Southeast Asia Insights

Across Southeast Asia, Israel's war on Gaza triggered some of the strongest public reactions to any external conflict in recent years. Protests, boycotts, and sustained online mobilization spread across Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and beyond, driven by anger over civilian casualties and perceived Western backing of Israel.   That reaction has seemingly solidified amid the still unresolved war between the US, Israel, and Iran. The disrup...

Dozens of Filipino survivors of Typhoon Odette are bringing a climate-related compensation claim in the United Kingdom, a move that is stirring difficult questions about justice, accountability, and the role of foreign courts in regional affairs.   67 claimants from small island communities in southern Philippines say they suffered catastrophic losses during the storm and are seeking damages from energy giant Shell. The case was filed in D...

Over the past six months, Gen Z-led protests have spread across the Global South, shaking governments and forcing political change in some cases. From Nepal to Kenya, young people have taken to the streets to demand accountability, economic opportunity, and an end to corruption.   These movements have captured global attention and, in some cases, even helped remove leaders. But a deeper pattern is now emerging. While youth protests can be ...

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...