US announces visa bans after warning Israel over West Bank violence

13 Sept 18:42 Key points summarised by AI

The U.S. initiated visa bans on individuals involved in violence and destabilizing activities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, targeting those undermining peace and restricting civilian access.
This action follows repeated warnings from U.S. officials, including President Biden, urging Israel to curb the escalating settler violence against Palestinians, which surged after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
Secretary Blinken explicitly pressed Israeli officials to halt extremist violence and hold perpetrators accountable, while also emphasizing Palestinian leaders' responsibility to curb attacks against Israelis.
The new policy is expected to impact dozens of individuals and their family members, with existing U.S. visas subject to revocation.
Washington underscores that these bans do not negate Israel's ongoing obligation to take its own actions and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

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.