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.

washingtonpost.com The Chinese navy repeatedly warned a US surveillance plane to leave airspace around disputed islands in the South China Sea - a sign that Beijing may seek to create a military exclusion zone in a move that could further stoke regional tensions.



benarnews.org Malaysia put helicopters on standby to rescue migrants off its northwest coast, and Myanmar said it would work to prevent ''irregular movements'' of people from its territory to countries farther south. ''We are ready to cooperate with other governments to resolve the ongoing problems through constructive engagement and on humanitarian grounds,'' said Zaw Htay, director of the Myanmar's president's office, according to the Associated Press.



AP European Union lawmakers are calling on Myanmar (Burma) to end the persecution of Rohingya Muslims and for Thailand to launch investigations into reports of mass graves of the Muslim minority. In a resolution Thursday, the lawmakers also called for the Thai government and officials to ''end any complicity with the criminal gangs trafficking Rohingya people and other migrants in Thailand.''

voanews.com Myanmar says it will work to protect members of the country's Rohingya Muslim minority that are risking their lives to flee poverty and persecution in the country.



smh.com.au Australia has a responsibility to address the humanitarian crisis in the Bay of Bengal because it is a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, according to the Indonesian government. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refused to offer resettlement to Rohingya refugees fleeing Myanmar on the grounds it would encourage people smuggling.



theguardian.com.au Cambodia has formally agreed to accept four refugees detained by the Australian government as part of a A$40m deal signed between the two countries last year. The Cambodian prime minister, Hun Sen, approved the move on Wednesday, which was confirmed to the Cambodia Daily newspaper by a high-ranking government official.



abs-cbnnews.com ''We take note of the very encouraging, courageous, and principled statement issued by the Philippines,'' said UNHCR Representative in the Philippines Bernard Kerblat, referring to the position taken by several government officials that the Philippines will not send back to sea the Rohingya boat people, unlike what some of its Asean neighbors did. Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand now say they are willing to take in the boat people for a year.



thediplomat.com The third and final phase of sharia law, which will be implemented later this year or in 2016, will introduce executions, including stoning, for offenses like adultery, abortion, homosexuality/sodomy, and even blasphemy. Non-Muslim and Muslim tourists alike will likely opt to spend their vacations traveling to other tourist destinations in the region, such as Malaysia or Indonesia where a more tolerant form of Islam is practiced.



channelnewsasia.com Wider seats, more legroom and a glass of champagne to boot - these are the perks passengers will enjoy over those in standard economy class when they fly on Singapore Airlines' new premium economy segment. The carrier unveiled the addition to its other cabin classes at a launch event.



worldbank.org Vietnam needs to strengthen its response to climate change by including strategic investments toward a low-carbon future in its planning and budgeting strategy for coming years, according to a new government report, led by Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and supported by the World Bank and U.N. Development Program (UNDP).