England to require earlier 10 p.m. closing time for pubs, eateries after virus spike

13 Sept 11:44 Key points summarised by AI

England's Prime Minister Boris Johnson will enforce a 10 p.m. closing time for all hospitality venues starting Thursday to combat a second wave of COVID-19 infections.
New measures also restrict pubs, bars, and restaurants to table service only, aiming to curb the rapid spread of the virus.
The decision follows a surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting a rise to Level 4 alert and urgent warnings from senior medics about an exponentially growing death rate.
The hospitality sector anticipates significant challenges from these restrictions, with shares in listed groups already falling sharply.
Other UK nations, including Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, are also implementing or considering additional restrictions to control their outbreaks.

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.