At 2:30 PM on April 28, 2026, Deputy Superintendent Singha Hongon of Muang Khon Kaen Police Station received a report of a child's death inside a parked vehicle near Theparak 5 Community in Muang District, Khon Kaen Province. Police officers Yasawat Kaewsabanthanicha and Methee Sriwan immediately rushed to the scene with forensic officers and emergency responders. At the location, they found a 34-year-old woman (name withheld) in a state of deep distress near a parked Toyota sedan with Bangkok license plate number ธว 4389. Inside the vehicle lay the lifeless body of her 4-year-old daughter (name withheld).

Upon questioning, the mother revealed that she had parked the car at that location and told her daughter they would go on an outing, but it wasn't time yet. She then walked to a nearby house to rest, believing her daughter would stay with her grandmother. When she returned to the car, she found her daughter lying motionless inside. She immediately removed the child and performed first aid, then called emergency services, but it was too late.

Police Superintendent Yasawat stated that CCTV footage from the area showed the girl had entered the vehicle herself by opening the rear driver-side door and closing it behind her, with no one aware she had done so. She remained trapped in the car for an extended period and likely suffocated. Investigators will continue questioning relevant parties to determine the exact cause of death before releasing the body to the family for religious funeral rites.

On April 28, 2026, highway police officers led by Lieutenant Colonel Phon Sakdi Lao Churi Ralay conducted an arrest operation that resulted in the capture of 47-year-old Chaiyant at kilometer 560+281 on Highway 12 in Phra Lap Subdistrict, Muang District, Khon Kaen Province. Officers discovered three reflective sign panels and one hammer in his possession.

The arrest followed a report from Phra Lap Highway Division officials that multiple reflective warning signs installed along bridge railings and highway shoulder barriers—critical safety devices protecting nighttime road users—had been stolen. When officers arrived at the scene to investigate, they caught Chaiyant actively removing a reflective panel from a bridge railing using a hammer. A search of his bicycle revealed two additional panels in the front basket.

During questioning, Chaiyant confessed that he was unemployed and needed money, so he decided to remove the reflective signs along the bridge to sell them. He was charged with theft of public property and handed over to police at Muang Khon Kaen Station for further legal proceedings.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthammaphand revealed that the Commerce Ministry's Department of Intellectual Property, in collaboration with Thailand Post Company Limited, has created the commemorative stamp series titled "Naree Ratana." The stamps feature a portrait of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana in traditional Thai dress, alongside the WIPO award certificate and her initials "S.R." beneath a royal crown, set against the "Sirinart Pasataraphon" textile pattern—a design created by the Princess herself.

The Princess has been instrumental in reviving and advancing Thai textile wisdom and handicrafts, transforming traditional fabrics into contemporary designs suitable for everyday wear while gaining international recognition. She has championed the concept of "Sustainable Fashion," harmonizing cultural artistry with environmental and social responsibility. The exhibition, themed "The Journey of Royal Creative Excellence," involves collaboration from multiple sectors including SIRIVANNAVARI brand, the Community Development Department, the Thai Handicraft Promotion Institute, Thai Post, Icon Craft, and Siam Paragon, showcasing how the Princess studied traditional patterns from all Thai regions and transformed them into modern works that preserve deep cultural roots.

The Princess has granted fabric designs to community artisans nationwide, creating employment and improving livelihoods sustainably. Eighteen of her textile designs have been registered for copyright with the Department of Intellectual Property between 2021 and 2025, including patterns such as "Dok Rak Ratchakanya" and "Siri Vachira Aphon." The exhibition represents an important opportunity for the public to understand the value of Thai textiles, handicrafts, and intellectual property, while recognizing how creative work rooted in cultural heritage contributes to balanced and sustainable economic and social development.

The Thai windsurfing team achieved a satisfying result at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, after 'Whalee' Wachirwit Thanupp captured a bronze medal in the IQFoil Men's U21 category. The windsurfing competition offered two gold medals at stake. In the men's U21 IQFoil division, Wachirwit finished with 39 penalty points, tying with Denver John Castillo from the Philippines at 19 penalty points, but Castillo's superior heat scores secured him the silver medal. Gold went to Yiqua Wang from China with 12 penalty points. In the same men's category, 'Glao' Ratchanon Khunjueng finished 8th with 78 penalty points. In the women's U21 IQFoil division, 'Cake' Chanatagan Charoensu finished 8th with 77 penalty points, and 'Joy' Wannida Wintachai placed 10th with 91 penalty points. Gold in the women's event went to Yimin Chen from China (18 penalty points), silver to Ching Suouit Yuan from Hong Kong (18 penalty points), and bronze to Li Qing from China (24 penalty points). The Thai team operates under coaches Sakkda Skullfang and Nat Phongprawat. Pattana Bunsawat, Secretary-General of the Thai Windsurfing Association, who traveled to support the team, expressed satisfaction with the bronze medal achievement, noting that Thai athletes aged 16-17 competed against older opponents in the U21 category. Despite physical disadvantages and less experience, all athletes performed with full effort, he added, thanking athletes, coaches, and sponsors for their dedication. This marks Thailand's first medal at the Asian Beach Games in 12 years, with the last competition occurring in 2014 in Phuket, where the team won two silver medals through Siriporn Kaewdwangngan and Nat Phongprawat.

On April 28, 2025, the Po Teck Tung Foundation, led by Surapong Techa-Ruenvijit, Vice Secretary-General and Board Member, held a ceremony to distribute occupational equipment to 33 poor households in Songkhla Province worth 804,642 baht and provided 20 bicycles to two rural schools valued at 25,800 baht, totaling 830,442 baht in assistance. The foundation also deployed a mobile community medical unit with volunteer doctors, rescue personnel, and volunteers to provide free general medical checkups, eyeglasses, haircuts, dental services, and recreational activities to local residents.

The event was co-chaired by Chutsip Thamphetch, Deputy Governor of Songkhla Province, and Samart Suwannamon, Vice Director-General of the Department of Community Development. The foundation's integrated poverty alleviation program has completed three phases across central, northern, and northeastern Thailand, assisting 813 households so far. In 2024, an additional 57 flood-affected households in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai received equipment, bringing the total to 870 households benefiting from over 17 million baht in assistance. The foundation is now implementing Phase 4 in southern Thailand, covering 14 provinces including Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phang Nga, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Trang, Satun, Krabi, Phuket, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.

Government Savings Bank Plans to Distribute 300 Billion Baht in New Loans in 2025 to Support Grassroots Communities. Songphol Cheevapaññarojanam, Director of the Government Savings Bank, announced that in 2025 the bank plans to distribute new credit loans valued at approximately 270-320 billion baht to assist grassroots entrepreneurs and SMEs. The loans will be divided into three groups:

1. Grassroots microenterprises (over one million borrowers) requiring no collateral, with individual loan amounts between 100,000-200,000 baht depending on customer needs and repayment capacity. The bank targets new disbursements of approximately 70,000-100,000 million baht, comprising various credit types such as revolving credit to improve liquidity and occupational loans tailored to customer needs. Interest rates will be kept low to ease borrower burden.

2. Small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) without collateral, with a target of 120,000 million baht in new credit—40% higher than the previous year. This segment receives priority attention as these customers have been significantly impacted by the economic crisis.

3. Low-interest loans (soft loans) valued at 100,000 million baht to support liquidity, create new momentum, facilitate transition and development, and provide loans for solar panel installation and all types of electric vehicles approved by the Cabinet. This program began in late 2024, with 9 billion baht already disbursed; the remaining 90,000 million baht is expected to be distributed more quickly this year. The bank is negotiating memorandums of understanding with commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions to facilitate soft loan disbursements.

Cheevapaññarojanam stated that the Government Savings Bank aims to be a "bank for society, for all lives" serving people at every stage of life. He noted that the Thai economy faces challenges in 2025 from Middle Eastern conflicts and energy price crises, making it essential for the bank to support struggling grassroots communities and SMEs. The bank will offer interest rates below those of commercial banks while providing financial literacy education to help customers understand proper money management. The bank commits to leaving no one behind.

"There are many challenges ahead in this year that we must prepare for. This crisis is an opportunity because our geographic position allows us to continue earning and exporting. We must work together and move forward. The Government Savings Bank is ready to be part of ensuring everyone survives. We will be a bank for society, for all lives, and for all ages," Cheevapaññarojanam said.

Additionally, the bank has implemented a policy to reduce interest rates for borrowers with good repayment discipline. The policy was piloted with home loan applicants—for example, when borrowers complete three years of fixed-rate interest periods and face higher floating rates, the bank will negotiate with borrowers to reduce rates to 3-4% without waiting for the full three-year term to expire. This will be expanded to business loans and microenterprises to encourage and reward those with good payment discipline.

Cheevapaññarojanam announced plans to support customer savings with higher returns, including the planned issuance of Government Savings Bank lottery bonds with total prize money of 113 million baht. Previously, the grand prize was valued at 70 million baht alone, but the structure will be modified.