US in 'pursuit' of third oil tanker in Caribbean: officialListen to this articleOne day after seizing the Centuries, the US says it is pursuing another allegedly sanctioned oil tanker near VenezuelaWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - The US Coast Guard was pursuing another allegedly sanctioned tanker on Sunday, a US official told AFP, as Washington ramps up its pressure campaign targeting Venezuela's vital oil sector. The "active pursuit" in the Caribbean Sea was happening a day after the Coast Guard seized its second vessel off Venezuela in two weeks. "The United States Coast Guard is in active pursuit of a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion. News outlets identified the ship involved as the Bella 1, an oil tanker under US sanctions since 2024 because of alleged ties to Iran and Hezbollah. - Chevron tanker -Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday posted a statement to social media about oil giant Chevron sending a tanker from Caracas to the United States carrying Venezuelan oil -- without mentioning either vessel interdicted by Washington.

Rapper and singer-songwriter Nicki Minaj described U.S. Vice President JD Vance as an "assassin" during an appearance with Erika Kirk, the widow of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated by a gunman in September.

At least nine people were killed and 10 wounded in an early morning shooting in a township south-west of Johannesburg, the South African Police Service said on Sunday (December 21), adding that authorities have launched a manhunt for multiple suspects.

Mahindra Bolero: A Closer Look at Its Engine, Mileage, and Key FeaturesFor over two decades, the Mahindra Bolero has been India’s most trusted SUV — a symbol of durability, practicality, and rugged charm. Let’s take a closer look at its engine specifications, mileage, and standout features that continue to make it a favourite across India. Engine and PerformanceAt the heart of the Mahindra Bolero is Mahindra’s tried-and-tested mHawk75 diesel engine, engineered for power and long-term dependability. Safety and Durability The Mahindra Bolero has built its reputation on strength, and safety remains one of its key selling points. Final ThoughtsThe Mahindra Bolero continues to prove why it’s an icon in the Indian SUV market.

Central Pattana invites everyone to celebrate the beauty of Thai art and culture presented through nine Christmas trees collectively called "The Magical Thai Pride", which are displayed at branches of Central shopping centres. Hailed as the world's only Christmas tree series showcasing a uniquely Thai identity and crafted by artisan communities across the country, this year's initiative pays tribute to HM Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, honouring her lifelong dedication to the preservation of Thai arts, crafts and community development. The "Festival of Lights: Batik Christmas" at Central Hatyai celebrates Southern batik artistry and amplifies Songkhla's creative identity; the "Coco Christmas Tree: Praw Rasa" at Central Surat Thani is crafted from coconut shells and woven materials; while "Ton Mok Panwa" at Central Chiangrai is made of intricately woven bamboo. "Weaving The Future, Embracing The Origin" at Central Chiangmai Airport is a contemporary woven-craft Christmas tree honouring Lanna artisans; "The Rose In Heaven" at Central Korat is sculpted from iconic Dan Kwian clay and decorated with 93 handcrafted roses; and the "Gift Of Wisdom Tree" at Central Chonburi features traditional Phanat Nikhom bamboo weaving. Inspired by Thai orchids, the "Salaya Melody Of Orchid" at Central Salaya transforms floral beauty into a poetic melody celebrating love, nature and serenity, while the "Fleur De Sel Christmas Tree" at Central Mahachai highlights Thailand's coastal salt-making heritage.

This festive season, sustainability takes centre stage at Siam Paragon with the unveiling of “Tree of Tomorrow,” a contemporary Christmas tree created through a collaboration between global sustainable chemical company Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, Thai fashion brand VINN PATARARIN, and leading retail and real estate developer Siam Piwat. Standing four metres tall, the installation features more than 90 metres of recycled polyester (rPET) fabric produced by Indorama Ventures from over 880 post-consumer PET bottles. VINN PATARARIN applied its signature laser-cut techniques and experimental textile design to transform the recycled materials into a visually striking Christmas tree, demonstrating how circular materials can be elevated through thoughtful and creative design. Through the installation, Indorama Ventures aims to engage more directly with consumers while raising awareness of PET recycling and the value of circular materials in everyday life. As a founding member of NEXTOPIA, the company continues to collaborate with Siam Piwat to inspire more sustainable lifestyles through interactive experiences, recycling education and PET collection points.

Call scam iPhones found in plantation near CambodiaListen to this articleRangers show the iPhones and other gear found in a rucksack left at a plantation in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo, on Sunday. The bag was believed to have been left for smugglers to collect and take into Cambodia for use by a scam gang. The grey rucksack was found in a sugarcane plantation behind Wat Sutthawat in Ban Thung Ruang Thong in tambon Khlong Nam Sai on Sunday by a ranger patrol. It contained 22 iPhone 11s of different colours, one iPhone SE, 20 new prepaid Hong Kong SIM cards, 28 charging cables, a keyboard and a mouse. The seized gear was taken to the Khlong Nam Sai police station for further examination.

Unsafe levels of smog in Bangkok and 23 provincesUnsafe levels of PM2.5 dust covered Bangkok and 23 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains, on Monday morning. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) reported at 6am that unsafe levels of PM2.5 ranged from 37.6 to 50.6 microgrammes per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air in Bangkok and 23 provinces. Other places blanketed with thick and harmful smog included Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chon Buri. Very good air quality was detected in 12 provinces where PM2.5 levels were between 8.9 and 14.4µg/m³, including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai and Phatthalung. The Meteorological Department said the smog was due to stagnant air which would continue until Wednesday.

'Major progress' in FTA talksListen to this articleCommerce Minister Suphajee SuthumpunThailand and Peru have made "significant progress" in negotiations to upgrade their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), with both sides agreeing on major elements covering wider market access and deeper economic cooperation, Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun says. The Department of Trade Negotiations said talks to modernise the existing FTA, which have been ongoing for years, have now reached a substantial conclusion on core issues, Ms Suphajee said. Negotiations to upgrade the FTA had stalled for more than a decade before being revived in the middle of this year. Peru, Ms Suphajee said, is an economy in South America with strong potential. Bilateral trade totalled US$464.04 million (14.5 billion baht), with Thailand recording a trade surplus of $239.96 million.

AI advances highlighted as crucial for industry in 2026Listen to this articlePhoto: 123RFThe rise of agentic artificial intelligence (AI), multi-agent systems, and the evolving demands for security and privacy are the keys to success for Thailand's AI startups, according to local industry pioneers. "By 2026, the AI industry is expected to advance towards more agentic, autonomous, and multi-functional AI systems," Sathapon Patanakuha, chief executive of Guardian AI Lab, an AI-driven solutions firm, said at a seminar on the 2026 outlook held by the AI Entrepreneur Association of Thailand. Mr Sathapon said the AI industry is moving towards multi‑agent, interoperable networks that operate seamlessly across systems. He said chatbots, voicebots, digital human kiosks and humanoid robots are simply different interface formats for the same underlying AI agents. AI startups and businesses must focus on use cases that can generate revenue, reduce costs, or improve productivity.

Dell sets out major AI advances in 2026Listen to this articlePhoto: 123RFAgentic artificial intelligence (AI), sovereign AI, and stronger governance frameworks, coupled with measurable business outcomes, will be the defining AI trends in 2026, according to Dell Technologies. "In 2026, external and internal governance will be the most important factor in accelerating AI adoption," said Mr Roese. Another trend is the emergence of a knowledge layer, which is essential for putting AI into real production, said Mr Roese. Dell partnered with Nvidia nearly three years ago to launch its AI Factory, a platform designed to streamline AI deployment. Dell reports AI return of investment ratios as high as 30 to 1 in terms of generating bottom-line impact.

Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) expects the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the policy rate to 1% by the first half of next year to support inflation and mitigate debt deflation risks. Last Wednesday, the MPC voted unanimously to reduce the policy rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, effective immediately, to support economic momentum. The MPC has cut the policy rate four times during six meetings this year, lowering the rate by a total of 1 percentage point. According to Mr Yunyong, household debt remains high despite a gradual decline. Private consumption growth has slowed in recent periods and is expected to continue decelerating in 2026, as average household income has declined.

Central: The Original Store on Charoen Krung Road invites everyone to celebrate the festive season with music, food, art and heartwarming moments during "Central: The Original Store On Holiday 2026", until Jan 4. The event opens up a welcoming space for all to relax, recharge with positive energy and create memories together. Standing on the first floor is a large authentic Christmas tree with refreshing scent and twinkling lights, offering the charm of Christmas in the heart of Charoen Krung, the birthplace of Central's history. Enjoy enchanting jazz music under the theme "A Very Warm Christmas" at Siwilai Sound Club, also on the 1st floor. Set to make the Christmas Eve warmer than ever will be Alma Vocal Ensemble, while Tuey Tasha & Her Trio will perform on Christmas Day.

The year began with a bang when the Marriage Equality Act came into effect, allowing same-sex couples to register their union for the first time in Southeast Asia. Photo: Varuth HirunyathebMarriage equalityThailand is the first country in the region to endorse marriage equality. The Marriage Equality Act is an amendment of the Civil and Commercial Code's Article 1448, replacing "husband and wife" and "man and woman" with gender-neutral terms, such as "spouse" and "person", to allow anyone to marry. The Marriage Equality Act takes effect from Jan 23. Early this month, civil society groups, including ThaiTGA, called for LGBTI volunteers to help those affected in the area.

KeawKeaw Green Catering offers menus featuring organic agricultural products, healthy choices and eco-friendly packaging. She found that events using organic agricultural products had to rely on outsourced catering services, prompting her to establish her own catering service. He said organic agricultural products can be influenced by seasonal conditions and can sometimes carry higher prices. In addition to food catering, the company also creates conversations about protecting the Earth, he said. REDUCING FOOD WASTEMr Teeraphod said a focus of the business is to minimise food waste generated from catering services.