Gold prices plunge but optimism undimmedListen to this articleGold prices plunged 1,300 baht on the final trading day of 2025, but analysts see a bright outlook ahead. The Gold Traders Association reported a sharp drop in domestic gold prices, with the first announcement at 9.02am showing a fall of 1,300 baht, bringing the price down to 65,200 baht per baht-weight. This compares with the final quoted price Tuesday, which remained unchanged at around 66,500 baht despite 27 adjustments throughout the day. By 10.11am, prices had been revised five times, with gold bars quoted at 65,100 baht buying and 65,200 baht selling, while gold ornaments were quoted at 63,793.28 baht on the buy side and 66,000 baht on the sell side per baht-weight. Global gold prices also saw a historic plunge of more than US$200 (6,300 baht) per ounce, falling from $4,500 to around $4,337 per ounce as of Tuesday morning.

Boxer Tyson Fury offers condolences over Joshua car crashListen to this articleNewspapers bearing headlines about a road accident involving British boxer Anthony Joshua, who was hospitalised in stable condition after a crash that killed two people, are displayed at a stall in Abeokuta, Nigeria on Dec 30, 2025. (Photo: AFP)LONDON - Tyson Fury has passed on his condolences after a car crash in Nigeria which killed two of Anthony Joshua’s team members and left his fellow former world heavyweight boxing champion injured. His promoter said the boxer’s “close friends and team members” Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed and Joshua himself was taken to hospital “for checks and treatment”. But Monday’s accident will likely further delay a long anticipated bout between former Olympic champion Joshua and Fury, with Paul saying Monday in an X post: “Life is much more important than boxing. Ayodele, also known as Latz, was a personal trainer of Joshua, while Ghami acted as strength and conditioning coach for the 36-year-old.

Despite the defeat, ONE Championship chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong recognised the effort, awarding both fighters a 350,000 baht performance bonus. It marked a record-extending 10th bonus for Suriyanlek on the ONE Friday Fights series. “I am happy and I would like to thank Chatri and all the ONE team for giving me the bonus,” Suriyanlek told the Bangkok Post backstage. Despite nine wins and seven finishes – and appearances on major numbered cards at ONE 170 in Bangkok and ONE 172 in Saitama – Suriyanlek remains unsigned. “The contract has always been my goal since my first fight in ONE,” he said.

Boonrawd Brewery Group has reinforced its reputation for manufacturing excellence on the global stage after five of its production companies received Gold Awards at the International Convention on Quality Control Circles 2025 (ICQCC 2025), held in Taipei, Taiwan. He noted that Boonrawd’s quality management is guided by a Total Quality Management (TQM) framework, emphasising data-driven analysis, systematic process improvement and people development across the organisation. Marking its 50th edition, ICQCC 2025 brought together organisations from around the world to exchange best practices and innovations in quality improvement. The success of all five Boonrawd production facilities highlights the Group’s disciplined and structured approach to quality development, integrating Quality Control Circle (QCC) principles with TQM. Core practices include in-depth problem analysis, root-cause identification, the application of quality management tools, digital technology integration and continuous innovation across manufacturing operations.

(Photo: AFP)LONDON - Eurostar suspended train services in Europe on Tuesday after a power supply issue in the Channel tunnel, sparking travel chaos during the very busy travel season between Christmas and New Year. “There was a power supply problem in the Channel tunnel, followed by a shuttle train coming to a halt inside,” a Eurostar spokesperson said. Earlier, Eurostar had advised passengers to postpone their journeys citing “major disruption” caused by the power problem in the tunnel and “a subsequent failed Le Shuttle train”. Eurostar has held a monopoly on passenger services through the tunnel linking Britain and France since it opened in 1994. An electrical fault fault forced the cancellation of Eurostar services and severe delays on others in August.

Microsoft is set to adjust core system settings for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2 by switching the AppX Deployment Service (Appxsvc) to run automatically upon boot-up. The change was officially confirmed in the December 2025 "Patch Tuesday" update (KB5072033), which applies to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025. Previously, the system only activated when a user specifically installed or updated an application from the Microsoft Store. IT industry analysts suggest the move is a precursor to a long-term strategy where Microsoft Store apps will be updated directly via Windows Update. While the Windows 11 adjustment focuses on reliability, users remain wary that the pursuit of stability may come at the cost of precious system resources.

Same offer already accepted by Cambodia, says foreign ministry spokesmanListen to this articleEvacuees from border areas of Sa Kaeo province begin returning home on Monday from a temporary evacuation centre at Wat Kaeng Hinthern in Na Di district of Prachin Buri. (Photo: Manit Sanubboon)China has offered 20 million yuan (90 million baht) worth of humanitarian assistance to Thailand, the same amount it provided to Cambodia recently, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday. “It was confirmed by Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, that there was humanitarian assistance sent to Cambodia including tents, medical supplies and food,” Mr Nikorndej said. “[Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow] also mentioned this humanitarian assistance during the diplomatic briefing, saying that the Cambodian side may be more in need than Thais at the moment,” he added. “But we can reassure you that the Chinese have expressed their willingness to assist Thailand in the same amount.”The diplomatic briefing held earlier by Mr Sihasak drew 78 members of the diplomatic corps from 60 countries, one organisation and three international organisations.

Curfew lifted in four Sa Kaeo border districtsListen to this articleOfficials visit evacuees at a shelter in Sa Kaeo province on Tuesday as many began packing in preparation to going home. (Photo: Sa Kaeo public relations)Residents in Sa Kaeo province have welcomed the lifting of the night curfew in four border districts now the security situation is deemed to be under control. The army's Burapha Task Force, responsible to the border in that area, on Tuesday announced the lifting of the 7pm-5am curfew in the districts of Ta Phraya, Khok Sung, Aranyaprathet and Khlong Hat with immediate effect. Wilaiwan Phuangphet, 59, from Ban Rom Sai in tambon Khok Sung of Khok Sung district, said her house had suffered minor damage during the conflict. In tambon Khok Sung and tambon Non Mak Mun, most of the 1,900 evacuated residents have already returned home.

Iran president urges government to heed economic protestsListen to this articleA shopkeeper tidies his stall in Tajrish Bazaar in the Iranian capital. afpTEHRAN - Iran's president urged his government to listen to the "legitimate demands" of protesters, state media reported on Tuesday, after demonstrations by shopkeepers in Tehran over economic hardship. Shopkeepers in the capital shut their stores on Monday, after Iran's embattled currency hit new lows on the unofficial market. "They didn't even follow up on how the dollar price affected our lives," he complained. With this dollar price, we can't even sell a phone case, and the officials don't care at all that our lives are run by selling mobile phones and accessories."

Moscow said on Monday that Ukraine had launched drones at Putin’s secluded home in the Novgorod region, between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. It also said the Russian army had chosen “how, when and where” to retaliate against Ukraine. Russia has hit Ukraine with an almost daily barrage of drones and missiles for almost four years, killing thousands. Putin had increasingly used the residence since the Ukraine war began, as it was more secluded and better protected by air defence installations, according to an investigation by RFE/RL. Russia’s advance in eastern Ukraine picked up pace in autumn, with Moscow’s troops seizing more villages with every week since.

Number of Japanese restaurants overseas down for 1st time amid China slowdownListen to this articleCustomers line up in front of a restaurant at the Coredo Muromachi commercial complex in Nihonbashi district in Tokyo on Friday. The number of Japanese restaurants operating overseas fell for the first time this year, led by a decline in China. (Photo: Bloomberg)The number of Japanese restaurants operating overseas fell for the first time in 2025, pressured by a sharp decline in China amid its economic downturn, a government survey showed. Nevertheless, China remained the country or region with the largest number of Japanese restaurants abroad in 2025, followed by the United States, with some 26,360 eateries, South Korea at 19,800 and Mexico with 7,430. Based on a Foreign Ministry survey, the report was compiled as the government seeks to expand exports of Japanese food products abroad, with the number of overseas restaurants serving as a key reference for their uptake.

An innovative use of AI-led, performance-driven advertising is helping reshape Thailand’s tourism demand beyond the traditional high season. Yango Ads’ booking data from the “Velvet Seasons” campaign also reveals a notable shift in travel demand during Thailand’s shoulder season. The campaign focused on Russian-speaking travellers, a high-value segment identified in the Yango Ads Tourism Industry Guide 2025. Victoria Rossi, Business Development Manager for Asia at Yango Ads, said: “Thailand needs no introduction to the Yango Ads audience. This is why Thailand remains a strategic long-term market for Yango Ads as we help partners drive measurable outcomes and sustainable growth.”

CIA drone attack on dock allegedly used by drug boats said to be the first on landListen to this articleUS President Donald Trump confers with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week. “So we hit all the boats and now we hit the area, it’s the implementation area, that’s where they implement. And that is no longer around.”Trump would not say if it was a military or CIA operation or where the strike occurred, noting only that it was “along the shore”. Sources familiar with the operation told CNN and the New York Times that the CIA had carried out a drone strike on a port facility. “They have a big plant or a big facility where they send, you know, where the ships come from,” Trump told billionaire supporter John Catsimatidis on the WABC radio station in New York.

“I’m very happy I finally got the contract,” Siasarani told the Bangkok Post backstage at Lumpinee Stadium. He lost to Shadow Singha Mawynn and later to Khunsuek on one day’s notice, in a bout that featured a contested knockdown. Siasarani has since rebuilt momentum, reeling off four wins in a row – with two, surprisingly, in kickboxing – and earning the contract many believed was overdue. Liu has since called for a title shot, but Siasarani made it clear he does not believe the Chinese striker should be prioritised ahead of him – despite Liu holding wins over elite names including Masaaki Noiri and Shadow. Mohammad Siasarani reacts after winning a US$100,000 ONE Championship contractAsked about a potential rematch with Siasarani, Liu dismissed the idea, saying he had no interest in revisiting a fight he felt did little for fans.

Turnover was thin at 32.5 billion baht as traders packed up ahead of a five-day New Year break. Foreign investors ended the year as net sellers of 107.06 billion baht worth of Thai shares, compared with 146.9 billion baht in 2024. Local institutions were net sellers of 38 billion baht, compared with net buying of 48.2 million baht the year before. Proprietary trading (brokerages) recorded a net selling position of 13.6 billion baht, compared with 22.8 billion in 2024. Average daily turnover on the SET as of Nov 30 was 41.91 billion baht, compared with 46.55 billion at the end of 2024.