Free admission allows visitors to view diverse exotic animal species at the G.E.B.I.- The Grand Exotic Pet exhibition, open only until Sunday, July 26. Siam Paragon, in collaboration with the National Alternative Thai Agriculturist Trade Association (NATA), is hosting the G.E.B.I.- The Grand Exotic Pet & Ball Python International 2026—an international exotic pet festival running through July 26, 2026 at NEX Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon. The event aims to advance learning and knowledge exchange about exotic animals while promoting responsible pet ownership, proper animal health care, and biodiversity conservation through the participation of experts, breeders, and enthusiasts from both Thailand and overseas under the concept of "Living Art."

Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Surawut Nueang Chamlong served as chairman of the opening ceremony, alongside State Veterinarian Somchuan Rattanmangklanon, Director-General of the Department of Livestock. They toured exhibits and activities featuring knowledge about exotic animals from specialists, along with displays of diverse exotic species including ferrets, capuchin monkeys, ball python snakes, Oriental Shorthair cats, balloon molly fish, meerkats, and beautiful animals from many countries. Visitors can also meet networks of breeders and experts from Thailand and abroad who share experiences and exchange knowledge about exotic pet ownership, as well as comprehensive products, food, and equipment.

The event includes highlight activities such as the Asia-level Ball Python Championship competition, panel discussions, and opportunities to meet and talk with breeders and experts from various countries. A special service for animal lovers is free pet health screening by a team of veterinarians from Khlong Luang Animal Hospital to promote proper pet health care. The event also features family-friendly activities that give children, youth, and interested parties the chance to learn about and interact creatively with exotic animals through hands-on experience.

G.E.B.I. 2026 marks an important milestone for Thailand's exotic animal industry, positioning the event as an international-level platform for learning and networking among experts, breeders, and animal lovers from many countries. The goal is to collectively promote responsible exotic pet ownership standards and foster understanding of conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable development approaches for the exotic pet industry. Experience this international-level gathering combining knowledge, nature's wonders, and insights from diverse experts at G.E.B.I.- The Grand Exotic Pet & Ball Python International 2026, running through July 26, 2026 at NEX Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon. Admission is free. For more details, visit https://www.siamparagon.co.th and follow SiamParagon on social media or Facebook: GEBI.

On July 24, Puun Suk Dim Sum restaurant, located near Wat Isan in downtown Buriram, marked its fourth anniversary by preparing and distributing over 1,000 portions of traditional stir-fried noodles to the public, with priority given to low-income households and elderly people who do not qualify for state welfare or poverty cards. The initiative was designed to help ease the cost of living and offer encouragement to community members facing financial hardship.

The restaurant used approximately 70 kilograms of noodles, 50 kilograms of fresh pork, and 20 kilograms of preserved pork for the event. Portions were packaged and distributed freely without limit, allowing people to take meals home to their families. The restaurant also provided complimentary beverages including sugarcane juice, hibiscus tea, longan drink, and herbal beverages.

As distribution began, residents from various occupations lined up to receive the noodles and drinks in a warm, festive atmosphere. Within approximately two hours, all 1,000 portions of noodles and over 200 glasses of beverages had been distributed.

Nangsin Mietbamrung, 64, one of the recipients, shared that her household struggles financially as she cares for a disabled husband, a son with partial paralysis, a daughter recovering from surgery, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren. Only two family members receive state welfare benefits. She expressed deep gratitude for the restaurant owner's generosity, noting that even a single meal helps reduce expenses and can be shared with family members at home, alleviating the family's financial burden.

Dhanthat Loilom, owner of Puun Suk Dim Sum, explained that the restaurant normally serves breakfast items including dim sum, rice soup, noodles, fried eggs, and pork leg soup, open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays. For the fourth-anniversary celebration, he decided to prepare and distribute traditional stir-fried noodles, a family favorite recipe, to approximately 1,000 people along with free beverages. He noted that regular customers also volunteered to help with preparation and distribution, and expressed his intention to continue these community-sharing activities on future occasions to spread happiness throughout society.

The Thai Customs Department has warned the public about a new form of synthetic drug called "LSD cartoon stamps," which is disguised as cartoon-patterned stickers to evade detection and mislead observers. Ponthong Loikul, director-general of the Customs Department, revealed that officers at the Bangkok Customs Office seized LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), also known as "cartoon stamps," originating from Germany and attempted to be smuggled into the kingdom. A total of 529 pieces valued at over 200,000 baht were confiscated.

LSD is classified as a potent hallucinogenic synthetic drug typically applied as liquid drops onto water-absorbent paper printed with bright cartoon designs or cute symbols, divided into small square sections resembling stamps. The appearance is designed to evade official scrutiny and look like ordinary candy or collectible toys. When consumed continuously, LSD produces severe neurological effects, causing users to experience hallucinations, distorted perceptions, emotional instability, aggression, and severe paranoia, with risks of accidents, self-harm, or death.

The Customs director-general expressed concern that the most troubling aspect is how the drug has been designed to appear safe and accessible to youth. He urged parents to closely supervise their children and prevent them from becoming victims of deception by cartoon-patterned items from unreliable sources. Authorities also emphasized that "cartoon stamps" are not toys or candy but dangerous drugs that can permanently damage the brain, perception, and future of users.

High electricity costs have become one of the public's most pressing complaints, affecting low-income families, small businesses, and industries facing continuous rises in energy expenses. The critical question many Thais want answered is whether a 3-baht-per-unit electricity rate is achievable. That question has received a partial answer following the National Energy Policy Committee's approval of one of the country's largest-ever electricity restructuring measures under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's leadership. Energy Minister Eknath Prom-phund announced a clear goal to reduce electricity costs for the public sustainably, not merely through temporary price suppression tied to automatic fuel adjustment cycles.

The core of this measure is reducing electricity rates for residential users during the first 200 units of consumption to no more than 3 baht per unit, funded through electricity development funds, clawback revenue from excess benefit recovery, and management of accumulated costs held by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which absorbed 31,268 million baht in fuel costs on behalf of the public during the recent energy crisis.

Who benefits? Residents paying lower electricity bills immediately—covering over 23 million households nationwide, including rental homes, dormitories, and apartments that previously paid higher rates. These consumers will see direct cost-of-living reductions, increased purchasing power, small and medium enterprises will face lower utility costs, and green industries can access clean electricity more affordably, strengthening ESG competitiveness.

Who pays? With current average electricity at roughly 3.95 baht per unit dropping to 3 baht, the government chose to "shift cost burdens" and "improve system efficiency" rather than subsidize directly from the national budget. A major cost being removed from consumer bills is public electricity, such as streetlights and public lighting worth over 18,000 million baht annually—costs previously bundled into all users' base rates but now to be separated and covered by new financial mechanisms. In effect, the public will no longer bear public electricity costs in their traditional form, with the three electricity authorities managing the transition.

Energy Minister Eknath confirmed the approach will not defer debt or use massive permanent subsidies but instead generate revenue through electricity restructuring. Key funding sources include: (1) Reducing costs from expensive power purchase agreements by renegotiating contracts with private producers, especially renewable energy projects receiving special adders. Some contracts currently pay 6-10 baht per unit while actual solar production costs around 2.16 baht per unit; rates should be adjusted to 2.1579 baht per unit reflecting true costs. (2) Regulating data centers, which will become a critical revenue source for the electricity system due to their massive 24-hour power consumption. The entry of global cloud, AI, and digital data center operators makes organizing this sector essential for Thailand's future.

On July 24, 2026, Sophon Saranrom, President of Parliament and Speaker of the House of Representatives, presided over the opening of a program promoting and supporting youth civic participation in democratic systems to develop sustainable democracy. The event included the 2026 youth civic engagement activity and a special lecture titled "Youth Power and Democratic Development in a New Era."

Sophon stated that today's youth are tomorrow's leaders, and he is entrusting the nation to this new generation of 25-year-old democratic youth activists, hoping they will become a driving force for the country. He explained that democracy is government of, by, and for the people, but Thailand upholds a democracy with the King as head of state. This provision is necessary because without a nation, sovereignty, and territory, Thai citizens would have no country to call home. A meaningful life must be rooted in virtue, just as good leaders must be moral and ethical. The challenge lies in preserving the nation amid global conflict and ideological division, which has become a trap for society. Democracy must have boundaries; regardless of the system of governance, the goal is to preserve the nation and ensure citizens live happily.

"I want to see democracy deliver tangible happiness to people—what we call democracy that works," Sophon said. "It must be proven through action, not just words. Differing opinions are normal, but they must be debated in parliament. Good democracy is not just majority rule; it must use reason to persuade those who disagree to see eye-to-eye without voting. That is true democracy. But if persuasion fails, we vote and must accept the result. However, our nation remains stuck here—losers refuse to accept defeats, keeping us trapped in conflict."

Sophon stressed that democracy must be grounded in correctness. He noted that Thailand once possessed compassion, generosity, and mutual understanding, but these qualities are fading. He urged the nation to preserve these virtues and called for respect for human dignity, warning against class divisions.

Natthsakdi Sarika, a 2023 Democratic Youth Representative from Phichit Province, then presented legislative proposals to strengthen civic awareness among democratic youth. He highlighted the drug crisis as a structural problem affecting multiple dimensions of society, from family breakdown to economic losses and loss of life. He called for continued efforts to address drug addiction in Thailand.

The Parliament Speaker affirmed his long-standing commitment to tackling drug issues and pledged to continue these efforts. Certificates were awarded to exemplary Democratic Youth representatives in three categories: promoting democracy and public participation, social and community work, and democratic leadership. The program, marking 25 years of youth civic engagement activities, brought together 400 Democratic Youth participants from all four regions of Thailand to share experiences and build cooperative networks.