Fire, tear gas and petrol bombs as Hong Kong engulfed by chaos

13 Sept 12:46 Key points summarised by AI

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong protesters defied a police ban and mounting threats from China, marching for the 13th consecutive weekend in a massive show of pro-democracy sentiment.
Violence escalated as a minority of hardcore protesters threw petrol bombs and rocks, prompting police to deploy tear gas, water cannons, and blue-dyed liquid to disperse the crowds.
The unrest, initially triggered by an extradition bill, has broadened into a wider movement demanding democratic freedoms and rejecting Beijing's increasing influence over the semi-autonomous territory.
The demonstrations coincided with the fifth anniversary of Beijing's rejection of universal suffrage for Hong Kong, with protesters determined to prevent the movement from fading like the 2014 Umbrella Movement.
Authorities attempted to preemptively quell the rally by arresting several prominent pro-democracy activists and lawmakers, including Joshua Wong, just before Saturday's planned protest.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Today 16:00 Key points summarised by AI

Persistent flooding continues across Bangkok and 22 Thai provinces, though water levels are gradually receding in many affected areas.
Over 604,000 families, impacting approximately 1.83 million people, are still grappling with the widespread flood conditions.
The national flood death toll has reached 80 since mid-September, with fatalities reported across various provinces.
Major regions like Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, and Bangkok report significant numbers of affected households, with hundreds of thousands still in trouble.