, seven drive modes, and Active Yaw Control; and AFS, a professional technician character representing after-sales service following Japanese hospitality standards through over 180 service centers nationwide.

The character will serve as Mitsubishi Motors Thailand's representative across digital platforms, marketing activities, and various customer experiences. Exclusive Mitsuru LINE stickers are available for free download through August 26, bringing the joy of the brand into daily conversations.

Bangkok — Georgian authorities have sent the death certificate of Thai travel YouTuber Hlun Solo to the Thai embassy, but the document does not yet clearly state his cause of death, according to his family.

Hlun Solo, whose real name was Boworntat Pengsuk, died while travelling in Georgia. His family is still awaiting further information from Georgian authorities about the circumstances and cause of his death.

On Saturday, Mos, Hlun's cousin whom he regarded as an older brother, posted an update on Facebook saying the family had been informed by the Thai embassy that Georgian authorities had already forwarded the death certificate.

According to Mos, the embassy told him on 10 August that the document contained preliminary information about Hlun's death but did not clearly specify the cause of death.

The Thai embassy has since sent a formal request to the relevant authorities seeking additional information and is continuing to follow up on the case.

"The family is still waiting for clarity regarding the examination results, including the actual cause of death," Mos wrote.

He said the family's main concern was that the investigation into Hlun's death be conducted fairly and transparently, with its findings open to scrutiny.

If the process is delayed, the family would like authorities to explain what stage the investigation has reached, why it is taking longer than expected and why any related documents or examinations have not yet been completed.

Mos stressed that the family was not seeking to blame or pressure any party.

"What we want is the truth, clarity and justice for him," he wrote, adding that these were things the family should be able to expect from a fair and transparent investigation.

The family also thanked the Thai embassy, Thai and Georgian authorities, officials involved in coordinating the case and members of the public who have followed the case and offered their support.

"The only thing the family wants is for the truth to come out, for him to receive justice, and for every step of the process to be transparent, proper and open to scrutiny," Mos wrote.