Economy & Resources

According to new reports, the Philippines is expected to see economic growth in 2026, with GDP projected at 5.3%, up from 4.4%in 2025. The projected improvement reflects a gradual recovery in business activity and consumer spending. However, this outlook is increasingly shaped by global risks, especially rising oil prices linked to conflict in the Middle East.   While the headline numbers suggest progress, the truth is that the average Fil...

The war in the Middle East is beginning to disrupt food markets across Southeast Asia, exposing how dependent regional supply chains are on global shipping, fuel, and fertilizer flows. Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines are already seeing exports fall, costs rise, and production come under pressure.   From rice and canned tuna to vegetables and bananas, the impact highlights deeper vulnerabilities in how food systems are structured. C...

As turmoil in the Persian Gulf pushes fuel prices higher, governments from Manila to Jakarta are moving faster on nuclear plans once treated as distant or optional. What has changed is the pressure behind it. What once looked like a long-term option now feels much harder to postpone.   The disruption has exposed a vulnerability Southeast Asia can no longer ignore. In that context, nuclear energy is being reconsidered less as a long-term am...

The 1MDB scandal is back in the headlines in 2026, with new court battles, fresh rumors, and significant financial fallout keeping the story alive. The case, linked to billions in missing funds, continues to shape politics, banking, and public trust across multiple countries.   The scandal, which has gripped Malaysia for nearly a decade, centers on the alleged theft of $4.5 billion from a government-owned investment fund. High-profile figu...

Fuel prices are continuing to rise since the United States and Israel began their war against Iran. For Southeast Asia, this is more than another jump in energy costs. As pressure builds on the Strait of Hormuz, governments across the region are scrambling to secure fuel supplies they do not control and cannot easily replace.   Some are opening channels to Iran to protect tanker access. Others are looking for alternative supplies. At the same t...