Thailand’s eateries under close watch as alcohol rules relaxed

23 Sept 05:53 Key points summarised by AI

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has relaxed COVID-19 rules, permitting certified eateries in designated provinces to serve alcohol until 11 pm, extending the previous 9 pm cut-off.
Authorities are strictly instructed to monitor these venues, with severe penalties including license seizure for non-compliance and disciplinary action for officials failing to enforce the 11 pm closing time.
Only eateries possessing SHA Plus or Thai Stop COVID 2 Plus certification in eight "sandbox" and 25 "high surveillance" provinces are eligible for the extended alcohol service hours.

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

Today 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.