The Finance Ministry plans to gradually raise the value-added tax (VAT) rate by an additional 1.5 percentage points to 8.5% by 2028, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said on Thursday.

Torrential rain has caused flooding in southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Surat Thani and will continue in the South until Sunday, forecasters say.

Analysts increasingly expect the Bank of Thailand to cut the policy interest rate at its meeting next month after GDP growth fell to the weakest pace in four years in the third quarter amid weakening domestic demand, slower public investment and a tourism slump.

The Thai oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc is considering offloading its stake in an electric vehicle (EV) joint venture as it seeks to improve cash flow and brace for a sluggish Thai and global economy next year.

The Ministry of Transport will seek cabinet approval next week for a 40-baht flat-rate daily pass for the Purple and Red electric train lines.

The Michelin-starred Bangkok restaurant Raan Jay Fai has defended its policies in the face of another social-media flap, this time alleging discrimination against Thais.