Thailand pledges 'world's safest' badminton as China pull out

21 Sept 07:14 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's badminton chief guarantees the upcoming January tournaments in Bangkok will be the "safest in the world" amid the global pandemic.
China's national team withdrew from the three world tour events due to their government's strict anti-coronavirus travel restrictions for all athletes.
The tournaments will operate under a bio-secure "bubble" and behind closed doors, with stringent health protocols for all participants.
Despite player concerns about performing without fans, Thailand highlights its unique capability to host an international event during the current global resurgence of the virus.

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.