On May 21, 2025, Thitipat Taijongrak, director of the Automotive Engineering Office and spokesman for the Department of Land Transport, announced that following reports on social media and news outlets regarding fires in Volvo EX30 electric vehicles, the Ministry of Transport has taken urgent action. Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angsakulkiarti instructed the Department of Land Transport to immediately investigate and establish safety guidelines for the vehicle model.

On May 19, 2025, Volvo Car (Thailand) submitted technical explanations revealing that the fire incidents stemmed from a high-voltage battery cell system defect. The company has prepared replacement parts and will begin recalling all 1,668 affected vehicles in Thailand to replace battery modules starting May 25, 2025.

The Department of Land Transport has ordered the company to complete all repairs urgently and enhance communication channels to inform all owners of safe usage guidelines while awaiting service appointments. Volvo must submit regular progress reports until all defects are completely remedied.

The Department of Land Transport, under authority of the Automotive Act B.E. 2522, has reviewed the vehicle's safety certification standards for electric drive systems and batteries according to international standard UNR100. The department has immediately suspended new vehicle registration for this model until the defects are fixed and safety testing is completed. This affects only future new registrations, not previously registered vehicles.

The Department of Land Transport assures the public that vehicle safety is its highest priority and will enforce strict legal measures to prevent future risks. For inquiries, contact the Department of Land Transport hotline at 1584, available 24 hours.

A bombshell scandal has erupted over the wildly popular "Handsome Priest" calendar that has captivated tourists in Rome for over 20 years—but many of the men pictured are not actual priests. The black-and-white photo calendar of attractive young men dressed as clergy has become a bestselling souvenir sold in shops around Vatican City and the Old Town. However, behind this popularity lies a growing controversy: many of the men in the images may not be genuine priests. Giovanni Galizia is one of the most discussed figures, having appeared on the cover of multiple editions of the "Handsome Priest" calendar for over 23 years, with the same image recycled repeatedly. Dressed in clerical collars and smiling mysteriously against a church backdrop in Palermo, Galizia revealed that he was only 17 when the photo was taken and saw it as a fun teenage activity—the day was filled with laughter from friends amused by his priest costume, despite having no religious connection whatsoever. After reports from local Rome media outlets, the calendar drew increased scrutiny and was dubbed a potential "fake priest calendar." Despite this, the creators insist the work is purely artistic with no intent to deceive and no direct connection to the Vatican. The officially named "Calendario Romano" uses 12 black-and-white images annually, mostly young men styled as priests, with some images reused across multiple years. The photographer reports selling thousands of copies yearly. Galizia, who now works as a flight attendant, confirmed he has never received compensation for the photos and has never been recognized on the street, though his family once gifted him a copy, which resulted in household hilarity. The calendar creators noted that at least one-third of the men in the 2027 edition are actual priests, though they provided no further details. Shop owners in Rome's tourist areas report the calendar continues to sell several copies daily. A South Korean priest who spotted the calendar near Vatican City commented that it is well-known among younger generations and viewed humorously, helping make the image of priests seem more approachable, despite being merely a controversial art project.

The spirit of giving among Kasetsart University members continues to shine brightly. The university's Senior Alumni Association recently led a ninth fundraising drive, collecting 736,673 baht from generous members to support the Faculty of Medicine and Kasetsart Hospital. This brings the total official donations from March 15, 2023 to May 20, 2025 to 10,110,673 baht.

Dr. Damrong Sripraphram, Acting President of Kasetsart University, accepted the donation on May 20, 2025 at the President's Office, with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somwang Kantyanuwoengse, Vice President for Health Science Development and Suphan Buri Area, witnessing the ceremony amid an atmosphere of gratitude and pride.

The ninth donation round featured contributions from multiple donors including Prof. Pensri Kanjjanommai (500,000 baht total), Assoc. Prof. Ratanawan and Pachawon Roonphai (100,000 baht), Thatcjai and Patraporn Jirawanichakarn and family (100,000 baht), Assoc. Prof. Siriporn Ongrungruang (101,000 baht total), and numerous other university members and alumni.

This collective effort extends beyond financial support—it represents building "life opportunities" for Thai citizens through the Medical Park project, a strategic national healthcare initiative. The first phase includes establishing the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, and Kasetsart Hospital to enhance medical care quality and produce healthcare professionals for future national needs.

The Cabinet has approved the Medical Park project for 2024–2029 with a budget exceeding 8,863 million baht for construction, medical equipment, and personnel development. Kasetsart University believes every donation demonstrates the power needed to transform the hospital into a premier medical research and healthcare center, serving as a beacon of hope for Thai society while exemplifying the beautiful spirit of sharing that will inspire future generations to contribute to social welfare.

Promoter Sier Boat (Nathdet Vachirratanvongs) has criticized the Thai Boxing Committee's plans to investigate referee Porn Prasert Nilphai following a controversial decision in the Bunmee Cannabis vs. Snail Lackpraohd championship match, calling for consistent enforcement across all fights rather than selective investigations of high-profile bouts.

The Thai Boxing Committee of Thailand's Sports Authority (SAT) has prepared to contact Rangsit Boxing Stadium regarding the case after the controversial ruling. In the disputed match, Snail was knocked down and hit his head on the mat in just the first round, leading referee Porn Prasert to end the bout and award the knockout victory to Bunmee, despite multiple objections that it was a foul. If the Boxing Referees Conduct Committee determines the referee made a legitimate error, he could face suspension for up to four months.

Furious over the situation, Sier Boat posted on Facebook demanding that investigations and penalties apply uniformly: "Don't just investigate high-profile fights with media attention. If you're going to do it, apply the same standard to every fight—whether it's about scoring decisions or ring disqualifications. Anyone who makes a mistake, whether it's scoring a round incorrectly or misruling a foul, must face the same consequences."

Deputy Prime Minister Yotchanan Wangsawasdi led a delegation from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation to Chanthaburi on May 21 to inspect the application of science, technology and innovation in elevating the fruit export industry, supply chain management, and durian processing operations.

Yotchanan emphasized that durian is not merely a commodity fruit, but a high-value agricultural product with significant development potential. He highlighted that viewing the complete durian cycle from cultivation to advanced processing demonstrates that science and innovation now extend beyond laboratories into actual farming operations.

The ministry's key objectives include supporting Thailand's development of proprietary technology using the diversity and distinctive characteristics of Thai fruits as the foundation for innovation.

Key achievements and development approaches highlighted include:

AI-Driven Quality Control: Thai private sector companies have implemented artificial intelligence technology to accurately verify ripeness and classify durians by weight, alongside internationally standardized processing facilities using Freeze-Dried and vacuum-frying systems.

Nuclear Technology for Export: X-ray technology in safe doses extends shelf life, slows ripening, and eliminates quarantined pests, making Thai fruits more easily compliant with strict U.S. and Chinese standards. Gamma radiation technology to sterilize fruit flies has been successfully used in Chanthaburi for over 20 years, reducing chemical use and farmer costs.

Non-Destructive Quality Inspection Innovation: Frequency wave technology accurately examines durian ripeness, calculates flesh weight and moisture content, elevating standards from traditional tapping methods to internationally recognized scientific standards. Research also focuses on preventing root rot diseases in durian orchards.

Circular Economy Innovation: The Thailand Science and Technology Research Institute and university networks extract high-quality cellulose and fibers from durian peels previously discarded as waste, developing premium-grade paper, eco-friendly packaging, and composite materials for eco-furniture, significantly reducing carbon footprint.

Advanced Processing: Durian flesh is being developed into innovative beverages, including ready-to-drink durian water and powdered durian drinks that maintain distinctive aroma and smooth taste.

Nestlé has issued a statement confirming that Singapore's High Court upheld an international arbitration panel's ruling that the termination of its joint venture agreement with QCP, the company owned by the Mahakij family, was legally valid. On May 21, 2025, Nestlé announced that the Singapore High Court delivered its judgment on March 4, 2025, affirming the international arbitration tribunal's decision and confirming that the complete termination of the QCP agreement was legally valid according to the relevant terms. Nestlé continues to drive Nescafé's success through good governance practices, product innovation to meet consumer needs, and ongoing support for Thai farmers. Nescafé remains Thailand's most popular coffee brand and one of the most trusted brands among Thai consumers, maintained through consistent good governance, commitment to developing high-quality coffee products in new formats to serve Thai consumers, and continued support for Thai coffee farmers as a major purchaser of domestically-grown coffee beans for many consecutive years. Historically, Nescafé products were manufactured in Thailand by Quality Coffee Products Limited (QCP), a 50/50 joint venture between Nestlé and the Mahakij family. Under this joint venture agreement, Nestlé held management authority over QCP's operations, including production, distribution, and marketing of Nescafé products, with all technology and intellectual property used in Nescafé manufacturing belonging to Nestlé. When the joint venture agreement terminated on December 31, 2024, QCP lost the right to manufacture Nescafé products. The termination case was submitted to an international arbitration tribunal for investigation. On December 20, 2024, the international arbitration tribunal ruled that the complete termination of the agreement was legally valid under the relevant terms. The opposing shareholder's subsequent petition to Singapore courts was also entirely dismissed. The Singapore High Court's judgment on March 4, 2025 upheld the arbitration tribunal's decision, definitively confirming the lawful termination of the QCP agreement. The other QCP shareholder received notice of the court's judgment, and litigation costs have been settled according to the court's order. Regarding the civil case filed by Prasuth Mahakij and his family against Nestlé and affiliated companies in Thailand, the Court of Appeal's president has ordered the case transferred to the Intellectual Property and International Trade Court, which has direct jurisdiction. The case is currently under consideration. Nestlé remains committed to good governance principles in business operations, strictly complies with laws, and fully cooperates with relevant government agencies and justice sector bodies. These principles are core to Nestlé's business conduct worldwide and form the foundation of the trust earned from consumers, business partners, employees, and stakeholders across the globe. Nestlé has operated in Thailand for over 130 years and remains committed to conducting business here for the benefit of consumers, employees, farmers working with us, business partners, and will continue to invest in Thailand.