Those fears have led other central banks to significantly increase their gold reserves. Although central bank purchases of gold fell slightly in volume from the previous year, their total value increased by 13% in 2025. Gold now makes up more than 20% of central bank reserves, a level not seen since the early 1990s, the WGC said. Demand was also boosted by enthusiasm for exchange-traded funds linked to the gold price. “Gold ETFs have made gold more accessible to many investors” by making it as easy to buy as a company stock, Gopaul said.

Five English sides finish in top eight of Champions LeagueListen to this articleLiverpool are one of five English sides already into the Champions League last 16. (Photo: AFP)MANCHESTER - Premier League clubs have flexed their muscle on and off the field in Europe, with five English sides finishing in the top eight of the Champions League group phase. Bankrolled by television rights deals that dwarf those in other nations, Premier League clubs have long enjoyed a significant financial advantage over most of their European rivals. “I won’t point out how much money they spent, as that would be too obvious, but the Premier League does have a very different type of intensity and pace to Italian football.”The success of Premier League sides in Europe this season has come despite underwhelming domestic campaigns for some teams. The England international has scored six times in this season’s Champions League but has not netted from open play in the Premier League for more than a year.

British tourist rescued after illegal paragliding mishap in KrabiListen to this articleAn experienced local climber helps a 52-year-old British tourist down the cliff at Railay West Beach in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi on Wednesday. (Photos: Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park)National park officials in Krabi needed about six hours to rescue a 52-year-old British man who had become stranded on a cliff while paragliding. A marine patrol team from Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park spotted a foreign man preparing for a paragliding attempt, which is prohibited in the park, at 10.30am on Wednesday at Railay West Beach. A drone was deployed to get a closer look, and video showed the man had sustained injuries to his leg. After a long operation, the tourist, who remained conscious and responsive, was successfully brought down to safety at 4.30pm.

Nipah outbreak in India has China worried before Lunar New YearListen to this articleA patient, who according to medics is suffering from Nipah infection, is shifted to an ICU of Nipah isolation ward in Kozhikode Medical College in Kozhikode district in the southern state of Kerala, India, on July 20, 2024. (Photo: Reuters)An outbreak of the highly fatal Nipah virus in India's eastern state of West Bengal has sparked widespread attention and public concern in China ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday when millions will travel. The most fatal complication of Nipah infection is inflammation of the brain, known as encephalitis. Overall, the likelihood of a Nipah outbreak in China was considered low under current conditions, she said. Between mid-May and mid-July last year, four confirmed cases of Nipah virus infection, including two deaths, were reported in two districts of Kerala, a tropical coastal state in India.

China's ambassador warns Australia on buyback of key portListen to this articleChina's Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the Port of Darwin in 2015. SYDNEY - China will act to defend its companies' interests if Australia forcibly buys back control of the strategic northern port of Darwin, Beijing's ambassador has warned. China's Landbridge group was granted a 99-year lease on the port in 2015, a widely criticised decision that led to stricter scrutiny of infrastructure sales. "We will see when it's time for us to say something, do something, to reflect the Chinese government's position and protect our Chinese companies' legitimate interests," he said. The ambassador warned that retaking control of the port could affect Chinese companies' investment, cooperation and trade with the Darwin region.

China issues 73 life bans, punishes top football clubs for match-fixingListen to this articleFormer China national team head coach Li Tie is already serving a 20-year prison sentence for briberyBEIJING - China's football association issued lifetime bans to 73 people, including former national team head coach Li Tie, and punished 13 top professional clubs for match-fixing and corruption, it said Thursday. Several top officials in the Chinese Football Association (CFA) have been brought down, while dozens of players have been banned for match-fixing and gambling. He is now banned from all football activities for life, alongside 72 others, the CFA statement said. - Negative start to season -The football clubs that will be punished are similarly high-profile. President Xi is a football fan who has said he dreams of China hosting and winning the World Cup one day.

(Photo: Handout via Bangkok Post)SURAT THANI - Tourists have been using Singapore as a transit point to traffic cannabis from Thailand to the United Kingdom, customs officials say. Samui Customs Office chief Ruangyos Komoltham said on Wednesday that many marijuana seizures made between March and September last year were linked to a popular trafficking pattern. A lot of the cannabis seized was destined to be brought to the UK via Singapore, mostly by British holiday makers. The Samui customs office confiscated 406.6 kilogrammes of dried weed from tourists during the seven-month period at Samui Airport, with UK citizens being prime suspects. All admitted to wrongdoing to customs authorities and police upon arrest, he added.

Listen to this articleA group of reserve senators on Thursday called on the Election Commission and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to expedite their investigations into irregularities in the 2024 Senate election. The reserve senators, led by Pol Lt Gen Kamrop Panyakaew, told reporters this week that the ruling made clear that the issue did not stem from the executive branch’s use of power. The 138 senators accused of collusion should step down, the reserve senators said, while 92 senators who signed the petition against the two former ministers should be examined to determine whether the petition was intended to deflect scrutiny from themselves. The vote-rigging case is being pursued by an Election Commission subcommittee while the DSI is working on the money laundering case. The EC investigation committee has submitted its findings, recommending action against 229 individuals, including the 138 senators, under multiple sections of the organic law on the Senate election.

(Photo: Nat Nattyy)Thai AirAsia has issued an apology after 23 passengers were left aboard a shuttle bus at Don Mueang airport and nearly abandoned as their flight prepared for departure, until a woman raised the alarm about her missing friend. She insisted the aircraft could not depart as her friend had checked in and was aboard the shuttle bus. The aircraft returned to its parking position at approximately 7.45am, where the 23 stranded passengers finally disembarked from the bus and boarded the plane. Thai AirAsia’s responseIn a statement, AirAsia confirmed the incident and attributed it to “coordination and communication errors between staff”. The passenger who shared the account praised the elderly woman who raised the alarm, crediting her with ensuring all 23 passengers did not miss their flight.

Two die as Thai air force plane crashes in Chiang MaiListen to this articleThe wreckage of a Beechcraft AT-6TH plane lies on the ground after a crash in Chomthong district of Chiang Mai province on Thursday morning. (Photo: Police via Wassayog Ngamkham)A Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Beechcraft AT-6TH plane crashed on Thursday morning in Chiang Mai province, killing the two pilots onboard. The small fighter was on a training flight when it crashed in a jungle in Huay Muang Fang Sai village in Chomthong district, local media reports quoted the air force as saying. Amarin TV said local residents reported hearing two loud explosions before the plane burst into flames. The RTAF has eight AT-6TH planes for multiple purposes, including combat missions.

Listen to this articlePolice have arrested two “fake lawyers” and their accomplices after a woman was defrauded of 16 million baht in a land case settlement scam, while investigations continue into complaints by other victims. Investigators said the case originated with a request for advice that the victim posted in late 2025 on a Facebook group called “Free Legal Advice from Volunteer Lawyers”. The victim reportedly had to sell her house and other assets to pay the bills sent by the fake lawyers. Police say the suspects had used fake accounts, bearing names belonging to relatives and neighbours in Phetchabun province, to handle the money transfers. The playbook was similar: the duo posed as real estate agents or lawyers to gain victims’ trust and eventually scam them.

Stepping into her new role as the Amazing Thailand Ambassador for 2026, Lalisa “Lisa” Manobal stunned crowds in a Balmain Haute Couture gown inspired by the wardrobe of Her Majesty the late Queen Sirikit. The campaign aims to transform the tourism landscape of Thailand from just another typical tourist haunt to a quality leisure destination. Lisa’s stunning golden gown tells a story that reaches far beyond the red carpet — one of cultural diplomacy woven in silk and preserved in fashion’s most prestigious archives. The piece, a meticulous revival from Balmain’s storied collection, traces its lineage to the original Nuit à Londres gown from Pierre Balmain’s Haute Couture Spring/Summer 1960 collection, originally created for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. Traditional Thai textile prints are seamlessly integrated into the bandeau and sleeves, creating a visual dialogue between French haute couture techniques and Thailand’s rich textile heritage.

Speakers from 8 political parties elaborate on the outlook at Bangkok Post-TNN16 eventListen to this articleThe Bangkok Post, in collaboration with TNN16, is presenting a special forum, “TNN16 x Bangkok Post - Election 2026: Decoding the Economic Future”, on Thursday from 12pm to 2pm. Explore the outlook for the Thai economy from the perspectives of speakers from eight political parties in our updates below. 12.06pm: What are the urgent economic policies to be carried out within 90 days of forming a government? 12.20pm: How do you plan to increase GDP growth by more than 2%? Thai Kao Mai's Kanate Wangpaichitr – more foreign direct investmentThai Sang Thai’s Suradech Taweesaengsakulthai – matching funds, tokenisation of commoditiesPeople’s Party’s Anusorn Tamajai – stimulating consumption by increasing people’s income and reducing their expenses; more manmade tourist attractionsNew Opportunity’s Anusree Tubsuwan – three-year moratorium for household debts, soft lans for SMEsRak Chart’s Ekpitiya Iamkhongek – job creation through investment in infrastructure and public utilitiesDemocrats’ Werapong Prapha – promotion of EV production, high-tech industries, clean energy, workers’ upskillingPheu Thai’s Pichai Naripthaphan – more free trade agreementsUnited Thai Nation’s Atavit Suwannapakdee – clean energy to attract foreign investment

Party says under-fire Dr Supat Hasuwannakit is still its lawful candidate in SongkhlaListen to this articleDr Supat Hasuwannakit, a People's Party candidate in Songkhla, has been an outspoken critic of some policies of the Ministry of Public Health. (Photo: People's Party)The People’s Party says Dr Supat Hasuwannakit remains its lawful MP candidate in Constituency 2 of Songkhla province for the Feb 8 election, despite a decision by a Ministry of Public Health panel to dismiss him from the civil service. Supporters of Dr Supat, an outspoken critic of many ministry policies, say his dismissal is a political move to tarnish his civil service record and void his candidacy. Dr Supat had already resigned from the civil service and is contesting the Songkhla seat under the People's Party banner. In 2020, Dr Supat was chairman of the Rural Doctor Society.

A series of innovative creations by university students are exhibited as part of the ongoing Bangkok Design Week 2026 at Em Tower, M floor of Emsphere and EM Station, M floor of Emporium, Sukhumvit Road, from today until Feb 8. The programme aims to unlock design potential and provide a platform for students to express their ideas through limitless artistic creation. The students are from 10 academic institutions -- Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, Silpakorn University, Chiang Mai University, Srinakharinwirot University, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Assumption University, Bangkok University and Burapha University. Held for the 9th consecutive year, the Bangkok Design Week 2026 focuses on the theme "Design S/O/S" to represent a powerful declaration of design as a vital tool and force to help society act, adapt and survive. The festival brings together a diverse range of creative works to showcase throughout Bangkok.