Nicaragua bars pageant head after Ortega critic wins Miss Universe: media

23 Sept 03:46 Key points summarised by AI

Nicaraguan authorities barred Karen Celebertti, director of the national beauty pageant, from re-entering the country after Sheynnis Palacios won Miss Universe.
Palacios's victory is widely viewed as a symbol of opposition to President Daniel Ortega's government, sparking rare public celebrations that featured anti-government symbols.
While the government has not officially commented, opposition figures attribute the ban to Vice President Rosario Murillo, who criticized the use of Palacios's image for 'destructive coup' purposes.
Further actions by the government include searching Celebertti's home, briefly detaining her husband, and preventing artists from completing a mural of the new Miss Universe.

Flooding persists in Bangkok and 22 provinces

Yesterday 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.