When talking about gambling in Asia, the first place that usually springs to mind is Macau – also dubbed the Monte Carlo of the Orient – and it is with good reason. Often regarded as the gambling capital of the world, gambling tourism is Macau’s biggest source of revenue, accounting for 50 percent of its economy.

Less than two weeks ago, Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma revealed that he was in discussion with the Indonesian government regarding the possibility of opening an institute to train tech entrepreneurs in the country. This, he said, would help Indonesia meet the skill demands of Industry 4.0, also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

From the bizarre looking balut in the Philippines to the hearty bakso in Indonesia, Southeast Asia is a food haven, a gastronomical paradise unlike any other. A microcosm of Asia, cuisine in the region is very much influenced by recipes from China, India, and the Middle East, among others.

This coming week, Brunei will be hosting the Brunei Islamic Capital Market (BICAM) Conference 2018, its first Islamic Capital Market Conference at the Rizqun International Hotel where more than a dozen international experts in Islamic finance are expected to meet, deliberate and raise awareness on growing Islamic capital markets.

Youths in the region are extremely positive about the impact of technology on job prospects and income, a survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Singapore-based internet company, Sea has revealed. Of the over 40,000 respondents, around 52 percent of the under-35 generation across the region believe that technology would be able to increase the number of jobs. 67 percent said they believed it would lead to an increase in their ability to earn higher incomes.

Singapore is the most competitive economy in the region, placing second overall in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index behind the United States (US). Singapore is seen as an exemplary economy as the report showcased the importance of openness for competitiveness amid escalating tensions and backlash against globalisation.

Last week, international non-profit groups Development Finance International (DFI) and Oxfam published a report ranking governments around the world based on their efforts in tackling the gap between the rich and the poor. Noteworthy from that report as far as ASEAN is concerned was the extremely low rating Singapore obtained.

Policymakers are often faced with the challenging task of improving labour markets in order to keep unemployment levels low and productivity high. In their arsenal are a plethora of tools aimed at improving education, facilitating training programs and providing channels for job seekers to network with potential employers.

Perhaps one of the most widely discussed challenges that comes with a growing global e-commerce sector is the challenge of taxing that industry.

Malaysian state-owned private equity firm, Ekuiti Nasional (Ekuinas) has divested the entirety of its 60 percent equity interest in cross-border mobile cash transaction firm Tranglo to the Hong Kong-based TNG Fintech Group for US$27.6 million.