Quratul-Ain Bandial, Bandar Seri Begawan – Timor Leste is keen to reap the potential benefits of tariff-free trade once it joins the ASEAN bloc, said the country's commerce, industry and environmen

Paulina Quintao – The Caucus organization is providing training to 30 potential female political candidates, which have been registered in the National Election Commission (NCE), in preparation for

Paulina Quintao – Increased reporting of domestic violence cases and the establishment of more shelters are the two major achievements during the implementation of the national action plan on gende

Dili, Timor-Leste – Participants of ASEAN Peoples' Forum (APF) have stated their commitment and supports of a fair settlement for the Timorese peoples' unfinished struggle to achieve their full sov

Introduction

Paulina Quintao – Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araujo has urged ministers and secretaries of state to include gender issues in the annual action plan and the 2017 budget to ensure both women and men

Paulina Quintao – The Mobile Library Program being implemented in the country through the Alola Foundation is aiming to develop a culture of reading among pupils.

Venidora Oliveira – Communities are continuing to build houses on protected land, even though it has been banned by the government.

Thomas Ora, Dili, Timor Leste – Indonesian Christians have pledged help for hundreds of Timor-Leste farmers whose crops have been ravaged by the El Nino weather pattern.

Paulina Quintao – The policy of equivalent education has been criticized as being unfair to dropout youths due to the learning environment, which is different to the formal system.

Dylan Amirio, Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste is probably not on the average list when it comes to destinations for spiritual tourism, or even tourism in general.

Paulina Quintao – The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) has acknowledged that it was difficult for victims of sexual abuse, particularly incest, to return to their families and society.

Paulina Quintao – The Health Ministry (MH) has launched a public awareness campaign since the President approved the new tobacco control law on June 2.

The Hague tribunal decision last week in the South China Sea case will have far reaching implications, finding that any 'historic rights' China claimed within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the South East Asia Journalist Unions (SEAJU), along with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Freedom House, in reiterating its ca

Djemi Amnifu, Kupang – Many Timor Leste citizens remain stranded in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), years after a UN referendum that resulted in Timor Leste's independence.

Ruby Taylor – The Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) has welcomed Timor Leste as part of the growing country members of the forum.

Amanda Hodge, Jakarta – The East Timor government has accused Australia of hypocrisy for appealing to China to use international law to resolve its disputes with Asian neighbours over the South Chi

Venidora Oliveira – Timor-Leste's mobile court has resolved 1143 cases since being established in 2010, representing significant progress, according to the Timor-Leste Country Director of United Na

Paulina Quintao – The National Directorate for Food and Economy Inspection has identified 58 stores in Dili selling food past the expiry date in the last six months up until June.

Thomas Ora, Dili – The director of the youth commission for Dili Diocese has criticized the Timor-Leste government for not doing enough to curb unemployment.

Paulina Quintao – Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the National Directorate for Food and Economy Inspection as food products continue to be sold past their expiry date.

Sarina Locke – For a Timorese family, owning a cow is a luxury and owning a herd of cattle is a sign of wealth. Most of East Timor's cattle are skinny and riddled with parasites and diseases.

Tom Clarke – Territorial aggression. Refusal to abide by the rule book. It's a challenging set of behaviours.

The response from Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop, to the ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China highlights a central contradiction in Australia's foreign policy.

Paulina Quintao – The Ministry of Education (ME) has established nine community centers this year aimed at improving study opportunities for illiterate people.

Venidora Oliveira – The Ministry of Social Solidarity proposed the law on social security contribution for the workers in Timor-Leste for their retirement or in case of injury.

Paulina Quintao – Unemployment across the country has reached 11%, with mostly graduates among the jobless, according to 2013 research by the Secretary of State for Vocational Training Policy and E

Paulina Quintao – The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Southeast Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said the three major achievements in Timor-Leste's health sector since

Paulina Quintao – USAID is providing numeracy training to female producers through its Advance Agriculture program as most women in rural areas still don't know how to count in order.

Andrea Needham – What do you do when your government is selling weapons to a brutal regime? Weapons which are then used to attack civilians in a nearby country, killing thousands?

Nelson Moura – The owner of a Macau consultancy business appeared before East Timor Prosecutor's Office (MP) 20 months after being arrested in connection with a money laundering case, news agency L

M. Veera Pandiyan (The Star/ANN) – He may be facing the biggest fight of his life but the charismatic leader of the world's youngest democracy certainly didn't show it.

Celestino Gusmao – Indonesia recently held a symposium on the violent events of 50 years ago which brought the Indonesian General Suharto to power.

Dan De Luce – There's a major Asian power that refuses to compromise in its far-reaching territorial claims in oil-rich waters, despite appeals from its smaller neighbor to resolve the dispute in a

Paulina Quintao – Thirty types of medicine are currently out of stock at the Dili Municipality Health Center (MHC) warehouse.

Dalia Kiakilir – On June 23, 2016, a majority of United Kingdom voters decided in favor of a proposal to leave the European Union.

Mark Bowling – Brisbane parishes are using the election campaign to press Federal politicians on one of the most divisive international issues on Australia's doorstep – drawing a fair maritime boun

Venidora Oliveira – There are currently 3000 motorbikes and cars operating illegally across the country, according to Acting Minister Longuinhos Monteiro, who blamed weak import controls.

Paulina Quintao – Some teachers are still using corporal punishment to discipline students while at school, according to the President of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child (CNDL),

Paulina Quintao – The Secretariat of State for the Socio-Economic Support of Women (SEM) re-established the Gender Working Groups (GWGs) in those Ministries and Secretariats which have already been

Cayla Dengate – The humid heat of Fiji is quelled inside the surgical ward of Suva Colonial War Memorial hospital.

Susan Marx – "From its ruggedly beautiful landscapes to its centuries-old traditions, Timor-Leste offers one of the world's last great off-the-beaten-track adventures," begins Lonely Planet's descr

Okky Madasari, Jakarta – "Have you ever imagined, if only Indonesia didn't invade Timor Leste in 1975, would everything be very different now?

Venidora Oliveira – There are calls for the Indonesian government to take serious action to locate thousands of Timorese people that went missing between 1975 and 1999.

Venidora Oliveira – The government plans to reform its fiscal policy by introducing a value-added tax (VAT) in order to increase the country's revenue streams and reduce dependence on oil funds.

Tim McDonald, East Timor – On the road that goes from East Timor's capital of Dili to Suai, on the Island's south, there's a cross by the roadside.

Tim McDonald, Suai, East Timor – Near Suai on East Timor's south coast, a rusty old oil pump sits near a beach, some mangroves and the ruins of an old prison from the Portuguese era.

Timor-Leste (East Timor) within the next three years will have a modern port in Tibar bay, 12 kilometres from the capital, Dili, according to a contract signed this week with Bollore Ports, accordi

By Max Lane

Executive summary