Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – The Indonesian Army (TNI AD) received 235 improvised firearms left over from the 1999 East Timorese crisis from East Nusa Tenggara residents living on the Indonesia-Timor Leste border.

The president of Timor-Leste, Jose Ramos-Horta, has questioned whether the country is prepared to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, as currently planned, given its lack of key infrastructure.

Ahmad Syamsudin, Dili, Timor-Leste – At Timor-Leste's museum of memory, Hugo Fernandes supervises exhibits chronicling resistance and oppression during the Indonesian occupation – an era when Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia's president-elect, is alleged to have overseen atrocities.

Timor-Leste's minister of foreign affairs, Bendito Freitas, travelled to China on Tuesday for an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation and diplomatic relations between the two countries, the government in Dili said.

Michael Philipps – Estrella Resources has officially been granted exploration tenure of more than 500 square kilometres in Timor-Leste making history as one of the first companies to receive exploration rights in the country.

The nation is looking to build its industry in this resource-rich part of the world and ASX-listed Estrella is the first through the gate.

The Timor-Leste non-governmental organisation Mahein Foundation on Thursday alerted the government to the public's discontent with the lack of "seriousness and urgency" in improving people's living conditions since it took office.

Around 360,000 people in Timor-Leste, a country with a population of 1.3 million, face critical levels of food insecurity, according to a report assessing the food situation in the country, released by the World Food Programme (WFP).

John Martinkus – Indonesia's president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, has form. As the son-in-law of the former dictator, Suharto, he rose quickly through the ranks of the military to become head of the greatly feared Indonesian special forces, Kopassus.

Jordyn Beazley and Luca Ittimani – Natalino Guterres likens getting the chance to march down Oxford Street in pure queer pride to the feeling he had when he was 12 and Timor-Leste achieved independence after a brutal occupation.

"It's really emotional for me," he said. "It's one of those moments when you're really happy and get to look forward to having some momentum."

The government of Timor-Leste signed the accession protocol to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the culmination of nearly eight years of work, at the 13th WTO ministerial conference in Abu Dhabi this week.

Vonia Vieira in Oecusse, Timor-Leste and the Pacific Local Journalism Network's Nick Sas – Noviana Tome leads a simple life.

The farmer from Timor-Leste's far-west Oecusse region attends her rice fields every day, leaving early in the morning and coming home late in the afternoon.

Arnoldus Kristianus, Jakarta – Indonesia and Timor Leste recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperatives as well as micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Juvita Pereira Faria (EngageMedia) – While 50 percent of Timor-Leste's population is aged 15-25, the country suffers from underdeveloped digital infrastructure, and the public is highly vulnerable to attacks against human and digital rights, such as threats to their digital security, online harassment, and mis- and disinformation.

Antara, Jakarta – Prabowo cemented a landslide victory in Timor Leste. With his running mate Gibran Rakabuming Raka, they won 61.6 percent of the vote, while Ganjar Pranowo – Mahfud MD bagged 28.9 percent and Anies Baswedan – Muhaimin Iskandar only got 9.0 percent.

Michael Rose – In September, Timor-Leste will mark a quarter century since its vote for independence from Indonesia, the conclusion of a 24-year long struggle that left few Timorese families untouched.

Sydney – Australia said it will spend $23 million to support policing in East Timor, boosting disaster response and technology capabilities in the small Southeast Asian neighbor that recently upgraded ties with China.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy arrived in East Timor on Monday and met with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.

Antara, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Communications and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi stated that Indonesia and Timor Leste agreed to advance the communications and informatics sectors of both countries.

Jayanty Nada Shofa, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo thanked Timor Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on Friday after the close neighbor trusted Indonesia's state enterprises to partake in its infrastructure projects.

Surya Lesmana, Bogor – Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao expressed gratitude to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for the strong support extended by Indonesia towards Timor Leste's bid to join ASEAN, during his first-ever visit to the Bogor Palace on Friday.

Lusa – The Chinese non-governmental organisation GX Foundation launched a pilot project to prevent and combat dengue fever in Timor-Leste on Tuesday with a donation to the Timorese ministry of health.

Pope Francis met on Monday with East Timorese president Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace.

Following the papal audience, President Ramos-Horta met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.'Cordial discussions'

Vonia Vieira, Dili – Joaquim Fonseca's daily life depends on the internet. So the IT professional, based in Timor-Leste's capital Dili, has a problem.

"Every day, somehow, the internet fails," he told the ABC. "Downloading small files is difficult. Even downloading a page to read the news [is hard]."

Lusa – The National Student Resistance of Timor-Leste (RENETIL) on Wednesday expressed concern about the country's healthcare sector and called on the government to provide an urgent response, stressing that "health is people's lives."

President Jose Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste has met with India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, in the first summit between the two nations.

The Mahein Security Sector Research and Advocacy Foundation warned on Tuesday that human trafficking is on the rise in Timor-Leste and recommended concerted action between civil society and the authorities to combat the phenomenon.

Dr. Jose Ramos Horta, the President of Timor-Leste, made history by engaging in the first-ever Head of State or government-level interaction between his nation and India during his visit to participate in the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

[In this 1999 piece, the late journalist reported from East Timor on how its people were abandoned by the West as they faced genocide at the hands of Indonesia's Suharto.]

During a recent trip to Japan, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao signalled that his country is open to Chinese companies as potential partners for the Greater Sunrise offshore natural gas project, according to reports.

Subel Rai Bhandari, Atauro Island, Timor-Leste – Donning a weathered diving mask, Manuel Gamboa comes ashore after four hours in the sea, visibly weary from the early morning catch with a dozen young Timorese fishers.

In recognition of his contribution to East Timor's freedom struggle, President Ramos Horta awarded Sri Lankan civil activist and journalist Freddie Gamage with the highest award of the country's government.

Gamage arrived at Katunayake Airport on December 7. Gamage is a well-known human rights activist in Sri Lanka.

Kuala Lumpur – Timor-Leste is looking forward for further training of its officials at Malaysia's Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), for knowledge exchange and capacity building between the two nations.

Parker Novak, Sydney, Australia – When Timor-Leste regained its independence in 2002, its future looked grim. Twenty-four years of Indonesian occupation had decimated its population and economy, leaving it one of the poorest nations in the world.

Alex de Jong – In 1999, after almost a quarter century of Indonesian occupation, the small country of East Timor finally gained its independence.

A renowned Sri Lankan Catholic journalist and social activist has received a prestigious award from the Timor-Leste government in recognition of his unwavering commitment to the country's struggle for independence from Indonesia.

Antara, Jakarta – The Indonesian Agriculture Ministry has strengthened cooperation in the agriculture sector with Timor Leste's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF).

Shardul Sharma – The Timor-Leste government has granted the Sunrise joint venture, comprising state-owned Timor Gap, Australia's Woodside Energy, and Japan's Osaka Gas, the green light to commence work on a concept study for the development of the Greater Sunrise fields, Woodside said via a LinkedIn post on November 22.

A Vatican official in Timor-Leste has told the government and the Church not to exclude but embrace martial arts groups, whose activities were banned in the Catholic-majority nation following fatal incidents and violence.

About 20 percent of young people in Timor-Leste do not study or work due to lack of education, limitations in healthcare provision and ineffective social protection, according to a report from the World Bank (WB).

We have been carefully following with serious concern the political developments and changes that are currently taking place in Indonesia, specifically the presidential candidates who will compete in the upcoming 2024 elections.

Metro Manila – The Philippines and Timor-Leste on Friday committed to boost bilateral relations, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saying he had a "productive and interesting" discussion with his counterpart on issues such as the West Philippine Sea.

The Timorese government, together with the World Food Program (WFP) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), issued an urgent food security alert on Tuesday, according to reports.

Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on Wednesday arrived in Manila for an official visit meant to boost the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Ramos-Horta was welcomed at the NAIA by Ambassador to Timor-Leste Belinda Ante and Manila International Airport Authority general manager Manuel Gonzales.

James Kon – Timor-Leste President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta conveyed his gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the care and concern for Timor-Leste since achieving independence as well as the support for Timor-Leste's bid to join

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on Monday received in audience Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste who is here on a four-day state visit.

Yohanes Maharso Joharsoyo, Jakarta – Indonesia and Timor Leste inked a bilateral agreement to support Timor Leste's membership at the World Trade Organization (WTO). The agreement was signed during the Senior Official Meeting WTO in Geneva on October 23, 2023.

Moritz Schmoll and Geoffrey Swenson – Amid Southeast Asia's democratic backsliding, Timor-Leste's success is impressive. In May, the country elected a new parliament. In July, power was transferred peacefully from Fretilin to a National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT)-led coalition headed by Xanana Gusmao.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Friday received Jose Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, who is on a working visit to the UAE at Qasr Al Shati in Abu Dhabi.

Joao da Cruz Cardoso – The recent agreement between Timor-Leste and China to upgrade their bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership draws plenty of reactions.

Stephen Dziedzic – The President of Timor-Leste Jose Ramos-Horta has suggested that Chinese diplomats turned down requests to develop police and military infrastructure in his country because they were worried about drawing an "overreaction" from Australia.

East Timor has not discussed military co-operation with China in its upgrade of diplomatic ties, President Jose Ramos-Horta says, adding Australia and Indonesia can "sleep at peace" because the island nation won't be a security concern to its neighbours.