The catch-all control measure highlighted in current legislation will soon come into forceDhadchyarbhon Abhimontejchbud, deputy director-general of Foreign Trade Department. Exporters are being urged to prepare for the implementation of the catch-all control (CAC) measure in the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act of 2019 this year. Preparatory steps include setting up an internal compliance programme (ICP) to prevent trade activities pertaining to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) as well as monitoring compliance with the export control legislation. "ICP schemes benefit exporters by clearly outlining the data of users and end-users for the government if their products are subject to export checks. Without an ICP, if their products attract the suspicion of intelligence agencies, their exports may be halted or held back by governments."

Chaba Kaew pound Palestine, reach Asian Cup finalsThai players celebrate after scoring a goal against Palestine on Saturday. Thailand qualified for their 17th AFC Women's Asian Cup Finals with an emphatic 7-0 win over Palestine on Saturday night. Victory meant the Southeast Asian side finished top of Group H, having defeated Malaysia in their opening match. Thailand are once again very much in the race to make it to the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. We are still not half way as the target we are aiming for is the Fifa Women's World Cup.

Making the best out of Sino-Thai ties"China is not invading any country - but rather, more people are embracing China," said Pinit Jarusombat, president of the Thai-Chinese Cultural Relationship Council. In an interview with MONGKOL BANGPRAPA, the former deputy prime minister shares his thoughts on the Chinese-US diplomatic relationship and trade tension, and how China's relationship with Thailand has been the tie that binds. Even within the World Health Organization, aid in the form of vaccine relief, for example, is often politicised. The successes it has seen has allowed China to expand its reach in both economic and scientific fields. Chinese leaders have never referred to other countries within the bloc as members of the same family, except Thailand.

People wait in line for services outside the Tao Poon branch of Government Savings Bank during the pandemic. Nutthawat WicheanbutGovernment Savings Bank (GSB) plans to launch a soft loan package worth 5 billion baht next month to help the unemployed, aiming to create 100,000 jobs, says president and chief executive Vitai Ratanakorn. The bank plans to offer soft loans in the range of 30,000-100,000 baht per borrower, depending on their investment plans. Mr Vitai said GSB asked the Finance Ministry to consider subsidising non-performing loans under this programme. The soft loan also meets GSB's obligation as a "social bank", he said.

Pelosi hints infrastructure delay as US Congress begins huge weekUS Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wants her Democrats to push through trillions of dollars worth of investments in infrastructure and social service programs before a self-imposed deadline of Sept 30, 2021. But Pelosi, despite her confidence that the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that has already cleared the Senate with bipartisan support will pass the House of Representatives "this week," hinted at potential quicksand ahead. Biden told reporters on Sunday he was "optimistic" Pelosi would get the agenda through the house this week, adding "it's going to take the better part of the week." But moderate Senate Democrats Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have expressed deep reservations about the huge price tag. But Senate Republicans have balked over extending the Treasury Department's borrowing authority this time around, a position Pelosi described as "irresponsible beyond words."

New USA golf era sends message in epic Ryder Cup rompA United States team with six rookies and eight players in their 20s celebrates a victory over Europe in the Ryder Cup on Sunday at Whistling Straits. KOHLER: A new era of American golfers sent a message Sunday with a record-setting Ryder Cup blowout of Europe, their young and talented core looking ready to dominate for years. With eight under-30 players and six Ryder Cup rookies, the Americans completed a 19-9 rout of Europe at Whistling Straits that signaled a generational change to the world. "This is going to be the next era of Ryder Cup teams for the US side." - Signs of the future -At the next Ryder Cup in 2023 in Italy, the new-look Americans will try to win the trophy away from US soil for the first time since 1993.

Rafting in Nam Khek river postponed by overflowRafting on the Nam Khek river in Phitsanulok has been suspended from Monday due to heavy rain in the province. (Photo: Chinnawat Singha)PHITSANULOK: This year's launch of rafting in the Nam Khek, tentatively scheduled for Monday in this central northern province, has been postponed indefinitely as the stream has burst its banks. Nam Khek river -- the source of the Wang Thong river -- features numerous rapids, making it ideal for adventurous downstream rafting that has become a tradition. The Phitsanulok office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) organises rafting in the Nam Khek river annually. Sopthana Aunprasert, director of the TAT's Phitsanulok office, said because of the problem this year's launch of the Nam Khek rafting season, tentatively set for Sept 27, has been postponed indefinitely or until the water level has dropped to a level considered safe for rafting, probably in one or two weeks from now.

10 Myanmar migrants arrested in SongkhlaSecurity authorities arrested 10 Myanmar nationals in a rubber orchard in Sadao district of Songkhla before they were able to sneak into Malaysian territory. (Photo: Assawan Pakkawan)SONGKHLA: Ten Myanmar migrants were arrested on Sunday morning at a rubber plantation near the border with Malaysia in Sadao district while seven others escaped, police said. Mr Athiwat said he was hired by a Myanmar job agent to transport 17 Myanmar job seekers from a rented house at Ban Rai in tambon Phatong of Hat Yai district to the rubber plantation in Sadao district. The migrants told the police they were all from Rakhine State in Myanmar. The arrested migrants and the Thai van driver were handed over to Sadao police for legal proceedings.

China's Xi warns of 'grim' Taiwan situation in letter to oppositionEric Chu waves to supporters after winning the chairmanship of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang Party (KMT), in Taipei, Taiwan, on Saturday. (Reuters photo)TAIPEI: The situation in the Taiwan Strait is "complex and grim", Chinese President Xi Jinping wrote in a congratulatory letter on Sunday to the newly elected leader of Taiwan's main opposition party, who has pledged to renew talks with Beijing. In Xi's letter, a copy of which was released by the KMT, he said both parties had had "good interactions" based on their joint opposition to Taiwan independence. "At present, the situation in the Taiwan Strait is complex and grim. He expressed hope that both parties could cooperate on "seeking peace in the Taiwan Strait, seeking national reunification and seeking national revitalisation".

Less security in life, property in Covid-19 era: pollThe Covid-19 pandemic forces people to make some adjustments in their daily life including wearing a mask in public places like a market. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)A majority of people say they are experiencing less security in life and property in the Covid-19 era, according to the result of an opinion survey by the Suan Dusit Rajabaht University, or Suan Dusit Poll. The poll was conducted online on 1,172 people throughout the country during Sept 19-23 to compile their opinions on "threats to society in the Covid-19 era". Asked to compare between the time before the Covid-19 outbreak and now in terms of security in life and property, a majority, 72.78%, of the respondents said they were experiencing less security; 24.40% said the situation remained unchanged; and 2.82% said the situation had improved. Most -- 54.46% -- were moderately concerned about this matter, 25.56% were very concerned; 16.81% a little concerned; and 3.17% not concerned at all.

PSG, Man City set to benefit from expected end to financial fair play restrictionsManchester City and PSG have regularly been accused of not respecting UEFA's financial fair play rules, but these rules are set to change. The story of PSG, City and Financial Fair Play (FFP) is essentially the story of the last decade in European football. Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bought City in 2008, while in 2010 Qatar Sports Investments purchased PSG. Also in 2010, UEFA introduced FFP in response to a debt crisis that was submerging clubs across the continent. FFP meant clubs could not lose more than 30 million euros ($35.2m) over a three-year period if they wanted to play in European competition.

Pressure mounts on Solskjaer as Man Utd stumble againManchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under pressure. There is no need for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to hit the panic button yet, with his side just one point behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after six matches. United must stop the rot on Wednesday and in the context of Europe it could be make or break. "It's a big game, a Champions League night and we know we've started that group badly," said Solskjaer. United have lost seven of his 11 Champions League matches since taking charge in 2018.

Merkel legacy in balance as party risks election defeatGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives may crash out of government altogether after her 16 years in powerBERLIN - German Chancellor Angela Merkel may be lauded abroad for her cool crisis management -- at home, her legacy risks being tarnished by a botched succession with her party projected to return its worst post-war score in Sunday's election. "Everyone knows: if Laschet loses, then Merkel's legacy too is lost," said the conservative Welt daily. "Only if (he) wins.. will it be possible for the CDU to reconcile itself with 16 years of government under Merkel." Left with few good options, the conservatives finally plumped for Laschet, their current unpopular CDU chief and Merkel's would-be successor. "There would be an earthquake, a brutal scrum for the chairman role of the parliamentary group," predicted newspaper group RND, adding that the CSU would heap blame on the larger CDU party.

Mitsubishi invests in Laos wind farm project, biggest in SE AsiaBCPG’s wind power facilities in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The company joins other companies in developing a wind farm in southern Laos. (BCPG photo)Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp has invested in a massive wind power plant project in Laos to deliver electricity to Vietnam, in what would be the biggest onshore wind farm in Southeast Asia. The onshore wind farm project, also described as the "first cross-border electricity interchange from wind power generation" in the region, is aimed at fighting climate change while supporting economic activity. The move was followed by an announcement in July by BCPG that IEAD and Vietnam Electricity, a leading power company in the nation, have officially agreed on electricity purchase for 25 years.

That has included threatening huge sequoias like the General Sherman, which looms 275 feet (83 meters) above the forest floor. Firefighters were able to beat back the flames as they ate into California's Giant Forest, thanks to decades of prescribed burns that starved the blaze of fuel. - 'Best tool we have' -The sequoias of Giant Forest, some of which are up to 3,000 years old, have survived countless previous fires. Which explains why there are very few areas in the western United States where the practice is common -- apart from around Giant Forest. "We don't have a lot of brand new sequoia trees in the Giant Forest because it hasn't seen fire in so long.