Asia Daily Briefing - Power plays October 3, 2019

	Behind the bamboo  curtain: Beijing rings  with clues of Xi  power struggle BEIJING -- Amid the festive   mood in Beijing over Communist China's 70th anniversary,  there were small but clear  hints that President Xi Jinping's consolidation of power is far  from complete.
	Selected for you Thailand, Vietnam and Philippines named as likely 5G  laggards Reports suggest digital divide in Southeast Asia with Singapore leading Read more Hong Kong to invoke emergency powers to combat  protesters Local media say administration to ban wearing of masks by demonstrators Read more Insurer Tokio Marine to purchase US peer Pure Group  for $3bn Increase in natural disasters prompts Japanese company to spread risk overseas Read more Thai food companies fund police on national border to stop  swine fever Desperate move by CP, Betagro, Thai Food will set up checkpoints to protect $3.3bn industry Read more Russia renews interest in Mongolia to counter Chinese  influence Rebuilding ties with former close ally crucial to Moscow's pivot to the east Read more Indian antitrust watchdog throws Hyundai-Kia-Ola deal  in doubt Companies make second application but analysts expect failure Read more