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.



bbc.com The men accused of killing two British tourists on a Thai island have failed in their bid to see a confidential Metropolitan Police report. Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo deny murdering Hannah Witheridge, 23, of Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey. Their bodies were found on a beach on Koh Tao in September 2014.



forbes.com The feeling that Malaysia is now in an abyss is real. Malaysians fear terrible things are happening to them and their country because of poor leadership. The man who will be blamed for all of Malaysia's woes will unfortunately be the current prime minister.



straitstimes.com Singapore will hold a general election in September, more than a year before a deadline for polls to be held expires. Analysts have said the People's Action party (PAP) will be keen to tap national pride from the celebrations on August 9 to mark the affluent city-state's 50th birthday.



AP An Ohio zoo that has the last Sumatran rhino in the United States announced plans to send him on a mission to mate and help preserve his critically endangered species. Conservation experts at the Cincinnati Zoo say eight-year-old Harapan could be on his way within several weeks to Indonesia, where nearly all the estimated 100 remaining Sumatran rhinos live.



metro.co.uk Briton Nick Laycock, 25, who was accused of rape has been cleared thanks to ''overwhelming'' evidence found in security camera footage. The CCTV recording showed that his alleged victim - a 22-year-old backpacker - had in fact fallen on the way back to the bar, resulting in injuries to her wrist and back.He is also said to be ''furious'' with the British Embassy, who apparently offered no consular assistance.



deseretnews.com Laws restricting religious conversion and other practices are drawing fire from religious freedom experts, who say the measures hamper societal harmony. On Friday, Burma's joint parliament approved a religious conversion bill, which the US Commission on International Religious Freedom said blocks individual choices.



stripes.com The Philippine military has gotten a boost with the delivery of two transport ships donated by Australia and a fleet of combat utility helicopters acquired with help from the US and Canada.



straitstimes.com A Chinese oil rig at the centre of last year's stand-off between China and Vietnam will continue drilling not far from Vietnam's coast, China's maritime safety authorities said.



ibtimes.com About $7 million worth of marijuana stuffed into coffee bags has been seized by police in Cambodia as the country cracks down on the drug, according to AP. The 1.5 tons of marijuana confiscated during a series of raids was smuggled in from Laos in bags of the popular coffee brand Dao and was intended to go to a third country.



globalpost.com Brunei's national survey on Non-Communicable Diseases is being carried out until January 31 next year, according to the country's Health Promotion Center.