Security forces fired tear gas canisters -- leaving several wounded, witnesses said -- as activists at the presidential palace in Khartoum chanted slogans against military chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who led a coup on October 25. "The people want the downfall of Burhan," the protesters shouted as additional security forces were deployed to surround the swelling crowd. The move alienated many of Hamdok's pro-democracy supporters, who dismissed it as providing a cloak of legitimacy for Burhan's coup. Nationwide, at least 45 people have been killed and scores more wounded, according to the independent Doctors' Committee. He warned that anything could happen over the next few months with the military still firmly in power.

(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)Thailand logged 2,899 new Covid-19 cases and 22 more fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 2,191,528 Covid-19 cases, with 2,128,358 complete recoveries so far. The vast majority of the Covid cases and deaths have occurred since April 1, around when the third wave of Covid-19 began. The kingdom’s all-time 24-hour high of Covid-19 fatalities was 312 recorded on Aug 18. Global Covid-19 cases rose by 557,866 in 24 hours to 274 million.

Ex-Bangkok governor Bhijit joins Chadchart in gubernatorial raceFormer Bangkok governor Bhijit Rattakul has joined Chadchart Sittipunt as a team member in a Bangkok election expected mid-next year. (Bangkok Post file photo)Former Bangkok governor Bhijit Rattakul has joined Chadchart Sittipunt as a team member in his run for the top spot at City Hall. Mr Bhijit said he was happy to work with the former transport minister in improving the quality of life for Bangkok residents. Mr Bhijit was Bangkok governor from 1996 to 2000, when he ran as an independent candidate, and was also a Democrat Party MP. Mr Chadchart was the most popular candidate in surveys of Bangkok voters by the National Institute of Development Administration and Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.

Dense fog, cold spell hits north IndiaDense fog and a cold spell gripped parts of north India on Saturday (December 18), making it difficult for people to carry out their daily activities. - REUTERSPeople in northern Amritsar, Moradabad cities and New Delhi were also facing visibility issues due to foggy conditions. Snowfall in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has a direct impact in other northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. South Asia's winters are not as cold as other regions such as North America, but the millions of poor here are hit harder because they live in the open and do not have enough warm clothes and often die.

Independent candidates preferred for Bangkok governor post: pollHeavy rain on Oct 14, 2021 causes floods and paralyses traffic on Ngam Wong Wan Road. Traffic congestion is the top issue that residents want the Bangkok governor to solve. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)According to a survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, independent candidates are preferred over those aligned with political parties for the post of Bangkok governor, and Chadchart Sittipunt still leads the race. Asked whether the Bangkok governor should be from a political party or not, 65.72% said either way is acceptable to them; 21.90% said he or she should be an independent; and 12.38% said he or she should be from a political party. Asked who among potential candidates they liked the most, 56.72% chose Chadchart Sittipunt, an independent; 29.60% Suchatvee Suwansawat of the Democrat Party; 10.62% Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang, the current Bangkok governor; 2.26% Rossana Tositrakul, an independent; and 0.80% other candidates.

Court injunction compels state cover for alternative-vaccine side effectsA medical professional gives a Covid-19 vaccine booster shot at the Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok on Saturday. The injunction stems from a petition by lawyer Ratchapol Panthongphan against the Public Health Ministry. As a consumer, he was entitled to free public health services and protection against diseases provided by the state. If recipients of such vaccines develop undesirable conditions or side effects, they should receive free emergency treatment at state hospitals, the court said. The court said the injunction should not pose an obstacle to the government's public health service management.

Fully vaccinated visitors on pre-booked tours will be able to enter from Jan 1 and visit Vientiane, the eco-tourism hotspot Vang Vieng and the Unesco World Heritage-listed Luang Prabang, state media reported on Friday. Laos was receiving about 4.7 million foreign tourists each year before the pandemic. Above Laos Ballooning Adventures, based in Vang Vieng, said it used to run two hot-air balloon flights a day during the high season. Alex Tran, owner of the Camellia Hotel in Vang Vieng, said revenue was down 95% because of the border closures. “Many hotels in Vang Vieng are empty and have closed temporarily for around two years because there are no tourists,” he told AFP.

Taliban govt resumes issuing Afghan passportsAlam Gul Haqqani, head of the passport office (C), says the Taliban will resume issuing passports after a deluge of applications had caused biometric equipment to break downKABUL: Afghanistan's Taliban authorities said Saturday they will resume issuing passports in Kabul, giving hope to citizens who feel threatened living under the Islamists' rule. Thousands of Afghans have also applied for new travel documents to escape a growing economic and humanitarian crisis described by the UN as an "avalanche of hunger". The authorities will start issuing the travel documents from Sunday at Kabul's passport office, Alam Gul Haqqani, the head of the passport department in the interior ministry, told reporters. The Taliban stopped issuing passports shortly after their August 15 return to power, as tens of thousands of people scrambled to Kabul's only airport in a bid to catch any international flight that could evacuate them. Issuing passports is seen as a test of the Taliban's commitment to the international community to allow eligible people to leave amid the growing humanitarian crisis.

Insurance head poised to increase fundMr Suttipol says insurance companies continue to be battered by surges in claims from the Covid policies with lump-sum payments. "With support from insurance companies, the OIC will back the fund capital increase to raise public trust in the market and confidence in the insurance system." "If the risks can be assessed correctly, insurance companies will not sell more policies than they can afford. Mr Suttipol said a stress test suggested the insurance industry is still in a strong position. He said two other non-life insurance companies with severe liquidity issues -- Syn Mun Kong Insurance (SMK) and Thai Insurance (TIC) -- also recently showed signs of recovery.

Weerasak Sunthornsri, who died on Friday, was one of the pioneers of the songs for life movement in the 1970s. (Photo from legends of song for life Facebook account)Weerasak Sunthornsri of the acclaimed "songs for life" band Caravan has died at the age of 71. Fellow musician Surachai Chantimatorn posted a Facebook message on Friday saying Weerasak had died peacefully in the bedroom of his house in Bangkok earlier that day. “A lone warrior lives a lonely life and dies lonely,” Surachai wrote in a tribute message. Kham Long was one of the signature songs of Weerasak Sunthornsri (right).

Awarded by the Department of Industrial Works, the CSR-DIW award was presented to 63 companies from a total of 75 applicants in Thailand. Mr. Tanant Suwanraks, General Manager of URC (Thailand) Co., Ltd. said, “We are pleased to be recognised and presented the CSR-DIW award. This year, the company has put together some initiatives to embrace the welfare of Thai employees, communities, and environments. URC Thailand has announced the Solar Roof project, which will be able to produce around 8.3 million kWh of electricity in one year. The CSR-DIW award featured the 7 major dimensions of measurement, including Corporate Governance, Human Rights, Labor Practice, Environment, Fair Operating Practice, Consumer Issues, and Community Involvement and Development.

At last month's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, nearly 40 countries and institutions pledged to end public finance for oil, gas, and coal projects overseas. Unfortunately, similar progress on the demand side for coal, oil, and gas has been lacking. The current surge in fossil-fuel energy prices reflects a multitude of highly idiosyncratic factors. Hydrocarbon lobbyists have been quick to exploit the recent uptick in fossil-fuel energy prices to advocate for renewed government financing and subsidies. That means focusing on the inevitable, well-managed decline of coal, oil, and gas and their substitution by sustainable clean energy.

Govt parties to file voting law changesThe government coalition is planning to submit draft amendments next week to two organic laws to reflect constitutional changes in the election system, according to Chinnaworn Boonyakiat, Democrat MP for Nakhon Si Thammarat. Mr Chinnaworn, who is also deputy chief government whip, said the bills -- one involving the election of MPs and another on political parties -- deal particularly with the reinstatement of the two-ballot system. Party leader Cholnan Srikaew said the drafts seek to change the calculation and distribution of party-list MPs and the primary voting system, but these proposed revisions are in line with the charter. As for the primary voting, he said the party's draft does not seek to scrap primary voting, which is required under the charter's Section 45. The proposed change is aimed at cutting steps involved in the candidature process and making it easier for political parties to field constituency candidates, he said.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planning a massive marketing campaign engaging 26 global and regional influencers to promote the country's reopening, including Thai-British Formula One driver Alex Albon among the candidates. The campaign will be launched at ITB Berlin, a virtual international travel trade show, in March 2022 with 26 influencers from different fields who have more than 1 million followers on their social networks, he said. The goal of the project is to reach at least 26 million people globally. Part of the gimmick is the 26 influencers will be selected based on the 26 letters in the Roman alphabet, said Mr Yuthasak. Mr Albon has 1.3 million followers on Instagram and around 427,000 Twitter followers, as well as 325,000 followers on Facebook.

The requirement is in line with government efforts to maintain Thailand as a regional auto hub, said Mr Arkhom. The price subsidy measure will also be launched next year to support consumers wanting to buy full EVs, he said. For the price subsidy, the money will be drawn from the existing fund for promoting the country's competitiveness, he said. Mr Arkhom said many foreign car makers, such as US firms, are keen to produce EVs in Thailand. Thailand plans to support EV production throughout the supply chain, including the production of car bodies, batteries and spare parts, he said.