UK COVID cases hit record; Top doctor warns of worse to come

13 Sept 06:54 Key points summarised by AI

The UK recorded a new high of 78,610 COVID-19 infections, driven by the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, which is poised to become dominant across the country.
England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned that the situation is likely to worsen, anticipating a substantial increase in Omicron patients requiring hospitalization soon after Christmas.
In response to the surge, the government implemented new measures including mask mandates, proof of vaccination or negative tests for large events, and an accelerated booster program aiming to offer a dose to every adult by year-end.
A public inquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic, chaired by former Court of Appeal judge Heather Hallett, is set to begin next spring to examine the response and inform future strategies.

Cabinet approves ฿10.5bn central fund for flood relief

Yesterday 14:04 Key points summarised by AI

The Cabinet allocated 10.5 billion baht from the fiscal 2027 central emergency fund to provide financial relief for flood victims.
This funding will cover remaining compensation payments and relief operations for severely affected households, as fiscal 2026 funds have been exhausted.