A 42-year-old fisherman from the Cook Islands has survived eight days adrift in the Pacific Ocean. Despite facing giant waves, freezing conditions, and being knocked overboard twice, he never lost hope and prayed continuously before being successfully rescued.

The ordeal began on June 11 when Apia Uuta, 42, set out from his home island located 1,140 kilometers from Rarotonga in the Pacific Ocean during strong winds to fish. Shortly after departure, his boat engine malfunctioned and died at sunset, leaving him unable to return to shore and forcing him to drift with the wind.

During his days trapped at sea, he faced waves taller than his boat crashing from both sides, throwing him overboard twice. He survived with only two bottles of drinking water, fishing equipment, a water tank, an ice box, and a single cloth.

He ate raw fish he caught, collected rainwater to drink, and used the cloth and ice box to stay warm during the bitterly cold nights.

Apia recounted that on the third day, he spotted lights from a fishing boat after praying and tried to paddle toward it, but the wind pushed his boat away.

Hope returned on day eight when he heard a New Zealand Air Force aircraft circling overhead. The plane alerted nearby fishing vessels to search the area.

A Taiwanese fishing boat eventually found him after hearing his distress whistle. After being safely rescued, he confirmed he will return to fishing but will be more careful. He urged other fishermen not to forget flashlights, life jackets, rain jackets, and to always pray before setting out to sea.

Australian authorities have intensified border security following charges against a French woman accused of importing a controlled drug hidden inside a body wash bottle after arriving from Thailand.

The case emerges days after the Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced the arrest of a 26-year-old Thai Airways flight attendant who allegedly attempted to smuggle approximately one kilogram of heroin concealed in a cloth bag into Australia through Melbourne Airport on Thursday. Another drug-related arrest had been made just days prior when a 31-year-old French woman travelling from Thailand was detained on smuggling allegations.

According to an AFP statement released Friday, the French suspect appeared before Perth Magistrates Court facing charges related to allegedly importing a border-controlled drug into Australia.

The statement revealed that the French woman, residing in Manning, was arrested by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers upon arriving at Perth Airport from Thailand on Monday. During baggage screening, ABF officers discovered a suspicious liquid inside a container labelled as body wash.

Testing confirmed the liquid as 50 grams of 1,4-butanediol (BDO), a substance classified as a border-controlled drug under Australian law.

ABF officers also examined the woman's mobile phone, finding images suggesting she may have concealed additional prohibited substances internally. She was referred to the AFP for further investigation and subsequently excreted 40 steroid tablets, which authorities seized for forensic examination.

Authorities have not disclosed the specific steroid type or announced additional charges relating to the tablets.

She faces one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug under Section 307.2 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.

AFP Detective Acting Superintendent Peter Brindal stated authorities remain vigilant against those attempting to smuggle illicit substances through Australia's airports.

ABF Superintendent John Eldridge noted that 1,4-butanediol is an extremely dangerous chemical solvent. Upon entering the body, it converts to gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a powerful central nervous system depressant capable of being fatal in doses of just a few milligrams. Due to its extreme danger, 1,4-butanediol has been subject to Australian border controls since 2024, with trafficking offences treated as seriously as those involving methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

During parliament's third reading of the fiscal 2570 budget bill on July 1, 2569, Dr. Voraset Dechkijwikrom, leader of the Thai Proud Party and list MP, discussed the government's anti-corruption strategy while raising questions about the TH-AI Passport project. He noted that Thailand's Corruption Perception Index currently sits at 116, with the government targeting a score of at least 57, up from the current 33. Dr. Voraset expressed full support for the Prime Minister's anti-corruption efforts but voiced doubts about the TH-AI Passport initiative, noting that government MPs claimed the project involved no corruption or locked specifications and that advertising costs are only 25 million baht monthly, not 1.6 billion as commonly understood.

When Dr. Voraset discussed TH-AI Passport, Pheu Thai MPs protested, arguing that the topic is unrelated to the year-70 budget since TH-AI Passport is fund money, making the debate out of order. Parliament President Sophon Saromya ruled that although TH-AI Passport is fund money, it constitutes government administration and debate would be permitted, provided it remains within proper scope without documents or references to outside individuals.

Dr. Voraset continued discussing TH-AI Passport, revealing names of executives and shareholders involved in the bidding company, raising suspicions of favoritism or specifications-locking. Pheu Thai MPs protested again that this was off-topic, while Prachuap Phatthanasinthu of the Pheu Thai Party countered that the screen specifications were not unique to TH-AI Passport alone but appeared in multiple ministry budgets.

During parliamentary debate on July 1, 2569, Phakamon Hunnanon, a Pheu Thai party list MP, addressed the fiscal year 2570 budget structure regarding local government. While acknowledging the central government's step back in certain provincial budget allocations, she cautioned against framing this as prime ministerial sacrifice, noting that leaders must prioritize national and public interest. She emphasized that local revenue allocation remains unchanged at 29.35%, falling short of the 35% decentralization goal.

Phakamon called on the government to boost local revenue and unlock decentralization laws proposed by Pheu Thai to grant local administrations authority over additional fees and taxes. She also referenced the "Hometown, Hometown" bill from Bhumjaithai party.

Addressing personnel staffing, she highlighted a critical issue: local civil service examinations. Previously, local governments conducted their own exams, but the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) centralized this function, claiming it prevented patronage and fraud. However, Phakamon pointed out that recent news exposes widespread corruption in centrally-administered local civil service exams over the past two weeks.

She noted that before NCPO's order, local authorities held exams four times annually, but after centralization, this dropped to twice yearly or sometimes not at all, creating personnel shortages. When local offices lack staff simultaneously, waiting for central exams creates problems.

Phakamon argued that increasing central exams is not the solution. The central government already manages national development and shouldn't waste resources on tasks local administrations can handle independently. Local authorities best understand their own needs. She stressed that the important principle—though the NCPO claimed local governments corrupt while central government doesn't—is now demonstrably false nationwide. Rather than assuming only central control prevents fraud, the system should incorporate checks and balances through structural oversight.

On Thursday, July 2, 2026, the temple community commemorates the 123rd birth anniversary of Phra Phiibun Thammavet (Luang Pho Seng Phutthasaro), the former abbot of Wat Pak To in Pak To District, Ratchaburi. Originally named Kim Seng Sae Phu, he was born on July 2, 1903, in Moo Ban Kok Phra Charoen. He ordained at Wat Pak To on May 1, 1923, under the tutelage of several senior monks. A remarkably gifted scholar, he passed the Naktham (Buddhist doctrine) exam at the tertiary level in 1924, his first year in robes.

After studying at Wat Thepthidaram in Bangkok, he progressed through successive examinations, achieving the highest scholarly ranks by 1924. That year, he became a teacher of Buddhist doctrine at Wat Pak To, where an academy had been established. He later served as abbot of Wat Yang Ngam, where he founded a similar academy and oversaw significant repairs and expansions.

On November 29, 1941, he was appointed District Head of the Sangha (Buddhist clergy). On April 6, 1944, he was elevated to the rank of Phra Upachaya (preceptor). On August 17, 1945, he became a member of the District Sangha Education Committee, and was appointed District Head of Pak To clergy on August 17, 1946. He received the monastic rank of Phra Khru Sannyabat on December 5, 1948, with the formal name Phra Khru Phiibun Samonnawat.

He served as abbot of Wat Yang Ngam until April 15, 1958, when he transferred to become abbot of Wat Pak To. On December 5, 1961, he received the highest ecclesiastical rank of Rajgana (royal clergy).

Thailand's Office of Energy Policy and Planning (OEPP) Director Wattanpong Kuroowat revealed that commercial energy consumption in the first three months of 2025 reached approximately 2,080 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day, a 2.1% increase from the same period last year. Oil consumption rose 5.0% due to higher demand for refined petroleum products, natural gas usage climbed 4.6% to fuel increased electricity generation, and hydroelectric and imported power surged 19.1%. Coal consumption fell 7.4% and lignite dropped 56.0% due to reduced production.

The energy increase mirrors Thailand's economic performance, with GDP expanding 2.8% in the first quarter of 2025, accelerated from 2.5% in the previous quarter, driven by agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors. Merchandise exports jumped 9.8% and real export value grew 15.5%. However, foreign tourist arrivals totaled 9.32 million in the first quarter, down from 9.55 million in the same period last year.

Refined oil product consumption averaged 153.5 million liters daily, up 4.9%, while oil production reached 185.9 million liters per day, increasing 2.2%. Refined oil imports rose 33.7% to 5.0 million liters daily, but exports fell 15.7% to 20.2 million liters daily. Gasoline consumption reached 33.2 million liters daily (up 6.3%), diesel hit 74.2 million liters daily (up 5.1%), and jet fuel consumed 20.3 million liters daily (up 4.3%) as air traffic increased 7.4%. LPG usage rose 4.2% to 18.0 thousand tons daily.

Natural gas consumption increased 6.9% to 4,754 million cubic feet daily, with 61% dedicated to electricity generation, which rose 9.4% from higher demand. Coal and lignite consumption fell 19.0% overall, with lignite dropping 56.0% from reduced electricity generation by Thailand's state utility. Total electricity consumption in the first quarter reached 51,127 gigawatt-hours.