President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies, a White House official said on Wednesday, as the U.S. renewed its calls for other nations to help open the Strait of Hormuz. Tuesday's talks with oil executives followed a deadlock in efforts to resolve the conflict, which has led the United States to try to squeeze Iran's oil exports with a naval blockade aimed at forcing it to reopen the Strait to shipping. Trump stated that Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons despite repeatedly claiming its program is for peaceful purposes. 'They don't know how to sign a non-nuclear deal. They'd better get smart soon!' Trump said in a social media post. He also posted a mock-up image of himself wearing dark glasses and wielding a machine gun, captioned 'No more Mr. Nice Guy.' Oil prices rose more than 6 percent, with Brent crude touching its highest level in a month due to the prolonged blockade outlook. U.S. Department of Defense officials stated the conflict has already cost the U.S. military $25 billion, the first official cost estimate following U.S. coordination with Israel in launching strikes against Iran in February 2025. Meanwhile, Iran vowed to continue blocking passage through the Strait of Hormuz as long as it remains threatened, warning of 'unprecedented military operations.' Iran is seeking U.S. recognition of its right to uranium enrichment for civilian and peaceful purposes. Iran currently holds approximately 440 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium, enough to produce significant quantities of nuclear weapons. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament and head of its negotiating team, said Trump is attempting to divide Iranians and force capitulation through the blockade. 'The only way to counter the enemy's new conspiracy is to maintain unity,' Qalibaf said. Iran's latest proposal to end the conflict, which has been suspended since April 8 under a ceasefire agreement, would defer nuclear program discussions until the conflict is formally resolved and shipping issues are addressed.

On April 30, 2025, Deputy Commander Chuthesan Yingyongdam of Region 6 Immigration Police revealed that immigration officials coordinated with Interpol and the Israeli Embassy's police and security attaché office to arrest and extradite Matan Avif, 28, an Israeli national wanted for serious security and criminal violations. Avif is a high-ranking member of the 'Avengers' criminal organization established in Israel and had fled to Thailand to evade prosecution under an Interpol red notice and Israeli arrest warrant.

The Israeli Embassy identified Avif as a dangerous person involved in violent crimes with an extensive criminal history including theft, fraud, illegal weapons possession, drug trafficking, murder, bomb transport and creation, threats, possession of prohibited equipment, and drug-related offenses involving minors.

Investigators from Suratthani Provincial Police traced Avif's movements and discovered he was hiding with four others at a luxury villa in Koh Samui. They recommended his deportation, which was approved by the Immigration Bureau. Officers successfully apprehended Avif on April 29 at 4:00 PM, issued a deportation order, and placed him in custody pending extradition to Israel while adding him to the blacklist prohibiting future entry.

Deputy Commander Chuthesan stated this operation aligns with the Royal Thai Police's transnational crime suppression policy under Police Commander Kittirat Punthaiphet and Deputy Commander Panumat Bunnyalak, targeting foreign nationals with antisocial behavior and international criminal gangs using Thailand as a base. Police urge the public to report suspicious foreign nationals by calling the hotline 1178 available 24 hours daily.

The Commerce Ministry has launched the Back to School 2026 program—"Start the Term with an Easy Budget"—in partnership with 49 private sector companies under the government's "Thai Helping Thai" policy to reduce the financial burden on parents during the school season. The initiative emphasizes affordable educational products through both offline and online channels nationwide.

The program includes over 1,000 products across multiple categories: apparel (school uniforms, shoes, socks), school supplies (stationery, office equipment, desks and chairs), and specialty items (eyeglasses and sports equipment), with discounts reaching up to 86%. This is projected to save Thai families approximately 300 million baht.

The 32-day campaign runs from April 30 to May 31, 2026, covering the period before and after the school term begins. Products will be sold through major retailers, department stores, and convenience stores participating in the program. Parents and the public can also purchase items through the E-Catalog online system by scanning QR codes to check product lists and place orders immediately.

The Commerce Ministry is also partnering with the Education Ministry to sell products directly in approximately 1,000 schools nationwide, prioritizing remote areas and schools where students lack access to these supplies. Distribution has already begun.

Krung Thai Bank has joined forces with PTTEP to launch digital USD bonds for everyday investors, with a minimum investment of just 1,000 US dollars and no upper limit. Ravintr Bunyanusat, head of the money and capital markets business at Krung Thai Bank, stated that on the occasion of the bank's 60th anniversary, it is committed to developing internationally-standard investment products and services that meet investors' needs across all dimensions. The bank is advancing investment capabilities through digital platforms by developing the USD Bond Wallet to broaden investment options for Thai people in US dollar-denominated assets, which currently attract significant investor interest. Thai investors can now conveniently access highly-credible digital USD bonds from Thai companies, with a secondary market supported by Krung Thai Bank operating 24/7 to enhance liquidity and investment management flexibility.

The digital USD bonds are being offered through the bond trading wallet on the Pao Tang app for the first time in Asia, giving Thai investors equal access to US dollar-denominated assets from companies with strong fundamentals and growth potential. This allows portfolio diversification and enhanced return opportunities with a minimum investment of 1,000 US dollars and no maximum limit. PTTEP's digital USD bonds have received a AAA credit rating with stable outlook from Tris Rating as of March 16, 2025—the highest rating available.

The bonds are unsubordinated, unsecured digital USD instruments with a 5-year maturity, a fixed interest rate of 4.50% per annum, and semi-annual interest payments. The offering is scheduled for May 18-21, 2025, exclusively through the bond trading wallet on Krung Thai Bank's Pao Tang app.

Prospective investors can prepare by: 1) Installing and registering the Pao Tang app; 2) Opening a bond trading wallet and completing a risk assessment; 3) Opening a foreign currency savings account with Krung Thai Bank or a Global Savings account on the Krungthai NEXT app and linking it to the bond trading wallet for interest and principal payments; 4) Exchanging USD into the Global Savings account to prepare for purchase.

Investors can exchange USD into their Global Savings account anytime across 24 hours and earn 2.25% annual interest while waiting to invest. Once invested in digital USD bonds, interest automatically transfers to the Global Savings account to sustain long-term investment growth. The company is currently submitting disclosure documents and a prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Investors can find more details at www.sec.or.th and www.krungthai.com or contact Krung Thai Bank at 02-111-1111.

On April 30, 2025, at the Sri Yanannot Conference Room, Building 1, Floor 2 of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anuthın Charnweerakul chaired the Police Commission's fourth meeting of 2025, attended by Police Chief General Kittithad Panchapet, deputy commissioners, and commission members.

The meeting's key agenda items under Item 4 included three proposals:

Item 1: Revision of assessment criteria and procedures for appointing investigation-track police officers holding concurrent positions, allowing them to advance to higher ranks under the National Police Act B.E. 2565.

Item 2: Out-of-cycle police appointments for special cases outside the regular annual promotion cycle to meet operational needs and organizational requirements.

Item 3: Selection and promotion of junior-ranked officers to commissioned officer rank in special circumstances as determined by the Police Commission.

The commission formally acknowledged Suchin Chaichumpak, the outgoing Police Commission member appointed in 2567, attending his final meeting before taking office as the new Ombudsman. Following his departure, the commission will formally invite Witthawun Sunthokhachit, former Director-General of the Department of Corrections, to assume the Police Commission member position vacated by Suchin, with his participation commencing at the next meeting.

Thailand's Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchathi Chomklin, accompanied by Permanent Secretary Dr. Ravivarn Bhurideach, visited the Lao People's Democratic Republic on April 30 to hold bilateral talks with Lao Agriculture and Environment Minister Dr. Linkham Douangxay. The discussions focused on transboundary haze management and sustainable natural resource management cooperation.

The meeting strengthened ties and elevated cooperation under the 'Clear Sky Strategy,' a tripartite framework involving Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Both parties emphasized implementing a joint action plan to prevent and address transboundary haze problems from 2024 to 2030, targeting four concrete outcomes: developing Laos's air quality reporting platform and establishing a national air quality data center; establishing a WhatsApp hotline at the director-general level to report wildfire, smoke, and PM2.5 conditions with rapid coordination during burning season; developing a joint risk map and strengthening the tripartite network for wildfire prevention and control; and promoting GAP Zero Burning practices and implementing traceability systems for agricultural products, particularly animal feed corn, to ensure no connection to agricultural burning.

The meeting tasked the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants with supporting Laos in establishing a 'Wildfire Training Institute,' building on previous experience training 27 officials from Bokeo and Xayaburi provinces in 2023 at a training center in Chiang Mai. Following the discussions, the department's director-general visited an air quality monitoring station at a park along the Mekong River in Vientiane and presented 20 fire-protective suits to Laotian forest firefighting personnel to enhance their safety and preparedness.