Closure of entertainment venues in 41 provinces starts midnight tonight

23 Sept 06:09 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government orders the closure of all entertainment venues, including pubs, bars, and massage parlours, in Bangkok and 40 other provinces for at least 14 days, effective midnight tonight, to contain a surging wave of COVID-19 infections.
Provincial governors are empowered to enforce these closures and propose easing restrictions, while authorities will conduct inspections; additionally, Chiang Mai has opened a field hospital to manage a sharp increase in COVID-19 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.