ASEAN Must Help to Fill the Global Leadership Vacuum to Protect its Regional Backyard

In an article by East Asia Forum, Mari Pangestu and Julia Tijaja discuss the need for ASEAN to strengthen regional resilience in light of geopolitical tensions and the negative effects of US tariffs on the region's economy. By deepening regional integration, fully implementing RCEP, coordinating and addressing reforms and priorities, ASEAN may turn these issues into an opportunity for growth and leadership.

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Cambodia’s New Airport Slowly Breaks a Rural Community

In an article for Mekong Independent, Phon Sothyroth brings to light the issues faced by the Canal 94 community, where residents have been fishing and farming for several decades. As Cambodia developed their new international airport, the community faced issues such as fishing grounds being cut off by construction, the lake being fenced off, and bureaucracy blocking these low-income rural residents from receiving land titles. Residents say the airport developments have left them trapped—they are unsure whether they will be evicted, but they lack money for the modern housing replacing their community.

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