Asean summit seeks progress on Myanmar civil war

13 Sept 13:00 Key points summarised by AI

Southeast Asian leaders are meeting with a Myanmar junta representative for the first time in three and a half years, aiming to revive diplomatic efforts to resolve the country's civil war.
This engagement follows recent battlefield defeats for the junta and an unprecedented invitation by them for talks with their enemies, signaling a potential shift despite their previous disregard for ASEAN's peace plan.
Concerns persist regarding the junta's commitment to peace, with the US urging concrete actions like reducing violence and releasing political prisoners, as the crisis tests ASEAN's effectiveness and relevance.
Beyond Myanmar, the summit agenda also includes discussions on escalating tensions in the disputed South China Sea, marked by recent clashes between Chinese vessels and fishermen from the Philippines and Vietnam.

Government to start building Chainat-Pasak-Gulf water diversion canal next year

Today 14:58 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's government will launch the "Chainat-Pasak-Gulf" water diversion canal project in fiscal year 2027, a seven-year mega-infrastructure initiative.
This permanent structural solution aims to mitigate recurrent central plains flooding by diverting water from the Chao Phraya River directly into the Gulf of Thailand, significantly reducing flow to major cities like Ayutthaya and Bangkok.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul justifies the long-term investment as a means to reduce future damages and fiscal burdens, contrasting it with the 40-50 billion baht spent annually on short-term flood relief.
Concurrently, the Prime Minister instructed officials to expand drainage capacity into the Tha Chin River and swiftly remove water hyacinths to improve immediate flood management.