South Koreans vote for president in tight, bitter election

13 Sept 08:26 Key points summarised by AI

South Koreans are voting in a fiercely contested presidential election, with liberal Lee Jae-myung and conservative Yoon Suk Yeol leading a neck-and-neck race.
The campaign was marked by intense bitterness and negative campaigning, leaving many voters dissatisfied with the candidates' lack of clear strategies on critical issues.
The incoming president faces significant challenges, including navigating North Korea's nuclear threat, managing U.S.-China rivalry, and addressing domestic economic inequality and housing prices.
The election proceeds amidst a record-breaking Omicron surge, necessitating special voting protocols for infected individuals and potentially delaying the announcement of the winner.

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.