East Timor’s looming student uprising

In September, East Timor suddenly plunged into unrest. The country was still fragile after two decades of independence. It was not a coup, an intelligence scandal, or territorial strife that lit the fire. Instead, it was something at once mundane...

Pacific Islands focus: health and gender inequities, climate updates, and some hope for marine biodiversity

Introduction by Croakey: In breaking news on Thursday, Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence agreement with Australia. PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement, known as the PukPuk treaty, “will elevate the two...

With Gen Z protests, is East Timor going the Nepal way?

Student-led protests in East Timor have forced the government to scrap controversial lifetime pensions for officials, reflecting growing youth activism against inequality and government excess. East Timor is emerging as Southeast Asia’s latest...

What's next for Timor-Leste as it joins ASEAN?

Timor-Leste is set to become the newest member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc in October, capping off a process that has taken Southeast Asia's newest and smallest country 14 years. The membership was confirmed last...

Behind the Gen Z uprising in Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste is the latest country in the Asia-Pacific region to be rocked by “Gen-Z” protests against the corruption of political elites. From September 15–17, students and other youth took to the streets of the capital Dili demanding that the...

Timor-Leste scraps lifetime pensions after protests

imor-Leste voted on Friday to scrap the lifetime pension law for MPs and public officials, following student-led demonstrations against lavish perks in one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries. Former MPs and some public officials are entitled...

Timor-Leste scraps lifetime pensions after student-led protests

Timor-Leste voted on Friday to scrap the lifetime pension law for MPs and public officials, following student-led demonstrations against lavish perks in one of South-East Asia's poorest countries. Former MPs and some public officials are entitled...

East Timor MPs bow to protesters, vote to scrap lifetime pensions 

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. Former members of...

East Timor scraps lifetime pensions after protests

East Timor voted on Friday to scrap the lifetime pension law for MPs and public officials, following student-led demonstrations against lavish perks in one of Southeast Asia's poorest countries. Former MPs and some public officials are entitled...

OPINION | A health and development challenge for the Pacific

Diabetes The first article in this series reported on the latest trends in development assistance for health and the second focused on the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and especially in low- and middle-income countries. This...

Trump unveils ceasefire plan to end the war in Gaza

Great power rivalry Gaza: Donald Trump this week unveiled a 20-point plan for ending the war in Gaza that calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release by Hamas of hostages within 72 hours, the withdrawal of Israeli troops, and a postwar...

Ukraine must work with Asean

For many years, Ukraine's foreign policy was focused mainly on Europe and North America. It was natural: Ukraine's path of European integration, security, and reforms demanded most of our capacity. But now we must admit: there were many...

Student protests win: East Timor axes lifetime pensions, cancels SUV plan for officials

DILI, Sept 26 — East Timor voted on Friday to scrap the lifetime pension law for MPs and public officials, following student-led demonstrations against lavish perks in one of South-east Asia’s poorest countries. Former MPs and some public...

CARAT Timor-Leste 2025 Concludes

DILI, Timor-Leste (Sept. 26, 2025) – The U.S. Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL), also known as Falintil-Forças de Defesa de Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), concluded CARAT Timor-Leste 2025, Sept. 26, after a weeklong exchange of expertise,...

Malaysia’s Anwar Winds up Visit to Timor-Leste as ASEAN Membership Looms

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim yesterday wound up a two-day visit to Timor-Leste, a month ahead of the nation’s long-awaited accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Speaking at a joint press conference at the end...

Malaysia and Timor-Leste to enhance cooperation

DILI: Malaysia and Timor-Leste have agreed to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors, including trade, education, health, tourism and security as Dili prepares to join Asean as its 11th member. Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao said...

A Seat At The Table: Timor Leste’s ASEAN Accession

By Datuk Prof Dr Mohd Faiz Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- When Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stood at the Presidential Palace in Dili yesterday afternoon, he was not just Malaysia’s head of government delivering a lecture and receiving...

Malaysia, Timor-Leste pledge stronger ties, broader economic cooperation in joint statement

DILI, Sept 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Timor-Leste counterpart, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation while boosting and diversifying economic ties. In a joint...

Anwar says his two-day visit to Timor-Leste well received, a recognition for Malaysia

DILI (Timor-Leste): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says his two-day official visit to Timor-Leste, was very well received at the highest level, describing it as a recognition of Malaysia and its people. Speaking to Bernama and RTM at the...

Malaysia, Timor-Leste Vow To Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation, Diversify Economic Ties

By V.Sankara DILI, Sept 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his Timor-Leste counterpart, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation while boosting and diversifying...