The Finance Ministry has opened four channels to check whether applicants qualified for the 2025 State Welfare Card program, with results to be announced on July 17, 2025. The program began accepting registrations from June 4–21, 2025. Winit Wisetsuvarnabhumi, director of the Office of Fiscal Economics and Finance Ministry spokesman, reported on the eighth meeting of the Public Welfare Committee for Grassroots Economics and Society, which reviewed registration and qualification results. The committee approved adding a new target group of 5,383,393 vulnerable individuals identified by the Interior Ministry during the registration period to proceed through the next phase of qualification screening.

Two key criteria have been revised for the 2025 program. First, the deduction allowance for parental support has been eliminated—income earners can no longer use their parents as a deduction if those parents are to be screened for welfare eligibility. Second, the credit limit criterion has been adjusted to 100,000 baht excluding agricultural loans, following guidance from the Bank of Thailand presented to Cabinet on June 2, 2025. Agricultural credit is excluded because it differs from regular loans, being tied to seasonal planting cycles and sometimes serving as disaster relief, and therefore may not accurately reflect a person's creditworthiness or financial status.

Qualified applicants can check their results through four channels: the "Pao Tang" mobile app, the "Thang Rat" mobile app, the official program website at https://welfare.mof.go.th, or in person at any of five participating banks—the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Government Savings Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Government Housing Bank, and the Islamic Bank of Thailand. Existing cardholders can begin using benefits starting August 1, 2025, while new cardholders can begin on October 1, 2025, to align with other government assistance programs.

The Meteorological Department issued a weather forecast for the next 24 hours on July 16, 2025. The northern, northeastern, and eastern regions will experience heavy rain in some areas, while the southern region will see decreased rainfall due to a moderate southwest monsoon covering the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand. A low-pressure system is over northern Vietnam. Residents in northern Thailand should be alert to dangers from heavy and accumulated rainfall, which may cause flash floods and flash flooding, especially in hillside areas near water channels and low-lying areas. Winds and waves in the upper Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand will be moderate, with waves around 2 meters high, while lower areas will have 1-2 meter waves, with thunderstorm zones exceeding 2 meters. Mariners should navigate with caution and avoid thunderstorm areas.

Detailed forecast by region from 06:00 today to 06:00 tomorrow:

Northern Region: 40 percent thunderstorms with heavy rain in some areas, particularly Maehongson, Tak, Phitsanulok, and Phetchabun provinces. Low temperatures 23-25°C, highs 32-35°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Northeastern Region: 40 percent thunderstorms with heavy rain in some areas, particularly Buengkan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani. Lows 23-26°C, highs 33-35°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Central Region: 40 percent thunderstorms, mostly in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Suphan Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon. Lows 24-26°C, highs 34-36°C. Southwest winds 10-20 km/h.

Eastern Region: 60 percent thunderstorms with heavy rain in some areas, particularly Nakhon Nayok, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Lows 23-28°C, highs 31-34°C. Southwest winds 20-35 km/h. Seas with 2-meter waves, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (East Coast): 30 percent thunderstorms, mostly in Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. Lows 23-25°C, highs 33-34°C. From Surat Thani northward: southwest winds 20-35 km/h with 1-2 meter waves offshore and around 2 meters near shore. Thunderstorm areas see waves exceeding 2 meters. From Nakhon Si Thammarat southward: southwest winds 15-35 km/h with 1-meter waves near shore and 1-2 meter waves offshore, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Southern Region (West Coast): 40 percent thunderstorms, mostly in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, and Krabi. Lows 23-25°C, highs 32-34°C. From Phuket northward: southwest winds 20-35 km/h with 2-meter waves, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas. From Krabi southward: southwest winds 15-35 km/h with 1-2 meter waves, exceeding 2 meters in thunderstorm areas.

Thai Herb for Life organized a joint seminar with the Government Savings Bank on July 16, 2025, to promote savings according to the philosophy of sufficiency economy. Ms. Yositta Thamjai, executive director of Thai Herb for Life Co., Ltd., announced that the company held a training seminar at Maria Garden Restaurant to educate employees on saving money, financial planning, and financial discipline. The aim is to equip all staff with knowledge they can apply to living according to the sufficiency economy principle and achieve financial security for themselves and their families.

The seminar was graced by Praya Yasothorn as the main speaker, alongside Dr. Phakaphoom and other dignitaries including Abhisit Thamjai and Suchitraporn Adisestwangshin. Thai Herb for Life is a modern business venture powered entirely by a women-led team under the concept of "working woman" organization, dedicated to developing Thai herbal health products that meet the needs of contemporary consumers while prioritizing quality, safety, and innovation. The company aims to elevate Thai herbs for broader consumer access.

The company's flagship products include Turmeric Gummy, a dietary supplement made from turmeric extract in easy-to-consume gummy form that supports liver health, and Asuroesat, which blends traditional Thai herbal wisdom with modern production standards to make herbal benefits convenient, safe, and compatible with modern lifestyles while promoting and adding value to Thai traditional knowledge on the global stage.

Ms. Yositta remarked that on the occasion of her birthday on July 11, she organized an off-site seminar for company employees as recognition of staff and to encourage learning beyond regular work duties. She invited Praya Yasothorn, manager of the Government Savings Bank branch at The Paseo Park Kaset, as the speaker to share knowledge on saving, financial planning, and financial discipline, enabling employees to apply these lessons to managing income and expenses while building financial security.

To promote savings in concrete terms, Ms. Yositta distributed 11,000 baht to each employee—including Benjari Chamnisungnoen, Sirinapa Phasap, Naw Tin Tin Khaing, Rapeepat Sasanti, Bennya Marangsi, Chollathiccha Krishnapiyawarn, Thidawarn Suwannapet, Piyanon Pigualkao, Apichanya Korphueng Phaiphadet, and Orpin Duankaew—to open a savings account or start saving with the Government Savings Bank branch at The Paseo Park Kaset.

This birthday gift initiative aims to create long-term value and benefits, fostering a savings culture, promoting financial planning, and building economic security within the organization so employees enjoy better quality of life, financial discipline, and readiness for the future. It reflects the organization's commitment to caring for and improving employee well-being alongside sustainable organizational growth.

Praya added that "savings form the foundation of financial security, aligned with the royal philosophy..."

Fire broke out at a three-story shophouse in downtown Kanchanaburi on July 15, 2025, with the origin on the third floor where an illegal bitcoin mining operation was concealed. Nearly 20 computers and mining equipment were destroyed, causing electrical damage estimated at hundreds of thousands of baht monthly.

Police from Mueang Kanchanaburi station received the alarm and coordinated with municipal fire and rescue officials to respond. The fire was located in the top floor of the end unit of a row of eight adjoining shophouses. Firefighters used external water cannons and hoses to control the blaze on the third floor, containing it within approximately 30 minutes without spreading to neighboring buildings.

After extinguishing the fire, responders discovered irregularities: the third-floor room contained computers and bitcoin mining equipment—over 20 machines—severely damaged by flames. Police coordinated with the Provincial Electricity Authority for inspection. Deputy Commander Jompol Rujirdam led the investigation team.

Inspection revealed the room had large air conditioning units and extensive sound-absorbing foam. The building's first floor showed evidence of illegal electrical rewiring to tap power authority lines for the clandestine mining operation. Based on the quantity of equipment discovered, the operation was estimated to consume 100,000–200,000 baht in electricity monthly, yet the building's official bill was only 1,000 baht per month.

Police believe the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit at the control panel, sparking the flames. Investigators are pursuing the building owner for further questioning and legal proceedings.

At 9:55 p.m. on July 15, Deputy Inspector Wachrapong Jaichaisuang of Chlong Krung Police Station received a report of an armed dispute near Chlong Krung 8 Soi, close to Suddha Pochana Temple intersection in Lat Krabang district, Bangkok. Police coordinated with medical staff and Poh Teck Tung Foundation personnel to investigate.

At the scene, officers found a 22-year-old man shot by a firearm of unknown caliber, with a bullet wound to the forehead. He suffered critical injuries and died shortly after despite urgent medical assistance. Initial information identified the victim as a second-year electrical engineering student at a prominent vocational college in Min Buri.

Following the incident, police secured the area to collect evidence, investigate the cause and motive, and pursue the perpetrator for legal action. Officers have questioned nearby witnesses and are reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area to track down the suspect and proceed with prosecution.

On July 15, 2026, Potharam Station Commander Puchong Nrongint ordered officers Panthrueksa Saroytongmul and an investigation team from Muang Ratchaburi police station to search a resort in Tha Chumpol subdistrict after receiving a tip that a theft suspect was hiding there. Upon arrival, they found 27-year-old Khem in a room with a white Toyota sedan. A search of the vehicle uncovered a 10-baht gold necklace stolen from the home of his former mother-in-law Sumnrat Ratchapim, 56, along with 14,000 baht in cash. The items were seized as evidence and Khem was taken into custody for questioning.

Khem admitted to the theft, saying he needed money for expenses and to find his son. The victim's son, 33-year-old Sak, explained that after the family returned from another province, they discovered a 10-baht gold necklace and 10,000 baht missing. Security camera footage identified the suspect as his former brother-in-law. The family tracked him to the resort in Potharam district and coordinated with the subdistrict headman and police to apprehend him with the stolen goods.