Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas insisted the 400-billion-baht emergency borrowing decree must go ahead, saying the government must act swiftly to address a deepening cost-of-living crisis despite parliamentary delays caused by legal challenges.

Flag carrier Thai Airways International (THAI) plans to add European flights, yet still maintain proactive fuel cost and route network management amid short-term concerns about spillover impacts from the war in the Middle East and geopolitical tensions.

Thailand will officially enter the rainy season on Friday, May 15, but with less rain than usual in the forecast, the Meteorological Department announced on Thursday.

The government’s interest payment burden relative to government revenue, even after borrowing 400 billion baht, is unlikely to exceed the level acceptable to credit rating agencies, according to the Finance Ministry.

The government has declared war on the encroachment of public land and the use of Thai nominees to front foreign-owned businesses, starting with Koh Phangan in Surat Thani and at Freedom Beach in Phuket.

Thailand’s border trade with third countries increased by 41.4% year-on-year in March, surpassing 100 billion baht, driven by a substantial rise in electronic product imports, according to the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT).