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.



9news.com.au A Malaysia Airlines flight that circled the Straits of Malacca for two hours set off hysteria on social media as users began to fear another disaster for the airline. The bizarre turn of events ended with the flight, MH179, which was bound for Colombo, returning to Kuala Lumpur, according to the New Straits Times.

news.com.au It turns out a drunken passenger was the reason for the flights turn around. Malaysia Airlines are yet to comment on the incident.



abc.net.au An illegal prostitution service that was selling sex with celebrities has been broken up by Indonesian police. The so-called high class prostitution racket reportedly offered clients models, soap stars and other celebrities.



thanhniennews.vn Police in the north-central province of Nghe An have seized 31 rhino horns worth millions of dollars on the black market and arrest two men suspected of smuggling the contraband.



straitstimes.com Singapore's racial and religious harmony must be preserved, and it is for this reason that action was taken on The Real Singapore (TRS) website, said Minister of Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim.



bbc.com A powerful typhoon has hit the north-east Philippines, in Cagayan province, cutting electricity supplies to many parts of the region. Warnings of flash floods, landslides and storm surges forced thousands of people to flee to higher ground.



voanews.com Malnutrition remains a serious problem in Cambodia. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says that one in three children under the age of five suffers from poor growth brought about by a poor diet.



thedailybeast.com Naypyidaw, the mysterious Burmese Oz, is six times larger than New York. It's very well-lit and clean, and extremely empty. So why build it?



investasian.com The total amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) from other Asean countries in Brunei hit a new record of US$141 million in 2014, said the Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, the country???s permanent secretary for trade.