China bars U.S. military ships, aircraft from Hong Kong, sanctions U.S.-based NGOs

30 Sept 23:42 Key points summarised by AI

China retaliated against the U.S. Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act by banning U.S. military ships and aircraft from Hong Kong and sanctioning several U.S. non-government organizations.
Beijing accused the sanctioned NGOs of encouraging violent acts during the city's anti-government protests and warned the U.S. to cease interference in its internal affairs, threatening further measures.
U.S. officials refuted the "false accusations" against NGOs, stating that military port visits are valuable for international ties and that China's move would not impact U.S. military operations.

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.