Top diplomats from Asia, Europe and North America met on Thursday for the security-focused ASEAN Regional Forum, where ministers were expected to call for a peaceful settlement of renewed and intensifying hostilities in the Middle East.

The meeting will focus on key challenges including energy and food security, the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and South China Sea tensions.

MANILA: The top diplomats of the US, China and Russia are due in Manila this week to attend the annual forum of Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers that…