Cheng Lei (known to Thai fans as 'Phi Mongkol') recently flew to Thailand to participate in the 2026 iQIYI Starship Meet and Greet, where he was announced as the latest iQIYI International Global Ambassador. The Chinese actor, famous for series like 'Above the Battlefield' and 'Breaking Through Dimensions to Enter the Grand Palace,' did not disappoint Thai fans at the event held at SPHERE GALLERY2 in EMSPHERE, charming the packed crowd with his charisma, dazzling smile, and romantic Thai phrases including 'I love you' (Phom rak khun) and 'You're all beautiful.'

During a media interview on the 14th floor of EM Tower, Cheng Lei expressed his honor at becoming an iQIYI International Global Ambassador and shared his emotions about meeting Thai fans for the first time. 'I'm very honored to receive this opportunity from iQIYI. I was very nervous and sweating the entire time, but Thai fans were so happy and fun. Once my nerves settled, I felt genuine joy. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, and I hope to meet you all again,' he said.

When asked about his preparation for the meet and greet, Cheng Lei revealed he had practiced Thai extensively but became too nervous to speak it fluently on stage. 'I prepared a lot of Thai language, but once I went on stage I got excited and scared of making mistakes, so I couldn't speak it out. I hope that on my next visit to Thailand, I'll be able to speak Thai fluently for everyone to hear,' he explained.

The actor was deeply moved by Thai fans' warm reception, particularly during the fan project portion. 'Thai fans are really fun and enthusiastic. When I saw the fan project and turned back to face everyone, that moment was truly touching and meaningful,' he shared.

Regarding future visits to Thailand, Cheng Lei expressed interest in spending 2-3 days in Bangkok and exploring what the country has to offer. 'Thailand has many cities with their own charm. I know Thailand has lots of delicious food, but I'd like to feel like a random tourist trying anything I come across. That would be more of a surprise,' he said.

When asked about potential collaborations with Thai actors, Cheng Lei stated his genuine desire to learn Thai. 'I really want to learn Thai so I can understand Thai culture and exchange cultures with each other,' he explained.

Before closing the interview, Cheng Lei repeated the Thai phrase 'I love you' (Phom rak khun khrap) and left a heartfelt message for his Thai fans: 'First of all, I feel very honored to meet all of you today. Most importantly, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my work with Thai fans. I promise to keep improving myself and creating quality work that you can follow and enjoy. Let's support each other.'

Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali has disclosed that Tehran is granting exemptions from Strait of Hormuz transit fees to select nations, including Russia, according to Russian news agencies RIA Novosti and Al-Mayadeen. The ambassador stated that Iran is currently providing exceptions for friendly countries like Russia, though future policy remains uncertain. Iran announced its plan to impose transit fees following escalating military attacks between the U.S., Israel, and Iran since late February, justifying the charges as necessary costs for maintaining security in the strategic waterway. The country has also closed the strait and indicated it will reopen only when the U.S. ends its naval blockade entirely. Iran's Vice Speaker of Parliament Hamid Reza Haji Babaei confirmed on April 23 that the country has already received the first transit fee payment, transferred to the national central bank. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, is the world's only major maritime outlet for the region. Prior to recent conflicts, approximately 20 million barrels of oil transited daily through the strait, representing roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption.

Deputy Prime Minister Supachee Panitchpakdi held talks with US Ambassador to Thailand Sean Oanis on Friday, April 24, 2026, describing the discussions as constructive and reflective of shared confidence in deepening economic and trade relations between Thailand and the United States—a partnership spanning over 190 years.

The Thai government prioritizes negotiations on the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) and stands ready to work closely with the United States, with commitment to advance discussions and reach conclusions quickly to boost business and market confidence in both countries. Regarding the US Section 301 investigation, Supachee emphasized that Thailand has comprehensively clarified its position on excess capacity and forced labor import bans, noting that most Thai exports support US manufacturing supply chains. Thailand maintains labor standards aligned with international norms and is prepared to collaborate closely with the US for mutually beneficial outcomes.

Thailand has proposed that the US consider tariff exemptions for goods the US cannot produce domestically, particularly key agricultural exports, to mitigate consumer impact in America and promote more balanced trade.

The Deputy PM also revealed plans to visit the United States in early May to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026, leading a delegation of Thai business leaders focused on expanding investment in key sectors. Thailand will also engage with USABC and USCC, major US investors in Thailand, to facilitate mutual investment and witness business cooperation agreements (MOUs), demonstrating Thai private sector confidence in the US economy and the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Thailand aims to balance trade through imports of essential goods and raw materials from the US, including agricultural products and energy resources, reflecting its commitment to being a responsible and reliable economic partner. The Deputy PM concluded that Thailand views the US as a strategically important trade partner, and these discussions reflect shared determination to elevate economic relations to new heights through close collaboration for long-term sustainable mutual benefit.

In 2025, the US ranked as Thailand's second-largest trading partner with total trade value exceeding $93.65 billion, with Thai exports to the US reaching $72.51 billion, covering major products such as computers, rubber products, gems, automobiles, and air conditioning units. Thailand imported $21.14 billion worth of US goods including crude oil, machinery, aircraft and components, chemicals, and electrical machinery.

Natty (Anatchaya Suphuthiphong), member of Kiss of Life, appeared on the Woody Talk program to discuss her decade-long journey to stardom. Moving to South Korea at age 10, she spent 10 years as a trainee before debuting with Kiss of Life just three years ago, finally able to express her true self on stage. While performances may look glamorous to audiences, the behind-the-scenes reality proved far more challenging than she initially imagined.

Recalling her early days, Natty said she was drawn to dancing and singing from age 6-7, but didn't fully comprehend what the intense trainee system entailed when she joined what she thought was a casual workshop. What started as a fun experience stretched into a grueling decade. She explained the harsh realities: among 50 trainees eating, singing, and dancing together, most never made their debut. Some lacked sufficient talent, while others simply fell out of favor. Yet Natty refused to quit, knowing she'd come too far to turn back.

She admitted to wavering moments—changing companies three to four times and failing auditions led her to question whether this was truly her path. But she persevered, driven by the determination that someday everyone would see who she really was. Even when her parents offered her an escape route after 10 years with no debut in sight, she replied, "I don't want to go home anymore," having invested too much to stop.

Natty credits B.E., a Thai artist, as her original inspiration to become a performer. She developed a personal mantra to keep herself going: "There will be my day." Before Kiss of Life, she never had the opportunity to fully showcase her talents, personality, and performance abilities to audiences. But when Kiss of Life came along, she recognized it as her final chance, and embraced it fully.

Today, Natty feels the lightest she has in her 10-year journey. She does everything she wants on stage and genuinely enjoys her body and performances. She noted with a smile that she rarely gets interviews in Thai anymore, having spent most of her time in Korea.

KHON KAEN — 25 April 2026, Police are hunting suspects who broke into a prominent temple in northeastern Thailand, stole donation boxes and carried off a safe weighing more than 200kg before smashing it open and fleeing with cash.

CCTV footage circulating on social media shows a slim man wearing a cap and face mask moving around Wat That Phra Aram Luang in Mueang district, searching for valuables and prying open donation boxes placed around the temple grounds.

Temple caretaker Thongdee Thonglon, 76, said the intruders likely climbed into the compound from outside before breaking into donation boxes near the pagoda and inside the ordination hall. A safe containing donations was taken from inside the hall and later found broken open in a nearby alley.

He estimated the thieves made off with around 40,000 to 50,000 baht in donated money. Some boxes were successfully forced open, while others showed signs of attempted break-ins.

Thongdee said the temple had switched off electricity at the time of the incident, leaving some internal cameras unable to record the theft. He added that petty theft had occurred before, but this was the first time a safe had been stolen.

Police said evidence from CCTV footage suggests two groups of suspects may be involved, one acting alone and another consisting of two individuals. One suspect has been detained and reportedly admitted to stealing less than 100 baht, while investigators are working to identify whether the second group was responsible for taking the safe.

Authorities are reviewing additional surveillance footage in nearby areas as they continue efforts to locate and arrest those responsible.