Nobel winner Abiy says ‘hell’ of war fueled desire for peace

14 Sept 02:43 Key points summarised by AI

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Nobel Peace Prize recipient, revealed that his personal, horrifying experiences as a young soldier during the Ethiopia-Eritrea war, where he witnessed his unit's destruction, profoundly fueled his commitment to peace.
Abiy was awarded the Nobel for swiftly brokering a peace deal with Eritrea in 2018, effectively ending a brutal 20-year border conflict that claimed approximately 80,000 lives, a key achievement shortly after he took office.
He emphasized the critical need for stability in the Horn of Africa, advocating against the region becoming a battleground for global powers or a haven for extremist groups, while also pushing for domestic reforms and national unity.
Despite international acclaim, Abiy faces significant domestic challenges, including bloody protests sparked by his national unity philosophy, and escalating regional tensions, notably with Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project.

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.