PHUKETWAN recognises the importance of Asean with the Economic Community approaching and marks what's happening around the region with Asean Today.



bbc.com Singapore is holding nationwide events to mark 50 years since it became an independent state. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend an outdoor parade, complete with flybys by the air force and a Singapore Airlines A380 airliner.

cnn.com ''In the future, Singapore isn't going to be seen as a trail blazing 'Tiger' economy - it's going to grow at a developed world pace of 2.5 to 3 percent and the challenge is the population is no longer seeing the standard of living rising at such a rapid rate.''



vietnamnet.vn Lu was put inside a barrel containing water. Blood ran out from his ears, nose and mouth, when the men hit the barrel with hammers. Torture by electrical shock is the one he remembers the most clearly.Four decades later, as the countries have drawn closer together, his hatred has given way to forgiveness and hope for a better future together with security cooperation and bilateral trade growth.



straitstimes.com International investors are selling Malaysian stocks at the quickest pace in Asia as Prime Minister Najib Razak struggles to contain a political scandal and doubts grow over the outlook for the economy.

forbes.com Malaysia's Prime Minister broke a cardinal rule in politics. He inadvertently admitted 'guilt' when the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission cleared him of any wrong doing in accepting a political donation. His position - vulnerable since his ascent to premiership - is no longer tenable as Malaysians question his sincerity and trustworthiness.

straitstimes.com The Malaysian Insider reported that some 400 journalists, lawyers, members of civil society groups and the public attended the rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur, held to protest against the three-month suspension of well-regarded publications The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily.



walesonline.co.uk Pedophile Michael Jones has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping one child and abusing a further three in Cambodia. The pervert was locked up after his victims testified before a Phnom Penh court that he had abused them.



gulfnews.com Ten have been confirmed dead, including two miners, in northern Luzon and eight others in southern Philippines, as Typhoon Soudelor, locally called Hanna, hovered over the Pacific Ocean and rushed towards the northeastern sea, dumping rain that resulted in floods and landslides.

asiaone.com Singaporean national Stanley Jang, 36, was killed in Paranaque City in what police said was probably an execution style ''hit.'' A 10-year resident and businessman, the gunmen targeted Mr Jang in his office, shot him at close range and left without taking anything.



nnt The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) is expecting 7 million tourists to visit Thailand during the third quarter, while the government expects an income of 2.2 trillion baht from tourism for the entire year. TCT's President Ittirith Kinglake has revealed the overview of the tourism industry during the second half of 2015, saying fewer tourists are visiting the country during the low-season third quarter. However tourists from China, Malaysia, and Japan are constantly traveling to Thailand during this period.



asiaone.com Defence Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. Jundan Eko Bintoro confirmed in a letter that circulated among their employees that the ministry allows polygamy. The male who wishes to be polygamous must present written consent from his wife, and have enough income to support multiple wives by presenting his income tax report.



aljazeera.com The UN has pledged $9m in aid to step up the response to devastating flooding in Myanmar. Nearly 90 people have died and four states have been declared disaster zones affecting at least 330,000 residents.