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.



birminghammail.co.uk A former British soldier has been jailed for 50 years in Thailand for drug dealing. Lance Whitmore was sentenced at Ratchada Criminal Court after being caught with close to 200 ecstasy tablets. His heartbroken mother, Debbie Caswell, said: ''I am devastated. I don't know how he will cope.''



usatoday.com More than 100 people are feared dead after a military plane plowed into a residential area in northern Indonesia. The giant Hercules C-130 plane exploded into flames as it slammed into several homes and a hotel in Medan, Indonesia's third-largest city, media outlets reported.



bbc.com The mother of a British backpacker who was found dead eight days after leaving for a jungle trek in Malaysia has said she considers his death to be ''suspicious''. Gareth Huntley, 34, went missing in May 2014 after he disappeared on Tioman island. His body was found close to the Juara Turtle project, where he had been living and working as a volunteer.

smh.com.au The young travellers had first met on a beautiful beach, tucked at the base of a mountain in Thailand. They had an instant connection. ''It was a beautiful day,'' Aussie Kit Natariga, 24, recalled of meeting Mr Huntley. ''I don't understand how he died. There are facts that need revealing,'' she said.



theguardian.com KFC has opened an outlet in Rangoon, Burma, the first major western fast-food chain to launch in the once-isolated country that was ruled by the military for nearly half a century.



cnn.com The mother of detained teen blogger Amos Yee has written a heartfelt apology letter to her son, as he faces years in ''reformative training'' after being jailed for a Youtube video where he criticized Singapore's founding politician. ''Sorry for not teaching you well . . . Mummy is wrong,'' wrote Mary Toh in a widely-shared Facebook post.

straitstimes.com Hong Kong students protested outside the Singapore consulate in Admiralty on Tuesday, calling on the government to release teenage blogger Amos Yee, who was remanded for two weeks at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) to undergo a psychiatric examination.

onislam.net Singapore government announced the launch of a new helpline on July 1 for Muslims seeking answers on religious issues, a move hailed as clarifying religious concepts usually misused by radicalized groups.

channelnewsasia.com Singapore renewed its commitment to Myanmar's development as the two countries extended an official training program in Nay Pyi Taw. Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Myanmar Vice-President Sai Mauk Kham witnessed the signing of an agreement to extend the Singapore-Myanmar Technical Cooperation Program for another three years.



usatoday.com A border brawl between hundreds of Cambodians and Vietnamese is drawing allegations of misconduct from both sides and significant social media attention in both countries. At least 10 people were injured Sunday when a group of Cambodians, led by opposition lawmaker Real Camerin, tried to visit a disputed land marker in Svay Rieng province bordering Vietnam.



philstar.com The government did not intend to anger China with the release of a documentary on the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Malacanang said. Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the documentary is not targeted at China as it seeks to inform Filipinos about the sea dispute between the two nations.



skift.com In a ceremony in Toulouse, Vietnam Airlines has become the world's second airline to fly the A350XWB aircraft - it is the first airline SkyTeam alliance member, and the first Asian carrier to fly Airbus' latest NextGen aircraft. This aircraft will allow Vietnam Airlines to boost its traffic in Europe for business and tourism, capitalizing on Vietnam's recent lifting of visa requirements for citizens of five high-demand European countries.

ibtimes.com A Russian-made submarine arrived in A Russian-made submarine arrived in Vietnam, the fourth of six Kil0-class submarines that Russia is delivering as part of a $2.6 billion deal the two countries signed in 2009, Thanh Nien News reported.



fidh.org The Lao government's failure to accept key recommendations received during its latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has turned the UN-backed review process into a farce, said FIDH and its member organisation, the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR).



news.yahoo.com Last year, the Sultan of Brunei lost business when celebrities and entertainment industry leaders opted to boycott his Beverly Hills Hotel and other properties due to his country's adoption of Islamic shariah law.