Rising Fuel costs overshadowing agenda for ASEAN summit in the Philippines

ASEAN leaders have begun meeting in the Philippines, where residents near the summit venue are expressing concerns about soaring fuel prices and living costs. The regional bloc is facing issues stemming from the Iran conflict, as many member states are heavily reliant on energy from the Gulf. This has been described as a "stress test decade" for ASEAN, with officials highlighting the challenges posed by rising fuel costs.