PHUKETWAN recognises the importance of Asean with the Economic Community approaching and marks what's happening around the region with a new column, Asean Today.



nytimes.com Myanmar's military establishment acknowledged the victory of the country's democracy movement led by the Nobel Peace laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, raising hopes for a peaceful transfer of power after five decades of military domination. ''The government will respect and follow the people's choice and decision, and work on transferring power peacefully according to the timetable,'' the Facebook message said.



channelnewsasia.com Get Real investigates the business of orphanage tourism in Cambodia, and uncovers stories of child exploitation and financial dishonesty. More than 12,000 children live in orphanages in Cambodia. However, only one in five of that figure is an actual orphan.



voanews.com Many of Thailand's migrant workers and refugees from Myanmar are watching closely the formation of a new government in Myanmar after the strong showing in the weekend elections by the National League for Democracy (NLD). But key community representatives say many migrant workers are cautiously optimistic a new government will provide the support they need to improve their lives.



express.co.uk The hunt for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane MH370 has been dealt a blow after the search for the passenger jet was halted for 10 days over a sick crewman. A spokesman said it was a reminder of the stresses faced by those looking in the southern Indian Ocean for the plane, which has now been missing for 19 months.



theguardian.com Two British journalists held for more than five months in an Indonesian prison have described their relief at being back on UK soil but criticised the Foreign Office for a dismissive attitude they said had left them feeling alone. Documentary film-makers Rebecca Prosser, 31, and Neil Bonner, 32, said they had been treated like petty criminals by the British government.



reuters German airline group Lufthansa signed a partnership deal with premium Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, part of a strategy to boost its presence in Asia and defend market share from fast-growing Gulf carriers.



rappler.com As leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies gather in Manila for the second time after 19 years, they will visit an economy that is about 3 times larger and to be hosted by a leader now seeking to spread the region's prosperity to microentrepreneurs and poor farmers.



abc.net.au President Barack Obama, president Xi Jinping, prime minister Narendra Modi, and the leaders of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Canada and Thailand are among the many politicians, diplomats are scheduling talks with - in and around official APEC meetings and the traditional ''family photo,'' which will see Australia's Malcolm Turnbull and fellow leaders parade in culturally distinctive shirts designed by the Philippines as hosts.



ttrweekly.com Lao PDR has launched a logo, campaign theme and website to support its Asean chairmanship in 2016. The campaign features will focus on welcoming the Asean Economic Community era in 2016