Majority believe Prayut likely serving his last term as PM: pollA Nida poll released on Sunday shows most believe this will likely be the last term for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. (Bangkok Post file photo)A majority of people believe Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's current term as prime minister is probably his last, according to the result of an opinion survey conducted by National Institute of Development Administration, or Nida Poll. Asked about the possibility of Gen Prayut being left out as prime minister when the next government is formed, a large majority -- 52.59% -- said this was possible, with 32.06% saying this was very likely and 30.53% fairly likely. On the other side, 13.51% said this was fairly likely and 4.66% very likely. Asked whether they thought the three generals -- Prayut, Prawit and Anupong -- would still have a role in the formation of the government after the next election, a majority -- 60.16% -- said this was likely and 35.49% unlikely.

Pope Francis meets Viktor Orban in worldview clashPope Francis boards a plane as he departs for Budapest and Slovakia at Rome’s Fiumicino international airport. BUDAPEST: Pope Francis arrives in Budapest on Sunday morning to celebrate a mass, with eyes focused on his meeting with the anti-migration Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. On the other, Pope Francis, who urges help for the marginalised and those of all religions fleeing war and poverty. "Pope Francis wants to humiliate Hungary by only staying a few hours," said a pro-Orban television pundit. It is the first papal trip to Hungary since Pope John Paul II in 1996.

The foreign legion of YouTubers defending ChinaVlogger Jason Lightfoot regularly posts about Western 'lies' against China. Their backgrounds are often in fields unrelated to current affairs or politics, while their videos blend footage of everyday life with passionate commentaries defending China. His videos have featured tours sponsored by the government-run China Radio International, where he interviews other YouTubers about criticisms of China and explores rural development projects. It is difficult to quantify the influence of the YouTubers outside China, with many of their commenters claiming to be grateful Chinese. While researchers have said China uses fake accounts and "bots" to manipulate online traffic, AFP did not find proof that the YouTubers were part of this effort.

14 Myanmar nationals arrested on Malaysian borderSecurity authorities keep an eye on Myanmar nationals arrested on Saturday on the Thai border in Sadao district of Songkhla. (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan)SONGKHLA: Fourteen Myanmar nationals were arrested on Saturday on the Thai side of the border opposite Malaysia's Kedah State in Sadao district, police said. Found in the pick-up were seven Myanmar migrants -- four men and three women. At the border, the authorities found another seven Myanmar migrants -- five men and two women -- hiding in the bush, waiting to be taken across the border. The 14 migrants said they had earlier travelled in taxis from Ang Thong province to Na Mom district in Songkhla.

Tunisia's president says necessary to amend constitutionTunisian President Kais Saied has announced plans to amend the constitution and form a new governmentTUNIS - Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced plans to amend the constitution and form a new government months after he dismissed the prime minister and suspended parliament in moves his critics called a coup. Saied also said it was necessary to change the constitution. "The Tunisian people rejected the constitution," he said, while adding that the charter is "not eternal". Elected in late 2019, the legal theorist and former law professor has billed himself as the ultimate interpreter of the constitution. Saied has yet to appoint a new government or reveal a roadmap towards normality, despite repeated demands by political parties.

14,029 new Covid cases, 180 more deathsTwo women take a stroll through Lumpini Park, normally one of Bangkok's most popular, following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)Thailand logged 14,029 new Covid-19 cases and 180 more fatalities during the previous 24 hours, the Public Health Ministry announced on Sunday morning. Since April 1, when the third wave of Covid-19 began, Thailand has treated 1,353,310 Covid-19 patients, 1,204,428 of whom have recovered to date. Since the pandemic started early last year, there have been 1,382,173 Covid-19 cases, with 1,232,073 complete recoveries so far. The United States had the most cases at 41 million, up 72,203, and the most deaths at 677,737, up 719.

Can Ronaldo return make Man Utd a European force again? Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 134 Champions League goals in 176 games. The final game of the Portuguese's first spell with the Red Devils was a Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in 2009 that signalled a changing of the guard in European football in which Ronaldo played a large part. That balance of power between La Liga and the Premier League has swung again with two all-English Champions League finals in the past three years. Ronaldo is back and now it is time for United to show they are too as a contender on the Champions League stage.

California counts cost of rare governor recall electionDespite winning office by a thumping margin in 2018, California Governor Gavin Newsom is now facing a fight to keep his job in a recall electionLOS ANGELES - It's a $280 million taxpayer-funded election that most Californians don't want, and which could see a candidate with only a handful of votes take the reins of the world's fifth-largest economy. That is in part due to the recall vote's odd structure. Newsom needs to win more than half the votes in the ballot's first question -- "Shall Gavin Newsom be recalled?" "It's almost impossible for a Republican to win a straight-up election for governor. - 'Frivolous' -With 40 million inhabitants -- the most of any US state -- California would be a hugely symbolic scalp for Republicans gearing up for next year's Congressional mid-terms.

Calls for unity as divided US marks 20th anniversary of 9/11The New York skyline with the 'Tribute in Light' installation commemorating the 9/11 attacks on their 20th anniversaryNEW YORK - America marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11 Saturday with pleas for unity at solemn ceremonies given added resonance by the messy withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and return to power of the Taliban. At 9:37 am, it was the Pentagon, where the hijacked airliner killed 184 people in the plane and on the ground. After nightfall, powerful twin light beams symbolizing the Twin Towers were projected into the sky to commemorate the dead. In a video posted on the eve of the anniversary, Biden urged Americans to come together. And only last week Biden ordered the release of classified documents from the FBI investigation over the next six months.

US Open champion Raducanu is teenage star in vogueFrom shy youngster to US Open finalist and the cover of Vogue -- 18-year-old Briton Emma Raducanu has had quite a journey. Even before she travelled to New York, she appeared on the front cover of British Vogue. At Flushing Meadow her poise and nerveless play belied her age as she became the darling of fans and media. Even then I remember thinking that we were going to see her at Wimbledon," Rodger told The Times. "I think having parents like I do, they always push me.

Teen Raducanu wins US Open title for first Slam crown by qualifierBritain's Emma Raducanu drops her racket as she reacts to winning the US Open women's final on Saturday. NEW YORK: Britain's 18-year-old Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier to capture a Grand Slam title by defeating Canada's 19-year-old Leylah Fernandez on Saturday in the US Open women's final. Not since Virginia Wade in 1977 at Wimbledon had a British woman taken a Slam singles title, with Raducanu the first Briton to claim the US Open crown since Wade in 1968. Raducanu is the youngest US Open champion since Williams in 1999 and the first US Open women's champion not to drop a set since Williams in 2014. Raducanu had the fewest Slam starts of any women's Slam winner, reaching the fourth round in July at Wimbledon in her only prior Slam appearance while Fernandez had won only four matches in six prior Slam appearances.

'Kidnapper' of Nong Gina faces two more chargesPolice have pressed two more charges against a suspect accused of kidnapping 23-month-old "Nong Gina". "Nong Gina" went missing from her home in Ban Huay Fak Dap in tambon Inthanin of Mae Taeng district last Sunday night. Mr Siew was identified as a friend of the girl's father, Suriya Wongsilarung. Pol Col Kraingsak said Nong Gina is still in Nakornping Hospital in Chiang Mai suffering from exhaustion, some small cuts and insect bites. Police said they were looking for the nappy which Nong Gina was wearing when she was kidnapped and also a cloth with which Mr Siew said he tied her to his waist during the kidnapping.

Fixing the organic law on elections in line with the latest charter amendment could run afoul of the constitution, making it likely the Constitutional Court will be asked to rule on the issue, say legal experts. The charter amendment to revert from the single-ballot election to the two-ballot method was approved by parliament last week. The next step is to forward the bill for royal endorsement within 15 days of it being approved by parliament. Mr Paiboon said that after the bill takes effect, the organic law will be reworked. If the organic law is redrafted to specify anything that goes against such principle, it will be deemed as contradicting the charter, he said.

Khon Kaen stun Prachuap, Beetles pick up first winBattle for ball: Chiang Rai's Ekanit Panya, right, vies with Nakhon Ratchasima's Amadou Ouattara. Seasoned top-flight campaigners and former League Cup winners PT Prachuap suffered a shock 2-1 loss at newcomers Khon Kaen United in their second Thai League 1 game of the season on Saturday night. Former league champions Chiang Rai United staved off a home defeat at the hands of Nakhon Ratchasima, rallying twice to a 3-2 victory in a dramatic manner. The Beetles were rescued by a penalty awarded in the ninth minute of added time after trailing Nakhon Ratchasima for most part of the match. But Chiang Rai found themselves trailing again less than a minute later as Marco Sahanek picked up another goal for Nakhon Ratchsima.

Reed's Ryder Cup snub a surpriseMay I take this opportunity of saying goodbye to Callum Mackie, a lovely Scottish man who will be greatly missed, and frequently fondly remembered by the members of golf community in Pattaya. The stories he narrated to me made me laugh all the way to the Home of Golf. Meanwhile, the US Ryder Cup team has been decided resulting with a few eyebrows being raised due to Patrick Reed not being picked. Out of Bounds: The sport of choice for the urban poor is basketball. The sport of choice for middle management is tennis and the sport of choice for corporate executives and officers is golf.