Saifulbahri Ismail, Marcel Pereira, Dili – At the 12 November High School in Dili, students listen attentively to a lesson about their country's journey to independence.

None of them were alive when Timor-Leste gained sovereignty in 2002 after 24 years of Indonesian occupation.

Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao has paid tribute to the "courageous and determined" contribution of Australian journalist Robert Domm to the struggle of the Timorese people in gaining independence from Indonesia. He died last Friday.

Domm was remembered for meeting in secret with the then Timorese resistance leader Gusmao in an exclusive interview.

Anna O'Connor – As Timor-Leste debates its General State Budget for 2026, Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is advocating for targeted investment to fuel economic transformation, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reports.

On 22 October 2025, a peaceful protest in the town of Tanahmerah, Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua Province, ended violently following repressive intervention by Indonesian police forces.

Iona Main, Sydney – Wandering through the cavernous, white-tiled port building of Kupang, in Indonesia's West Timor, you might momentarily think you're in the maritime gateway to a much bigger place. But linger a little longer and it's clear the glistening modern edifice is mostly a monument to future potential.

New Delhi, India – India has sent 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor-Leste to help the island nation tackle a rabies outbreak, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.India also reaffirmed its role as a trusted and reliable health partner to the Global South.

Iona Main – Wandering through the cavernous, white-tiled port building of Kupang, in Indonesia's West Timor, you might momentarily think you're in the maritime gateway to a much bigger place.

Kyaw Win – As leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Kuala Lumpur for their biennial summit over the weekend, they formally admitted Timor-Leste into the bloc, marking the first expansion of its membership since 1999.

Guteriano Neves – The official inauguration of Timor-Leste's membership in ASEAN has been the main topic in Dili this week and a highlight of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is a moment of great joy for many Timorese. The theme "Together We Rise" captures a sense of unity and hope inspired by this historic accession.

Samantha Tan, Kuala Lumpur – Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao has reiterated the importance of peace and dialogue in ensuring sustainable development across the ASEAN region and beyond.

Kuala Lumpur – Asia's youngest nation Timor Leste on Sunday became the 11th member of the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN, fulfilling a vision set out by its current president nearly a half-century ago while under Portuguese rule.

Agencies, Kuala Lumpur – Timor Leste joined the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc as its 11th member state on Sunday, after 14 years of campaigning.

Its Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao joined ASEAN leaders for a summit and signing ceremony in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, before posing for photographs together in interlocking arms.

Jakarta – Asia's youngest nation Timor Leste is set to achieve a decades-long dream when it becomes the 11th member of ASEAN this weekend, which analysts say is a win politically although the economic benefits remain to be seen.

Gordon Peake – "If something happens that's wrong, you say sorry" said Evan Shackleton, son of one of the Balibo Five, last week. Shackleton was speaking to media at Balibo at commemorations for the five journalists murdered by Indonesian forces on the Timorese side of the border in 1975.

Saifulbahri Ismail, Dili, Timor-Leste – Timor-Leste is poised to make history as it prepares to formally join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when regional leaders gather for their summit in Kuala Lumpur later this week.

Terry Friel – Fifty years ago this week, five young journalists from Australia, the UK, and New Zealand were murdered in what was then East Timor by Indonesian troops – and their families are still angry that no one has been held accountable and that governments, especially Australia, have done nothing.

Anna O'Connor – Timorese President Jose Ramos Horta has honoured the members of China's 10th medical aid team with the Medal of Merit in recognition of their contributions to the country's health sector, reports the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Nick Sas, Vonia Vieira, Rory Callinan – Walking in the same dirt his father did 50 years ago brews a stew of emotions for Evan Shackleton. This is the dirt, in the Timor-Leste border town of Balibo, where his father laid his last footprints.

Shannon Brincat – On October 16, 1975, five journalists were killed in the remote Timorese town of Balibo. To this day, no one has been charged with their deaths.

Timor-Leste is pushing to revive the Tasi Mane project, promising returns of up to US$52 billion by 2056 with development of the energy industry infrastructure, reports Portuguese news agency Lusa.

Dili, Timor-Leste (Bernama-Kyodo) – Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta has expressed hope for increased Japanese investment following his country's accession to ASEAN at a summit in Malaysia later this month, Kyodo News reported.

Seri Iskandar (Bernama) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today confirmed that Timor-Leste will be officially made a full member of ASEAN on Oct 26.

Anwar, who is also the ASEAN Chairman, said Malaysia, through the Foreign Ministry, is working hard to ensure that Timor-Leste is accepted as a permanent member of the regional bloc.

Teh Lip Li – Twenty-three years after its independence, Timor-Leste confronts fundamental questions as it prepares to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the bloc's summit later this month: namely, what value does it bring to regional cooperation, and how will it transition from an ASEAN observer to a constructive partner?

Michael Rose – Two decades after Timor-Leste gained its independence, the country is a complicated and qualified success story. Poverty and deep economic problems persist, but the country boasts a thriving democracy. Its ascension to the ASEAN regional bloc will come later this month.

Li-Li Chen – Recent years have witnessed the rise of what some have termed the "Gen Z movement" – a wave of activism from young people born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s.

Kuala Lumpur – Timor-Leste, Southeast Asia's youngest nation is finalising preparations for its imminent entry into ASEAN as a full member this month, having fulfilled 97 per cent of the regional bloc's membership requirement.

The government of Timor-Leste on Wednesday approved a Council of Ministers resolution to cancel licences for online gambling and betting, citing risks to security and social stability.

Ravaged by a brutal military occupation, East Timor won its independence just over two decades ago. The young nation has built itself into a stable democracy, but poverty remains widespread.

Timor-Leste's economy will slow down and grow by an average of 3.7% in 2025, 2026 and 2027, compared to 4.1% in 2024, according to the World Bank's (WB) biannual economic report.

"That growth will be driven mainly by public investment in infrastructure, the expansion of the service sector and improvements in digital connectivity and transport," the WB said in the report.

Alastair McCready – Demonstrators were angered by a plan to spend $4.2m on cars for lawmakers in one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries.

Lawmakers in East Timor have voted to end a law providing lifetime pensions for parliamentarians, following student-led demonstrations against lavish perks for public officials in one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries.

Dili, Timor-Leste (Bernama) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim commenced his official engagements with a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace this evening.

The historic two-day visit began with a formal ceremony led by President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta at 4.10 pm local time.

Dili – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has played a key role in advancing Timor-Leste's aspiration to join ASEAN, will begin his inaugural two-day official visit to the country tomorrow (Sept 23).

Lawmakers in one of the world's poorest countries have scrapped plans for lavish spending on themselves amid days-long protests led by Timorese students.

Dili – Timor-Leste has assured Myanmar's military regime that it will no longer allow Myanmar opposition groups to engage in political activities or open offices on its territory.

The diplomatic breakthrough came during a two-day visit to Naypyitaw by Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas.

Dili (Reuters) – East Timor's lawmakers have agreed to scrap plans to provide lifetime pension allowances for themselves, they said Wednesday, bowing to pressure from thousands of students who have staged demonstrations against the plans since Monday.

Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste's parliament has bowed to public pressure and dropped a plan to buy SUVs for lawmakers in one of southeast Asia's poorest nations, but sceptical protesters returned to the streets on Wednesday.

East Timor police fired tear gas on Tuesday at protesters railing for the second day against a plan to buy new official cars for lawmakers, which became the latest flashpoint in one of the poorest nations in Southeast Asia.

Timor-Leste police have fired tear gas at protesters who rallied against a plan to buy new official cars for MPs, which triggered anger in one of the poorest nations in South-East Asia.

Kuala Lumpur (Bernama) – Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta has reaffirmed his nation's commitment to deepening relations with Malaysia through a comprehensive strategic framework.

The President highlighted the deeply-rooted history of Malaysian support dating back to Timor-Leste's 1999 Popular Consultation process.

Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies) – On Wednesday, some 300,000 people gathered at the Taci Tol esplanade in Dili, Timor-Leste, to mark the first anniversary of Pope Francis's visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Jakarta – Crime syndicates may be setting up a scam centre in Asia's youngest nation, East Timor, the United Nations said on Thursday, as a multibillion-dollar online fraudindustry spreads across Southeast Asia.

The industry involves sprawling compounds housing tens of thousands of workers, many of them trafficked, who are forced to scam victims around the world.

Timor-Leste has welcomed 10,000 rabies vaccines donated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the southeast Asian nation races to contain an outbreak of the deadly disease, Lusa reports.

Beijing – Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday met with Maria Fernanda Lay, president of the National Parliament of Timor-Leste, who is in China for a visit and the commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Timor-Leste's national parliament has approved a US$4 million budget to purchase 65 new cars for lawmakers, which critics say is "irresponsible" in a country where nearly half of its children are malnourished.

The Timorese government announced the launch of formal negotiations with neighbouring Indonesia to delimit the maritime border between the two countries, reports Lusa.

Seremban (Bernama) – Timor-Leste's permanent membership in ASEAN is now in the documentation phase before its formal admission at the October summit.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed the progress during a press briefing today.

James Pearson – Estrella Resources has shifted its Timor-Leste campaign into top gear after trenching unearthed primary manganese with uber-rich visual estimates at its Ira Miri project. The company has sent samples to Jakarta for testing and expects to receive assay results in about six weeks.

The Timor-Leste government has dropped a proposed legal clause that sought to criminalize media freedom to criticize the state, following protests from journalists and civil society.

Criticisms continue to rage against the Timor-Leste government's plan to build a football stadium in a historically, culturally, and religiously significant environmental zone.

The opposition has grown as the government reportedly aims to start this year the proposed US$20 million stadium at Tasi Tolu, some eight kilometers west of the national capital, Dili.

Faced with a growing number of dengue cases and deaths, Timorese authorities are releasing thousands of mosquitoes bred to slow the spread of disease.