The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has recently strengthened its external ties through trade and security partnerships with global powers. However, the regional organization has also faced a growing number of internal issues ranging from political tensions to inconsistent regional responses that have increasingly challenged the bloc’s unity.

Pay-to-win (P2W) is a mechanic that allows players to buy advantages like stronger gear, faster progress, or exclusive power-ups. This can also include gacha systems, where spending more increases the chance of getting powerful or rare items.

Grassroots sports are community-focused programs designed to encourage widespread participation in physical activities, promoting inclusivity, health, and basic skill development among people of all ages and backgrounds. In contrast, elite athlete development programs concentrate on training and supporting highly talented individuals with specialized coaching, resources, and facilities to compete at national and international levels, aiming for peak performance and sporting excellence.

Lying flat is a social movement that began in China around 2021. It emerged as a passive form of resistance among young people who are against intense work culture. Faced with rising living costs and rigid social expectations, some individuals choose to disengage from traditional life milestones such as career advancement, home ownership, and starting a family. Instead, they opt for minimalist lifestyles focused on rest, autonomy, and personal well-being.

The United Kingdom has played a key role in the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its colonial rule and the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which supported a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Though no longer a colonial power, UK remains a significant diplomatic actor whose policies and influence continue to shape efforts toward peace in the region.

The Global South refers to economically developing regions, primarily in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia and Oceania, that are rich in natural resources but often marginalized in global trade.

Rare earth metal industries involve the mining and processing of 17 critical elements used in technologies like electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy systems.

Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) in the Philippines is a rich system of environmental understanding rooted in the lifeways of Indigenous Peoples, such as the Ifugao, Dumagat, and Manobo. It guides sustainable farming, forest stewardship, and species protection based on generations of lived experience. However, recent decades have seen a sharp decline in the use and transmission of IEK.

Buklod-Katawhan is a grassroots organization rooted in the ancestral values of Kalinaw, a rural town in Mindanao. Led by Salumay, the daughter of a tribal chieftain, the group actively resists destructive mining and agro-industrial projects that threaten indigenous land, livelihood, and cultural identity.

Despite its deep community support, Buklod-Katawhan faces chronic shortages in legal, financial, and logistical resources, relying mostly on volunteer work and modest local donations to sustain its advocacy.

As local elections near, a powerful political party offers legal aid, funding, and media coverage in exchange for the public endorsement of its candidates.

The United Kingdom has played a key role in the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through its colonial rule and the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which supported a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Though no longer a colonial power, UK remains a significant diplomatic actor whose policies and influence continue to shape efforts toward peace in the region.

The Global South refers to economically developing regions, primarily in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia and Oceania, that are rich in natural resources but often marginalized in global trade.

Rare earth metal industries involve the mining and processing of 17 critical elements used in technologies like electric vehicles, smartphones, and renewable energy systems.

Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino made a strategic political move by joining the majority bloc in the Philippine Senate, aligning themselves with the current administration’s legislative agenda. In contrast, Senator Risa Hontiveros has chosen to join the minority bloc, positioning herself as part of the opposition.