Briefly

THAILAND

Another PM vote to be held next week: Speaker

Thailand's parliament will hold another vote for prime minister next week, which cannot include Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the May election winner Move Forward party, a deputy speaker said on Thursday, after his renomination was blocked. Parliament's move to deny Pita after a marathon debate on his eligibility on Wednesday triggered protests, as the post-election crisis deepens after his party's surprise election triumph in May. Pita, 42, has faced tough resistance from conservative forces that clash with the party's anti-establishment policies.

SOUTH AFRICA

More than 40 nations interested in BRICS

More than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group of nations, South Africa's top diplomat in charge of relations with the bloc said on Thursday. Anil Sooklal and officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs were addressing journalists in the main commercial city of Johannesburg. Aside from the 22 countries that had formally asked to join, Sooklal said there was "an equal number of countries that have informally expressed interest in becoming BRICS members … (including) all the major Global South countries". Countries including Argentina and Saudi Arabia have expressed interest.

EUROPEAN UNION

Climate chief to leave, run in Dutch election

Frans Timmermans will leave the European Commission to run for the leadership of the combined Labour and Green Left parties in a Dutch national election in November, the newspaper De Volkskrant reported on Thursday. Timmermans, a member of the Dutch Labour Party, has informed the commission of his decision, the paper said. Labour and Green Left have decided to join forces in the Nov 22 vote. Timmermans, 62, served as foreign minister during 2012-14 in the previous cabinet of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

INDIA

Pizza giant squeezes profits amid inflation

The world's biggest pizza brand, Domino's, has responded to high inflation in India with the world's cheapest pizza. The 7-inch cheese pizza with a "sprinkle" of basil which sells for 49 rupees ($0.60), is the tip of the spear in its fight against inflation. By comparison, Domino's cheapest savory pizza is priced at about $3.80 in Shanghai and $12 in San Francisco, online menu prices show. Domino's India pivot has removed lids from all boxes of pizzas sold at stores starting from December, saving 0.6 cents each time because 37 percent of Domino's Indian business is dine-in.

Agencies via Xinhua