The Thai Association for Persons with Disabilities under Royal Patronage, jointly with the Thai Sports Journalists Association and the Thai Wheelchair Basketball Association, hosted a prestigious reception for "Bass" Phongsakorn Sripirm at Hua Mark Stadium following his historic achievement as Thailand's first wheelchair basketball player to win the Euro Cup 2026 club championship with Italian club Reggio Bic (ASD RC Basket in Carrozzina).

The ceremony was presided over by Maitri Kongruang, president of the Thai Association for Persons with Disabilities under Royal Patronage, accompanied by Bhattraphan Krishana, president of the Thai Wheelchair Basketball Association, and numerous sports journalists expressing warm congratulations.

Phongsakorn Sripirm began his professional athletic journey with Reggio Bic in Reggio Calabria, Italy in 2021, reaching his career peak during the 2026 season. In this Euro Cup tournament, Reggio Bic delivered outstanding performances: dominating the group stage with victories over strong competitors from England and Spain, defeating German powerhouse Köln 99ers 64-49 in the semi-finals.

In the final, Phongsakorn showcased exceptional form, leading his team to victory over Hannover United with a score of 62-54 and claiming the European championship—a historic first for a Thai athlete.

Maitri Kongruang praised the achievement, stating: "Phongsakorn is a true role model for Thai athletes with disabilities competing at the world level. This success not only brings personal honor but also demonstrates the potential of Thailand's athletic development system. We thank the Thai Wheelchair Basketball Association under the leadership of Bhattraphan Krishana for consistently promoting athletes until achieving this level of success."

Meanwhile, "Bass Phongsakorn" expressed his feelings about the achievement: "I'm extremely proud to have carried the Thai flag and showcased our nation's glory in Europe. I want this success to inspire all fellow athletes with disabilities to believe that we can achieve greatness. My next goal is to prepare rigorously to serve the Thai national team at the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya, Japan this October."

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The first beagles removed from a Wisconsin dog breeding and research facility that was the site of recent protests seemed to know right away that they were safe.

"They started within an hour or so coming up to us, wanting attention. Some crawled in people's laps. Every single one of them are super sweet," Lauree Simmons, president and founder of Big Dog Ranch Rescue, said Sunday. "I think they are loving the attention. I just know they know they're safe."

Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy negotiated a confidential agreement to purchase the 1,500 dogs for an undisclosed price from Ridglan Farms, where police used tear gas and pepper spray to repel activists trying to take beagles from the facility last month. Protesters also broke into the facility in March and took 30 dogs. Sixty-three people were referred by the sheriff's department to the district attorney for potential charges related to that break-in.

Talks to purchase the animals began months before the April disturbance, and Simmons said her group wasn't connected to the protests. Now, Big Dog Ranch Rescue is working with partners all over the country to find homes for 1,000 of the dogs, while the Center for a Humane Economy is taking the rest.

Simmons said her group has received over 700 adoption applications, but it might take some time before the hounds are ready for their new homes as the organization screens potential dog parents, moves the animals to shelters around the country and ensures the beagles are housebroken.

The first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan on Friday, with more scheduled for removal over the next week. The animal groups have set up a staging area with play yards in Wisconsin, where the dogs are being vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered and prepared for transport, Simmons said. Big Dog Ranch Rescue has already started moving dogs to its location in western Palm Beach County, Florida.

"The younger dogs will adjust quicker, and the older dogs will take time," Simmons said. "A lot of them are more willing to accept love and want to be with people."

Ridglan Farms didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Beagles are the most common breed of dog used for animal testing, primarily because of their smaller size and gentle temperament, Simmons said.

Rebekah Robinson, the president of Dane4Dogs, center left, speaks at a protest at the Wisconsin State Capitol demanding that the governor and attorney general do what they can to shut down a beagle breeding and research facility, Monday, April 20, 2026, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer)

"A Belgian Malinois is not going to put up with being tested on, being confined in a kennel their whole life," Simmons said of the athletic shepherd dogs commonly used by police and the military. "Beagles are just so trusting and docile and calm and forgiving, so they are the most chosen dogs for animal testing. And so we're going to take one of the sweetest, kindest"

Meet 'Nok': A woman fighting to survive, dancing in the sun to support herself, unbothered by those who think she's crazy or strange because she does honest work and can take care of herself without burdening anyone.

April 5, 2026 – After a video went viral online showing an elderly woman dancing in the blazing sun at the BTS Talad Phlu station across from The Mall Tha Phra, many people expressed admiration for her perseverance and dedication.

At 3 p.m., a reporter from Khao Sod Online met with Ms. Buunlauy, known as 'Nok,' a 64-year-old woman who became the subject of the viral clip.

Nok explained that she has been dancing for income for many years, but has been performing at this location for 3-4 years. It is her primary occupation to earn a living and support herself.

She wakes up at 3 a.m. every day to bathe, do her makeup, and get dressed before heading out to dance at markets during the morning hours. She then moves between different locations with foot traffic where she can dance without disturbing others. She performs at the BTS Talad Phlu station on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at around 3 p.m.

As for her clothing, accessories, and makeup used each day, most are not purchased by herself but are gifts from passersby who feel sympathetic toward her. This allows her to creatively mix and match pieces into new outfits each day without repetition.

Her daily earnings from dancing are unpredictable and depend on the number of people passing by and their generosity. Some days she earns more, other days less, but overall it is sufficient for her daily expenses such as food, transportation, and necessities. While she cannot save large sums due to her age, she is satisfied with a life where she can care for herself without depending on anyone.

Dancing is not just a job but also a form of exercise. Since her living quarters are quite hot and lack air conditioning, being outdoors and moving her body feels much better than staying idle inside a room.

When asked about how she feels regarding people's stares, Nok spoke confidently that she has never felt ashamed or worried about others' comments. She views what she does as honest work, and even if some people find it strange or think she is crazy, she doesn't care. What matters is that she can support herself without troubling anyone.

A young woman from Zhejiang Province, China has gone viral after losing significant weight following a friend's casual remark: "If you get thin, you'll look like Yang Mi"—a reference to the famous celebrity. This simple comment became the catalyst for a serious personal transformation and eventual weight loss success.

Originally standing 156 centimeters tall and weighing approximately 64 kilograms, the young woman decided to make a change after hearing her friend's words. She then began controlling her diet with a focus on clean eating and exercising consistently. Over the course of seven months, she maintained a dedicated weight loss regimen, documenting her progress on Douyin as she dropped from 64 kilograms down to 42.5 kilograms.

After achieving her weight loss goals, her face became more defined with sharper facial features, and her overall appearance transformed dramatically and noticeably. She currently maintains her weight at 42.5 kilograms and has developed a more diverse and varied fashion style.

Following the release of her transformation video, countless internet users praised her efforts, calling her a "top-tier self-improvement icon." Many noted that her face and eyes now closely resemble Yang Mi's. Several commenters expressed they wish they had a friend who could provide such encouragement and inspiration.

Thailand's U-17 women's national team edged out Myanmar in a tightly contested match to earn four points and remain in contention for a spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 AFC Women's Championship. On May 4 at Suzhou Sports Center Stadium in the People's Republic of China, Thailand faced Myanmar in the second match of Group A in the U-17 women's championship group stage. Thailand drew 2-2 with Vietnam in their opening match, while Myanmar suffered a 0-6 loss to China. Head coach Mim Thidarat Wiwasukhu made tactical adjustments for this match, resting Kulisara Limpawanich and using Warunther Phongkoeksee as part of the attacking lineup alongside Mirika Shearer Murdocks and Gavindhida Kikhuntod. Thailand created an early chance within three minutes when Phattharamont Saengta won the ball in the penalty area and fed it to Unchisatha Homtakok, whose shot sailed over the bar. In the 24th minute, Thailand found the breakthrough when Gavindhida Kikhuntod received the ball and was fouled, but play continued and Mirika Shearer Murdocks fired a right-footed shot into the net for Thailand's only goal of the match, securing a 1-0 victory. With four points collected, Thailand now has a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.

A loan shark gang has been reported to police for forcing a female debtor to film explicit videos before approving a second loan and demanding sexual favors in exchange for forgiving accumulated interest. The suspect threatened to release the videos if she failed to repay the full principal and interest.

On May 4, Ekkapop Luangprasert, founder of the "Saimai Must Survive" Facebook page, brought the victim (referred to as Ms. A) to file a complaint with investigators at Rattanathib Police Station in Nonthaburi Province against the loan shark for extortion, threats, and sexual assault.

Investigator Lt. Athit Rungcheetu of Rattanathib Police Station revealed that preliminary questioning found clear evidence of criminal conduct. The loan shark appears to have violated the Usurious Loan Prohibition Act and the Debt Collection Act by charging excessive interest rates, and is suspected of sexual assault.

The victim met the loan shark while working at a restaurant. She initially borrowed 5,000 baht with daily interest of 200 baht, which she paid for several months. When she took out a second 5,000-baht loan, the loan shark forced her to film explicit videos and later coerced her into sexual activity when she fell behind on payments of 400 baht daily. The suspect then threatened to release the videos if she didn't pay the outstanding principal and interest.

Ekkapop stated that today's complaint was just the beginning, and tomorrow he will take the victim to the Ministry of Justice to enroll in a witness protection program. He believes this loan shark gang has victimized multiple other debtors and urged additional victims to come forward so authorities can pursue further charges for illegal lending and money laundering.