Economy & Resources

When Malaysia launched the sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) in 2009, it was presented as a project for economic growth and national development. Instead, it became one of the world’s largest corruption scandals.   Investigators alleged that more than $4.5 billion was diverted from the fund between 2009 and 2015. The money allegedly moved through offshore companies, luxury properties, artwork, yachts, and was ...

The Philippines entered the ASEAN summit in Cebu looking to shape the bloc's agenda. What emerged instead was a reminder of how little room Manila has when the bloc’s biggest crises remain unresolved.   Leaders discussed rising energy concerns, maritime security tensions, Myanmar’s unresolved conflict, and the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia. Despite the discussions, the summit produced no major breakthroughs. In the end,...

Rice prices across Asia surged in April 2026, marking the fastest increase in more than two years. The spike is being driven by a combination of war-driven costs, dry weather, and supply stress. For Southeast Asia, where rice is both a staple food and a major economic sector, the impact is immediate and widespread.    A Staple Under Pressure Rice is central to daily life across Southeast Asia. In countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, ...

The Philippines is not simply short of jobs. It is short of jobs that let people live. In 2026, that distinction matters more than ever. With wages lagging and costs rising, millions of Filipinos are technically employed but still unable to keep up. In an economy where even an energy shock hits harder because so many households are already stretched thin, the real crisis is no longer whether people work, but whether that work provides a livable w...

Across Southeast Asia, corruption cases continue to surface, often involving large public funds, infrastructure projects, and complex financial networks.   In the Philippines, a major probe into flood control projects has raised concerns about how public money is allocated and monitored. In Indonesia, recent scrutiny over carbon credit projects has triggered questions about transparency and oversight in climate-linked financing. In Vietnam...