Government spokesman Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek announced updates on identity verification and welfare card benefit reviews on August 3. Of 9.5 million people who qualified, 6.3 million existing cardholders need no additional verification, while 3.1 million new cardholders must complete e-KYC identity verification. According to the Interior Ministry's August 2 data, about 2.1 million new cardholders (69%) have verified their identity, leaving approximately 980,000 people (31%) who have not yet completed the process. The government is actively tracking and promoting the procedure to prevent people from losing eligibility.

For those who failed initial qualification, the government opened an appeals process, with over 4.1 million (44%) applications already submitted. Approximately 5.2 million (56%) eligible people remain who can still appeal. The deadline for applications is August 31, 2026, accessible through government apps, the Pao Tang wallet app, project websites, five state banks, and 878 One Stop Service centers nationwide. Special assistance is available for elderly people, disabled persons, and vulnerable groups who find online services difficult.

Ms. Ratchada stated the government is committed to ensuring eligible citizens do not lose welfare benefits due to inconvenience or lack of information. She urged the remaining 980,000 new cardholders who have not completed identity verification and the 5.2 million people who have not submitted appeals to act promptly before the deadline to receive full welfare benefits.

Deputy Government Spokesman Ploythale Laksameesangchan announced on August 3 that Prime Minister Anuthee Charnveerakul and the Interior Minister are focused on protecting public safety as August weather forecasts predict above-normal rainfall across the Western, Northern, Upper Northeastern, and Eastern regions. All provinces have been ordered to maintain vigilance and prepare response plans in advance, with contingency measures ready to minimize impact.

Weather assessments predict waves of 2–3 meters in the upper Andaman Sea from August 3–6, creating health system risks including hospital operations, emergency medical routes, and vulnerable populations. The Ministry of Public Health is closely monitoring the situation and directing all provincial health offices and health districts—especially in high-risk areas—to prepare for potential events. Preparations must include backup emergency medical pathways, backup electrical systems, fuel, water, oxygen, medications, blood supplies, and medical equipment with at least 72 hours of reserves. Contingency plans for patient transfers and care for vulnerable groups including dialysis patients, bedridden patients, oxygen users, pregnant women, and those on continuous medication are required.

Residents across Thailand, especially in the Northern, Upper Northeastern, Eastern, and western Southern regions, are warned of dangers from heavy to very heavy rainfall and accumulated precipitation that may cause flash floods, flash floods, and riverbank overflow, particularly in hillside and low-lying areas. Boat operators in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea should exercise caution; small boats in the upper Andaman Sea should remain ashore from August 3–9, while those in the Gulf of Thailand should stay ashore from August 7–9.

Young actor JorJay of Boys Vibe The Project, whose full name is Phumi Hirun and who appeared in Love Sick The Series 2024, has passed away. His last post on social media (jorjaypmr on Instagram and TikTok) was uploaded five days ago while he was visiting Dinosaur Land at Siam Amazing Park, captioned "Thrilled and excited at Dinosaur Land #jorjaypmr #siamamazingpark." Members of the entertainment industry, including actor Nik Kunathip and his former acting coach Khru Pi Naan, have shared tributes. Khru Pi Naan posted: "Thank you for the wonderful experiences, Jay. Thank you for once being my student. Though time has passed and it was only a short period, the time I spent as both your teacher and older sister, guiding you and taking you out for meals, was a beautiful memory for us. I believed from the start that you would be a great actor with a bright future ahead. You had so much potential, and I always told you that you could do it. I hope you find happiness and go where you wish to go. May you no longer suffer." She also wrote: "Sleep well, dear. Thank you for the laughter, good mood, and fun times in class. Thank you for the smiles you gave us and all your classmates. Rest in peace." When asked what happened, Khru Pi Naan replied that JorJay's mother had posted on her private Facebook that he had passed away the previous night, with funeral arrangements to be announced later. JorJay's mother posted a heartbreaking image of her son at his funeral on August 2, writing: "Sleep well, my son. You are the light of my heart."

Friends and family mourned singer and music video star An Waiyathya after he died when his motorcycle plunged into an open drainage construction pit. Another person was injured at the same location, and complaints have been filed against the contractor.

Waiyathya, 29, a southern Thailand folk singer, fell into the pit on a road in Moo 8, Tha Chang Subdistrict, Bang Klam District, Songkhla Province. On August 2, relatives and friends gathered at the accident site with white roses, food, and drinks to pay respects amid solemn atmosphere.

His sister, Supharat, spoke through tears, describing him as a caring middle brother who looked after her well and provided whatever she needed. He even gave up his bedroom for her. She said he normally helped their father with construction work and earned extra income singing and doing delivery rides. Supharat appealed to the contractor, asking why metal sheets were not placed over the pit after an earlier accident occurred there. She expressed that had repairs been made, her brother would still be alive, and questioned whether the contractor could undo the tragedy.

During the vigil, 26-year-old Sulkifhulee also arrived and showed fresh wounds on his right elbow, hip, and knee. He recounted that on July 28 around 7 p.m., while riding his motorcycle with one hand holding his son and momentarily glancing left, he collided with a metal sign panel and direction arrow with dim lighting before falling and nearly dropping into the pit. There was no metal sheet covering it at the time. After regaining consciousness, he recovered his motorcycle and rode home with his son, discovering injuries to his right elbow, hip, and knee. He later filed a report at Bang Klam Police Station.

Sulkifhulee observed that after his accident, the contractor left the area in its original condition with only a barrier and small warning sign, without placing metal sheets to cover the pit opening. He warned that unfamiliar road users or nighttime riders risked the same fate and called for government agencies overseeing construction contracts to seriously investigate the contractor's responsibility. He urged authorities to prevent further loss of life and property from such negligence.

An 18-year-old high school student named Mako Sila Wattanakul has become a rising star by mastering khon, Thailand's traditional masked dance art form. Despite his multicultural heritage as a Thai-American-Danish teenager, Mako has devoted himself to rigorous khon training and has earned continuous opportunities to perform on prestigious stages.

Mako is the son of Sathit Wattanakul (Laura), a broadcaster and businesswoman, and Sithit Wattanakul. He completed kindergarten at Chitralada School and primary education at VERSO International School before studying at Bangkok Christian College, where he is now preparing for university entrance exams. His hobbies include model building and cooking, and he is bilingual in Thai and English.

In 2024, Mako performed in a youth khon production of the Ramayana, playing the demon Thotsakan, in a diplomatic performance before Lesotho's King Letsie III and other African leaders. He received the Bangkok Youth Cultural Award in 2025 and the Ministry of Education's 2025 Arts and Music Award. Most notably, in 2026, he performed in the English-language theatrical production The King's Command, based on a work by King Mongkut (Rama IV), with the Siam Repertory Theatre Company in the presence of Britain's Princess Royal during her visit to Thailand.

When asked about his journey, Mako explained that his interest in khon began with watching performances as a child, but he soon discovered it was far more demanding than it appeared. Khon requires strict foundational training in hand movements, footwork, posture, and precise body control synchronized with rhythm. He learned that being a khon demon performer requires not just physical strength but controlled power and emotional discipline until the body remembers movements instinctively. Though he has faced pain, exhaustion, and self-doubt, he chose not to give up, believing that khon is not merely a performance but a discipline that unites body, mind, and spirit.

As a young person today, Mako emphasizes the importance of time management, carefully balancing schoolwork, khon training, and rest through careful planning and prioritization. He does not see his studies and passion for khon as competing demands but rather as complementary pursuits that strengthen each other.

Approximately 120 members of the People's Network for a Just Society (PMDF), along with allied groups, assembled at Bangkok Central Station on August 3, 2025, in preparation for a march to Government House. After participants completed personal tasks and arrived in stages, group representatives announced through loudspeakers that demonstrators should gather between exits 7 and 8, and instructed them to separate their belongings for transport via covered trucks arranged by the network to facilitate the movement of protest equipment and supplies.

Wisrut Srichan, representing the Northern Development Foundation and a committee member, gave a speech explaining the network's approach and activity schedule, emphasizing the movement's objectives and coordination among participating civil society networks at Government House.

Following the address, participants engaged in a northern Thai ceremonial ritual for good fortune and to boost morale before departure, considered an auspicious blessing ahead of the planned movement. The atmosphere remained calm and orderly throughout. Security officials reported approximately 120 participants and maintained close monitoring of the group's movements to assess the situation and ensure order during assembly and the march.