On August 14, the Maritime State Security Center and Chonburi Provincial Police received reports of four foreign divers missing while diving off Samed Island in Satahib District, Chonburi Province. Nathwut Anuyottha, the district chief, immediately traveled to assess the situation and prepare rescue operations.

According to initial information, the dive boat named Jer Pawdee Tour departed from Varasinhth Bridge in Samed at around 10:00 a.m., carrying eight tourists and five dive instructors. The group headed to a dive site called Rong Khon Rong Nang, though precise coordinates have not been confirmed.

Four tourists descended for Technical Diving training around 15:00, the scheduled return time. When they failed to surface, instructors searched the area but found no trace. The boat captain then contacted the Maritime State Security Center for assistance.

The four missing divers are foreign nationals: one British, two Americans, and one of unconfirmed nationality. Their names, ages, exact coordinates, and dive depth are still being verified. According to Suphichaya Karkid, 45, the girlfriend of one missing diver, all four are experienced and certified divers, with some holding instructor-level qualifications. This dive was intended as advanced technical diving training.

Suphichaya explained that at the scheduled time, divers should have sent a marker or signal to the surface so the captain could locate their exit point. When no such signal appeared, the captain and crew began searching but found nothing. She received a call around 15:00 reporting they had searched for about thirty minutes without success, prompting officials to mobilize both sea and air rescue teams. A helicopter conducted at least one aerial survey in the evening.

Of the eight tourists on the boat, four were the missing technical divers. The other four were doing shallower dives and were returned to shore, after which the boat resumed the search. Other dive operators also joined the effort. Suphichaya indicated the divers likely descended at a familiar dive site at approximately 40 meters depth, though exact coordinates remain unconfirmed.

On August 14, after the completion of a memorial service for Kreiang Kalptinanth, former Interior Ministry official, held at the For Thai Party office in Ubon Ratchathani, former PM Phaethaongtarn Shinawatra invited PM Anuthine Chanyaweerakul, the current Interior Minister, to join ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra for a meal. Anuthine sat at the center of the table with Thaksin and Phaethaongtarn seated on either side, along with former PM Somchai Wongsawat. Anuthine then walked Thaksin to his car, where they had a brief conversation. Thaksin asked, "Where will you go next, Prime Minister?" and Anuthine replied, "I'm heading back." Before Thaksin got into the vehicle, Anuthine bowed respectfully at the elder statesman's feet.

Police arrested a 45-year-old man known as Tiger on August 14, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. after a sprawling manhunt across rice fields in Bang Pa-In District, Ayutthaya Province. Deputy Commander Phumidhatch Khositvanichphong of Ayutthaya Provincial Police, along with Bang Pa-In Police Station Commander Piphop Naphutra and provincial and regional investigators, conducted a large-scale sweep operation across paddies near Bang and Uthai subdistricts, Moo 3, Samruen Village, Bang Pa-In District. The suspect had been evading arrest in forest hideaways amid rice fields and irrigation canals. The difficult terrain meant officers had to use motorcycles, pickup trucks, or proceed on foot rather than cars. When apprehended, Tiger still held a homemade pistol loaded with seven .38-caliber rounds.

During initial interrogation, Tiger confessed that before the incident, he had been drinking and fishing in the rice field when the victim, a friend, called and invited him to drink together. After becoming intoxicated, an argument broke out over insulting remarks, and the victim allegedly tried to hit him multiple times. Tiger claimed he then returned to his room to retrieve the pistol. Upon encountering the victim again on the way back, another quarrel ensued, after which he fired the gun and fled, subsequently hiding in various sections of the rice field where he used to fish and continued drinking.

Reporters noted that during questioning in the paddy, Tiger greeted them casually, saying "Yesterday I went back to that spot in the middle of the field again. I slept in a hammock." Several journalists realized they may have actually spotted a man sleeping in a hammock in the field. Further detailed questioning is expected to resume the following day to clarify the exact circumstances of the shooting.

Minor Food, a wholly owned subsidiary of Minor International, is set to acquire Bonchon International alongside Serruya Private Equity (SPE), taking ownership of the Korean fried chicken brand and its operations outside the Americas.

Minor Food will invest US$50 million in the deal, which is expected to close in August 2026. Following completion, Minor Food will own Bonchon's business globally outside the Americas, while SPE will own and operate the business across the Americas.

The acquisition will move Minor Food from being Bonchon's master franchisee in Thailand to becoming the brand's owner across markets outside the Americas. Minor Food is currently Bonchon's largest master franchisee by system-wide revenue.

Bonchon was founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2002 and opened its first US restaurant in 2006. The brand has since grown into a franchise network of about 500 restaurants worldwide, known for its double-fried Korean fried chicken and proprietary sauces.

The brand currently operates in nine key markets: the US, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia.

Minor Food said the acquisition will strengthen its asset-light strategy by adding a scalable, franchise-based business that generates recurring income from royalties and sauce sales.

The deal also builds on a more than 30-year relationship between Minor and SPE. SPE owns the Swensen's brand, which Minor operates in Thailand and other markets in the region.

Minor Food CEO Dellen Soh said the company already has a strong understanding of Bonchon through its experience operating the brand in Thailand and will focus on supporting franchisees and partners while expanding into existing and new markets.

SPE Chairman Michael Serruya said the partnership would support Bonchon's continued expansion in the Americas, citing the brand's customer base, differentiated products and franchise model.

Bonchon also operates its own sauce production facility, which has capacity for future expansion as its restaurant network grows.

The acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings-accretive for Minor Food, supported by Bonchon's franchise-led and royalty-driven business model.

On the evening of August 14, 2026, a reporter met with Kamsung Pongchai, 75, a resident of the Samsamliam 4 community in Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province, who witnessed the day when Hiang Pimsiree, owner of land deed number 61945 covering approximately 21 rai, donated the property to Luang Por Phai Panyadharo, the former abbot of Wat Pa Adulyaram, in 1990.

Kamsung recalled the event vividly because on that day, when Hiang, then serving as village headman, presented the land deed to Luang Por Phai during a temple merit-making ceremony, he was about 35 years old. As a photography enthusiast, when he learned the temple was holding the event, he traveled there with his Canon camera equipped with a flash and photographed the moment Hiang presented the deed to the abbot before the abbot accepted it.

"I can confirm that on the day Hiang donated the land deed to Luang Por Phai, Hiang was of clear mind and sound judgment," Kamsung said. "After I took the photograph, I walked around the temple grounds before heading home. As for the camera I used to record that image, I cannot remember where I kept it because so much time has passed."

Kamsung expressed confusion about why a dispute has arisen between Hiang's heirs and the temple, given that Hiang had already donated the land. "Hiang intended to donate the entire plot of land to the temple for its construction in accordance with his wishes," he said.