The owner of Hawell's, a Thai ice cream brand, has announced the sale of the business for 165 million baht and plans to leave the secular world. He revealed the most important reason behind the decision and outlined six assets to be transferred to the successor.

On August 22, 2025, the Hawell's Facebook page posted an announcement seeking a successor to take over the Hawell's Ice Cream business with a recommended investment of 5 million baht.

Dr. Siripong Akkasriyuk, chairman of Hawell's International Company Limited, apologized to customers that the brand has been unable to open branches near their homes.

Over the past two years, the company attempted to contact shopping malls to open branches, but malls responded that they had no space for Hawell's despite having vacant areas left by departed tenants. No matter how many times they contacted, they received the same answer.

Opening standalone stores would require significant investment. While the company once planned to open small franchises, after careful consideration, it was deemed more problematic and potentially damaging to the brand in ways that could not be recovered.

The most important reason, however, is that he and his family have only two years remaining, during which there will not be enough time to expand branches nationwide and internationally.

Given the time constraint, the owner decided to find someone passionate about ice cream with the capability to take over the business, as Hawell's already has everything needed to compete with all ice cream brands.

The soft ice cream flavor is intensely creamy, believed to be unmatched by any other brand. Once placed in a shopping mall, the brand gains regular customers steadily because competition ultimately comes down to taste. Once customers taste delicious ice cream, returning to inferior alternatives becomes difficult.

Regarding hard ice cream, Hawell's has developed a new formula that is dense, smooth, chewy, and soft with minimal air incorporation, matching the quality of Häagen-Dazs but sold at prices lower than Swensen's. The company has developed 100 flavors and, given equal shelf space, is confident customers would choose Hawell's for its premium taste at exceptional value.

With a capable successor, expanding Hawell's nationwide and internationally should be feasible, especially since the company owns the licenses and intellectual property, avoiding expensive imported raw materials. Hawell's has earned customer trust in quality for over 25 years.

Media outlets have given the brand credit and followed its developments, recognizing Hawell's not as a new brand but as one with potential ready to reclaim the top position in customers' hearts.

Assets to be transferred to the successor:

- Land: 7 rai in Bang Bua Thong valued at 100 million baht - Office building and factory with machinery and factory license valued at 40 million baht - Hawell's Ice Cream and Fast Food shop valued at 6 million baht - Hawell's brand (trademark) - Complete know-how accumulated over 37 years - All ice cream formulas for both soft and hard ice cream

Total value of all assets transferred: 165 million baht. This figure does not include any profit margin.

Thailand's men's national football team will take the pitch on August 22, 2026, for the 2026 ASEAN Cup final, defending their title against Vietnam at Rajamangala Stadium at 8:00 PM.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup final schedule is as follows:

First Leg – Saturday, August 22, 2026 Thailand vs. Vietnam 8:00 PM Rajamangala Stadium

Second Leg – August 26, 2026 Vietnam vs. Thailand 8:00 PM Vietnam

Fans can watch the match live for free through: - TrueVisions Now app - True Sports 2 - True Ball Thai 1

On August 22, Prom Porn Nopruetthi, former spokesman of the Pheu Thai Party, addressed the flooding situation in Nan province, noting that although many areas are entering recovery, residents remain in distress. Homes, roads, vehicles, agricultural land, and shops have sustained damage, with three deaths reported. He stressed the need to accelerate both relief and recovery so residents can return to normal life and livelihoods as quickly as possible, and said the disaster must serve as a lesson for other at-risk areas to prepare before damage occurs.

Satellite data from GISTDA on August 21 at 09:29 identified high-risk areas across river basins in Sukhothai, Phichit, and nearby regions, covering more than 3,900 square kilometers. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department was instructed to closely monitor Uttaradit, Sukhothai, and Phichit. Prom Porn called for three urgent government actions:

1. Sustained assistance in Nan: Relief must not diminish as floodwaters recede. Authorities must aggressively survey and repair homes, shops, roads, utilities, and farmland, while managing mud, waste, and public health risks. Documentation procedures should be streamlined, and low-interest debt relief and loans should be considered for farmers, business owners, and affected families. Rather than requiring flood victims to chase paperwork across multiple agencies, the system should bring services to the people.

2. Preparation in the three northern provinces: When GISTDA data identifies at-risk areas, the state must act before flooding occurs. Provincial and local authorities must map water channels, identify vulnerable locations, prepare evacuation routes, and locate homes of elderly, ill, and disabled residents. Pumps, vehicles, boats, food, medicine, and shelters must be pre-positioned. Early warnings must reach villagers before water arrives, clearly explaining which areas are at risk, when to evacuate, where to go, and whom to contact. Warnings should allow residents time to secure belongings and move families to safety.

3. Information reaching people before water reaches homes: While the government has established coordination centers and deployed multiple agencies, success depends not on how much data exists or how many centers are set up, but on how quickly that data is converted into action. All agencies must use the same information and clearly know their responsibilities. Local community knowledge is vital—residents know best where water flows fastest, which homes shelter vulnerable groups, and which evacuation routes actually work. Satellite data is most valuable when it reaches field staff and warnings reach residents before floodwaters arrive.

Prom Porn added that while Nan must focus on recovery, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phichit, and other at-risk areas must prepare. Flooding cannot be stopped, but losses can be reduced with early knowledge and timely warnings. Water management success is not measured by the number of data sets or coordination centers, but by whether information reaches the public in time, how quickly people receive help, and how much loss is actually prevented.

The Royal Gazette has published a royal decree releasing a senior special royal guard officer from his duties. According to a report dated August 22, 2026, the Royal Gazette website has published a royal command releasing the senior special royal guard officer from his position of royal protection. The decree invokes the authority of section 7 of the Security Contribution Act of 2017, sections 6, 7, and 11 of the Royal Guard Act of 1937, and section 6 of the Defence Ministry's Regulations on the Appointment of Royal Guards of 2016. General Chuchart Khamphoo Na Ayutthaya, a senior special royal guard officer, has been released from his duties effective August 15, 2026. The announcement was issued on August 21, 2026, in year 11 of the current reign.

The Thai Gold Traders Association reported that gold prices have surged on August 22, 2026, with ornamental gold (96.5%) selling at 71,950 baht per gram—a 250-baht increase from August 21. Gold bars are being bought at 70,950 baht per gram and sold at 71,150 baht per gram. The global gold spot price is currently at $4,605 per ounce. Gold traders are predicting further increases of 1,000 to 2,000 baht per gram in tomorrow's opening, potentially breaking through the 80,000-baht threshold.

Thai national team striker Arm Suphachai Jaidej has tearfully paid tribute to Ray McDonald, the man he credits as his second father and most influential mentor. McDonald, who discovered Suphachai as a young footballer in Thailand's southern border provinces and became his sponsor at age 11, passed away two months ago. Suphachai has opened up about their relationship, from the moment McDonald recruited him for a trial in Sweden through to becoming a professional footballer capable of supporting his family with pride.

Suphachai recalled how McDonald came to the southern border provinces to scout footballers for a trip to Sweden. "I was just a kid playing football at home and at school down south," Suphachai said. "Ray had a program because he had once represented Thailand in competitions abroad. One day he came to select footballers to take to Sweden. I was one of those selected. Ray was club president at the time. He brought coaching staff and a football teacher to scout players. He supported the team and took us to compete. He did everything. At that time I didn't even know who he was, but after getting to know him I felt a strong bond."

Suphachai emphasized McDonald's profound impact on his life. "Ray lived alongside us and mixed with all the athletes. He treated everyone equally, not just the kids from the three southern border provinces but children from other nearby areas as well. Many southern kids knew Ray back then. He was someone who genuinely cared. Few people are like that—someone who gives opportunities to others."

When Suphachai was just 11 years old, McDonald asked his parents' permission to become his foster father and bring him to Bangkok to pursue a professional football career. "He promised my parents he would take care of me," Suphachai recalled. "I will never forget that. I was so happy. He gave his word to my parents that he would look after me."

Suphachai credits McDonald as the architect of his success. "Ray opened the door and gave me the opportunity. He set an example for me to strive and fight for everything to reach this point. He never took credit from me." Now playing for Buriram United, Suphachai occasionally returns to Bangkok, but treasures the foundation McDonald built for his entire career.