Thailand, election polls: former premier Thaksin's daughter in the lead

Today's headlines: train connections between China and North Korea reopen; Chinese anthem booed during Hong Kong national football team match; India mulls Political crisis in Rajasthan; Attacks against anti-Netanyahu demonstrators grow; Putin ready to declare victory in Ukraine.

THAILAND

The daughter of former premier (now in exile) Thaksin Shinawatra is leading the opinion polls as the leading candidate for premier in next year's elections. Paetongtarn is given 21.6%; Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former coup general, suspended from the post of prime minister, is only fourth. The level of undecided is high.

CHINA-NORTH KOREA

Rail links have resumed between the two countries . Beijing and Pyongyang had suspended them in April after the emergence of Covid-19 contagions in the Chinese border city of Dandong and soon after in North Korean territory. Kim Jong-un's regime is heavily dependent on trade with China.

HONG KONG-CHINA

Controversy does not subside in the former British colony after fans of the national football team booed the Chinese anthem before the match against Myanmar on 24 September. Police filmed the stands to identify the protesters. According to the city law, offending the anthem is punishable by up to three years in prison.

INDIA

A political crisis broke out in the state of Rajasthan. Last night 82 deputies of the Congress-led majority resigned in protest against the probable appointment of an unwelcome new chief minister. The incumbent, Ashok Gehlot, will have to leave office if elected to the Congress presidency in October.

ISRAEL

On the eve of the elections for the renewal of the Parliament (Knesset), attacks against anti-Netanyahu demonstrators are increasing in the country. In recent weeks there have been four, while critics accuse the former Prime Minister and Likud leader of doing nothing to limit the most extreme fringes of his supporters.

RUSSIA

As Ria Novosti writes and confirmed by various sources, Vladimir Putin could address the Federation Council on 30 September, after the conclusion of the farce referendum in the occupied territories of Ukraine, to announce its annexation and declare victory in the 'war of liberation' that began in February.

KAZAKHSTAN

In yet another blow to Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev said his government will not recognise the results of the Russian-organised mock referenda in the occupied lands of Ukraine. Tokaev calls for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in line with the UN Charter

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