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 high threat of a terrorist attack and violent crime has prompted Australia to update its travel advice for the Philippines. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website now asks Australians to ''exercise a high degree of caution''.



AP Burma's foreign minister says ''peace and stability has been restored'' in its western state where Rohingya Muslims have long been persecuted. Wunna Maung Lwin addressed a UN gathering of world leaders and did not mention the Rohingya by name.



independent.co.uk Pressure is mounting on Indonesia to control forest fires that continue to cloak the country and its South-east Asian neighbors in a choking haze. Despite Indonesian government efforts to contain the fires, which are deliberately started by companies using ''slash and burn'' techniques to clear land for agriculture, this year's haze has been exacerbated by unusually dry conditions.



bernama Malaysia's air pollutant index (API) measurements are in accordance with what are being used globally as set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). A minister said the country had been implementing a system that could capture particulates of 10 micrometres or PM10, compared to finer PM2.5 used in Singapore.



channelnewsasia.com Day one of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup, FOX's zombie apocalypse challenge and a heritage trail challenge were among the events cancelled on Saturday due to deteriorating air quality.



cambodiadaily.com More than two years after Internet search giant Google launched its Khmer translation service, a representative of the technology giant acknowledged the program's limitations during a speech in Phnom Penh, and called on Cambodians to play a proactive role in improving its accuracy.



thediplomat.com More than two decades after the emigration of Vietnam's ''boat people'' reached its apex, a new exodus is underway. Increasing numbers of university-aged Vietnamese students are pursuing degrees abroad. These new emigrants see high value in degrees from American, British, and Australian schools.



straitstimes.com Cambodia have added to the uncertainty surrounding the Asean Super League (ASL), threatening to skip the proposed 2016 kick-off owing to funding issues. Sources said Timor Leste and Laos face similar problems sourcing for sponsors.