On May 20, 2025, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchat Chomklin acknowledged complaints from residents suffering from the stench of fish meal factories and ordered the Pollution Control Department (PCD) to conduct field inspections of fish meal operations in Samut Sakhon Province, which have been emitting foul odors and smoke that affect public health.

PCD Director Surin Vorakitdam revealed that the Environmental and Pollution Control Office No. 5 (Nakhon Pathom) and the Pollution Inspection Division have been assigned to investigate jointly with the Samut Sakhon Provincial Industry Office, the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, and related agencies. They discovered that an industrial company in Muang Samut Sakhon District engaged in fish meal production holds proper factory operation licenses under the 1992 Factory Act and health hazard permits under the 1992 Public Health Act issued by the Tha Trai Subdistrict Administration Organization, but has been complained against for generating disruptive odors and dispersed smoke that harm residents' health.

Surin reported that on March 19, 2025, the Samut Sakhon Industry Office jointly with the Western Region Factory Pollution Research and Warning Center conducted odor measurements and found odor intensity at the factory boundary exceeded standard limits at 18 (standard maximum of 15), violating the Industry Ministry's air odor standards regulation. An order was issued on April 7, 2025, requiring the factory to implement odor prevention measures by May 15, 2025.

During a follow-up inspection on May 18, 2025, authorities found foul odors from the air treatment system's condenser area and leaks in the production conveyor belt preventing complete vapor and odor capture, plus odors from the wastewater treatment system. The system operator reported microorganism problems and is currently cultivating new cultures. The Samut Sakhon Industry Office will issue an order under Section 39 to suspend operations in the odor-producing sections. Wastewater samples from the treatment pond outlet have been collected for analysis.

The government faces a seven-day deadline to file a clarification statement with the Constitutional Court over a 400-billion-baht emergency decree. The decree grants the Finance Ministry borrowing authority to address energy crisis impacts and fund the country's energy transition program. Deputy Prime Minister Pichaorn Nillpraphan confirmed the deadline at Government House on May 20, stating the submission must be made within seven days, following the Constitutional Court's acceptance of opposition lawmakers' petition questioning whether the decree violates Article 172 of the Constitution.

Chiang Mai University has reinforced Thailand's innovative potential on the world stage after the Food Innovation Center (FIN) under the Faculty of Agro-Industry led a team of researchers and entrepreneurs to secure the 'Better Stands Gold Award' at the international exhibition 'Fi Vietnam 2026.' The award reflects international exhibition standards combined with sustainability principles and environmentally responsible booth management practices.

Between May 13-15, 2026, the Food Innovation Center brought faculty, researchers, and entrepreneurs under the project 'Connecting and Strengthen Herbal Capabilities in Mekong-Lancang with Green Technology' to showcase innovations in herbal extracts and high-value products at Food Ingredients Vietnam 2026 (Fi Vietnam 2026) at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yutthana Pimolsiriphol, Dean of the Faculty of Agro-Industry at Chiang Mai University, led the award-winning exhibition team.

The booth featured research outcomes and innovations in herbal extracts developed through collaboration between universities, researchers, and entrepreneurs in the Mekong-Lancang region, attracting continuous interest from investors, experts, and visitors from various countries.

One standout innovation was 'Sero-9,' a research product from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Chiang Mai University by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Waratida Chaiyana. It combines traditional herbal knowledge with green technology, featuring extracts of Rosa damascena petals, Zingiber ottense rhizomes, and cricket protein nano-emulsion to increase the commercial value and potential of Thai herbal extracts. The innovation is being further developed in partnership with Siam Dermapotech Company, demonstrating concrete research-to-industry linkage.

The project received support from the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Fund (LMC Fund) and involved regional partner organizations including Souphanouvong University in Laos, Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) in Hanoi.

This success reflects Chiang Mai University's role in advancing food, herbal, and green technology innovations through international cooperation networks, promoting Thai research globally, creating new business opportunities, and advancing sustainable herbal industry development in the Mekong-Lancang region and beyond.

On May 20, 2025, a mother filed a complaint through media outlets stating that her 18-year-old son was hired as a sales representative for massage equipment and CCTV cameras by a well-known company in Buriram municipality. When he failed to meet sales targets, the employer abandoned him at a gas station in Lahan Sai District, Buriram Province. Among the five to six young salespeople in the vehicle, mostly aged 16, fears arose about being abandoned. It was later discovered that girls aged 13 and 14 had also been hired as sales representatives and similarly abandoned midway. After the news went viral online, questions arose about whether hiring children under 15 years old violates labor laws.

Reporter spoke with Katima Tirasetthasema, Buriram Province's Labor and Employee Protection Officer, who explained that while the department hasn't yet gathered clear evidence, they are investigating. Under the Labor Protection Act, Section 44, employers are strictly prohibited from hiring children under 15 years old in any case. For children aged 15-18, employers must submit forms to the labor department beforehand. If children under 15 are hired, it constitutes a violation.

Katima stated the company's lawyer had already visited the labor department and provided evidence. Initial questioning of affected children has been completed, and the department is scheduling the company's representatives for further inquiry. If evidence supports the allegations, legal proceedings will be initiated immediately without exception.

Subinspector Chaonarong Chaisakor of Hin Lek Fai Police Station, who assisted the abandoned children, reported that the children's parents mentioned the company's lawyer visited their homes requesting document signatures, though not pressuringly. However, parents were advised to consult police before signing anything. The police commitment is to proceed with the case to the fullest extent.

Under the Labor Protection Act, Section 44, employers violating the prohibition on hiring children under 15 face imprisonment of up to 2 years or fines ranging from 400,000 to 800,000 baht per employee, or both imprisonment and fine.

At 9:00 AM on May 20, 2025, at the Asok-Din Daeng railway crossing where the train struck the bus, the family of Teekha Teekhaoutamakorn (Tan), 33, gathered with a Buddhist monk from Wat Tri Tet Thep to conduct a soul-inviting ceremony. Relatives brought offerings including bananas, coconut jelly with pandan leaves, water, basil fried rice with egg, dumplings, and orchid flowers. Tan's father lit five incense sticks facing east according to tradition to guide his son's spirit home. The atmosphere was sorrowful as family and friends wept during the ritual.

Tan's aunt, Ms. Vachira, said the family is not yet ready to discuss compensation, still grieving the loss of their beloved nephew. She asked only that people not add more pain to Tan's parents, who have only one other son. Tan had just returned from Australia about five years ago with no intention of coming back while his parents were alive. Ms. Vachira described Tan as someone she raised from childhood, noting his kind nature, his ability to entertain everyone, his care for elderly relatives, and how he would send money to his grandmother despite living abroad.

"Today everyone is trying to heal by sharing good memories of Tan, knowing he was deeply loved by many people," Ms. Vachira said, expressing gratitude to educational institutions and friends who helped with the funeral arrangements.

Ms. Vachira also conveyed that she told Tan's parents she did not want to blame anyone for the accident, as no one intended for it to happen. She hoped it would serve as a lesson for both the bus and train drivers who survived and have the opportunity to change.

On the day of the accident, Tan had arranged to meet a foreign friend at a shopping mall at 5:00 PM. He was a multilingual person who often helped foreign friends and had planned to bring Thai and herbal medicines as gifts. When Tan didn't show up and his friend couldn't reach him, his mother called his aunt. No one expected Tan to be on bus route 206—his mother had dropped him off at Bang Sue and recommended he take the Airport Link instead. But Tan had texted in the chat: "I'll take the slowest route."

A relative who works in law enforcement checked all 32 accident victims' names but didn't find Tan. Around 11:00 PM, the family learned of his death, devastating them all. Though they try to be strong today, seeing a train still shakes them emotionally.

Ms. Vachira explained that Tan rarely took buses because his mother, a university professor, usually arranged his transportation. However, Tan was a down-to-earth person who lived simply despite earning well, and he could get along with people from all walks of life.

At 9:30 a.m. on May 20, 2025, at parliament, Democrat Party list MP and deputy party leader Priset Wattrasindhu announced that the party would resubmit six bills for parliamentary consideration that were carried over from the previous session. Last week, the cabinet failed to endorse them, causing all six bills to stall. These include the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) Act, the Factory Act, the Labor Protection Act, the Forest Reclamation Amnesty Act, the Military Court Charter, and a constitutional amendment to Article 256 adding Section 15/1 regarding the drafting of a new constitution.

Wattrasindhu explained that the government's justification was unconvincing, prompting the Democrats to reaffirm their intention to resubmit these bills for parliamentary reconsideration. Most bills will be resubmitted unchanged, though some may receive minor content revisions. The six bills cover economic, social, and political areas, with several public-drafted bills having completed the public consultation process. The party hopes that next week's three-day parliamentary session will include a day specifically for considering Democrat bills, not just cabinet bills—a commitment previously made by the parliamentary speaker.

When asked if the Democrats have finalized the constitutional amendment, Wattrasindhu stated that despite disagreements, the party maintains that opening a nominating assembly for constitutional drafters allows public participation in their selection. The party believes the Constitutional Court's ruling contradicts democratic principles and conflicts with the court's own previous decision prohibiting direct parliamentary selection of drafters. The assembly mechanism ensures the new constitution aligns with public needs and can be structured for single-reading parliamentary consideration.

Details will be submitted within the next week. Regarding Senate conditions, Wattrasindhu denied any intent to grant the Senate additional powers, stating the party treats both chambers equally. Previously, only half of parliament's members were required. When asked if the timeline set by the Pheu Thai Party pressures other parties to expedite submissions, Wattrasindhu clarified that submission is merely the first step, with the draft expected to be ready within the next week. Timeline frameworks are parliament's responsibility, requiring scheduled meetings.

Asked about confidence in Senate support in first reading, Wattrasindhu said this depends on parliamentary deliberation. He noted that if senators recall the Democrats' 2024 draft's content, it aligns with stated principles, giving no reason for the Senate to vote differently than before.