Hong Kong police arrest nearly 200 in first protest under new security law

13 Sept 11:02 Key points summarised by AI

Hong Kong police arrested nearly 200 protesters on July 1st, deploying water cannon and tear gas, during the first major demonstration under China's newly imposed national security law.
The sweeping legislation, unveiled by Beijing, criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, with penalties up to life in prison, and permits mainland security agencies to operate in Hong Kong.
Thousands defied the law during an annual rally marking the handover anniversary, leading to confrontations where police cited the new security law for the first time against protesters.
Critics fear the law will crush Hong Kong's freedoms and end the pro-democracy movement, despite official assurances that it targets only a few 'troublemakers' and will not affect general rights or investor interests.

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

Yesterday 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.