Hong Kong elite selects powerful new 'patriots only' committeeHong Kong's elites are set to choose a power committee that will elect the city's next leaderHONG KONG - Hong Kong's political elite will select a powerful committee on Sunday which will choose the city's next leader and nearly half the legislature under a new "patriots only" system imposed by Beijing. Ted Hui, a former lawmaker who moved to Australia, said Hong Kong's political system was now "a rubber-stamp game completely controlled by Beijing." That figure has now been trimmed to around 4,800 -- the equivalent of 0.6 percent of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population. Local media have reported that people linked to the city's powerful business tycoon families will wield less power. China promised Hong Kong would maintain key liberties and autonomy for 50 years after its handover.

Inter crash six past Bologna to move top of Serie AInter Milan ran riot against Bologna to move top of Serie AMILAN: Inter Milan bounced back from midweek Champions League disappointment on Saturday with a 6-1 hammering of Bologna which moved the reigning champions top of Serie A.Simone Inzaghi's side were sucker-punched in the last minute by Real Madrid in Wednesday's single-goal defeat but made no mistake this time at the San Siro. Bologna sit eighth on seven points after their first defeat of the season, made no better by Arthur Theate's late consolation goal. Denzel Dumfries made an almost instant impact on his first Inter start since signing from PSV Eindhoven last month, replacing Achraf Hakimi who moved to Paris Saint-Germain, as Inter ran riot in front of their delighted fans on a beautiful evening in Milan. Earlier on Saturday Fiorentina continued their strong start to the season with a 2-1 win at Genoa which briefly moved them level with Serie A's leading teams. They host Inter on Tuesday in what promises to be an intriguing match against two well-balanced teams defying pre-season expectations.

(Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)The Department of Disease Control (DDC) is aiming to complete its inoculation target of giving the first Covid-19 vaccine shot to at least 50% of the population by the end of next month. It also hopes to provide 1 million doses in just one day later this month. "To mark a key public health event on Sept 24, we will provide one million doses on that day," he said. In Bangkok, about 94% of the population has received the first shot of the vaccine and 40% the second. The target for Bangkok before it can reopen is 70% having had the second dose by Oct 22.

Healthy Ratchaburi man dies after receiving AZ booster shotA 40-year-old volunteer rescuer in Ratchaburi has died after receiving a third shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Prasong Boonkhian, a rescuer of the Pathom Borom Rachanusorn Foundation, on Saturday was found dead by his 64-year-old mother, Noi Boonkhian, in his room in Muang district at 2am. The man received his third booster shot at the hospital on Friday at 4.17pm. Somkuan Boonkhian, Prasong's 43-year-old brother, said he was healthy and rarely fell ill.After his vaccination, his brother began coughing at midnight. My son was healthy and I never thought he would die because of this.

Sparse attendance at rally in support of US Capitol riotersDemonstrators gather for the "Justice for J6" rally in WashingtonWASHINGTON - A few hundred protesters turned up Saturday in Washington to rally in support of the pro-Trump rioters who ransacked the US Capitol on January 6, but they were outnumbered by a robust security presence and journalists. Pointing at the Capitol, he added: "That's our Capitol, for taxpayers, so we're allowed to go in there when we want." Officials say the mob assaulted 140 officers, with damage to the Capitol complex estimated at $1.5 million. Four people were arrested Saturday near the Capitol, including two for weapons charges. Capitol Police also said they separated groups of protesters and counter-protesters without incident.

Thanaphat KongmaiPolice believe the killers used the bag to cover the head of Pol L/C Thanaphat Kongmai, 32, a former policeman in the southern border provinces, before they shot him. Pol L/C Thanaphat's body was dumped on Tamnan-Somkit Village Road, Tamnan, Muang district, on May 13 and found by rubber-tappers the next morning. While Ms Somjit and Mr Jittichai deny killing Pol L/C Thanaphat, they admit he caused problems for the family. Officers from Police Region 9, Phatthalung provincial station, and Muang police, who announced the arrests, said the suspects called Pol L/C Thanaphat and asked him to meet them. Charging the duo with jointly killing Pol L/C Thanaphat, police said they believe his drug-taking and abusive behaviour was more than the family could stand.

Dawn of the coup: A soldier stands guard near Democracy Monument after the Sept 19, 2006 military takeover. Marking the 15th anniversary of the Sept 19, 2006 coup, the Bangkok Post asked political scientists to share their views on the event and how it has reshaped the political landscape. Mr Stithorn said the 2006 coup seems to have divided people into two camps. "It is clear the 2006 coup was a watershed event for the 2014 coup and today's coupmasters filled in the gaps seen in 2006 takeover," he said. Car mob rally to mark anniversaryNattawut Saikuar, a co-leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), will organise a car mob today to mark 15th anniversary of the 2006 coup.

Foreign expats' lot a mixed bagIf the government hopes to entice wealthy expats and skilled professionals into making Thailand their second home, it must first improve the treatment of the millions of foreigners already living in the country. News of the plan to invite wealthy foreigners comes as the government attempts to revive the economy. It is not the first time the government has offered elite visas to wealthy foreign retirees. According to a study by Mahidol University, there were about 2.5 million foreign residents in the country in 2010, including about 1.8 million people from neighbouring countries and about 27,000 Westerners. There is so much to be done, it is doubtful the government can address all immigration issues before next year.

France accuses Australia, US of 'lying' in escalating crisisThe deal extends US nuclear submarine technology to Australia as well as cyber defence, applied artificial intelligence and undersea capabilities. PARIS: France on Saturday accused Australia and the United States of lying over a ruptured Australian contract to buy French submarines, saying a grave crisis was underway between the allies after Paris recalled its ambassadors. "There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt," Le Drian said. France would make a priority now of developing a EU security strategy when it takes on the bloc's presidency at the start of 2022, he said. The move infuriated France, which lost a contract to supply conventional submarines to Australia that was worth A$50 billion when signed in 2016.

US to step up 'removal flights' for migrants stranded at Texas bridgeHaitian migrants cross the Rio Grande near the Del Rio-Acuña Port of Entry in Ciudad Acuña, MexicoDEL RIO (UNITED STATES) - The United States said Saturday it would step up the number of so-called "removal flights" for thousands of migrants who flooded into the Texas border city of Del Rio, in a bid to alleviate a burgeoning crisis for President Joe Biden's administration. The port of entry at Del Rio has been temporarily closed, and traffic is being rerouted to relieve the bottlenecks that had formed at the bridge. Homeland Security said it would "secure additional transportation to accelerate the pace and increase the capacity of removal flights to Haiti and other destinations in the hemisphere within the next 72 hours." But in Saturday's statement, the Department of Homeland Security said "regular expulsion and removal flights" were ongoing to Haiti, Mexico, Ecuador, and countries in Central America's Northern Triangle -- Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The number of Haitians crossing the southwest border into the United States has been surging for months.

Relatives of Afghan family killed in US strike want face-to-face apologyAimal Ahmadi (R), brother of Ezmarai Ahmadi, who was one of 10 people killed in a US drone strike in Kabul that the US now says was a mistake, stands next to the wreckage of a vehicle destroyed in the attackKABUL - Relatives of the victims of a US drone strike that wiped out 10 members of an Afghan family in a "tragic mistake" demanded a face-to-face apology and compensation on Saturday. A top general admitted the attack was an error, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin apologised to the relatives of those killed. Haidari, whose brother Naser and young cousins also died, said the US had made no direct contact with the family. "They were not terrorists, and now it is clear for them and all the world to see," he said of his relatives. McKenzie said the US government was studying how payments for damages could be made to the families of those killed.

- 'Deflect sanctions'Kayhan, like Javan an ultraconservative title, headlined its lead story in large type: "Deflecting Western sanctions." In Kayhan's view, "from now on Iran can implement its policy of multilateralism, progressively abandon a vision based solely on the West and mitigate Western sanctions." It said SCO membership would permit Iran "to connect with markets" representing a major portion of the world's population. Several SCO members did not want a country under international sanctions in their ranks. It has become evident that, in recent years, they affect more the independent countries, especially SCO members."

Greece inaugurates its first 'closed' camp for asylum seekersGreece will inaugurate the first of five new "closed" migrant camps on its Aegean islands on SaturdaySAMOS (GREECE) - Greece on Saturday inaugurated the first of five new "closed" migrant camps, opposed by rights groups who say the strict access measures are too restrictive. Asylum seekers still live there -- rats, improvised wooden barracks without heating and a lack of toilets and showers continue to be part of their daily lives. Last week, dozens of NGOs, including Amnesty International, accused Greece of pursuing "harmful policies focused on deterring and containing asylum seekers and refugees". "The word 'closed' comes up often and this is concerning," Mireille Girard said, adding "asylum seekers need protection, they are not criminals or a risk for the community, they are people who need help. Greece was the main point where more than one million asylum seekers -- mainly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans -- entered Europe in 2015.

A worker cleans a sign at the international arrivals area of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London in August. (Reuters File Photo)LONDON: Travel companies were gearing up for the busiest weekend of the year as holiday bookings surged following the UK government’s announcement on Friday that it would ease travel curbs for the fully vaccinated. A handful of countries will also be removed from the red list this coming Wednesday, but Thailand is not among them. British travellers returning from red-list countries face strict Covid testing and costly hotel quarantine requirements. From Oct 4, fully vaccinated travellers arriving in England from a non-red designated country will not need pre-departure screening.

At least two dead in Afghanistan blastsTaliban members inspect near the site of a blast in Jalalabad on September 18JALALABAD, Afghanistan At least two people were killed and up to 20 more wounded in three explosions in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on Saturday, a Taliban official said. "So far we have reports of two killed and up to 20 wounded," said the Taliban official, who asked not to be named, and said that a patrol vehicle was targeted. The attacks are the first deadly blasts since the American withdrawal from Afghanistan. An official from the health department of Nangarhar Province told AFP that three people were killed and 18 were wounded. Several local media reported the attacks left at least two dead and 19 injured.