Engineering alumni from Kasetsart University class E56/KU60 have joined forces to donate toward the construction of Kasetsart University Hospital, enhancing access to medical services and Thailand's healthcare system. Kasetsart University continues to drive forward its Medical Park Project to improve healthcare accessibility, produce quality personnel, and develop health innovations nationwide.

Acting President Dr. Damrong Sriphraram received a 100,000 baht donation from alumnus Theerawat Senahaanja (Faculty of Engineering, E56/KU60) for the Faculty of Medicine and Kasetsart University Hospital. The donation was witnessed by Associate Professor Dr. Nuchnart Mangkang, Vice President for Finance and Special Activities, and Associate Professor Dr. Kritsana Vanoanthon, Vice President for Innovation and Social Missions, at the President's office in the 50-year communications building.

This generous contribution supports Kasetsart University's mission to establish a Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Pharmacy, and a 400-bed Kasetsart University Hospital as a hub for education, research, and medical services focused on agro-medicine and bio-innovation. The Medical Park Project aims to develop healthcare workforce capacity and medical innovation to elevate the nation's public health system and improve citizens' quality of life sustainably.

Currently, the Faculty of Medicine admits two cohorts of 47 medical students each, while the Faculty of Nursing enrolled 63 students in its first class. The Faculty of Pharmacy is preparing to welcome its first cohort of 24 students in the 2025 academic year, strengthening Thailand's future healthcare workforce. The university is constructing teaching buildings and medical education centers at the Bangkok campus, as well as clinical training sites at Chaophraya Yommaraj Hospital in Suphan Buri and Sakon Nakhon Hospital in Sakon Nakhon provinces.

Kasetsart University has also established the Kasetsart University Hospital Foundation under the Medical Park Project, inviting the public and donors to participate in building this future hospital dedicated to caring for the nation's health. The foundation welcomes contributions through the Punboon website (https://www.punboon.org/foundation/01162) or direct bank transfer to Thai Military Bank account 069-2-77187-6 under Kasetsart University Hospital. Donations are tax-deductible. Interested parties can follow project updates on the Faculty of Medicine's Facebook page.

Chonburi FC held its prestigious season-end awards ceremony, the 'Chonburi Sharks Awards 2026,' on May 16 at Pacific Park in Sri Racha to honor fan support and celebrate the efforts of players and coaching staff. Club President Withaya Kunpluem presided over the event, which featured 10 award categories honoring outstanding personnel and supporters.

Key awards included the Chang Inspiration Award to legendary former player Sintavee Hatairatankul, the Moment of the Year to Coach Heng Witthaya Laokhunkul for an impressive 4-2 victory over Buriram United with 10 men, and Goal of the Season to Santiphap Chanhong for a stunning free kick against the defending champions. Kevin Reymendoza earned Save of the Season, while striker Oeker van Lingen claimed Top Scorer with 8 goals.

Other honors recognized youth development, rising star Yosskor Burapha (age 21), outstanding fan June Prathomporn, and an all-star XI selected by fans. Goalkeeper Reymendoza received the prestigious Player of the Season award. The evening featured the official unveiling of a new training kit collection inspired by the historic Soi 34 area of old Chonburi, modeled by six star players, alongside a major surprise announcement regarding new player signings for next season.

On May 17, 2025, Deputy Government Spokesman Ploytaale Laksameesangjun addressed criticism from Pichaya Rattandilek, a former dean and curriculum specialist in politics and development strategy at Phuket, who questioned the government's spending on a May 15 executive dinner given the country's need to borrow 400 billion baht, asking "How much budget was used for the evening event?" The spokesman clarified that the dinner budget came from the Prime Minister's Office operational funds, a support unit for the Prime Minister's governance operations, and emphasized that all spending is carefully considered for maximum benefit to the nation and people.

Ploytaale explained that the dinner for executives from 10 key industrial sectors provided an opportunity for hotel management students from Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University to demonstrate their skills and practical capabilities. Rather than luxurious catering, the government served Thai fusion cuisine using domestic ingredients to encourage Thai consumers to support local agricultural products and help Thai farmers. The government did not employ famous hotel catering services and avoided lavish spending as some feared, but instead created a direct learning experience to build student confidence and prepare them for quality job market entry, which serves as a foundation for strengthening the country's long-term competitive capability.

"The government manages budgets economically with careful consideration of benefits received. I ask Associate Professor Pichaya not to be concerned. If this dinner budget matter troubles you, please use your time to create meaningful contributions to society so you can dedicate efforts to benefit the nation and its people," Ploytaale concluded.

Khao Kheow Open Zoo has introduced a baby Greater Adjutant chick as the facility's newest star, sparking widespread viral interest on social media. The Greater Adjutant, one of the largest storks in the region and world, had been extinct from Thailand's natural environment for over 40 years. The chick was hatched in an incubator after staff conducted a "life-saving operation," removing the egg from the parents—the only breeding pair of Greater Adjutants remaining at the zoo—to ensure successful incubation.

Zoo officials emphasized the remarkable nature of this achievement, noting that the parent birds typically lay only one or two eggs annually with inconsistent hatching success, prompting staff to intervene with artificial incubation. This marks the first successful Greater Adjutant breeding via incubator in the history of Thailand's zoo organization. The egg weighed 124-125 grams—nearly three times heavier than a chicken egg—and took 34-35 days to hatch.

When fully grown, the Greater Adjutant will stand approximately 145-150 centimeters tall with a wingspan nearly 3 meters wide. The species typically has a lifespan of 35-40 years and features predominantly black, gray, and white plumage. The announcement has generated massive online engagement, with netizens flooding the comments section with jokes, name suggestions like "Khun Chang" (Big Brother), and playful observations about the chick's appearance.

On May 17, 2025, Panida Mongkollswasdi, Samut Prakan MP and Pheu Thai Party spokesperson, discussed the Bhumjaithai and Move Forward parties' plans to push forward a constitutional amendment draft, calling it a positive development that respects the voice of the people. Although the government has not revived the previous draft, what remains unclear is the cabinet's own proposal, since the current draft was submitted as a Bhumjaithai Party initiative rather than reflecting government intentions.

"What we want to see is the government taking constitutional amendment seriously to pave the way for a new charter. Therefore, there should be a concrete cabinet draft. This is what we want to see, and we are somewhat disappointed with the Bhumjaithai Party's approach, which doesn't seem proportionate to the 21.6 million votes they received. However, given that the Bhumjaithai and Move Forward parties are preparing to submit their amendment draft to parliament, Pheu Thai will continue communicating through the shadow cabinet and will submit our own constitutional amendment draft again," Panida stated.

When asked about her views on Move Forward's model, which would have each province select members of the constitutional drafting assembly before parliament selects them again, Panida said the approaches are quite similar. The Pheu Thai Party believes the drafting body should come from public elections, though the Constitutional Court's ruling prohibits direct selection, so processes must be designed to maximize public participation in forming the drafting committee.

"If Move Forward's draft opens space or shares the principle that drafters come from public selection in some form, while respecting the Constitutional Court's ruling, we would agree," Panida said.

When asked about concerns regarding the constitutional amendment, Panida identified the Senate's one-third voting power in approving a new constitution as the most critical issue. Parties must build consensus on whether to retain the Senate's one-third blocking power, especially when 21.6 million voters have clearly indicated they want a new charter.

"This means the power to pass a constitution should rest with the people, not become a bottleneck where the Senate's one-third blocks the new charter's passage. This is what worries me, and I believe we should seek consensus so that Article 256 constitutional amendment efforts are not in vain," Panida concluded.

Luang Por Pai Loh Chanthasoro was a renowned meditation master at Wat Kamphaeng in Phrasicharoen District, Bangkok, celebrated in the Bangkhunthian area. He was born on a Tuesday in the sixth month of the Year of the Goat in B.E. 2403 into the Thonglueah family in Samut Prakan Province, growing up in an agricultural household. At age eight, he studied Thai and Khmer script under Luang Por That at Wat Singh. During his youth, he was brave and had many friends, but the neighborhood was rife with gang violence. Due to his reputation among local toughs, his worried parents asked him to ordain for one rainy season.

He was ordained at Wat Kamphaeng with Luang Por That as his preceptor. Receiving the monastic name Chanthasoro, he devoted himself to studying Buddhist scripture, memorizing chants with precision, and deepening his faith. After the first rainy season, he declined to disrobe and instead pursued advanced meditation and doctrinal studies. He learned esoteric practices including the 108-ingredient medicinal powder from Luang Por Phuang at Wat Kok and sacred cloth-making with Luang Por Dit at Wat Kamphaeng.

Despite his extensive knowledge, he remained humble and unpretentious, maintaining simple living and strict discipline with the monastic code. Though offered the title of Phra Kru, he refused, saying he preferred to teach himself rather than oversee other monks. Similarly, he reluctantly accepted administrative duties only because villagers insisted, as many brought their sons to ordain under him due to faith in his virtue and desire for his blessed amulets.

In B.E. 2478, his disciples commissioned a celebratory merit-making ceremony for his birthday and produced a medal-cast amulet in the shape of a spade. The spade symbolized an essential agricultural tool that farmers and gardeners depended upon. Beyond the popular spade medal, egg-shaped amulets were also cast in bronze and brass with intricate consecration rituals far more elaborate than stamped medals.

He possessed powerful spiritual concentration. Once, Phra Phutthaput Phayakorn, a senior disciple of Luang Pu Eiam at Wat Nang, was invited to oversee an amulet-casting ceremony. He sat in meditation at his dwelling without traveling to the temple, yet when the consecration began, those officiating saw his meditating form present at the ritual—an extraordinary occurrence that became widely discussed.

Luang Por Pai Loh regularly chanted the 'Seven Crystal Fortress Incantation,' reciting passages invoking the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as refuges. He passed away peacefully in B.E. 2482 at age 79, having spent 59 rainy seasons in the robes. At his funeral, countless people gathered. A remarkable incident occurred when disciples lit firecrackers and sparklers, but they all extinguished suddenly because he disliked loud noise. After the ceremony ended, they relit them, and they burned with tremendous noise—a tale still recounted today.