Hong Kong bans some inbound flights, tightens COVID-19 curbs

23 Sept 06:25 Key points summarised by AI

Hong Kong imposed a two-week ban on incoming flights from eight countries, including the US and UK, starting January 8, alongside new local restrictions like closing venues and banning indoor dining after 6 pm.
These stringent measures aim to preempt a "fifth wave" of COVID-19 infections, prompted by the recent detection of untraceable Omicron variant transmissions after a three-month period without local cases.
Authorities intensified contact tracing, notably cutting short a Royal Caribbean cruise to test passengers potentially exposed to a COVID-19 patient.
The city reinforces its "zero-tolerance" COVID-19 strategy, prioritizing public health by implementing drastic measures to prevent widespread community outbreaks.

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.