Laos dam collapse

23 Sept 01:50 Key points summarised by AI

A saddle dam of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Attapeu province, Laos, collapsed on July 23, 2018, following heavy monsoon rains.
The rupture unleashed billions of cubic meters of water, causing catastrophic flash floods that submerged multiple villages downstream.
The disaster led to dozens of confirmed deaths, hundreds missing, and displaced thousands of residents, leaving many homeless.
The incident raised serious concerns about the safety and environmental impact of rapid hydropower development in Southeast Asia.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Today 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.