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.



theguardian.com The Australian government has reportedly used a costly navy vessel to return a number of asylum seekers to Vietnam. Up to 50 people were on board the Navy supply ship HMAS Choules, the West Australian reported.

watoday.com.au The ship has a daily running cost of $201,621, according 2012 Defence estimates. This means that a week-long voyage to return asylum seekers to Vietnam would cost at least $1.4 million - double if you include the return voyage.



aa.com.tr Three days after refugees at a Nauru detention center received letters saying they could be relocated to Cambodia as soon as Monday it is still unclear if any of them have agreed to travel, despite media reports to the contrary. An ABC story quoted unnamed sources as saying that a plane had been chartered for April 20 and up to 10 refugees would be on board.

cambodiadaily.com Australia's Immigration Department confirmed that a letter being handed out to refugees on Nauru filled with false claims about Cambodia -where Australia hopes they decide to resettle - was issued by the department, but declined to say whether there were any takers.



dailytelegraph.com.au Costs in resorts in trend destinations Laos and the Philippines have increased the most, with Vientiane now averaging $116 per night compared with $85 in April last year. The Philippines has seen the highest national price increase of 21 percent compared with the same time last year.



cnn.com Saudi Arabia has executed a second Indonesian maid despite protests from Jakarta, which is itself facing fierce criticism for its failure to heed calls for clemency for a number of foreigners on death row. The Indonesian government summoned the Saudi ambassador to the foreign ministry after learning that 37-year-old Karni Bt. Medi Tarsim had been beheaded, without official warning.

wsj.com A Batik Air flight in Indonesia made an emergency landing due to a bomb threat Friday morning, the company and officials said. Airport spokesman Rio Hendarto said no bomb was found.

afp The French ambassador in Jakarta warned Indonesia that executing a Frenchman on death row on drugs charges would have ''consequences'' for the bilateral relationship.



channelnewsasia.com Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife have sued an opposition parliamentarian for slander over comments suggesting they manipulated fuel subsidies for personal gain, the lawmaker said.

themalaysianinsuder.com The Malaysian government needs to show greater political will in prosecuting human traffickers and protecting their victims if the country hopes to improve on its currently lowest ranking in the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report, US ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun said.



interaksyon.com Philippine President Benigno Aquino III said the territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea was of concern for the world because global trade will be hit by China's reclamation. Recent satellite images show China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use in contested territory in the Spratly Islands



smh.com.au Qantas will return to flying on the Perth to Singapore route after a year-long absence with five weekly return services.