Prospects dimListen to this articleRe: "Land bridge will harm nature", (Opinion, Dec 31). Kudos for the highly professional article "Land bridge will harm nature" by biologist Kitichate Sridith. Yet the title should be: "Land bridge will destroy nature." They have to pay for millions of containers to be downloaded from the container cargo ships at the port of Chumpon. That sense of anticlimax -- of effort expended without reward -- weighs heavily as we look toward a 2026 whose prospects appear, at best, uncertain.

A bright spot in global landscapeListen to this articleIt's time to consult the crystal snow globe and try to peer ahead to what may be on the horizon for the new year. In late November the UN Security Council approved a landmark American resolution mapping our Gaza's path to peace and rebuilding. Importantly most key Arab states including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates back the US initiatives. Humanitarian: UN humanitarian aid is stretched thin with global crisis areas such as Sudan and Haiti. This time the venue is shared in stadiums among the United States, Canada and Mexico!

Academic out of lineListen to this articleA Facebook post by a well-known academic who ostracised a maverick politician believed to be Ratchanok Srinok, a firebrand former MP of the progressive People's Party, is causing an uproar. Those who know Ms Ratchanok are well aware that she is open about her family background and how she was raised. It's not a coincidence that Ms Ratchanok experienced public shaming recently while on the campaign trail in Chon Buri. Police had to come and protect Ms Ratchanok as one woman tried to physically attack her. At least it must set up a probe into the academic to clear the air and deal with the case with straightforwardness and professionalism.

Insurers face a raft of economic challengesListen to this articleCars that were submerged in flood water are seen at a Hat Yai car park in Songkhla province on Dec 4, 2025 as residents flock to file insurance claims. (Photo: Songkhla Public Relations Office)Unfavourable economic conditions, political instability, soaring medical costs and natural disaster risks are the top challenges facing insurance companies in Thailand, while the country's ageing society could support continued health insurance expansion. Guillaume Mirabaud, chief executive of AXA Insurance Thailand, said there are several challenges for 2026, with the top concern the economic context. On health insurance, the key challenge will be to keep medical costs under control, so that more people can access private insurance and be better protected. "Thailand has one of the oldest demographics in the world, with the trend likely to accelerate," said Mr Wilson.

"We welcome Thailand's release of the 18 Cambodian soldiers as a positive step towards rebuilding neighbourly relations and trust. Along the border, the Royal Thai Army reported the situation has largely remained calm but still requires close monitoring. The government's joint Thai-Cambodian border situation information centre said the move strictly followed agreed mechanisms and humanitarian principles, aimed at reducing tensions and allowing ceasefire measures to take effect. The centre also stressed that speculation over border demarcation issues should be avoided, saying such matters are highly sensitive and must proceed only through formal channels. Both countries, the centre said, should avoid rhetoric that may inflame emotions and prioritise the safety and confidence of people living along the border.

Weak economy could hamper prospects for cryptoListen to this articleA representation of Bitcoin cryptocurrency in an illustration released on Sept 10, 2025. "The outlook for the Thai economy in 2026 is fragile and decelerating with a high degree of uncertainty," he told the Bangkok Post. The country's key challenges for 2026 include a slowing global economy and rising protectionism, which will dampen external demand, he said. This bullish outlook comes despite the ongoing Bitcoin price weakness as prices tumbled to around the $88,000-range from its peak of $126,198 set on Oct 5. Policy analysts also expect 2026 to be a pivotal year for crypto regulation in the US, particularly following the passage of stablecoin legislation.

SEOUL - K-pop megastars BTS will release a new album in March ahead of a world tour, the group announced on Thursday. They confirmed on Thursday that they would release an album on March 20 before heading on tour. No further details about the album or tour were given. The album will be BTS's first since the anthology "Proof" which became South Korea's bestselling record of 2022. Before their military service, BTS generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($3.8 billion) in South Korea per year, according to the government-backed Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.

Market participants suggest there is an urgent need to restore investor confidence and improve the competitiveness of the Thai bourse. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) continues to face significant structural and cyclical challenges this year, after posting the weakest performance in the region in 2025. As a consequence, Thailand lost its position as the most liquid equity market in the region. According to Rongrak Phanapavudhikul, senior executive vice-president of the SET, structural weaknesses are also reflected in Thailand's shrinking presence in global indices. Although investor confidence has shown signs of stabilisation since mid-2025, Mr Rongrak noted improving sentiment does not necessarily translate into immediate investment inflows.

Fresh clashes kill six in Iran cost-of-living protestsListen to this articleProtests by shopkeepers and traders in the capital Tehran erupted last week and have now spread to other Iranian cities. (Photo: AFP)TEHRAN - Protesters and security forces clashed in three Iranian cities on Thursday, with six people reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out. Earlier Thursday, state television reported that a member of Iran's security forces was killed overnight during protests in the western city of Kouhdasht. Iran's prosecutor general said on Wednesday that peaceful economic protests were legitimate, but any attempt to create insecurity would be met with a "decisive response". "Any attempt to turn economic protests into a tool of insecurity, destruction of public property, or implementation of externally designed scenarios will inevitably be met with a legal, proportionate and decisive response."

Russia blames Ukraine for deadly New Year drone strikeListen to this articleA photograph released by Russia-appointed governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, shows the site of a drone attack on a hotel in Khroly on Thursday. (Photo: AFP)MOSCOW — Russia on Thursday said Kyiv was behind a deadly drone strike on a hotel in the Moscow-held part of Ukraine's southern Kherson region that killed at least 20 people celebrating the New Year. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of carrying out a "terrorist" attack against the civilian population. An Agence France-Presse (AFP) analysis based on Ukrainian air force data showed a slight fall in overnight Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in December. The summit will be preceded by a meeting of security advisers from the allied countries on Saturday in Ukraine.

Israel says it 'will enforce' ban on 37 NGOs in GazaListen to this articleHumanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip, where Israel will ban 37 NGOs from operating, remain dire despite the ceasefire. (Photo: AFP)JERUSALEM - Israel said on Thursday that 37 international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating in Gaza had not complied with a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards," in particular disclosing information on their Palestinian staff, and that it "will enforce" a ban on their activities. Several NGOS have said the requirements contravene international humanitarian law or endanger their independence, while Israel has faced international criticism in the run-up to the deadline. Israel says the new regulation aims to prevent bodies it accuses of supporting terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories. The 37 NGOs "were formally notified that their licenses would be revoked as of Jan 1, 2026, and that they must complete the cessation of their activities by March 1, 2026," the ministry said Thursday.

Hong Kong issues first cold weather warningListen to this articleTourists relax on the waterfront in front of Victoria Harbour, with the iconic skyline buildings as a backdrop, in Hong Kong, China June 28, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)HONG KONG — Hong Kong's forecaster has issued its first cold weather warning of the season on New Year's Day as temperatures are expected to fall to a low of 12 degrees Celsius (53.6°Fahrenheit) in urban areas on Friday. The Hong Kong Observatory issued the warning at 4.20pm on Thursday and said a cold front moving across the coastal areas of Guangdong would bring cooler weather to the city in the coming days. Minimum temperatures in urban areas are forecast to be around 12°C on Friday and a couple of degrees lower in the New Territories. The forecaster, which last issued a cold weather warning on March 29 last year, described December as "unseasonably mild".

Coach Maresca leaves ChelseaListen to this articleFormer Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, 45. (Photo: AFP)LONDON — Enzo Maresca has left his role as Chelsea head coach after 18 months in charge, the Premier League club announced Thursday. "Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company," said a club statement. Maresca said the days leading up to the 2-0 victory over Everton were "the worst 48 hours" of his time at Chelsea. Chelsea won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup in 2025 and Maresca also led them back into the Champions League.

Thais, foreign tourists seek blessings on New Year's DayListen to this articleMany people donate money to make merit with the Ruamkatanyu Foundation at Wat Hua Lamphong in Bangkok on New Year's Day on Thursday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Thais and foreign tourists flocked to temples, city pillars and shrines across Thailand on New Year's Day to make merit and pay respects to sacred sites, seeking blessings and good fortune for themselves and their families. In Bangkok, large crowds gathered at the City Pillar Shrine to worship and pray for auspicious beginnings to welcome 2026. Nearby, Wat Bowonniwet Vihara was bustling with a steady stream of worshippers making merit and offering prayers for happiness and prosperity. Thais and foreign tourists queue up at Tha Tien pier to take a ferry boat to Wat Arun on the other side of the Chao Phraya River on Thursday.

The obvious culprit is the artificial intelligence (AI) boom that has upended the tech industry, birthing a fresh glossary of lingo. Here is a cheat sheet for decoding some of the most parroted tech jargon of 2025, along with terms that have endured over the years. It stands for user-generated content, and the abbreviation has been popular lately among Google employees working on AI search technology. The elusive nature of AGI raises confusion about whether other tech products labelled “AI” are artificially intelligent at all. MagicWhen Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone in 2007, he said the touch screen “works like magic,” referring to how it worked very well.