England, Spain pursue history in Women's World Cup finalEngland coach Sarina Wiegman on the eve of the final. (Photo: AFP)SYDNEY: History will be made at the Women's World Cup on Sunday when England and Spain clash in the final in Sydney, with both bidding to win the tournament for the first time. It will be the final act of a tournament full of shocks which began one month ago and started with 32 teams, making it the biggest Women's World Cup ever. British media has been full of references to 1966 -- when the country won the men's World Cup for the only time. Whoever wins, it will be a new name on the Women's World Cup.

Most disagree with Pheu Thai forming govt with former foes: polllUnited Thai Nation leader Pirapan Salirathvahibhaga (left) and Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew laugh after talks between the two parties at Pheu Thai headquarters on July 22. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Most people disagree with the Pheu Thai Party's forming a government that includes its former political foes in the coalition regardless of political polarisation, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. The poll was conducted on Aug 15-17 by telephone interviews with 1,310 people aged 18 and over of various levels of education, occupations and incomes throughout the country to compile their opinions on the Pheu Thai Party's forming of a "special government" which includes Palang Pracharath and United Thai Nation parties regardless of political polarisation. Of the respondents, 39.62% said they had never voted for the Pheu Thai Party (or the former Thai Rak Thai and Palang Prachachon parties); 33.13% said had previously voted for Pheu Thai, including in the May 14, 2023 election; 26.72% said they had previously voted for Pheu Thai, excluding the May 14, 2023 election; and 0.53% had never exercised their voting right. Asked who from the Pheu Thai Party they thought was suitable to be prime minister, 38.63% favoured Paetongtarn "Ung-ing" Shinawatra; 36.56% Srettha Thavisin; 8.47% Chaikasem Nitisiri; and 16.34% had no answer or were not interested.

Pheu Thai to unveil final coalition lineupDeputy Pheu Thai leader Phumtham Wechayachai, left, shakes hands with Santi Promphat, then Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) secretary-general and now deputy party leader, as PPRP key members, including Capt Thamanat Prompow, now party secretary-general, second from right, arrive at the Pheu Thai headquarters on July 23. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)The Pheu Thai Party is expected to announce the final lineup of parties in its new coalition government on Monday, which according to a source will definitely include the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP). Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai, meanwhile, dismissed media reports about the prospective lineup, saying the details have yet to be settled so the reports are premature. As for the PPRP, Mr Phumtham wouldn't say if Pheu Thai has formally invited the party to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition. However, when asked to confirm whether the PPRP will become a coalition party, Mr Pai simply said the decision lies with Pheu Thai.

(Photo: Reuters)WASHINGTON: Electric-vehicle batteries and other car parts are the latest products under scrutiny as part of Washington’s effort to stamp out US links to forced labour in Chinese supply chains, according to a document seen by Reuters, agency statistics and sources. When shipments are detained, CBP provides the importer with a list of examples of products from previous reviews and the kind of documentation required to prove they are not made with forced labour, CBP told Reuters. That document, a recent version of which was obtained by Reuters through a public records request, was updated between April and June of this year to include batteries, tyres, aluminium and steel, a CBP spokesperson said. “The timing of these changes does not reflect any specific changes in strategy or operations,” a CBP spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the list of eight product types was “not exhaustive”. The stepped-up focus on automakers follows a study by Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, published in December, that said nearly every major automaker has exposure to products made with forced labour in Xinjiang.

Small operators face high season staff woesAs the tourism sector remains buoyant, small operators are likely to face labour shortages during the high season as larger businesses offer more competitive salaries. Hotel spas have sufficient staff for the high season as they pay competitive wages based on higher service charges, as most of their guests are high-end customers. Mr Krod said the labour shortage is gradually easing as positive tourism sentiment encourages small operators to hire more skilled staff to prepare for the high season. Some may adjust their daily wage, for example increasing from 400 baht to 1,000 baht during the high season, she said. She said the average occupancy rate in Chiang Mai should grow marginally to 70-75% from 65% during the high season last year.

But it remains to be seen whether the senators will also vote for him, Mr Yutthaporn said. If Mr Srettha is not elected during the vote, it is still not clear whether Pheu Thai will nominate Ms Paetongtarn. The matter was agreed upon by whips from the Senate and representatives of political parties who met with Mr Wan on Friday. Mr Srettha did not seek office in the May 14 election as a constituency or party-list MP. There are no rules specifically barring a non-MP from addressing a parliamentary meeting, Mr Wan said.

Roman Catholic nuns hold placards as they take part in a protest to condemn the attacks on churches in Pakistan, in Karachi on Friday. (Photo: AFP)LAHORE, Pakistan: More than 80 Christian homes and 19 churches in Pakistan were vandalised when a Muslim mob rampaged through the streets over alleged blasphemy this week, the head of Punjab provincial police said on Friday. On Friday, 3,200 churches were being guarded by police across Punjab province to provide reassurance to the Christian community, Anwar said. Homes in the Christian neighbourhood were ransacked, with their contents strewn all over the streets. Muslims living in the predominantly Christian area gave shelter to their neighbours and pinned Koranic verses to the doors of Christian homes to prevent them from being targeted, residents of both faiths told AFP.

MFP firm on urging parliament to review Pita's renominationMove Forward Party (MFP) MP Rangsiman Rome reaffirms that he will push for a motion for parliament to review its July 19 resolution rejecting Mr Pita’s renomination. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)Move Forward Party (MFP) list-MP Rangsiman Rome stands firm that he will urge parliament to reconsider its decision to reject the renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. Mr Rangsiman said on Friday that he will proceed with his motion for a new parliamentary review of the resolution passed on July 19. We must take extra caution when employing this issue (parliament’s resolution to reject Mr Pita’s renomination) as a precedent." On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court dismissed the Ombudsman's petition related to the rejected renomination of Mr Pita.

Thai freelancers are among the top 10 globally in terms of hires via Freelancer.com, the world's largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace. The number of new Thai users on the platform has grown from 7,000 to more than 11,500 over the last 12 months. The No.1 registered job for Thai freelancers is translation, followed by website design, website development, data entry and writing. The top countries hiring Thai freelancers are India, the US and Australia. Thai employers aren't necessarily hiring Thai freelancers, despite their high skills.

United Thai Nation leader Pirapan Salirathvahibhaga (left) and Pheu Thai leader Cholnan Srikaew speak to reporters after earlier talks between the two parties on July 22 at Pheu Thai headquarters. Pheu Thai accepted the condition, he added. He denied that UTN was demanding the energy minister’s position from Pheu Thai. “Our 36 votes are ready to support the prime ministerial candidate of the Pheu Thai Party. The structure of the Pheu Thai coalition would be announced by Monday next week, Mr Phumtham added.

Ranked by the most senior, they are Pol Gen Roy Ingkapairote, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet and Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn. Pol Gen Roy, member of Class 40 at the Royal Police Cadet Academy, and Pol Gen Torsak, a graduate of Thammasat University's political science faculty, are both due to retire next year. Pol Gen Kittirat, member of Class 41, will retire in 2026, while Pol Gen Surachate, member of Class 47, has eight years before his mandatory retirement in 2031. He moved up as the CIB chief, and was named an assistant police chief prior to being promoted as deputy chief. Pol Gen Surachate said that with eight years to go before his retirement he is in no rush.

(Photo: AFP)Myanmar expects its rice exports to surge in coming months as curbs on Indian sales and a spike in Thai and Vietnamese prices force buyers to seek other supply sources. Myanmar exported about 320,000 tonnes of Rice from April to July, earning just $138 million, according to data from the federation, after the government decided to prioritise selling higher-grade rice. The Indian curbs have pushed up the prices of rice from some of Myanmar’s regional competitors to 15-year highs. “We hope to take advantage, even though we’ll maintain our focus on exporting only higher-quality varieties,” Ye Min Aung said. Myanmar earned over $800 million from rice sales in each of the two previous fiscal years, according to the federation.

Meeting on Thursday expected to set date for PM voteParliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha speaks to reporters. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)A meeting at the parliament on Thursday is expected to set a date for the next joint session to vote for a new prime minister. House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the ex-officio parliament president, said before the scheduled decision on Wednesday that the parliament would call a meeting of legal experts on Thursday to discuss a date for the next parliamentary vote for a new prime minister. They filed their petitions with the court through the Ombudsman, complaining the parliament's rejection of Mr Pita's renomination affected their constitutional rights. Mr Wan delayed the prime ministerial vote on Aug 4 after the Constitutional Court postponed its ruling.

Russian central bank hikes rates as rouble faltersRussia's central bank warned inflationary pressure was still rising. (Photo: AFP)MOSCOW: Russia's central bank on Tuesday hiked its key interest rate from 8.5 to 12 percent, after the rouble crashed to a more than 16-month low against the dollar. "This decision was taken in order to limit the risks to price stability," the central bank announced after an emergency meeting earlier in the day. "In the case of a strengthening of pro-inflation risks, an additional increase of the key rate is possible," it later said, in comments published by Russian news agencies. The bank is next scheduled to consider its key rate on September 15.

Call for smooth gas production at PailinThe Pailin gas block in the Gulf of Thailand. (Photo: Department of Mineral Fuels)PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP) wants energy authorities to prevent any obstacles to continuing gas production in the Gulf of Thailand when a concession at the Pailin gas block ends in 2028. In 2018, gas production at Erawan averaged 1,280 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). The company managed to increase gas production to 400 MMSCFD in April, up from 200 MMSCFD earlier this year. Pailin is currently co-operated by PTTEP, which made a 60% investment in the gas production, and Chevron Thailand, with a 40% investment.