Dili – Catholic-majority Timor Leste will observe a week of mourning to honour Pope Francis after his death on Monday aged 88, President Jose Ramos-Horta said, hailing the pontiff's "very brave" fight for peace and support of the world's poorest people.

Stephen Dziedzic, Andrew Greene – One of Australia's closest neighbours has declared it is willing to join Chinese-led military exercises but insists it would only do so if the activity is "not directed at any perceived hostile entity".

Timor-Leste has awarded its first offshore gambling license, calling the move a milestone in the broader push for economic diversification and digital sector development.

Jakarta – The Indonesian National Border Management Agency (BNPP) has officially opened a new cross-border route connecting the Napan Border Crossing Post (PLBN) in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province to the Oesilo Border Post in Timor-Leste.

Havana – East Timor President and Nobel Peace Laureate Jose Ramon Horta handed over diplomas to Cuban doctors who wound up their work in that country.

Kiki Siregar, Liquica, Timor-Leste/Morowali, Indonesia: Most people would not be thrilled to be surrounded by a sea of trash daily, but Dion Gonsalves feels blessed to have the opportunity to work at a 23ha dumpsite in Liquica district, west of Timor-Leste's capital Dili.

Zac Gillies-Palmer – In September 1974, socialists in Dili founded the Revolutionary Front for the Independence of Timor-Leste, better known as FRETILIN. Against the backdrop of the Cold War, FRETILIN grew from a small group of left-wing intellectuals into East Timor's main independence party and armed resistance movement.

James Pearson – Estrella Resources is about to make history in Timor-Leste with the arrival of the nation's first mineral exploration rig. The company is gearing up to kick off an exploration drilling campaign at its Ira Miri, Sica and Lalena manganese prospects in the country's northwest.

Timor-Leste has pledged humanitarian aid worth US$500,000 for Myanmar where a strong earthquake has left more than 3,000 dead, thousands more injured and tens of thousands displaced.

Indonesia, West Papua – The Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (C24) decided that the 2025 C24 Pacific Regional Conference will be held in Dili, Timor-Leste, from 21 to 23 May 2025.

Portugal's National Energy and Geology Laboratory (known by its Portuguese initials LNEG) is cooperating with its local counterpart in Timor-Leste to assess the mineral potential of the Southeast Asian country, the Lusa news agency reports.

A proposed law to check online crimes and misuse of social media in Timor-Leste has sparked concern that the government could exploit it to muzzle dissent and suppress free speech.

A final decision on Timor-Leste's full membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected in May, reports the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

The top education officials in Catholic-majority Timor-Leste have warned of stern punitive action against teachers if students face sexual abuse from them in schools.

Following two recent abuse scandals in schools, Education Minister Dulce de Jesus Soares said the government will not tolerate sexual abuses committed in schools.

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia has requested to relax the criteria and requirements set for Timor-Leste in a bid to expedite the process for the country to become a full member of ASEAN by the end of this year, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

Jakarta – Indonesia's Foreign Minister Sugiono received a visit from his Timor-Leste counterpart, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and ensure that the partnership provides concrete benefits.

Danial Donald, Kota Tinggi – Timor-Leste is confident that it has made significant progress and is on the right track to fulfil the roadmap outlined for its full membership in ASEAN.

Church officials in Timor-Leste have joined those opposing a new law that allows the government to recruit foreign nationals to serve as public prosecutors and judges in the Catholic-majority nation.

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao's government claims the law, passed on Feb. 24, aims at the long-term development of judiciary professionals.

James Pearson – Local geologists working for Estrella Resources have picked up a rich deposit of transported alluvial manganese at the company's Soru prospect, with early observations suggesting grades running as high as 95 per cent.

The prospect is part of the company's northern leases that make up its Lautem manganese project in Timor-Leste.

Kuala Lumpur – Timor-Leste is likely to join ASEAN as a full member at the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October, says Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He stated that a special unit has been established at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta to expedite Timor-Leste's admission as a full member of ASEAN

Jakarta – Indonesia's Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto stated that his side warmly welcomes and is committed to bolstering collaboration in higher education with Timor-Leste.

Zhai Kun – The year 2025 holds significant promise for ASEAN as Malaysia takes on the role of the organisation's Chair. Among the anticipated milestones is the potential ascension of Timor-Leste from an observer state to a member state.

Najma Sambul – As blackouts crippled Timor-Leste, its leaders scrambled for a solution. It was 2010 and the newly independent country, still reeling from decades of occupation and destruction, was desperate to keep the lights on in its capital, Dili.

After a farewell from Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta, the inaugural direct air passenger service between Timor-Leste's capital Dili and the southern Chinese city of Xiamen touched down around 10 pm local time last Friday, reports Xinhua.

Marjorie Preston – In an 11 February filing, Asia-Pacific Strategic Investments Ltd (APS) announced it would establish a $60 million (#47.5 million/Euro 57.2 million) casino and a $20 million bank in the Southeast Asian country.

The agreements were "formalised" with Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, Timor-Leste's vice-prime minister and economic affairs and tourism minister.

Sui Lee-Wee, Dili, East Timor – Three decades ago, he was a scrappy campaigner roaming the world's corridors of power with a dream to win independence for his tiny homeland. Today, at 75, Mr Jose Ramos-Horta is both the president and a relentless salesman for East Timor.

New analysis indicates that Timor-Leste is at a critical juncture in its development, with the need for economic diversification increasing as the Petroleum Fund that finances much of the economy is expected to dry up by 2035. That's according to a press release from the World Bank.

Sudarshan Varadhan, Dili – East Timor would prefer to work with Australia and partners Woodside Energy and Japan's Osaka Gas over Chinese firms that have expressed interest in developing the stalled Greater Sunrise natural gas field, its president said.

Binoy Kampmark – Bugging, in the context of intelligence, is natural for the buggee. Those who approve it and engage in such a practice, however, get riled when the favour is returned in all its rich naturalness. In the murky stock exchange of espionage, deception and surveillance, agencies are expected to lie and spy for their country.

We continue to reflect on Jimmy Carter's foreign policy with history professor Brad Simpson.

Havana, Cuba – Jose Ramos Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, sent his Cuban counterpart, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, a congratulatory message on the occasion of the 66th anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution.

A study of the Greater Sunrise gas field by British engineering and consulting company John Wood Group has confirmed the viability of developing the project in Timor-Leste. The study was carried out between April and November of this year and was reported by the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Sarah MacDonald – Tributes are pouring in for Irishman Tom Hyland, who played a pivotal role in highlighting the genocide in East Timor, following his death on Christmas Eve in the Timorese capital of Dili.

The 72-year-old former Dublin bus driver from Ballyfermot was described by President Michael D. Higgins as "exceptional".

Lusa – Australia is to invest in the qualification of workers in Timor-Leste and create an infrastructure fund for the country with some of its share of profits from the Greater Sunrise offshore gas field, the prime ministers of the two countries have announced.

Dili – Timor-Leste and China agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various aspects during meetings held between Timorese leaders and a senior Chinese political advisor.

Dhaka – The maiden visit of the President of Timor-Leste Dr. Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta in Bangladesh ushered in a new era in the bilateral relations between the two countries, said a joint communique here today.

Dhaka – President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta today urged Bangladesh business firms to come up with their investment in Timor Timor-Leste.

He came up with the call while speaking at a joint press appearance at Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) here after holding talks with Chief Adviser Dr Professor Muhammad Yunus, followed by a delegation-level meeting.

Lusa – In Timor-Leste, a bus dubbed the 'Demokrasia – bis' is serving as an information sharing centre, driving around the country to hear the concerns and suggestions of young Timorese in order to then bring them to the attention of political decision-makers.

Lusa – The former prime minister of Timor-Leste, Taur Matan Ruak, said that the best reconciliation is the one that "comes from the heart", referring to the recent social outrage provoked by an invitation to the militia leader to take part in the celebrations for the declaration of independence.

Baku, Azerbaijan – Climate finance needs to be increased under a new collective quantitative target to $1.3 trillion annually by 2035, Special Envoy, Ambassador for Climate Affairs of Timor-Leste Adao Soares Barbosa said as he delivered her national statement at the COP29 summit today, Trend reports.

Lusa – The President of Timor-Leste said on Thursday that the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP), which is taking place in Azerbaijan, is unlikely to be very different from the others in terms of funding.

Lusa – The president Timor-Leste said on Tuesday that National Youth Day, which marks the Santa Cruz massacre, is not only about "remembering", but also about strengthening the "freedom and dignity" of the Timorese.

Jim Della-Giacoma – On 12 November 1994, a group of 29 young Timorese men gathered to protest outside the US embassy in Jakarta. They were there to make sure the world did not forget what happened at the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili on the same day three years earlier: a massacre of more than 250 Timorese civilians by Indonesian troops.

Douglas Kammen – For Timor-Leste, the 20th century was a century of repeated mass violence.

Mericio Juvinal dos Reis "Akara", Rheinhard Sirait – Timor-Leste is on the brink of a digital revolution with the anticipated arrival of a submarine cable promising faster and more affordable internet access.

Dili, Timor Leste – Along the waterfront of Timor Leste's capital, buzzing restaurants sell local dishes and Portuguese colonial fare facing turquoise waters where the Indonesian military launched an invasion nearly half a century before.

Tempo.Co, Kemlu.Go.Id, Petir Garda B, Jakarta – ASEAN foreign ministers convinced for ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC) in Vientiane, Laos, on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. The ACC meeting discussed ASEAN's institutional process prior to the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit in Laos.

Stephen Dziedzic – Timor-Leste's president has sharply criticised exploitation in Australia's Pacific labour scheme, warning that unscrupulous employers are soaking workers from his country by over-charging them for accommodation and transport.

Tory Shepherd – The $74bn Greater Sunrise gas project – which has been decades in the making – could be under way by the end of the year, the Timor-Leste president, Jose Ramos-Horta, said.

But he also said the pipeline and the accompanying processing work must go to his nation, not Darwin.

Estrella Resources has revealed high-grade manganese in Timor-Leste just days after nailing down new exploration licenses at its Samalari prospect in the nation's Baucau Municipality.