Trat officials to ramp up checks of ships in the GulfListen to this articleAuthorities check a sugar ship off Koh Kood on Saturday. Photo: Thai Maritime Enforcement Command CentreLocal authorities in Trat have been instructed to ramp up maritime inspections in the Gulf of Thailand to prevent the smuggling of energy products and military-related supplies to Cambodia. Under the directive, the Trat Provincial MECC is coordinating with state agencies, including Laem Ngop marine police station, the Marine Department’s regional office in Trat, and the Trat Area Excise Office, to ramp up inspections of vessels passing through their jurisdiction. While nearing the resort island of Koh Kood off the coast of Trat, crews were alerted to hostilities near the Thai-Cambodian border by local officials. Officials also briefed crews on maritime risk areas, urging heightened vigilance to prevent unintended navigation into hazardous waters.

Ceasefire agreement 'not a retreat'Listen to this articleCambodia's Defence Minister Tea Seiha and Thailand's Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit pose with documents during a special General Border Committee (GBC) meeting at a border checkpoint, in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, December 27, 2025. Thailand's acceptance of a ceasefire deal with Cambodia is a strategic move to test its commitment to ending the violence, not a form of retreat or surrender, said Defence Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit on Sunday. The situation will be monitored for at least 72 hours to verify that the ceasefire is real and sustained, he said. Gen Natthaphon underlined that Thailand retains its inherent right to self-defence under international law should the ceasefire fail or be violated by Cambodia. Wanwichit Boonprong, an adviser to the defence minister, said in a Facebook post on Sunday the signing of the ceasefire agreement is in line with Thailand’s strategic objectives.

Ex-NACC officer surrendersListen to this articlePol Maj Gen Jaroonkiat Pankaew, deputy commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, left, listens to former deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, right, at the Anti-Corruption Division in Bangkok on Friday. Photo suppliedA former senior official of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), alleged to be part of the network of former deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, surrendered to investigators on Friday night to acknowledge charges in a bribery case. He added that Pol Gen Surachate himself appeared before investigators on Friday night to formally hear the charges and deny any wrongdoing. The former NACC member, likewise, reported to police late Friday night, denied the charges and was released around 3am, police said. The case stems from allegations that on Sept 1, 2024, Pol Gen Surachate ordered a subordinate to deliver 246 baht-weight of gold bars to an NACC commissioner at the Southern Association on Kanchanaphisek Road in Bangkok.

EC happy as aspiring MPs sign upListen to this articleCampaign posters on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok on Sunday. EC secretary-general Sawaeng Boonmee said a total of 52 political parties completed registration, with all submitting complete documentation and drawing lots for their ballot numbers. Mr Sawaeng said the committee includes officials from the Budget Bureau, the Finance Ministry, the Commerce Ministry, the National Economic and Social Development Council, the Bank of Thailand. Addressing concerns over whether tensions along the Thai–Cambodian border could affect election preparations, Mr Sawaeng said the EC remains committed to holding the general election on Feb 8. The EC will consult with security agencies to ensure frontline military personnel and medical workers deployed in sensitive areas can cast their ballots.

PP opens door to coalition talks with Anutin's partyListen to this articlePeople's Party leader and prime ministerial candidate Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut arrives for a party list registration event ahead of the upcoming election, in Bangkok, Thailand, December 28, 2025. REUTERSThe People's Party says the door is not closed to working with the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party even if the PP emerges from the Feb 8 election as the biggest party. He said the party is confident that it will do well in the upcoming election. He said political analysts have consistently underestimated the PP’s electoral strength, adding he was confident the PP would increase its vote share. If the PP finishes first and BJT second, Mr Natthaphong said coalition talks would hinge on whether the BJT accepts the PP’s political standards.

Kingdom seeks China backingListen to this articleThailand's Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow speaks to press members after attending a special meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers on the Thailand-Cambodia situation at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, December 22, 2025. The meeting follows earlier visits to both Thailand and Cambodia by a Chinese special envoy. “Thailand does not see China merely as a mediator in our dispute with Cambodia,” he added. “We want China to play a constructive role in supporting a sustainable ceasefire, including by conveying these signals directly to Cambodia. He added that surveillance of any unusual activity was ongoing and reiterated the air force remained on full operational readiness around the clock.

PARIS - French film legend Brigitte Bardot, a cinema icon of the 1950s and sixties who walked away from global stardom to become an animal rights protector, has died aged 91, her foundation said Sunday. Bardot had rarely been seen in public in recent months but was hospitalised in October and in November released a statement denying rumours that she had died. "The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the death of its founder and president, Madame Brigitte Bardot, a world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to abandon her prestigious career to dedicate her life and energy to animal welfare and her foundation," it said in a statement sent to AFP. She retired from film to settle permanently near the Riviera resort of Saint-Tropez where she devoted herself to fighting for animals. To save it from being killed, she bought the animal and kept it in her hotel room.

(Screenshot)Thailand now expects Cambodia to leave the battlefield and focus on diplomacy in restoring peace and settling differences between the two countries. ACM Prapas Sonjaidee, director of Thailand’s Joint Press Centre on the Thailand-Cambodia Border Situation, expressed this expectation on Sunday afternoon. Deputy foreign affairs spokeswoman Maratee Andamo said the international community had mostly welcomed the truce between Thailand and Cambodia. Ms Maratee said Thai and Cambodian foreign affairs ministers went to China on Sunday in response to an earlier invitation from their Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. She said the Thai and Chinese foreign ministers would also have a bilateral meeting to discuss many joint efforts that would be implemented next year.

But for many leaders and organisations, 2025 was defined by something quieter and more uncomfortable: the need to slow down and reflect. and started asking, Why are we doing this at all? When Capability Was No Longer EnoughBy 2025, AI had moved from experimentation to everyday reality. Instead of asking how much more people could deliver, some leaders began asking better questions:Are our teams learning or just surviving? Instead, it will likely be remembered as the year we started asking better questions.

52 political parties register list and PM candidatesListen to this articleCaretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, answers reporters' questions after registering his party's list candidates for the general election at the Government Complex in Laksi, Bangkok, on Sunday. (Photo: Reuters)Representatives of 52 political parties showed up at the Government Complex in Laksi district, Bangkok, on Sunday morning to register their party-lists and prime ministerial candidates for the Feb 8, 2026, general election. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who leads Bhumjaithai, said his party would have two prime ministerial candidates, himself and Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow. Mr Natthaphong is one of his party's three prime ministerial candidates.. On Sunday Mr Natthaphong said People’s Party MPs would not vote for any prime ministerial candidate from Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party.

Myanmar votes amid civil war, junta chief down plays presidential roleListen to this articleA man waits while a woman votes at Kyauktada Township Polling Station No. The junta that has since ruled Myanmar says the vote is a chance for a fresh start politically and economically for the impoverished Southeast Asian nation. Dressed in civilian clothes, junta chief Min Aung Hlaing voted in the heavily guarded capital city of Nya Pyi Taw, then held up an ink-soaked little finger, smiling widely, photographs published by the pro-military Popular News Journal showed. Zaw Min Tun, a junta spokesman, acknowledged that there would be critics among the international community that do not support ‍the ongoing elections. "However, from this election, there will be political stability," he told reporters after voting in Nya Pyi Taw.

Listen to this articleAll 16 Pheu Thai Party constituency candidates campaign on trucks cruising the streets of Nakhon Ratchasima municipality on Saturday. Nakhon Ratchasima has 16 constituency seats up for grabs, second only to Bangkok, which has 33. A Nida poll released on Sunday showed 31% of respondents remained undecided in the contest for constituency seats and about 35% had still to decide on their party-list choice. The same pattern - Pheu Thai, People's Party and Bhumjaithai - with almost similar percentages was found for their party-list choices. "The 16 Pheu Thai candidates will win all 16 constituencies in the province," Mr Prasert asserted.

Wolf recaptured after escape causes chaos at west Tokyo zooListen to this articlePolice gather at Tama Zoological Park in Tokyo on Sunday after a wolf escaped from its enclosure. According to the Tama Zoological Park in Hino, a zoo attendant spotted the wolf on a public pathway after the facility's opening time of 9.30am (7.30am Thailand time). The European wolf was recaptured at around 2.20pm after being located in a bushy area. Visitors were forced to flee to safety inside buildings and other areas. Tama Zoological Park, which opened in 1958, houses some 260 species from inside Japan and overseas, according to its website.

Ceasefire holding, evacuees start returning homeListen to this articleStore owner Huen Chanprakhon returns to work in Ban Kruat district in Buri Ram province on Sunday, as the ceasefire signed between Thailand and Cambodia on Saturday appeared to be holding. (Photo: Surachai Piraksa)Evacuees living in shelters in two northeastern border provinces started returning to their homes on Sunday as the temporary ceasefire signed by Thailand and Cambodia appeared to be holding. In Surin, they were returning to homes in all border districts except Phanom Dong Rak. He questioned Cambodia's sincerity in agreeing to a ceasefire, but said he needed money to take care of the family. Thailand and Cambodia signed an immediate ceasefire agreement during the General Border Committee (GBC) meeting on the border in Chanthaburi on Saturday, leading to a 72-hour ceasefire from noon on Saturday.

Google is rolling out a significant update that allows users to change their primary @gmail.com email addresses without losing existing data or access to linked services. Once a user updates their email handle, the original address is automatically converted into an "alias". Authentication for Google services - including Maps, YouTube and Drive - will support logins using either the original or the newly created email address. Technical reports from 9to5Google suggest that accounts will be limited to a total of 4 names over their lifetime, consisting of the original address and up to three subsequent changes. The option is located under Personal Info > Email > Google Account Email, where a "Change Google Account Email" prompt will appear if the feature is active for that specific user (see pix below).