Most expect Prayut to stay in power throughout 2022: pollPrime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha look at reporters as he walks in the Government House compound on Dec 21, 2021. (File photo: Chanat Katanyu)Most people believe Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will remain in power throughout the year while the political situation will be as chaotic as in 2021, according to an opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. Respondents were asked how they expect the political, economic and Covid-19 situations to play out in 2022. Concerning the government under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, 45.36% believed Gen Prayut would remain in power throughout the year; 11.47% thought there would be a House dissolution to make way for a new election; 7.85% said there would be cabinet reshuffles; and 7.32% believed Gen Prayut would resign. Asked how the economic situation in 2022 would compare with 2021, 45.73% believed the situation would be worse; 34.04% thought it would be remain the same; and 20.23% believed it would improve.

China woos new digital yuan users ahead of Lunar New Year, Winter OlympicsA woman walks past a banner advertising the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the Main Press Centre in Beijing on Thursday. The e-CNY wallet is also accessible through the electronic wallets of seven other major domestic banks, namely the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, Postal Savings Bank of China and China Merchants Bank. "I just tried the digital yuan app, and it's very easy to use," a Weibo user wrote on Thursday. Another user said he had yet to use the 25 digital yuan he was given during a bus ride. However, China has yet to announce a formal timetable for the nationwide launch of its digital fiat money, officially known as Digital Currency Electronic Payment.

More than 100,000 march in France against Covid vaccine requirementsSaturday's marches eclipsed last month's protests, with four times the numbers turning outPARIS: More than 100,000 people across France protested Saturday over what they say are government plans to further restrict the rights of the unvaccinated, days after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to "piss off" those refusing the jab. The government has said it expects the new requirements to be implemented by Jan 15, although lawmakers in the Senate could now delay the process. Interior ministry officials said 105,200 people participated in Saturday's protests across France, 18,000 of them in the capital Paris, where police reported 10 arrests and three officers slightly injured. France recorded 303,669 new coronavirus cases on Saturday amid mounting pressure on hospitals. The Paris protesters, many of them unmasked, braved the cold and rain brandishing placards emblazoned with the word "truth" and "No to vaccine passes".

More than 30% of Covid-19 infections in Thailand are believed to be of the Omicron variant, says virologist Yong Poovorawan. "We must admit that the Omicron variant has been spreading in Thailand and other countries around the world," he said. Dr Yong said S gene testing would more effectively detect Omicron infections, but it was not included in Thailand's testing process, so it cannot be used. A study indicated that patients, especially those who were vaccinated but still contracted the Omicron variant, should now have sufficient immunity to neutralise a Delta infection. The DDC said most Omicron infections were asymptomatic, and the virus was mostly found in the windpipe.

Items on display at this week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) include air purifiers, car seat alarms and intelligent sun visors. CabinAir and Marelli also showcased car air purification systems that could be installed inside the cockpit or in a cup holder. After developing more ergonomic seats, auto suppliers have begun focusing on tools to help drivers get ahead of other health problems such as cardiovascular issues, and to maintain driver awareness. The Italian startup Filo developed an alarm system for children's car seats following a law in its home country intended to prevent kids from being left in the car on hot days. Other child-protection devices employ cameras, radars, vibration detection and weight sensors, said Mike Ramsay, a specialist in auto technology at consultancy Gartner.

(Bangkok Post file photo)A resort in Khao Yai has allegedly threatened one of its customers with a 3-million-baht defamation case for posting a bad review online. Lawyer Sittra Biebangkerd revealed yesterday that a female client was threatened for posting the bad review on travel booking platform Agoda on Dec 19. Afterwards, Ms Khing reportedly received a threatening call from the resort, claiming her review was defamation and had sullied the resort's reputation. Ms Khing insisted she was just a tourist and had no hidden agenda for criticising the resort. She even apologised to the resort, saying she posted the review in good faith hoping it would spur improvements.

Ministry jab plan for this year gets nodThe Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has approved the Public Health Ministry's vaccination plan for this year which includes the inoculation of 9.3 million people this month. The CCSA has also approved a fourth booster shot against Covid-19 for medical workers and people with underlying health conditions, according to CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin. Recipients of two doses of Sinovac and Pfizer as a third shot will receive Pfizer or Moderna as a fourth shot, with a three-month interval, according to the spokesman. The purchase scheme, which will be carried out by the Department of Medical Services, will be submitted to the cabinet for approval. The remaining are 2.1 million who are due to receive their second doses and 5.5 million who are scheduled to get a third booster shot.

The additional sandbox destinations are three islands in Surat Thani province — Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan — and the entire provinces of Krabi and Phangnga. He said Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had given a guarantee that public health would not be imperilled. "The public health minister confirmed public health safety," he said. Travellers would be required to use only designated transport and routes and stay in designated hotels, the CCSA spokesman said. The provinces are:BangkokChon BuriKanchanaburiKrabiNonthaburiPathum ThaniPhangngaPhuketDomestic measuresDr Taweesilp said the CCSA decided to step up public health controls in 69 other provinces.

The Erawan gas field in the Gulf of Thailand. Chevron will see its gas production concession at Erawan expire in April. The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) has approved measures to cope with a shortfall of natural gas from the Erawan gas block in the Gulf of Thailand in a bid to secure enough fuel for power generation in the country. The measures include greater use of gas supply from other gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand, Kulit Sombatsiri, permanent secretary for energy, said on Thursday. PTTEP expects gas production at Erawan to decline to 200 MMSCFD in mid-2022, down from 600 MMSCFD at present, causing a need for more gas supply to offset the shortfall.

(AFP photo)The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is securing control of the trade of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as it plans to require operators of NFT marketplaces to apply for a business licence. Sanjay Popli, co-founder of Cryptomind and owner of Merkle Capital, said many companies are preparing to launch their own NFT marketplaces in Thailand. Akalarp Yimwilai, co-founder and chief executive of Zipmex Thailand, said Zipmex is preparing to launch an NFT platform and is applying for a licence in the first quarter. There are four domestic NFT marketplaces: NFT1, Bitkub NFT, Coral and JNFT. Notable international NFT marketplaces include OpenSea, Axie Marketplace, Larva Labs/CryptoPunks, NBA Top Shot Marketplace and Rarible.

US director Peter Bogdanovich's "The Last Picture Show" is hailed as a classic of New Hollywood. LOS ANGELES: Peter Bogdanovich, the acclaimed New Hollywood director of "The Last Picture Show," has died at the age of 82, his agent said Thursday. Starting out as an influential film critic, Bogdanovich began directing with 1968's "Targets," before co-writing his ode to 1950s America "The Last Picture Show." I'll never forgot attending a premiere for 'The Last Picture Show,'" his contemporary, director Francis Ford Coppola, said in a statement to AFP. He birthed masterpieces as a director and was a most genial human," tweeted director Guillermo del Toro.

Indonesia’s Covid cases reach 2-month high as Omicron loomsA child reacts while receiving a dose of a vaccine against the coronavirus disease as the Omicron variant continues to spread, in South Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia on Thursday, in this photo taken by Antara Foto. (Reuters)Indonesia added the highest number of Covid-19 cases in two months and breached a key threshold that could prompt tighter restrictions. The health ministry reported 533 infections on Thursday, the most since Nov 4, with seven people dying from the disease. More than half of the new cases were found in the capital Jakarta, which reported 267. The government has said it will enforce more stringent measures if the country’s caseload reaches 500 and 1,000 cases each day.

Any draft which passes a reading must have the support of more than half of all MPs and senators in the House. In its version, parties must submit its list of candidates under the constituency system before they can propose candidates for the party-list system. To date, a minimum number for constituency candidates has been set. The only difference, he said, is that their proposal does not require constituency candidates to share the same candidacy number as party-list candidates, Mr Paiboon said. Specifically, Pheu Thai will benefit from the changes more than the PPRP which is struggling with internal rifts, Mr Somchai said.

A controversial draft law regulating non-profit organisations could muzzle freedom of expression, experts say. Saree: Checks exist alreadyThe authorities can audit the funding of non-profit organisations or require overseas sources of funding to report to them. Any non-profit organisations that break the law would have their activities suspended and be liable for criminal action. Suntharee Hatthee Sengking, a member of the NGO Coordinating Committee on Development, agreed the bill could cross the freedom line. The bill, if passed, would make it compulsory for non-profit organisations to function as a juristic entity.

Pork prices have shot up to as much as 240 baht a kilogramme. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has ordered the temporary suspension of swine exports to combat the skyrocketing prices of pork in the domestic market. Mr Jurin said pigs and piglets will be temporarily banned from export until April 5 so there will be enough pork for domestic consumption. Last year, 18 million pigs were supplied to the domestic market and one million were exported. This year, domestic supply is expected to fall to 13 million swine.