The beauty queen reigning for democracy in divided Thailand

21 Sept 00:32 Key points summarised by AI

Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam sparked controversy by publicly advocating for democracy and monarchy reform, aligning with young protesters.
Her outspoken political views resulted in the abrupt termination of her mental-health ambassador status, despite her personal initiatives to promote emotional well-being.
Defying pressure, Obdam persists in using her platform to champion free speech and understanding, mirroring other Thai celebrities who have faced similar political repercussions.

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

20 Oct 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.