Sihasak to visit Myanmar next week

9 Sept 17:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Deputy PM Sihasak Phuangketkeow will visit Myanmar next week to bolster bilateral ties with its newly formed government.
The visit occurs amidst reports of reduced sentences for Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners following a Thingyan amnesty.
Sihasak's trip marks him as the first ASEAN leader to visit Myanmar since its transition to a military-backed government post-election.
This visit could be interpreted as Thailand's de facto recognition of Myanmar's new government, diverging from ASEAN's previous stance of non-recognition and calls for a 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.