LOPBURI — Nearly 100 monkeys escaped from a municipal animal enclosure in Lopburi overnight, triggering a large-scale effort by officials to recapture the animals after they spread into nearby residential areas.

The escape was discovered on the morning of 30 June 2026 at the Lopburi Municipality Animal Nursery in Pho Kao Ton subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi district. The monkeys had been placed under municipal care by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

Authorities said the monkeys broke through part of the enclosure and got out. Staff prevented more than 1,000 other monkeys housed in the same facility from escaping.

Following the discovery, Lopburi Mayor Chamroen Salacheep directed municipal officers and relevant agencies to launch an urgent operation to recapture the escaped monkeys before they could cause further disruption to the community. Lopburi Governor Weeraphong Ritrod, along with deputy governors, district officials, municipal authorities, DNP personnel, provincial livestock officials and other agencies, coordinated at the site.

Officials gradually recaptured some monkeys while another team repaired and reinforced the damaged enclosure. Some dominant monkeys required tranquiliser darts to capture, while food-baited cages were set around the area to lure others back.

The governor said the damaged enclosure has been repaired and strengthened to prevent future escapes. As a long-term solution, authorities plan to build a more secure double-layer enclosure to contain dominant monkeys. The province is also preparing to establish a foundation to support food costs and improve monkey welfare.

The mayor said some monkeys had voluntarily returned to the enclosure, though others remained nearby. He suggested the escape may have been caused by hunger, heat, overcrowding or the animals' desire to roam freely. He apologised to residents and said officials would survey any damage, urging affected residents to report it for assistance.

During a June 30, 2569 parliamentary session reviewing the 3.788 trillion baht fiscal year 2570 budget proposal, Prime Minister's Office Minister Phradet Prischannantkul explained the provincial budget cuts. He noted that 8-9 percent of provincial budgets were being spent on road construction, which falls outside the intended purpose of provincial allocations. Provincial budgets are meant to enable provinces to develop comprehensive plans that improve living standards and economic growth, not to duplicate projects already handled by other agencies.

Phradet argued that road construction and small-scale water projects do not align with provincial budget objectives, and such work should be managed by the Department of Rural Roads, which can properly prioritize urgent projects. Previous governments and the current administration have established guidelines preventing overlapping projects between different agencies. Provincial budgets should fund other development initiatives rather than roads, tourism promotions, or solar installations that misuse their intended purpose.

Regarding criticism that the budget cuts undermine decentralization efforts, Phradet emphasized that provincial budgets represent budget distribution, not true decentralization. Decentralization means transferring power to local government organizations. He reiterated that the current government prioritizes genuine decentralization to local authorities through equitable resource allocation, not favoritism based on proximity to agencies or decision-makers, as occurred previously.

Scientists have stirred excitement in the paleontology community after discovering a rare dinosaur fossil from Antarctica that had been stored in a sample archive drawer for over 40 years without anyone recognizing its significance. Subsequent researchers brought it back for re-examination and confirmed it was indeed a dinosaur fossil.

The fossil is a tail bone from a long-necked herbivorous dinosaur belonging to the titanosaur group. While scientists cannot yet pinpoint the exact species, the discovery is significant because Antarctic dinosaur fossils are extremely rare compared to those found on other continents.

The fossil was originally discovered in 1985 on James Ross Island during a survey by geologist Mike Thomson from the British Antarctic Survey, who was studying rock layers and collecting marine reptile fossils. He recorded the bone simply as "large reptile fossil" before it was placed in storage and forgotten for decades.

Decades later, paleontologist Mark Evans spotted the bone in the British Antarctic Survey's storage facility and suspected it might be a dinosaur fossil. He and his research team conducted detailed analysis, comparing it with more complete dinosaur skeletons, and confirmed it was indeed a dinosaur fossil. The findings were published in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.

Researchers explained that "discovering a dinosaur fossil in Antarctica is rare" because the continent is now covered by massive ice sheets. However, millions of years ago, the area was lush with forests and had a climate suitable for dinosaur habitation.

Paul Barrett, a co-researcher from the Natural History Museum in London, noted that ancient Antarctica was completely different from people's current perception of it.

Analysis suggests this dinosaur was approximately 7 meters long, relatively small compared to other titanosaurs, and may have been young when it died. Though the cause of death remains unknown, scientists believe its carcass drifted from the shore before sinking to the seafloor and being preserved in rock layers to become a fossil.

Modern technology enabled researchers to examine the internal bone structure in greater detail than when it was first discovered, transforming this overlooked fossil into crucial evidence that helps fill knowledge gaps about Antarctic dinosaurs and the evolution of life in the ancient world.

The story carries poignant weight: Mike Thomson, who discovered the fossil in 1985, died in 2020 before the world learned that what he had collected was actually a dinosaur fossil. Mark Evans concluded: "If Mike were still alive, he would have been delighted to learn that what he brought back that day was truly a dinosaur fossil."

Three experienced founders from leading Silicon Valley technology companies have launched SV Academy, a skills development institute for artificial intelligence and software development training aimed at Thai youth, entrepreneurs, and businesses. The academy seeks to strengthen the potential of Thai personnel from youth level through entrepreneurs and business sectors to support the digital economy transformation and AI applications reshaping work across all industries.

The institute was founded by three professionals with experience in Silicon Valley's technology ecosystem: Prom Paladechpong, an innovative educator and assistant director of development and innovation at Loei Learn School; Krairat Myreen, a former senior engineer who worked with Amazon, Databricks, Uniswap, and Magic Eden; and Chalee Pisurachai, a technical infrastructure specialist with experience at Meta, Wing (part of Google X), and Robinhood Markets. Loei Learn School serves as the first partner in piloting the curriculum in Thailand.

Prom Paladechpong stated that AI is no longer just a tool for developers but is becoming a fundamental skill for people of all ages. He emphasized the need to design learning that helps students understand both application, product design, and user experience to apply technology in practice. SV Academy will bridge knowledge from Silicon Valley with Thailand's educational context.

Krairat Myreen noted that he witnessed firsthand how startups in Silicon Valley use AI to reduce time-to-market by five times and increase work efficiency by twenty times. However, employees unable to adapt quickly face dismissal. Previously, most businesses relied on renting ready-made software with monthly subscriptions and forced teams to adapt to those programs. AI has changed this dynamic—today applications solving specific business needs can be built in days, with full ownership and control. This is the skill SV Academy will teach to prepare for this transformation. "SV Academy's mission is to close the gap between Silicon Valley and Thailand until no gap remains," he said.

Chalee Pisurachai noted that in an era where AI makes knowledge access easier, the critical skill is applying that knowledge to create practical results. SV Academy will share system design and software infrastructure development knowledge from experience working with global technology organizations, helping Thai organizations develop efficient, secure software supporting future business expansion.

SV Academy has designed curricula including SV Academy Junior for youth ages 10-15 to develop app creation and basic AI skills, and SV Academy for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners focusing on applying AI to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and create innovation without requiring prior programming experience.

Political observers are closely monitoring reports of alleged tensions between two key figures within the Interior Ministry, tensions reportedly stemming from subordinates and associates working across factional lines. Virot Lukkhanaadisorn has hypothesized, based on rumors and behavior patterns discussed in political circles, that such conflicts could escalate to leadership level, drawing a parallel to past tensions between senior figures where subordinate disputes became top-level problems. Within any political party containing multiple prominent figures with their own networks and administrative power bases, differing viewpoints are inevitable. However, differing political views do not necessarily equate to outright conflict. In response, senior figures Chaiyachon Chidchob, Songsak Thongsri, and Pipat Ratchakij have uniformly denied the reports, maintaining that political disagreement exists but does not represent party fracture. As party leaders, their denials appear designed to quash rumors and maintain party unity, since allowing society to believe rumors as fact would undermine public confidence and threaten government stability. Thai political history shows some rumors remain baseless while others eventually prove true, making it premature to make definitive conclusions now. The alleged conflict between the two figures currently lacks clear verification and remains at the level of rumor and observation. What to watch going forward is the Pheu Thai government's actual performance: if it proceeds normally without major personnel reshuffles, no signs of factional division, and no mutual attacks, the rumors will amount to mere ripples. However, if movements and stirrings from the two sides' inner circles increase, the rumors may have real foundation. Ultimately, time will be the arbiter of whether the "two figures" controversy is genuine or merely political interpretation run wild.

Samut Songkhram Provincial Administrative Organization held a rehabilitation and skills development program for drug users on June 30, 2025, at Bang Kaew Subdistrict Municipal Hall in Muang District. Jetada Yanprapassiri, the organization's governor, presided over the opening of the fiscal year 2025 program aimed at helping drug users and addicts live normal lives in society while combating drug spread in the area.

The training session brought together 70 participants—including current and former users, at-risk groups, and community leaders from Bang Kaew and Nang Takiean subdistricts. Participants received drug treatment education from Bang Kaew Health Promotion Hospital staff, along with practical vocational training in basic air conditioning maintenance by Piya Sangmuang and electrical and water system basics by provincial engineering officials.

The program's highlight was "black-chin barb fish burger making," which transforms an invasive species threatening the area into a value-added product. The process involves filleting the fish, blending the meat with seasonings, coating it in breadcrumbs, and deep-frying until golden. The patties are then assembled on buns with fresh vegetables, tomato sauce, and topped with another bun layer, creating delicious hamburgers that engaged participants enthusiastically.

Governor Jetada stated that the province recognizes the urgency of addressing drug problems and has signed a memorandum of understanding with government agencies, health departments, provincial police, and community leaders to guide users into treatment. The organization's key policy focuses on supporting treated individuals with vocational training to generate income and prevent relapse into drug use, representing a sustainable approach to returning quality citizens to society and strengthening communities.