Police have identified the driver of a student van that attempted to cross a railway crossing while a train was approaching. The van, with Bangkok license plates, came from the Prachao Chai intersection in Muang District, Lopburi Province, and tried to pass through the descending barrier to cross toward Kosapan Lane, violating the safety signal. Deputy Provincial Police Commander Pol. Col. Banyang Santiprechawattana ordered officers from Thahin Police Station to urgently locate the vehicle and its driver for questioning.

Police tracked the van using CCTV footage and identified the driver as 55-year-old Mr. Sangwal (surname withheld). Officers contacted him by phone to report for questioning, but he declined and refused to answer questions.

Somchai (surname withheld), 56, a barrier operator at Prachao Chai checkpoint, recounted the incident. He immediately radioed the station master to have the departing train slow down and hold position before leaving the station. He then ran out to the van and ordered it to move away to clear the tracks before the train passed. Somchai noted that this crossing has previously witnessed deaths and injuries from barrier violations. He described the frustration and verbal abuse he regularly faces from drivers who are unhappy about the barriers being closed, though he stressed these closures are necessary for safety. The Lopburi station master has instructed that train delays are acceptable if they prevent harm to the public. This incident was exceptionally dangerous, and Somchai emphasized that those who ignore railway crossing rules risk serious injury or death.

Farmers are disappointed after Commerce Minister Supachee Suthammaphan signed a memorandum of understanding to import one million tons of genetically modified corn from the United States, with concerns that it will push domestic corn prices even lower. On May 22, Thawathai Tathiang, chairman of the Phichit Province Farmers Council, spoke following the announcement. Thawathai stated that Thailand's heaviest impact would be further depression of domestic corn prices. The Commerce Ministry had already announced a domestic corn procurement program for local farmers. The National Farmers Council had actually sent representatives to oppose the move and requested a review, with representatives presenting their case to the Feed Corn Policy and Management Committee. However, their concerns were ignored. Thawathai expressed frustration that farmer voices were not heard, and despite the opposition, the MOU to import GMO corn from the United States was signed anyway.

Huaseng Heng has been monitoring gold's significant price adjustment, questioning whether it signals a trend change or just a temporary pause. The 200-day moving average (SMA200) will determine the fate of the long-term uptrend.

Huaseng Heng's analysis shows that global gold prices have faced continuous selling pressure after declining to near $4,450 per ounce, creating investor concerns about the direction of the next trend.

Amid mounting inflationary pressures, rising U.S. Treasury yields, and the possibility that the Federal Reserve may maintain tight monetary policy longer than market expectations, the precious metal faces headwinds. Although Middle East tensions remain a significant risk factor for the global economy, markets are increasingly interpreting the geopolitical conflict through an inflationary lens rather than viewing it as a safe-haven asset driver. Rising energy prices from geopolitical uncertainty have increased inflation pressure and affected interest rate policy expectations.

Recent economic data clearly reflects these pressures, with the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 3.8% year-over-year in April, up from 3.3% in March—the highest level since 2023. This has renewed market concerns that the Fed may delay interest rate cuts and maintain rates at elevated levels.

These pressures are reflected in the U.S. Treasury market, with 10-year yields touching their highest level in over a year, while 30-year yields reached 5.19%, the highest since 2007. This reflects investors' demand for higher returns to compensate for inflation risk and economic uncertainty.

Higher Treasury yields directly increase the opportunity cost of holding gold, as gold is a non-interest-bearing asset.

Simultaneously, the dollar's strength—supported by Fed meeting minutes indicating that some Fed members are opening the door to potential rate hikes—continues to pressure global gold demand.

Global financial institutions have begun revising their short-term gold price forecasts downward. JPMorgan Chase & Co. has lowered its average gold price forecast to $5,243 per ounce from $5,708, while ANZ Bank revised its year-end gold target to $5,600 per ounce, citing inflation, interest rates, and the dollar as primary headwinds.

However, Goldman Sachs maintains a positive outlook on gold, forecasting prices could reach $5,400 per ounce by year-end, supported by continued central bank purchases aimed at diversifying international reserves. This aligns with World Gold Council data showing multiple central banks continue accumulating gold in 2026.

Huaseng Heng assesses that gold's current price correction does not signal a complete shift to a bear market, but rather a consolidation under macroeconomic pressure, particularly from accelerating inflation and elevated interest rates.

Technically, the $4,370 per ounce level, corresponding to the 200-day moving average (SMA200), remains a critical support level to monitor closely, as it reflects the structure of the long-term uptrend.

If gold prices can hold above this level, it will indicate that the primary trend remains unchanged and the current pullback may be merely a base consolidation before the next leg up.

Wheelchair racing athlete Pongskor Paiya has broken a 9-year-old world record in the 200-meter race at an international paralympic athletics competition in Switzerland. At the Nottwil Para Athletics Grand Prix 2026 in Switzerland, on the evening of May 21, the highlight was the men's 200m wheelchair racing T53 class, where 'Jao Gror' Pongskor Paiya claimed the gold medal, crossing the finish line with a time of 24.89 seconds. Beyond winning the championship, he also broke the world record previously held by Canada's Brent Lagatos, who set the mark of 25.04 seconds on May 28, 2017—a record that had stood for 9 years—by just 0.15 seconds. Second place went to Fernando da Silva Ariosval from Brazil with 26.74 seconds, and third to Balber Johannes from Belgium with 27.45 seconds.

Mom Gror Kasemsr, a Bangkok governor candidate, announced on May 22 that she will officially launch her campaign on May 24 at 3 p.m. at Thammasat Society under the 'SAVE BKK – BKK SAFE' platform, introducing her expert team. She invited a former prime minister knowledgeable in finance and economics to chair her advisory board, emphasizing that as an independent candidate she needs specialized expertise to tackle cost-of-living issues and help Bangkok survive overlapping crises. She described her role as a military commander driving the capital's development and solving residents' problems. When asked if she was concerned about competing with former Governor Chatchatchai Sitthipuntharik, Mom Gror said she wasn't bothered by such comparisons, as she believes she's volunteering to fill existing gaps. She noted that while traditionally governors were seen as household managers, the current economic turmoil requires governors to act as battlefield commanders leading Bangkok through crisis, while still collaborating with permanent administrative staff handling routine operations.

Led by former Justice Minister Thawee Sodsong, the parliamentary Justice, Law, and Human Rights Committee, including committee chairman Rangsiman Rohm, conducted an inspection of Bangkok Special Prison in the Lad Yao district on May 22, 2569 (2026). The committee visited various sections including the reception ward for elderly and vulnerable inmates, vocational training facilities, the prison kitchen, and the medical clinic to assess the quality of life and conditions for imprisoned individuals serving long sentences.

During the inspection, the committee discussed with prison director Kiattikorn Patmothat and relevant officials about policy frameworks for improving healthcare access, rehabilitation programs, and preparation for inmates' reintegration into society. Committee chairman Rangsiman noted concerns about inmates' access to current information about the outside world, particularly those serving lengthy sentences, and emphasized the need to improve legal aid fund accessibility to help inmates secure temporary release to defend their cases in court.

Rangsiman highlighted that many inmates face obstacles in gathering documents for their legal defense while imprisoned and called for improved systems to support their cases, as proper legal representation during trial is crucial for proving innocence. The committee plans to further study these issues raised by inmates to develop more effective solutions for the justice system.