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.



straitstimes.com Untrained foreign workers in Malaysia help the economy by allowing businesses to keep costs down, thus enabling these employers to later expand and employ more local skilled workers, according to a startling World Bank report. There are also six million migrant workers, about half of them working in the country illegally.



ft.com Indonesia's taxi industry was thrown into confusion as policymakers flip-flopped on regulation of ride-hailing companies including global players such as Uber and GrabTaxi.

techcrunch.com Ojek (motorbike taxi) services Go-Jek, an up-and-coming startup backed by Sequoia that also offers food and package delivery, Uber-rival GrabTaxi's GrabBike service, female-focused Lady-Jek and Blue-Jek were among those banned by Indonesia???s Ministry of Transport. Less than half a day later, the ban was overturned following outcry on social media.



cbc.ca Slave workers in factories are reportedly behind Thailand's shrimp industry, yet many restaurants and grocery stores in Canada carry this shrimp stock instead of the shrimp harvested by Nunavut's Inuit-owned sustainable fisheries.



nationmultimedia.com Thailand and Cambodia agreed to hold a friendly football match to boost ties and celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations, government deputy spokesman Werachon Sukondhapatipak said.



channelnewsasia.com Maoist rebels in the Philippines exploited the havoc unleashed by a typhoon to attack an army relief convoy, authorities said, as the death toll from the storm rose to 41.



dailytimes.com.pk Aung San Suu Kyi is sending her newly-elected MPs on a crash course on Myanmar's parliament as they prepare to take their seats for the first time early next year, her party said.



straitstimes.com A fire broke out at Lucky Plaza, filling the building with thick smoke and sending customers running from the Orchard Road shopping mall. No one was injured, said officials, adding that the fire started in the kitchen of a restaurant on the second floor.



straitstimes.com SilkAir flight SQ-182 from Singapore to Bandar Seri Begawan was proceeding when a bird reportedly collided with the left wing of the aircraft, according to a local representative. The single-aisle aircraft continued for a safe landing despite a large dent and punctured leading edge caused by the bird-strike.



reuters China's military carried out war games in the disputed South China Sea this week, with warships, submarines and fighter jets simulating cruise missile strikes on ships, the official People's Liberation Army Daily said.