ASEAN team to visit Naypyidaw on Sept 19

13 Sept 11:08 Key points summarised by AI

An ASEAN delegation will visit Naypyidaw on Sept 19 to meet with Myanmar's newly formed Peace and Security Commission (SSPC) to discuss planned elections and the ASEAN peace process.
The visit follows Myanmar's announcement of elections on Dec 28, which are expected to take place in phases across most townships, despite ongoing resistance and a repeatedly renewed state of emergency.
This crucial engagement aims to assess Myanmar's political transition and determine ASEAN's next steps, especially concerning the elections and the implementation of the bloc's criticized Five-Point Consensus.

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.