Thailand's sports delegation will compete with quality as their priority at the 20th Asian Games in Japan, with athletes selected through rigorous qualification systems and world rankings. The event will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, Director-General of the Thai Sports Authority (TSA), revealed that comprehensive training and budget plans have been prepared in collaboration with the National Sports Development Fund to ensure the strongest possible athlete roster and optimal budget utilization.

Thailand's Asian Games team comprises high-quality athletes who have undergone intensive qualification processes across their respective sports, with some sports prioritizing world rankings in athlete selection. The TSA and sports associations have jointly set a target of winning at least 15 gold medals from 11 medal-prospect sports: takraw, sepak takraw, boxing, athletics, taekwondo, sailing, weightlifting, golf, badminton, judo, and esports.

"The TSA's athlete selection criteria are divided into two categories: athletes who have qualified or hold world rankings—the gold medal prospects or contenders for top-three finishes—and athletes who can advance toward the Olympic Games," Dr. Kongsak stated.

At the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in 2023, Thailand won 12 gold medals, 14 silver medals, and 32 bronze medals, finishing 8th overall.

Huatai Securities says global financial markets are entering a critical transition period, with traditional gold investment metrics becoming inadequate. Investors must increasingly monitor U.S. bond yields and real yields, as these variables now exert greater influence on gold prices than historically observed. This approach resembles past policy frameworks where markets assessed economic conditions and interest rate direction through price mechanisms rather than relying on central bank forward guidance. With reduced central bank communication, markets must independently interpret economic data and monetary policy trends, causing bond markets to more clearly reflect investor expectations on economic growth, inflation, and interest rates.

Recent volatility in both 2-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds has increased, reflecting markets reassessing monetary policy amid continuously changing economic data. While energy price pressures have begun easing and may partially reduce inflation pressure, markets continue prioritizing interest rate direction and bond yields over energy cost factors.

Higher bond yields affect not only financial assets but also the real economy through increased borrowing costs for households, businesses, and government funding, potentially slowing consumption and investment.

For gold markets, investors should increasingly focus on real yields—bond returns adjusted for inflation—as this better reflects the opportunity cost of holding gold compared to considering policy rates alone. If markets expect the Fed to maintain high rates while inflation gradually declines, rising real yields could pressurize short-term gold demand. However, if bond yield increases stem from inflation concerns, fiscal risks, or economic impact, gold may regain attention as a safe-haven asset.

Huatai Securities notes that gold prices no longer respond solely to geopolitical factors as in the past, but also depend on bond yield and real yield movements. Even amid political uncertainty or international conflicts, gold price gains may be limited if bond yields and real interest rates remain elevated.

Further, the Fed's reduced forward guidance role means markets must respond more to current economic data, increasing volatility across assets including gold. Gold prices may now react to economic data, interest rate expectations, and bond yield changes more rapidly and dramatically than before.

This shift reflects that "the gold investment game is changing." Investors cannot assess gold price trends using traditional factors alone, such as inflation, dollar strength, or geopolitical risk.

A woman was shocked to discover her friend dead after being unable to reach him for three days. She went to his apartment room, knocked repeatedly with no answer, then looked through the gap at the bottom of the door and saw a disturbing sight—a lifeless body. She immediately called police.

On June 30, 2569, Lieutenant Wattanarot Bamrungthim, investigator at Kathu Police Station, revealed that at 7:10 p.m. on June 29, officers received a report of a death inside an apartment room in Kathu District, Phuket. They rushed to investigate along with Captain Chalemsai Heuangsawat, Kathu Police Station commander, a medical examiner from Vachira Phuket Hospital, and Phuket charity volunteers.

Inside the room, they found the body of Constantine, a 44-year-old Russian national, with apparent signs of suicide. Based on preliminary autopsy examination, it is estimated he had been dead for approximately two days. Investigators found no signs of struggle or disturbance inside the room, and all of the deceased's belongings remained intact.

During questioning, Ms. A (a pseudonym), 22, a Thai friend of the deceased and the first person to discover the body, stated that she had been unable to contact the deceased for three days. She decided to visit his room and knocked several times, but received no response. She then looked through the gap beneath the door and saw the deceased, unclothed and motionless, sitting with his back against the bathroom door. She broke down the door to investigate and discovered what had occurred inside the room, immediately alerting police.

Medical examiners initially determined that the deceased had been dead for approximately two days. According to information from the friend, the deceased had a history of depression and lived alone. Authorities arranged for the body to be sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for detailed autopsy examination and contacted the Russian Embassy to inform relatives so they could claim the body for religious rites and proceed with legal procedures.

Six zodiac signs—Aries, Aquarius, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Capricorn—will experience sudden great fortune early this month. People born in these signs should prepare to hear good news as they escape past hardships and obstacles disappear. Bad things will fade away while good things rush in. Remember to make merit and pray for prosperity, and don't complain about your gains. Since you've been born only once, use your money wisely and enjoy life to the fullest. Six zodiac signs will experience sudden great luck, release past burdens, and welcome new blessings.

Russia launched multiple waves of missile and drone attacks against Ukraine on June 29, killing at least 12 civilians and wounding 40 others, AP reported on June 30. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the assault as "horrifying attacks."

Russian missiles targeting infrastructure struck the central city of Dnipro, killing 5 people and injuring 29. In the southern city of Zaporizhzhia, Russian drones hit a passenger minivan, killing 3 civilians and wounding 6, including one child. Ukrainian police also reported that Russian drones killed a 69-year-old woman and 77-year-old man in Sumy region in the northeast. In Kharkiv, midday airstrikes resulted in 1 death and 5 injuries, according to Mayor Igor Terekhov.

Zelenskyy called on Europe to accelerate air defense development to intercept Russian missiles. "People need greater protection from these horrifying attacks," he stated on social media. "Most importantly, we need anti-missile capabilities. It is critical that Europe move with maximum urgency in developing its own air defense systems—both the systems and the missiles."

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine over four years ago, Russian forces have repeatedly destroyed Ukrainian infrastructure and residential areas. UN reports indicate that more than 16,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the conflict.