At 5:30 p.m. on April 28, 2025, summer storms with severe lightning struck multiple areas across Surin Province. In Ban Thai village, Moo 11, in Si Kharin District, a female cow belonging to 66-year-old resident Thani Datsatrop was killed by lightning while tied to a teak tree in a rice field. The tree bore clear scorch marks from the strike, and authorities believe the lightning struck the tree directly, electrocuting the animal tied to it. Residents gathered at the scene expressed shock and fear, with some who were preparing their fields for rice planting particularly alarmed about their own safety.

Thani recounted that he was heading out to lead the cow back to its pen when the storm suddenly rolled in with heavy rain. A deafening clap of thunder made him drop to the ground in fear. When he approached to check, he found the cow already dead with visible burn marks. "I was lucky I hadn't reached where the cow was tied yet, or I could have been struck too," he said. No people were injured or killed in the incident. Thani expressed distress over the loss, noting the cow had been well cared for, and appealed to relevant agencies for assistance with his financial loss.

Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. held a ceremony to present the "Star of Success" award, inducting two Thai riders from Yamaha Thailand Racing Team into the YAMAHA RACING CORNER HALL OF FAME. The honored riders are Tee Anupap Samul and Idea Kritphat Khueankham, who demonstrated exceptional performance at the Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 2026 opening round.

The ceremony was attended by Pongsathorn Ueumngulchai, Executive Chairman, and Ukrit Phakvirvat, Deputy Managing Director of Commercial Planning and Marketing at Thai Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. The riders joined company executives for photos and celebrations with the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team, while also mingling with employees and distributing treats to staff members who came to congratulate them.

At the 2026 ARRC Round 1, held April 10-12 at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, Idea Kritphat delivered a masterful performance by winning both races in the Asia Production 250cc class, accumulating a perfect 50 points and holding the championship lead. Rising star Gus Thiranai Thabthim, competing on a wildcard entry, finished 10th in the first race with 6 points and contributed to Yamaha's first-place team standing in the category.

Meanwhile, Tee Anupap secured second place in the SuperSport 600cc opening race, collecting 24 points and maintaining a position among the championship leaders.

The 2026 ARRC Round 2 will take place May 8-10 at Chang International Circuit in Buriram Province. Motorsports fans can support the Yamaha Thailand Racing Team via their Facebook page and watch live streaming through the Asia Road Racing Championship official channel.

A 15-year-old kayak athlete representing Samut Prakan province drowned while practicing in a canal on the evening of April 28. The Samut Prakan Rescue Command received an emergency call about an unconscious student in the water near a canal behind Nawamintharachinuthist Preparatory School in Bang Bo district. Rescue personnel and an ambulance from Bang Bo Hospital were immediately dispatched to the scene.

The victim, identified as Poo Gan, a 15-year-old kayak athlete at the school, was found unresponsive with no pulse. Rescue workers performed CPR before urgently transporting him to Bang Saothong Hospital.

More than 10 fellow kayak team members, who were training alongside the victim, were devastated by the tragedy. Some broke down in tears while hugging each other, and others sat in shock by the waterside. Rescue personnel and coaches had to provide close supervision and emotional support to the grief-stricken young athletes.

According to interviews with his teammates, the victim and his fellow athletes were provincial representatives preparing to compete in the 41st National Youth Games, also known as "Surat Thani Games," scheduled for May 7-17, 2025, in Surat Thani province. Training had begun around 4:00 PM, with the victim practicing kayak alone. When his teammates' boat returned to shore about 3-5 minutes later, they discovered his kayak capsized in the canal with no sign of him. Teammates rushed to search and found him submerged. They pulled him to shore and attempted CPR, but he was unresponsive.

The victim was normally healthy and strong. Preliminary investigation suggests he may have suffered fainting or heat stroke while paddling. When the kayak flipped, his leg became trapped inside the overturned boat. Because no one witnessed the incident and nearby neighbors were elderly residents resting indoors, he could not be rescued immediately.

Rescue officials confirmed that when they arrived at the scene, teachers and teammates had already been performing CPR. However, the victim had no pulse upon their arrival. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

On April 28, emergency services in Udon Thani province responded to a report of a child with an arm trapped in a motorcycle wheel on Mak Khaeng Road. The victim, an 11-year-old boy nicknamed Ball, had his left arm caught in the wheel and chain when his oversized long-sleeved shirt, worn for sun and wind protection, accidentally slipped down and became entangled in the motorcycle's spinning chain while his mother was driving him to summer school. The rotating chain pulled the shirt sleeve and violently yanked his arm into the wheel, fracturing the bone.

When chaos erupted at the scene, Pongsak Promraksai, a 56-year-old emergency response officer from the Udon Thani municipality who was nearby, heard the cries for help and rushed to assist. He borrowed large metal cutters from nearby residents to cut the motorcycle chain and relieve the pressure on the boy's arm. Throughout the ordeal, the boy's mother held him tightly while Ball remained remarkably composed and did not cry. After a considerable amount of time, responders successfully freed his arm. Emergency volunteers from the Dharma Promotion Foundation of Udon Thani then provided first aid, discovering the fractured left arm and a laceration near the ear before transporting him to Udon Thani Hospital, where he is now safe.

Officer Pongsak emphasized that this incident serves as a cautionary reminder to parents and guardians to be careful about their children's clothing while riding as passengers on motorcycles, particularly oversized shirts, scarves, or long skirts that could become entangled in the chain or wheel, potentially causing unexpected tragedy.

Manchester City has officially confirmed that John Stones, the accomplished English defender, will depart the club following the conclusion of this season, ending a 10-year tenure with the club. Reports had previously indicated that Stones, who transferred from Everton to Manchester City in 2016, would leave the Sky Blues during the summer transfer window after his contract expires. On April 28th, Manchester City announced that the 31-year-old player will leave as a free agent, marking the end of his decade-long association with the club. Stones shared his emotions about the departure, saying: "This place has been my home for the past 10 years, and it will always be my home for life. It's been like a roller coaster in many ways. I came here as a young lad and I'm leaving as a grown man, a father, and a husband. On the pitch, I've been an incredibly successful footballer. I've lived out my entire dream and achieved every goal I came here to accomplish." Stones has enjoyed tremendous success with Manchester City, making 293 appearances across all competitions and helping the club win numerous titles including 6 Premier League titles, 1 UEFA Champions League, 2 FA Cups, 5 League Cups, 3 Community Shields, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

The European Union extended its sanctions against Myanmar until at least May 2027, according to Reuters reporting on April 28, in an effort to pressure the military government more than five years after the coup that toppled the civilian administration in 2021.

The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and weapons embargoes targeting 105 individuals and 22 entities. "The European Union reiterates its strongest condemnation of Myanmar's military actions since the 2021 coup," the statement said, citing continued human rights abuses and widespread restrictions on fundamental freedoms.

The EU also suspended direct financial assistance to the government and halted any aid that could be seen as legitimizing military rule.

The statement called on the military government to end all forms of violence and release those held in arbitrary detention. In April, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the coup leader, was elected president of Myanmar following elections that Western governments view as fraudulent attempts to legitimize extended military rule.

The United Nations reports at least 3.6 million people have been displaced since the coup, while the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners confirms nearly 8,000 deaths, approximately 31,000 arrests, with over 22,000 still in detention.