PTT Public Company Limited has notified the stock exchange of eight management measures to minimize impacts from the Hormuz Strait closure and Middle East tensions that began February 28, 2025, and continue to disrupt global crude oil and refined product supply chains. As Thailand's primary energy operator, PTT prioritizes ensuring the country maintains adequate and equitable energy access while maintaining transparency and refusing to hoard supplies.

1. Business Continuity Management (BCM): PTT established an Incident Command System and has conducted emergency management meetings daily, totaling over 37 sessions, to coordinate with government and relevant agencies both domestically and internationally, ensuring efficient energy supply throughout the supply chain.

2. Crude Oil Supply System: PTT diversifies crude oil sourcing from multiple global sources, reducing Middle East dependence by importing from the United States, West Africa, Latin America, and Malaysia through the P1 project and PTT Trading networks. During March-May 2025, PTT secured over 70 shipments, sourcing approximately 30% from the Middle East and 70% from other regions. This required extending procurement lead times from 45-60 days to 90 days.

3. Refinery Efficiency: PTT's three refineries received over 110 billion baht in investments from 2021-2025 to enhance flexibility and energy security. During the crisis, refineries operated at over 105% capacity, enabling immediate crude source switching without impacting production volume or national energy security.

The statement addresses concerns about potential oversupply once the Strait reopens and emphasizes PTT's commitment to transparent operations aligned with government policy.

On April 28, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives revealed that following Cabinet approval, two senior civil servants have been reassigned in a routine rotation. Withaya Kaewmee, inspector-general at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, will become director-general of the Royal Rainfall and Agricultural Aviation Department, while incumbent director Rachan Silparajaya will move into the inspector-general position at the office of the permanent secretary. The Cabinet also approved extending the tenure of Raphibat Chantharisrivoung, director-general of the Agricultural Extension Department, for an additional year through February 22, 2570, with approval from Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Wongsuwan. The reshuffle took effect on April 28, 2569. Sources close to Rachan indicate he was surprised by the transfer and questioned its rationale, noting he has less than six months of service remaining before his scheduled retirement on September 30, 2569.

WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria (AP) — A man accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group and plotting to attack one of superstar singer Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna nearly two years ago pleaded guilty as his trial began on Tuesday, Austria media reported.

The plot was thwarted, but Austrian authorities still canceled Swift's three performances in August 2024. The singer's fans, known as Swifties, who had flown to Austria from across the globe to attend a performance of her record-setting Eras Tour were devastated, but rallied to turn Vienna into a citywide trading post for friendship bracelets and singalongs.

The defendant, a 21-year-old Austrian citizen known only as Beran A. in line with Austrian privacy rules, faced charges including terrorist offenses and membership in a terrorist organization. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, and has been in custody since August 2024.

The Vienna plot drew comparisons to a 2017 attack by a suicide bomber at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, that killed 22 people. The bomb detonated at the end of Grande's concert as thousands of young fans were leaving, becoming the deadliest extremist attack in the United Kingdom in recent years.

Defendant regrets his actions

Anna Mair, his defense attorney, said her client pleaded guilty to the charges related to the concert plot.

"Of course, he deeply regrets it all," Mair said outside the court. "It is also due to the long period of detention that he says it was the biggest mistake of his life."

He is facing trial alongside Arda K., whose full name also has not been made public. They, along with a third man, planned to carry out simultaneous attacks in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates during Ramadan in 2024 in the name of the Islamic State group. Beran A. and Arda K. never carried out their attacks.

Only Beran A. was charged in connection with the Taylor Swift plot. He pleaded not guilty to the charges related to the plot for simultaneous attacks.

Defendant Beran A. is hiding his face when he is escorted into the courtroom in the District Court in Wiener Neustadt, Austria, where he stands trial for plotting to carry out an attack on one of superstar singer Taylor Swift's concerts in Vienna in August 2024 and pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

He allegedly planned to target onlookers gathered outside Ernst Happel Stadium — up to 30,000 each night, with another 65,000 inside the venue — with knives or homemade explosives. The suspect hoped to "kill as many people as possible," authorities said in 2024. The U.S. provided intelligence that fed into the decision to cancel the concerts.

Beran A. also allegedly networked with other members of the Islamic State group ahead of the planned attack. Prosecutors say they discussed purchasing weapons and making bombs, and that the defendant also sought to illegally buy weapons in the days ahead of the performance.

On April 28, 2025, Rayong MP Passin Pituttecha and the Democrat Party's deputy spokesman addressed the case of Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachee Suthermphand collaborating with a famous influencer to create content selling durians at 100 baht per fruit, which has drawn extensive criticism from durian farmers nationwide.

The deputy spokesman stated he initially welcomed national-level leadership visiting affected areas to listen to concerns about falling fruit prices, noting he had submitted a motion to establish a special parliamentary committee to address the fruit price crisis.

"What concerns me more is how the pricing communication creates psychological damage to market mechanisms and misleads consumers about market pricing. Eastern region durians are premium-grade products with high production costs and actual market prices around 100-200 baht per kilogram. Presenting unrealistically low prices through online media misleads buyers and harms farmers long-term," the spokesman said.

He emphasized that durian farmers care for their orchards like children, working hard each year, and that when they hear the 100-baht-per-fruit campaign, they're troubled because fertilizer, pesticide, and labor costs alone barely break even.

Regarding Supachee's denial that the sales were the influencer's initiative, Passin stated she cannot deny responsibility since she directly participated in the 100-baht-per-fruit sales livestream.

Passin called on ministers and the government to communicate with genuine understanding of workers' concerns and recommended the Commerce Ministry focus on three structural solutions: (1) strict quality control through GAP and GMP standards to maintain Thai durian global market standards, (2) resource management including water management and land title documentation, and (3) cost reduction through controlling fertilizer and production factor prices.

"While promoting sales imagery is good, it must be based on the reality of premium agricultural products to encourage durian farmers to continue producing quality fruit," Passin concluded.

The Democrat Party has failed to secure a Bangkok Governor candidate, with party deputy leader Sathit Wongnongtoi confirming ongoing discussions remain inconclusive. He noted that the current Bangkok Governor has strong electoral support, while the Democrat Party holds only 21 parliamentary seats with zero representatives from Bangkok, making the race extremely challenging for any potential candidate who would need to resign from their current position.

Sathit emphasized that party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has been in talks with multiple candidates, and the party will make a clear announcement once a decision is finalized—either confirming a candidate or announcing their withdrawal from the race. He denied that reported candidates M.L. Kraksirawat Kasemseree or Apichai Techapurple had been approached.

When asked if they would turn to internal party members as a fallback, Sathit rejected the idea, stating the party seeks fresh perspectives to modernize Bangkok. He confirmed the party will definitely field candidates for the Bangkok City Council's 50 districts, with a Bangkok Governor candidate announcement to follow if one is secured, or a frank admission of failure if not.

On April 29, 2026, Deputy Police General Trairong Phiwphran, acting as spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, announced that the National Police Office is awarding the "Commendable Spokesman" recognition to Deputy Inspector Supimit Puangprasert, a traffic supervisor at Phrom Buri Station in Sing Buri Province. He has been recognized for his diligent enforcement of speeding regulations and accident prevention efforts, demonstrating exceptional patience and resilience despite online harassment and pressure from a social media page administrator. The incident occurred in March 2025.

Deputy Police General Trairong stated that Deputy Inspector Supimit exemplified police ideals, particularly the principle of "enduring hardship and remaining steadfast in the face of difficulties." While performing his duties in intense heat, someone with ill intent livestreamed harassment and pressure directed at him for an extended period. However, Deputy Inspector Supimit responded with patience and restraint, continuing to perform his duties correctly and professionally without any appearance of retaliation. The extreme stress from this harassment triggered a stroke, causing him to collapse. He remains hospitalized and is experiencing weakness on his right side.

Based on Deputy Inspector Supimit's commitment, patience, and unwavering dedication to duty, the National Police Office has decided to award him the "Commendable Spokesman" recognition. This case represents a real incident that gained attention on social media, demonstrating how police officers face various forms of pressure while maintaining professional and ethical conduct, thereby creating a positive image for the National Police Office and exemplifying the ideals of dedication and integrity.

Regarding legal proceedings against those responsible, investigators from Phrom Buri Station are pursuing multiple charges, including aggravated assault against a civil servant performing official duties and obstruction of a civil servant in the performance of duty by three or more persons. The cases are currently under prosecutor review, with assurances that the investigation follows evidence and maintains fairness for all parties.

General Kittipat Punchpetch, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, has expressed encouragement for Deputy Inspector Supimit's continued service and instructed that his medical care and welfare be given the highest priority.