A message reading "Road for the People" is scrawled on Bangkok's Ratchadamnoen Road (Road for the Royals)
This Week's News Spotlight:
Singapore and Hong Kong to establish travel bubble | Controversial labour law in Indonesia triggers demonstrations | Thailand announces emergency decree following demonstrations | Reviving Cambodia’s music scene | How data is transforming the lives of Myanmar’s farmer
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Singapore and Hong Kong to establish travel bubble - TODAY
Singapore already has reciprocal essential travel arrangements with multiple countries.
Singapore and Hong Kong have reached an in-principle agreement to allow all forms of air travel between the two cities. There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel and travellers do not need to serve a quarantine or stay-home notice, nor do they need to follow a controlled itinerary. However, travellers from both sides must produce negative COVID-19 tests.
Details are still being finalised, and are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
Controversial labour law in Indonesia triggers demonstrations - Al Jazeera
Protestors launched projectiles at police, including Molotov cocktails, setting fire to furniture and bus stops.
A controversial “omnibus law” was passed earlier this week, leading to demonstrations where more than a thousand protestors clashed with riot police in multiple cities, like Medan and Jakarta.
The law removes the three-year maximum duration for contracts and removes severance benefits. The government said that these changes were to promote formal hiring and attract investment. However, critics have lauded it as exploitative of workers and potentially environmentally destructive.
Thailand announces emergency decree following demonstrations - Nikkei Asia
Demonstrators demanded that the government resign, with thousands making a three-finger gesture that has become symbolic of the protests.
After thousands of demonstrators surrounded the Government House in Bangkok, the government announced an emergency decree. The emergency decree bans gatherings of more than four people.
The police have arrested at least 22 activists who were in front of the Government House. Crowds converged along the Ratchaprasong area, blocking traffic and setting up a mobile stage. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have expressed concern about the emergency decree.
Reviving Cambodia’s music scene - Phnom Penh Post
TSI provides education through mentoring and coaching sessions, cross-cultural music exchanges, and lessons, workshops, and master classes.
UK native Laura Baker moved to Cambodia and, in 2017, founded TSI, a non-profit social enterprise that supports emerging young talent in the music industry. A classically trained singer who has performed throughout Europe and Asia, she noted how music is a tool for empowerment and hopes to nurture a thriving music scene in Cambodia.
How data is transforming the lives of Myanmar’s farmers - KrASIA
The agriculture sector accounts for 38% of Myanmar’s GDP.
Farmers in Myanmar have been optimising their production process by tapping on agritech and even online training, with most services accessible via smartphone. The country has fertile lands and abundant sources of freshwater, but low productivity has led to low wages and profits.
Agritech startups are targeting young farmers in particular, aiming to kickstart a “tech-driven agriculture revolution”. For instance, startup Village Link launched Htwet Toe, an app where farmers can attend tutorials and ask questions about farming from agricultural professionals. The firm has 600,000 users so far, and aims to reach up to 2.5 million in the next five years.