Massive 2.5bn-baht missile agreement put on iceThe army has been denied next year's fund to buy Javelin missiles and related equipment worth some 2.5 billion baht from the United States, according to an army source. The government, it said, has inked an agreement to buy 300 Javelin FGM-148 missiles and 50 Javelin Command Launch Units (CLU). Also included are Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainers; missile simulation rounds; Security Assistance Management Directorate (SAMD) Technical Assistance; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) Project Office Technical Assistance; contractor lifecycle support; spares manuals. On Sunday, the army source said the missiles were to be paid for in instalments until 2024. The source said the army had not objected to the cut though it planned to re-submit the request for funds next year.

Thailand 2031: A Glimpse into the FutureWhy 2031? We will either be submerged in it and get left behind, or ride the wave towards a better future," said Mr Sethaput. EA has projected future demand and made a large investment in renewable energy development projects. Mr Somphote admitted the costs of renewable energy development remain high, but they should decrease in the future, allowing competition with fossil-based electricity generation. Peering into the future, Mr Somkiat highlights four major issues that will have significant implications in shaping the country's landscape as he discusses key challenges and opportunities in the coming years.

Luxury looks homeward as Covid curtails travelIt is the "upper middle class, the rich and ultra-rich untouched by the crisis" who could not travel and instead bought luxury goods, said Arnaud Cadart at FlornoyPARIS - The luxury sector has flashed back from the Covid-19 pandemic but the crisis is still putting a crimp in travel, a key part of the market. Industry giants have reported results that show the world's well-heeled are splurging on luxury goods as sales surpass even pre-pandemic levels. It is the "upper middle class, the rich and ultra-rich untouched by the crisis" who could not travel or eat out and instead bought luxury goods, said Arnaud Cadart at asset manager Flornoy. "There is a young generation in the United States that feels comfortable with luxury purchases," in particular among the African-American, Hispanic and Asian populations, he explained. The luxury market will nonetheless "remain dominated by local buyers for at least another year," Rambourg forecast.

But if one thing can outweigh what happened to Lebanon that day, it is what hasn't happened since. Some who donated money to help blast victims a year ago now find themselves recipients of food and cash handouts. Once known as the "Switzerland of the Middle East", Lebanon now has all the trappings of a failed state. "I really see it now as a dystopia, it's the only word I have to describe Lebanon... Lebanon is rudderless, penniless and sleepless, but for both Rantisi and Hage, not completely hopeless.

Heed climate warning signsEmerging a little over a year-and-half ago, Covid-19 has been a collective shock on the human psyche. It has redefined how we live and view the future and although the crisis was largely unexpected, the same can't be said of climate change. The signs of climate change entering a human existential level, one that affects humans and not just ice sheets in frigid regions, are beginning to take shape. The study will highlight how climate change is affecting our planet and offer solutions that will likely be brought up in Glasgow in November at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26 meet. But regardless of what happens at COP26 and what new promises are made, it's time we not only discuss climate change mitigation but also prioritise practices that highlight climate change adaption, especially cutting emissions.

(Reuters photo)Thai boxers Chatchai-decha Butdee and Jutamas Jitpong face make-or-break quarter-final bouts at the Tokyo Games on Sunday. Under the National Sports Development's bonus scheme, an Olympic champion will get 12 million baht, a silver winner 7.2 million baht and a bronze medallist 4.8 million baht. Thailand Boxing Association (TBA) president Pichai Chunhavajira announced on Saturday Bangchak Corporation and its allies will give bonus to medal winning Thai boxers -- 10 million baht for gold, three million baht for silver and two million baht for bronze. Now, I'm quite confident and I will try my best to get an Olympic medal," she said. Both golds were won by weightlifters but Thais were banned from taking part in the sport in the Tokyo Games due to doping.

Army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae, unhappy with coup rumours, files a complaint against a Facebook user on Saturday. Army spokesman Lt Gen Santipong Thampiya on Saturday said the coup rumour was aimed at inciting unrest and discrediting the army. In the complaint, the army accused a Facebook user named Nathapong Akkara of spreading the fake news, the sources said. Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Kongcheep Tantrawanich condemned those who spread the coup rumour, saying this only worsened the crisis besetting the country. "Stop spreading fake news.

Six months post-coup: 'We only have ourselves'Volunteers in protective suits carry a Covid-19 patient as they relocate patients from a flooded field hospital in the Karen state of Myawaddy in Myanmar during the week. These are among the survival skills that many people in Myanmar are using these days, six months after the February military coup. "Now I'm afraid of going outside and I dare not pick up calls from unknown people," said one schoolteacher who continues to stay away from her work with the government. THE PRESENT MOMENTBut it is the here and now that people live in -- and like the Covid-19 pandemic, an end to the crisis is not within sight. Even though I save money, not spending spend much money, I'm afraid that one day, I won't be able to make it."

The second question came from a man who wanted a suggestion for mutual funds. "I want to help, but the questions were hard to properly answer," said Mr Chonladet. "The mutual fund market has huge growth potential compared with other Thai financial assets. The proliferation of smartphones and daily online activities are crucial factors to support mutual fund businesses in the long term, he said. Moreover, more than 60% of new accounts are millennials or people aged below 35 years, Mr Chonladet said.

Crisis of faith is reaching a crescendoPrayut Chan-O-Cha gives his final speech in the run-up to 2019's general election which his Palang Pracharath Party won. Earlier this week, Gen Prayut expressed hope the pandemic will ease in 4-6 weeks with the vaccination campaign up and running more smoothly now. However, if Gen Prayut should become disheartened and decide to call it quits, here are some possible scenarios. Previously, Pheu Thai had enlisted Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan and Chadchart Sittipunt, but both have since gone their own separate ways. In fact, Pheu Thai is particularly ready.

Gag order not a solutionDES Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn at a press conference on the arrests of 18 social media users who allegedly disseminated fake news amid the Covid-19 crisis yesterday. Signed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, this new order issued in compliance with Section 9 of the Emergency Decree became effective yesterday. It is not the calling of a democratically elected government to gag the press to eradicate fake news. This media gag order has been used far too many times in Thailand; it has been popular among coup makers and autocratic governments desperately needing to navigate public opinion. The way to deal with misinformation and disinformation is not placing a gag order, but to have a cool head, open mind, good communication skills, and for this government especially, an insanely good PR team.

Forward bookings for the Phuket sandbox in August are decelerating as cases of Covid-19 mount on the southern island province. As of July 29, 12,599 international travellers entered the Phuket sandbox scheme, with 30 visitors testing positive for Covid-19. Of the total, 192,403 room nights were reserved for this month, 98,735 room nights are in August, and 7,720 room nights are in September. There have not been any reports of early checkouts from guests in the Phuket sandbox. However, commercial flights carrying passengers to the Phuket sandbox can continue to operate.

True denies reported interest in buying DTACA highly placed source at SET-listed True Corporation has rejected a media report suggesting it will acquire Total Access Communication (DTAC), the country's third largest mobile operator, from Norway-based telecom giant Telenor, insisting the story is baseless. "That's not true," the source told the Bangkok Post without further elaboration. According to the report, sources said True is understood to be holding discussions with Telenor regarding the potential acquisition of DTAC. The report indicated Telenor, which owns 65% of DTAC, is looking to exit the Thai market at a valuation of US$2 billion for its stake. These challenged our premise of how we can do business," Mr Brekke said.

Big Tech booms even as lockdown living wanesPowerhouses Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet all reported higher second-quarter 2021 revenues even as they face heightened scrutiny from antitrust regulators for their growing dominance of key economic sectors. SAN FRANCISCO: Big Tech goliaths like Facebook and Amazon unveiled whopping profits this week, showing their dominance in lockdown lifestyles is on course to grow well beyond the pandemic. Regulators' wary gazeAlphabet chief executive Sundar Pichai credited long-term investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing as powering the internet giant's performance. Google's cloud computing business competes with powerhouses Amazon and Microsoft, poising them to vie for virtual terrain in an immersive online world. Microsoft this week reported a jump in profits in the recently ended quarter, keeping strong momentum from accelerated gains in cloud computing during the pandemic.

Asoke junction along Sukhumvit Road, usually jammed with traffic, is dead as people work from home during the lockdown. However, the FPO expects the situation to improve in 2022 as the business sector gradually returns to normalcy, leading to economic expansion of 4-5%. That is weak considering it's a year-on-year comparison and in 2020 the Thai economy contracted 6.1%, the most in two decades. Total cases rose to 561,030, of which 95% have come since the latest wave began in April, official data show. "There's now increasing chatter the Thai economy will contract again this year," said Maria Lapiz, managing director of Maybank Kim Eng Securities Thailand.