Southeast Asia’s construction sector is looking at wide variations of growth in 2019, according to the latest International Construction Costs Report from Arcadis. The report found that the construction industries in the Philippines and Vietnam ranked third and fifth worldwide, respectively, for forecast annual real growth in value.

Thailand may be called the “Land of Smiles” but a recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that this may be far from the truth. According to the study, Thailand leads ASEAN for number of suicides.The WHO has ranked Thailand 32nd in its annual suicide rate report, with a 14.4-suicide ratio for every 100,000 population, or equivalent to 10,000 deaths by suicide per year.

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world. Singapore city planning more critical amid issues like climate changeThe government will continue to lead urban planning efforts in Singapore to tackle issues like climate change, but it will need help from urban planners and other stakeholders in the private sectorThis is essential to build Singapore i

Not all 4G wireless users are created equal. This was what Opensignal - a London-based company that specialises in mapping wireless coverage – found out recently when it analysed the fluctuations in 4G download speeds that its users in the Philippines experience throughout the day across different regions.In its recent 5G Opportunity report, Opensignal analysed the wide fluctuations in 4G download speeds experienced throughout the day on networks in 77 countries around the world.

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today. Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world. Singtel to spend US$32.7 million to enhance staff’s digital skillsSingaporean telecommunications giant Singtel will invest $45 million (US$32.7 million) over the next three years in organising training programmes for its workers to deepen their skills and knowledge in order to fuel the digital

Today, people are more conscious about what they eat, reading up on the ingredients used and wanting to know where their food is sourced from.

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today. Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.

These are the top stories making the front pages of major newspapers from across Southeast Asia today.Get up to speed with what’s happening in the fastest growing region in the world.Waiting to inhale: Much of Malaysia blanketed by hazeMalaysia woke up shrouded in thick haze this morning.

Due to Southeast Asia’s largely unbanked and underbanked populations, the region has a growing fintech ecosystem which provides innovative services such as loans and payment platforms.

The ASEAN Post recently published an article on enforced disappearances in Thailand. This was in conjunction with the recent International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on 30 August.