PHUKETWAN recognises the importance of Asean with the Economic Community approaching and marks what's happening around the region with a column, Asean Today, that will cease when Phuketwan closes on December 31.



bangkokpost.com Vietnam is considering the installation of slot machines inside its international airport terminals to make them more attractive for travellers. The country has eight international airports.

reuters Vietnam's actual foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first 11 months of 2015 is expected to rise 17.9 percent to a record high of $13.2 billion, beating a government forecast, the government said.



wsj.com The Philippine economy continued to gain momentum in the third quarter, outperforming many of its more China-reliant peers in Southeast Asia with the help of strong private consumption and increased public spending, but falling short of government growth-targets.



newsweek.com Finding a trusted coterie of top military leaders is essential for a young civilian government to survive in a country with a history of coups.



nytimes.com The Chinese government confirmed that it has repatriated and detained two dissidents who were living in Thailand and had won United Nations recognition as refugees, a state-run newspaper reported.



channelnewsasia.com Singapore dropped four positions to seventh place in the Global Liveable Cities Index, according to the results of a study. Geneva and Zurich topped the list.



reuters Genting Bhd, Malaysia's gaming-to-plantations conglomerate, reported a 2.4 percent rise in profits for the third quarter.



straitstimes.com The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) extremist propaganda is believed to have spread to at least five Indonesian provinces: East Java, Lampung, Central Sulawesi, South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi, a police spokesman said.



smh.com.au Australia has secretly transferred a fifth refugee from the tiny Pacific island of Nauru to Cambodia under a controversial $55 million agreement with the impoverished nation. The Rohingya Muslim man arrived in the capital, Phnom Penh, last week, days before the United Nations warned Cambodia's increasingly fractious political situation is pushing the country towards a "dangerous tipping point".



telegraph.co.uk The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, decided last year to begin imposing sharia law on his country, beginning with fines and imprisonment for failing to attend Friday prayers, but due to be followed next year by punishments including death by stoning for adultery, abortion and sodomy.



traveldailymedia.com Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will make its debut in Laos in 2017, with the opening of a new luxury tented resort near Luang Prabang. The new Rosewood Luang Prabang will be located 10 minutes' drive from the UNESCO-listed city, in a forested setting overlooking a river and waterfall.