Top News Headlines In Cambodia, Laos, Singapore & Thailand : March 6, 2025

CAMBODIA 

1.WOMEN POWER NEEDED TO DRIVE NATION’S GROWTH -- AGENCE KAMPUCHEA PRESSE

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The Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra wants more women's involvement in the country’s socio-economic development. Although the number of women in leadership roles remains low, 48 per cent of civil service jobs are dominated by women in the Kingdom. 

2.USING AI TO ENHANCE EDUCATION -- AGENCE KAMPUCHEA PRESSE 

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports will establish an artificial intelligence (AI) research centre to advance education. The centre will help teachers and students use AI ethically and improve teaching and learning. It will assist teachers with their creative lesson planning.

INDONESIA

1.INDONESIA, AUSTRALIA RENEW US$6.2 BILLION CURRENCY SWAP DEAL -- JAKARTA GLOBE

The central banks of Indonesia and Australia have recently renewed their bilateral currency swap arrangement for another five years. The deal allows Bank Indonesia and the Reserve Bank of Australia to acquire each other’s currency for up to 10 billion Australian dollars, or the equivalent of US$6.2 billion.

2.BEKASI SCRUTINISED FOR POOR URBAN PLANNING -- THE JAKARTA POST

Recent large-scale flooding in Greater Jakarta, which has had a particularly dire effect in Bekasi, West Java, has drawn attention to the area’s poor urban planning and insufficient disaster mitigation.

LAOS  

1.FARMERS ADOPT SILVOPASTORAL FARMING -- VIENTIANE TIMES 

Farmers in the northern Lao successfully implemented sustainable land management practices using silvopastoral farming. An integrated farming that combines trees, forage and grazing domesticated animals on the same land. The project helps farmers overcome livestock feed and water scarcity during dry seasons.

2.XIENG KHUANG AIRPORT UPGRADING MOVES SMOOTHLY -- VIENTIANE TIMES

The upgrading of Xieng Khuang province is 63 per cent complete, which includes the renovation of an airfield and terminal buildings. The government wants to improve the airport to better serve the increasing number of air passengers and support national security. 

SINGAPORE

1.DBS CHIEF PIYUSH GUPTA’S 2024 PAY RISES TO $17.6 MILLION AFTER BANK’S RECORD EARNINGS -- THE STRAITS TIMES

Outgoing DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta received $17.58 million in total pay for 2024, higher than what he took home in 2023, according to the bank’s annual report released on March 6.

2.CUSTOMER SERVICE, COMPLIANCE JOBS AT HIGHER RISK OF AI DISRUPTION IN BANKS, RECRUITERS SAY -- CNA

As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates in the banking sector, roles in customer service, risk management and marketing are most at risk of being replaced.

THAILAND

1. MOTOGP NOT ON AGENDA IN NEWIN, THAKSIN TALKS, SAYS ANUTIN -- THE NATION Discussions between former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Newin Chidchob, patriarch of the coalition’s largest partner, Bhumjaithai, did not involve the extension of the MotoGP contract, Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul said on Wednesday.

2. TARIFFS MAY EAISE EXPORT COSTS -- BANGKOK POST Operating costs for Thai exports are likely to spike by 6-8% on average given US President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policy on imports, says the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB).

-- BERNAMA