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.

The Big Data Institute (BDI) under the Digital Economy and Society Ministry has laid out its strategic direction for advancing Thailand through data and artificial intelligence (AI). BDI developed D2 as a unified platform for data sharing and analysis across government bodies, private sector organisations and allied networks. "The platform promotes standardised and systematic data collaboration, enhances public sector decision-making capabilities, and will be rolled out in phases," she said. She said the system adheres to stringent principles of data governance, security and personal data protection. The institute also joined with Tourism Council of Thailand and Digital Economy Promotion Agency to use big data and AI to propel the tourism sector.

Omoda & Jaecoo ramps up Thai EV productionListen to this articleMr Cui expects Omoda & Jaecoo's factory in Rayong to help the company benefit from the popularity of BEVs in Thailand. "Thailand's manufacturing plant in Rayong is preparing to produce the Jaecoo 5 EV, Omoda 4, and Chery Q4 EV models next year," Mr Cui said. Omoda & Jaecoo earmarked 5 billion baht to build the plant, which is scheduled to begin operations in the final quarter of 2025. Between January and October 2025, Omoda & Jaecoo sold 12,000 vehicles, surpassing its earlier target of 7,000-8,000 units. The committee now allows companies to meet reduced production quotas if their BEVs are destined for export, offering greater flexibility to manufacturers such as Omoda & Jaecoo.

Deloitte forecasts 3% growth under stable governmentListen to this articleThailand can accelerate the economic growth to nearly 3% if the stable post-election government implements well-targeted investment policies, says Deloitte Thailand. Thailand can accelerate economic growth to nearly 3% if it secures a stable post-election government and implements targeted investment policies, says Deloitte Thailand, while reaffirming the nation's strong potential to emerge as a regional data centre hub. Metinee Jongsaliswang, country managing director at Deloitte Thailand, said the firm projects economic growth in 2026 at around 2% under its base-case scenario, factoring in multiple uncertainties beyond the country's control. However, if Thailand succeeds in forming a stable government and adopts investment policies that effectively stimulate economic activity and channel capital into the right sectors, growth could approach 3%, she said. Healthcare growth may moderate amid a sluggish economy, according to Deloitte.

Trade talks between Thailand and the US remain on track even as Thailand operates under a caretaker government. According to Chotima Iemsawasdikul, director-general of the Department of Trade Negotiations, Thailand is continuing technical negotiations with the US regarding the tariffs, which she reaffirmed remain at 19%. "Technical negotiations between Thailand and the US Trade Representative are ongoing," she said. "The issues in the technical negotiations are similar to those in trade liberalisation talks, covering market access for goods and services as well as investment. The US raised issues cited in its 'National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers', particularly non-tariff measures, which the US views as affecting trade and its economic security."

If government formation is delayed by three months, an analyst predicts subdued economic growth in the first quarter of 2026. However, the business sector remains concerned about governance continuity, particularly the potential economic impact if government formation is delayed, as was the case in 2023. According to data from 2023 when a government was formed three months after the election, GDP declined by 1.8 percentage points. If the election occurs on Feb 8 next year, a new government should be in place by March 8." In the upcoming election, no single party is expected to secure a majority, resulting in a fragmented coalition government, said Mr Aat.

Thailand turn their focus to Asian Games in NagoyaListen to this articleSports Authority of Thailand governor Gongsak Yodmani. Varuth HirunyathebThailand, who closed the curtain on the 33rd Southeast Asian Games with a commanding performance on home soil, have quickly shifted focus to next year's Asian Games in Japan. The SEA Games, staged between Dec 9 and 20, were hailed as a success both in terms of organisation and results. "The SEA Games have given us confidence, but the Asian Games demand a different approach," Gongsak said. The 20th Asian Games will take place from Sept 19 to Oct 4 next year in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.