23 dead, 11 injured in Vietnam karaoke bar fire

13 Sept 18:45 Key points summarised by AI

A devastating fire at a karaoke bar in southern Vietnam resulted in 23 fatalities and 11 injuries, with many victims trapped by dense smoke and blocked emergency exits.
The blaze, believed to be caused by an electrical short circuit, rapidly engulfed the building, forcing customers and staff to jump from upper floors to escape.
Occurring in Thuan An city, the tragedy has prompted Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to order immediate inspections of high-risk venues, particularly karaoke bars, recalling similar fatal incidents in recent years.

ASEAN envoy to visit Myanmar starting Wednesday

Yesterday 08:32 Key points summarised by AI

**Humanitarian Mission:** An ASEAN special envoy, led by Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro, will visit Myanmar to expand humanitarian access and engage with local and national officials.
**Aid Focus:** The delegation, including experts from the AHA Centre, will assess humanitarian needs in conflict-hit regions like Shan State, aiming to streamline aid delivery.
**No Suu Kyi Engagement:** Despite recent positive developments for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the envoy's visit will not include a meeting with her, as no such arrangement was made.
**Unfulfilled Consensus:** While Myanmar establishes an ASEAN Affairs Coordinating Committee and its own roadmap, ASEAN reiterates that the bloc's Five-Point Consensus remains unfulfilled, leading to continued exclusion of Myanmar's political appointees from high-level meetings.