On July 20, 2025, Ramathidbi Hospital's Faculty of Medicine at Mahidol University released findings from the seventh National Health Examination Survey (NHES 7) conducted in 2024–2025, presenting "Unlocking Thai Elderly Health: Data for an Aging Society's Future" at the Abroom Hotel in Bangkok. Assistant Professor Dr. Rerngrudee Pathanavanitchakul, head of the survey project, reported that Thailand's elderly population has tripled over 30 years and now stands at 21 percent, approximately 14 million people. The lifestyles of Thai elders have changed significantly—they have higher education levels, greater access to the internet and technology, and have shifted from extended family living to living with spouses or alone, with 1.4 million elderly living solo (1 million of them women). Elderly employment rates have risen 1.5-fold over two decades, with 52 percent currently working, particularly those aged 60–65, of whom 70 percent remain employed. However, income adequacy has declined sharply, dropping from 69 percent to 39 percent between 2004 and 2025.

In terms of health, dependency in daily living activities nearly doubled between 2009 and 2025, rising from 15.5 percent to 28 percent, affecting approximately 4 million elderly. The Northeastern region shows the highest proportion of dependent elderly at 36 percent. Only 12 percent of all elderly require caregivers—about 1.8 million people—yet 55 percent of those who need care lack a caregiver, roughly 1 million individuals. Currently, over 95 percent of elderly caregivers are family members. Regionally, the Northeast faces the greatest challenges, with higher rates of dependency, falls, inadequate income, unmet caregiver needs, and chronic diseases including anemia, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic syndrome compared to other regions.

Dr. Rerngrudee noted that survey data clearly shows elderly who continue working have better health than those who do not, with lower rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and cognitive decline. Working elderly also show higher levels of physical activity, lower depression risk, and fewer falls. Beyond employment, social participation also correlates with better elderly health. "Given these changing lifestyles and the positive health effects of work and social engagement," she stated, "society should shift its perspective, move beyond the label 'elderly,' and redefine old age as beginning at 65 rather than 60. Alongside this, policies should support elderly employment, adjust retirement ages, and reform benefits and protections. We must also promote social activity spaces for the elderly and prioritize preventive health policies that view elderly health positively rather than treating seniors as a burden." Assistant Professor Dr. Chalubla Chalemsri, a geriatric medicine specialist at Siriraj Hospital, provided additional information on dementia among Thai elderly, identifying cognitive decline as a critical public health issue in Thailand's aging population.

The Thailand Securities Depository (TSD) has released a comprehensive FAQ to help the public understand how to verify their securities accounts as part of the government welfare card program eligibility process. The guidance is intended for those unsure whether they have ever opened a securities trading account.

Those unable to recall whether they have opened a securities account can verify through the government welfare card program website at https://welfare.mof.go.th or via TSD e-Service in the wiset app under "Shareholder Account Information." After downloading the app and verifying their identity, the system will display all securities accounts ever opened with various brokerage firms.

If someone has never opened a trading account or invested but finds their name listed, they can contact the brokerage firm in question to verify details directly. Those wishing to close an account can contact their broker or use their broker's application immediately. For those without share certificates or with account 600, TSD Counter Services at the Stock Exchange of Thailand building can assist during business hours.

Account 600, or Issuer Account, is an account opened by securities-issuing companies with TSD to hold shares for investors. Most companies conducting IPOs maintain such accounts to facilitate investors who do not yet have personal securities accounts.

Those wanting to verify their holdings can check through the wiset app's My Wealth menu or contact their broker directly. TSD also offers services to confirm where citizens have opened trading accounts through TSD e-Service on wiset, and can check shareholdings through the My Wealth menu. Inquiries can also be submitted via the form at www.set.or.th, and TSD will expedite verification and report results through the specified channel.

Note: Government welfare card eligibility follows official criteria. Check your eligibility at https://welfare.mof.go.th. Those wishing to appeal eligibility decisions can contact the government welfare card program directly at https://welfare.mof.go.th.

On July 21, 2026, residents of Pang Ku subdistrict in Prachuap Khiri Khan district filed a complaint reporting that one of the poorest elderly people in their community had been disqualified from the government's poverty card program despite her severe hardship. They urged media attention and called on the government to resolve the issue quickly, noting that many other poor households face similar cutoffs.

Investigators found Samae (surname withheld), 67, living alone in a corrugated metal shack with no electricity or gas stove—only a single solar light bulb for illumination. Her kitchen contained minimal supplies: one bag of sugar, one bottle of fish sauce, one bag of salt, and one packet of seasoning powder. She prepares her own meals.

Samae's circumstances have been familiar to villagers for about five years, since she returned to her home village. Neighbors occasionally help out of pity, though support is sporadic.

Neighbor Samjai, 50, explained that Samae previously held a poverty card but it was revoked. The village headman told residents the reason: Samae holds a life insurance policy taken out by her son, which disqualified her.

Samae's son purchased the policy with an annual premium of approximately 12,000 baht and a death benefit of 200,000 baht—intended to cover funeral costs should his mother pass away, since he worried he would not have the means to pay for her funeral himself. When her son could no longer afford the premiums, a sympathetic neighbor stepped in, though on the condition that the insurance payout be split, with part reserved for funeral expenses.

Neither anticipated that Samae would lose her poverty card eligibility. The neighbor expressed heartbreak, noting that Samae survives on boiled eggs as her only daily meal, and called on the government to address this kind of situation urgently.

The Department of Land Transport, led by Director-General Sarapong Paithurypong, announced that as of June 30, 2025, Thailand had 45,947,597 registered vehicles in total—consisting of 44,574,147 automobiles and 1,373,450 transport vehicles. Electric-powered vehicles numbered 1,277,257 units, or 2.78% of all vehicles, representing a 3.17% increase from the previous month. These comprised 694,320 hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), 491,496 battery electric vehicles (BEV), and 91,441 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV).

In June 2025, 4,328,694 vehicles completed registration and tax transactions, with 3,330,566 mainly paying annual vehicle tax. Most payments (84.25%) were processed at transport department offices, followed by Drive Thru For Tax (10.78%) and online channels (3.84%). New vehicle registrations totaled 274,988 units, with 246,992 newly registered—up 4.28% month-on-month. Personal motorcycles dominated at 72.08%, followed by passenger cars seating up to 7 people at 21.94%.

Electric-powered new vehicles registered in June reached 39,606 units, a 1.01% increase from May, comprising 14,378 HEVs, 22,899 BEVs, and 2,329 PHEVs. Most (36,331) were passenger cars seating up to 7 people, with 3,009 personal motorcycles. The national total of driver licenses and operator permits reached 35,493,073 documents—33,663,919 automobile driver licenses and 1,829,154 transport operator permits. In June, 189,316 new licenses and permits were issued, down 1.94% from May, while 7,005 new public transport driver licenses were issued, up 31.01% due to extended Saturday operating hours for license applications and renewals from June 13 to August 1, 2025. International driving permits requested through the Pao Tang application numbered 5,310, representing 43.89% of 12,099 total applications.

Recently, Ms. Sabeeda Thaisetrach, Minister of Culture, chaired the second 2025 meeting of the National Committee for the Promotion of Moral and Ethical Development, attended by experts and representatives from various agencies at the Ministry of Culture's eighth floor conference center.

Ms. Sabeeda reported that the meeting reviewed past accomplishments across multiple fronts: establishing integrity standards for political office holders and independent organizations, increasing transparency in selecting provincial and Bangkok "good citizens," and integrating five core values—sufficiency, discipline, integrity, volunteerism, and gratitude—into good governance frameworks across the country. The meeting prioritized three key initiatives going forward:

(1) Drafting the third-phase National Moral Promotion Action Plan (2028–2032), emphasizing development of life capital in children under 13, a critical period for behavioral cultivation and learning. The plan will employ age-appropriate mechanisms and create safe, constructive environments enabling children to internalize values from all dimensions—home, temple, school, and community. It will mobilize all sectors to model good behavior, building children's moral foundations and social resilience to grow into quality citizens.

(2) Establishing a concrete moral credit system to build a society that honors good people. The initiative will develop standardized good-deed recording systems, converting abstract moral behavior into measurable "social capital." Research will link good deeds to tangible benefits from multiple sectors—such as scholarships, faster public assistance access, and job opportunity consideration—making moral credit valuable life capital. This creates incentives for sustained goodness across all ages.

(3) Standardizing the moral province assessment mechanism to unify standards and strengthen governance at grassroots levels. The committee assigned a subcommittee to lead assessment across three tiers: moral promotion, moral development, and exemplary moral province, with outstanding exemplary province selection beginning in fiscal year 2027. This will systematize provincial moral data collection and develop local potential as better models.

The meeting also reviewed progress from four policy subcommittees implementing the second-phase National Moral Promotion Action Plan (2022–2026), showing significant advancement.

"Faith alone does not succeed; one must have both faith and wisdom," according to a teaching by Luang Pho Cha Suphattho of Wat Nong Pa Phong in Ubon Ratchathani. Luang Pho Yid Chanthsuvanno, a renowned Buddhist scholar from Wat Nong Jok in Kuiburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, was honored in 2555 B.E. when his chief disciple Chaiya Am Samang commissioned the "Merit Coin 89" to mark the monk's 89th birth year. The oval coin features a half-length relief portrait with the number 89, Thai script identifying the monk, and decorative borders. The reverse depicts a Hanuman carrying a flag with Khmer script and temple information. The article also covers other popular merit amulets including the Safety Coin of Luang Pho Sawang from Wat Tha Phutra in Kamphaeng Phet (2510 B.E.), the Luang Pu Teuea Memorial Coin from Wat Pa Aranyavivek in Nakhon Phanom (2552 B.E.), and the Khun Phaen Chinbanchorn Victory Amulet by Luang Pho Mian of Wat Ja Niang Vanarama in Buriram (2557 B.E.), all of which have attracted strong collector interest.