The Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation (Thai CGC), represented by Sithikorn Direksunonth, chairman and managing director, announced a collaboration with the GSB's "Business Revival Thailand" soft loan program (100 billion baht fund) and public and private financial institutions to offer low-interest credit guarantees. Under the "Thai CGC Quick Big Win" program with 50 billion baht in guarantees, borrowers receive seven-year coverage with free guarantee fees for the first three years, followed by just 1% annual fees in years four through seven based on remaining loan balances. Participating banks offer interest rates not exceeding 3.5% annually, helping SMEs reduce costs and improve cash flow.

Currently, various financial institutions participating in the Thai CGC Quick Big Win guarantee program offer diverse loan products tailored to different SME segments—from micro-businesses and street vendors to standard SMEs seeking loans between 100,000 baht and 40 million baht. These include programs such as Bank of Thailand's "SMEs Recharge," Krung Thai Bank's "sSME Smart Shop," Thai Commercial Bank's "New Business Loans," Islamic Bank of Thailand's "Green Table Loans," and Export-Import Bank's "Business Revival SMEs Thailand Soft Loans."

The low-interest credit guarantee program aims to make borrowing more accessible for SME groups through Thai CGC's guarantee mechanisms at reduced financial costs, supported by government backing through Bank of Thailand. This assistance helps SMEs cope with volatile economic conditions and energy crises stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts, which have driven up raw material and transportation costs. "This low-interest guarantee program will enable SMEs seeking investment and expansion capital to access credit more easily at lower costs, while simultaneously supporting struggling businesses in recovery by providing the stability needed to survive and move forward," Sithikorn stated.

An Australian court sentenced a 45-year-old woman to 4 years and 3 months in prison on April 29, 2026, after she falsely claimed her 6-year-old son was undergoing cancer treatment. The mother shaved the boy's head and eyebrows, applied bandages and wraps, administered unprescribed medications, forced him to use a wheelchair, severely restricted his daily activities, and posted images on social media to solicit donations. The defense argued the woman developed a gambling addiction following the COVID-19 crisis and had personality disorder issues, but the court found these explanations insufficient to justify the calculated nature of her actions. The judge determined the child suffered both physical and psychological trauma, developing anxiety and fear about a non-existent disease while being isolated from peers and normal childhood activities—constituting clear child abuse. Investigators identified over 50 donation transactions totaling thousands of dollars. The woman's husband, initially detained but later cleared of charges, stated the incident destroyed his family's life. The defendant must serve her sentence and is eligible to apply for parole in April 2027.

Thailand has received no direct assistance from the United States to cope with the economic fallout from the ongoing Iran war, Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said in an interview published by The Washington Post.

Speaking to the newspaper in Krabi, Sihasak said the conflict involving the United States and Israel against Iran has caused significant economic strain across Asia, particularly in energy and fertiliser supplies. "This war should not have taken place," he said, adding that Washington has not approached Thailand with any concrete support measures.

According to the report, Sihasak noted that US officials appeared aware of the consequences but had not offered direct assistance, aside from suggesting countries purchase American oil and gas.

With limited support from its treaty ally, Thailand has begun seeking alternatives, including outreach to Russia and China, the report said.

The foreign minister reiterated that Bangkok does not wish to directly criticise Washington, but maintained the conflict should have been avoided. He made the remarks while hosting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Krabi.

The war, now stretching beyond two months, has disrupted global supply chains, with Asia particularly exposed due to its dependence on Middle Eastern energy and fertilisers. Prices for key inputs such as urea have surged, while diesel costs in Thailand have reached record highs, the report noted.

Thailand has sought to secure fertiliser supplies ahead of the May planting season, including negotiations with Russia. However, concerns over potential US sanctions have complicated efforts to import Russian crude, Sihasak said.

He also told the newspaper that Thailand had requested China's assistance to help ensure safe passage for Thai vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route affected by the conflict. China itself faces similar challenges, with dozens of its ships stranded in the area, according to the report.

On April 29, 2025, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and slate list MP, discussed the selection process for the Bangkok governor candidate and Bangkok City Council members. He reported that nearly all Bangkok City Council candidates have been approved, with only about 5-6 districts still pending approval, which should be finalized within the next week. He indicated this timeline would align closely with the unveiling of the Bangkok governor candidate.

Regarding who the Bangkok governor candidate will be, Abhisit said it's time the announcement will be made, as the party is working to prepare everything simultaneously. "It's not just about the candidate," Abhisit stated, "but also about the policy concepts and direction we will pursue."

The Thai National Police and Meta have strengthened their cooperation to combat online crime and are preparing to implement aggressive measures to block fraudulent pages of all kinds. On April 29, Deputy National Police Commissioner Trirot Phiwpan announced that a progress meeting was held between the National Police Office and Meta regarding the blocking of online gambling pages on Facebook. The meeting included Chakra Thanadaksorn, director of the Technology Crime Prevention unit, along with Ben Leechaianan, Head of Public Policy for Thailand at Facebook Thailand, and Meta Platforms representatives Avinash Raju and Fatima Laraib.

Meta has cooperated effectively in blocking Facebook pages suspected of illegal activity. Between October 1, 2025 and April 27, 2026, Meta removed a total of 158,365 pages related to online gambling, representing a high compliance rate in the region as part of efforts to combat online crime.

Deputy Commissioner Trirot revealed that the next phase of cooperation between the Thai National Police and Meta Platforms will escalate enforcement against pages, content, or material that violates various laws on the Facebook platform. The approach will involve proactive searches for rapid blocking and will expand beyond online gambling content to target scam operations of all types, including investment fraud and fake job schemes. Tools and databases will be used to identify suspicious pages and block them immediately to minimize victim numbers.

The National Police Office is also collaborating with Facebook Thailand and Meta Platforms to develop a "Digital Citizenship 101" curriculum in partnership with multiple agencies to build technological resilience and strengthen cybersecurity awareness. The program targets teachers and Thai youth across 437 pilot schools to ensure they understand online threats and can use social media responsibly. The curriculum will be available for teachers and the public starting in late June.

On April 29 at 9:30 AM, Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, conducted an inspection of gold ornament standards and collected random gold samples in the Yaowarat area to build public confidence amid volatile gold prices.

She personally led the inspection at Chin Hua Heng Gold Shop and collected ornamental gold samples before deploying work teams and relevant agencies to inspect other gold shops in the area. Participating shops included Thong Yai Yaowarat (1988), Hua Seng Heng, Lang Hong, Sow Seng Heng, Yu Long Kim Kee, and Buan Hua Luang (2490) gold shops.

The inspection team included Ranrong Poolpipat, Secretary-General of the OCPB, Chitti Tangsittipakdi, Chairman of the Gold Traders Association, and Sumet Prasangphongchai, Director of the National Gemstone and Jewelry Research and Development Institute (Public Organization). The inspections aimed to assure consumers that gold sold meets quality standards and proper labeling requirements.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Gold Traders Association, the National Gemstone and Jewelry Research and Development Institute, and the OCPB, targeting improvements in Thai gold ornament standards regarding weight, purity, product labeling, and quality assurance processes. Random samples will be thoroughly tested to guarantee compliance with established standards.

Supamas noted that tensions in the Middle East have caused volatile gold prices and increased investment in gold. The OCPB partnered with the Gold Traders Association and the National Gemstone and Jewelry Research and Development Institute to randomly inspect gold ornaments in shops to protect the industry and reassure consumers they would receive gold meeting standards for purity, weight, and fair pricing without exploitation.

Meanwhile, the OCPB will actively educate the public on gold investment to prevent consumer fraud in both retail and online purchases. Anyone experiencing scams or unfair treatment in gold transactions can report to the OCPB immediately, which will ensure justice for consumers at all stages.

In consumer protection efforts, the OCPB has proactively addressed multiple issues including flight cancellations, fraudulent tours, misrepresented online products, and electric vehicle sales requiring proper labeling, with ongoing field monitoring. Consumers can file complaints through the OCPB hotline 1166 or the OCPB Connect application.