Australia reports jump in daily new cases, record deaths

21 Sept 04:55 Key points summarised by AI

Victoria, Australia's second-most populous state, reported 459 new coronavirus cases, its second-highest daily total, and a record 10 COVID-19 deaths.
The surge in cases is largely attributed to workplace infections in sectors like aged-care, healthcare, and distribution centers, with Premier Andrews noting that sick individuals are still attending work.
Authorities have implemented a six-week lockdown, border closures, and mandatory face mask wearing in Victoria to contain the outbreak, while New South Wales also recorded 14 new cases.

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.