ASEAN needed to show a semblance of unity more than ever now, and their common statement on the South China Sea raises some hopes that the group can still pull off an important stunt like this at a time when most observers had given up hope.

Bangladesh has continued to be an attractive destination for Japanese companies to do business due to its lower production cost and labour wage compared to those of 19 countries in Asia and Oceania.

Malaysian authorities say already tight security has been increased at and near the venue of the ASEAN summit following a reported, but unconfirmed, terrorist threat.

The dense mangrove forest on both sides of the road to the Bang Ben bay through Laem Son National Park is indeed intriguing.

A regional conference, with the member states of Asean and representatives from the US and the UN, is under way in the Thai capital Bangkok to discuss possible solutions to the South East Asia migrant crisis.

The warnings could not have been more severe: a monster named Haiyan was coming, a storm carrying rains at wind speeds no one on Earth had ever seen or felt before, so strong it could sweep the sea inland.