The Finance Ministry will present a royal decree for borrowing 400 billion baht to the cabinet on Tuesday, May 5, as a fiscal tool to absorb the impacts of the Middle East crisis, along with the 'Thai Help Thai' program. After economic agencies reviewed all available funding sources—including the 2025 budget management, central fund allocations, and emergency reserves—they determined that existing budgets were insufficient to handle the situation, prompting the decision to issue the borrowing decree. This domestic borrowing will be drawdown-based, used only as needed, mirroring the 1.5 quadrillion baht emergency borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding fiscal discipline concerns, the Finance Ministry confirms that the 400 billion baht borrowing will not require raising the public debt ceiling, currently set at 70% of GDP. Thailand's public debt in March 2025 stands at 66.38% of GDP based on an estimated 19.10 quadrillion baht. Following cabinet approval of the decree, the government will establish a 'Project Screening Committee' chaired by the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary to evaluate and filter project proposals from state agencies for maximum value. Relevant agencies must expedite preparing detailed plans and justifications for the decree to present to parliament for legislative approval.

CCTV footage has revealed the dramatic moment when the embankment in front of Wat Sai Chol temple in Rangsit collapsed and slid into the Bang Pakong River on May 3rd at 3:10 PM, dragging multiple residential structures and a motorcycle repair shop down with it. District officials, led by Prattaweep Wijob, the deputy district chief of Muang Chachoengsao, along with Sutheep Sathit, head of Ban Mai Subdistrict Administration Organization, and community leaders visited the site on the morning of May 4th to assess damage and distribute relief supplies.

Official Prattaweep announced that local agencies would urgently survey neighboring areas, as river erosion from the Bang Pakong River is occurring at multiple points. He stated plans to escalate the issue to provincial level to develop long-term solutions in coordination with the Department of Irrigation and relevant agencies. Local authorities are also seeking assistance with repairs and reconstruction for affected residents.

Subtheep reported that concrete cutting equipment would be deployed the same day to remove cracked concrete panels, as cracks had expanded more than one hand-span since the initial collapse, to prevent further structural failures before water levels rise.

Aswin, 30, the owner of the damaged motorcycle repair shop, expressed his devastation. He was delivering river shrimp when his wife called to inform him of the disaster. The shop and house, built over 20 years of accumulated savings, now lay in ruins. He has temporarily stored valuables with relatives and is sleeping in a tent at the site to guard remaining possessions, unable to sleep due to the sound of concrete cracking throughout the night.

Local shopkeeper witnesses described hearing a thunderous sound before watching the embankment collapse into the river before their eyes. They noted fortunate timing—the incident occurred during low water season, as high water would have had residents wading beneath the embankment harvesting shrimp for shrimp paste production, potentially resulting in fatalities.

Authorities remain on high alert for additional collapses in the area and have cordoned off the zone with warning barriers.

On May 4, 2025, Senate President Mongkol Surasatchaya scheduled a Senate meeting for May 5 to establish a committee to investigate the background, conduct, and ethical behavior of the nominee for Constitutional Court judge, replacing the position vacated by Chief Judge Nakarin Mektrirat. The selection committee, chaired by Supreme Court President Adisak Tuntiwongse, has proposed Chakrapong Vivat-vanich, a lecturer in police science at the Police Cadet Academy. A senator had submitted a petition requesting postponement of the selection process pending clarification of the committee's composition, citing constitutional concerns and potential conflicts of interest. The selection committee determined that the constitutional and legal provisions clearly allow the committee to proceed with the existing members and cannot delay the selection process. However, the committee received a petition challenging Chakrapong's qualifications under Article 200(4) of the constitution, which requires candidates to hold expertise in political science or public administration and have served as a full professor at a Thai university for at least five years. The petition claims Chakrapong teaches law at the Police Cadet Academy and lacks documented academic work supporting a full professorship appointment. The selection committee agreed to review and assess Chakrapong's qualifications based on these allegations, and the nominee was given an opportunity to respond.

The entertainment industry is abuzz as legendary actress Natrika Thammapreedanan has decided to pass on knowledge accumulated over 30 years by launching comprehensive professional acting classes to cultivate quality talent for the entertainment sector.

With her extensive credits and mastery of every role—from emotional heroines to terrifying villains—Natrika has refined 30 years of experience into a systematic teaching curriculum, focusing on natural character interpretation and disciplined professionalism. "Acting isn't just memorizing lines; it's understanding humanity. This is the core principle I emphasize to all my students—don't be afraid to stand out," she explains.

Beyond acting techniques, Natrika prioritizes professional ethics by incorporating real set experience from her 30-year career, instilling punctuality, respect for colleagues, and responsibility—qualities she believes are crucial for sustained success in the industry. Her goal isn't merely to teach excellent acting, but to deliver quality talent to producers and directors who are immediately work-ready with sound body, mind, and attitude.

Since its recent launch, her acting class has attracted overwhelming interest from aspiring newcomers and those seeking personal development. The program has already enrolled three cohorts of students, who receive intensive instruction in voice, eye contact, and emotional expression with personalized attention and feedback designed to unlock each student's unique potential. Her transition to teaching represents not only a sharing of her signature techniques but also proof that Natrika Thammapreedanan is an instructor ready to elevate Thai acting standards to new heights. Those interested in following her success and learning from the master can follow updates on her Instagram: natrika_official.

A 33-year-old man has been arrested for the murder of his 25-year-old girlfriend, Panijsuda (Dream), a model and online shop owner who died in her condominium bedroom in Bang Bua Thong district, Nonthaburi province. He was captured while fleeing in Chiang Mai. Early on May 4, 2569, Lieutenant Colonel Siroddom Sripanya and investigative officers brought the suspect to Bang Bua Thong Station for a drug test before placing him in custody for further questioning.

When questioned, the suspect stated he wanted to apologize to Dream and her family. He insisted the incident was unintentional and emphasized that he still loves her deeply. When asked about the argument that preceded the incident, he couldn't explain what caused it. He denied that Dream had another partner and said he had no other girlfriend either.

Dream's parents, Lek (52 years old) and Nithima (59 years old), visited the suspect with another relative. Nithima, the suspect's mother, said the families have been in contact and she has already apologized to Dream's family. She expressed that she loved Dream like her own child since he had been living with them.

Police are preparing to conduct a detailed re-interrogation of the suspect to determine the exact circumstances that led him to kill Dream, with the aim of finalizing the charges.

The Royal Thai Navy has seized a major haul of 4 million methamphetamine pills abandoned on the Mekong River banks in Chiang Rai, confirming intensive intelligence coordination in targeting international drug trafficking networks. On May 4, 2569, Navy Spokesman Parat Rattanaichaiyphand reported that on the evening of May 3 at approximately 22:30, river patrol units in the Chiang Rai Mekong section, operating from Chiang Saen Station, discovered suspicious objects that smugglers had abandoned along the Mekong riverbank near Koh Pha Kham in Ban Saew sub-district, Chiang Saen district, Chiang Rai province. Upon inspection, officials found 14 sacks containing approximately 4 million methamphetamine tablets, with no one claiming ownership. All materials were seized and handed over to local investigators for further legal action.

This operation resulted from systematic intelligence integration in the area, with units coordinating and exchanging information with security agencies to monitor cross-border drug trafficking movements. Additionally, proactive operational units were deployed to respond quickly and accurately to developing situations. The Royal Thai Navy reaffirmed its commitment to continuous border interdiction and drug suppression, emphasizing integrated intelligence and joint operations to protect society and national security from all threats.