The unique and diverse range of recreational activities and travel options in this region has made Southeast Asia a top choice for tourists. According to the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC), the tourism sector directly contributed to a whopping US$119.7 billion in 2016 alone and is projected to reach US$222.8 billion in 2027, which makes up 5.3% of total GDP for the region.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model developed by Alibaba took the Stanford University reading and comprehension test. The machine obtained an 82.44 score, beating the best score of 82.30 set by a human for the same test previously. Alibaba claims that this is the first time a machine has edged past humans in such a test. Alibaba’s achievement in this test indicates two things.

The main conclusion drawn from the visit by ASEAN leaders to India last week is that India is finally recognising ASEAN’s geostrategic potency and wants to capitalise on it. In doing so, India must play catch up with China.

Human rights are rights that are fundamental to all human beings, regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, or religion. However, due to the diverse cultures and varying political structures in Southeast Asia, tackling human rights issues remains a major hurdle for the region.

The Southeast Asian region and India have civilisational, cultural and linguistical linkages stretching back almost two thousand years. Evidences of Indian influence still permeates the traditions, languages and architectural designs found in many member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).In the 21st century, ties between India and this region have evolved in line with the current speed and vigour of globalisation.

One of the best things about Southeast Asia is that it’s home to lush, green rainforests and extremely diverse wildlife. This is probably one of the many reasons why – according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – over one hundred million tourists flocked to the region in 2016. However, as more and more tourists arrive, opportunists are taking advantage of this growth to prop up shady businesses that seek to cash in on the growing demand for wildlife tourism.

 During its recent Republic Day celebrations, India hosted all 10 ASEAN heads of state as its chief guests. Aside from being the guests of honour at the Republic Day celebrations, on the agenda was also the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, celebrating the 25-year relationship between India and ASEAN.

The retail sector accounts for the largest source of employment in the Southeast Asian region. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), it employs an aggregate of 44.6 million workers, which represents 16 percent of the region’s total employment.

“The owners of the platform giants consider themselves the masters of the universe, but in fact they are slaves to preserving their dominant position,” business magnate and philanthropist, George Soros chillingly stated during his World Economic Forum (WEF) speech in Davos this year. Soros was referring to the immense influence that companies like Google and Facebook had amassed – creating a new “monolithic power” in the world today.

The global economy has continued to strengthen in 2018 and this trend is expected to continue into 2019 as well. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that some 120 economies, which accounts for three quarters of the world’s GDP, “…has seen a pickup in growth in year-on-year terms in 2017”. Countries like Germany, Japan, Korea and the United States also saw higher growth in the third quarter of 2017 as opposed to the projection made in October 2016.