PM pushes BRN peace talks despite car bombing

11 Sept 09:00 Key points summarised by AI

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that peace talks with the southern separatist group BRN will proceed, undeterred by a recent car bomb explosion in Narathiwat.
A new government team, led by Thanut Suvarnananda and Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, has been appointed to resume the Malaysia-facilitated talks, which had stalled since mid-2023.
The car bomb, which caused extensive damage to a police vehicle but no injuries, prompted the Prime Minister to emphasize the critical need for intelligence gathering and robust safety measures in the region.
Investigations revealed the car used in the attack was a Mitsubishi Lancer with a false plate, rigged with two improvised explosive devices, and its owner has an outstanding arrest warrant.

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.