East Timor’s SUV scandal sparks student-led protests and political fallout

For the second day in a row, East Timor’s capital, Dili, became the epicenter of anger and unrest as police clashed with demonstrators on September 16 over a controversial government plan to buy luxury SUVs for lawmakers in one of Southeast Asia’s...

Timor-Leste wants to learn from Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính urged strengthening political trust between Việt Nam and Timor-Leste through all-level exchanges, and expanding all-around cooperation, during a reception for Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of...

Anwar Visits Timor-Leste, Strengthens Support For ASEAN Membership Aspiration

From V.Sankara DILI (TIMOR-LESTE), Sept 22 (Bernama) — 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...

Timor-Leste police fire tear gas on second day of car purchase protests

DILI, Timor-Leste – Timor-Leste police fired tear gas on Sept 16 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 South-east Asia....

Laos, Timor-Leste Implement 30-Day Visa-Free Travel

Laos and Timor-Leste have implemented a 30-day visa waiver for citizens holding ordinary passports, effective 15 August. The agreement allows people of both countries to travel visa-free for up to 30 days. The two countries first signed a visa...

Timor-Leste protests over plan to buy dozens of cars for mps

A government plan in Timor-Leste to buy 65 new official vehicles for members of parliament has sparked angry protests. Multiple injuries have been reported. Scores of people, most of them university students, rallied for a second day on Tuesday...

E. Timor police clash with protesters over plan to buy vehicles for MPs

East Timor police on Tuesday clashed for a second day with protesters angry over a plan to buy SUVs for lawmakers in one of southeast Asia's poorest nations, whose leader issued a rebuke over the violence. Demonstrators in the capital Dili burned...

East Timor Police Clash with Protesters over Plan to Buy Vehicles for MPs

Demonstrators in the capital Dili burned tires, a government vehicle near the parliament building and hurled rocks toward the officers, who responded with tear gas, AFP reported. The over 2,000 protesters — mostly university students from the...

Is Indonesia’s Mentorship the Key to Timor-Leste’s Entry into ASEAN?

Indonesia’s stewardship of Timor-Leste’s accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is not just about regional solidarity. Rather, it’s a strategic necessity for both nations and Southeast Asia’s collective resilience. ASEAN...

East Timor police fire tear gas at protesters

PLAN TO BUY CARS FOR MPS Agence France-Presse . Dili, East Timor 15 September, 2025, 23:04 Students from several universities protest against the parliament’s plan to purchase 65 SUVs for lawmakers at the National University of East Timor in Dili...

Timor-Leste President speaks on ensuring food security and eliminating poverty in the nation

Book Nook: A selection of political books from Southeast Asia

Accessible and engaging recommendations from someone who grew up in the region By: Phone Min Thant, Arts & Culture Editor From the protests against corruption happening in the Philippines and Indonesia, to armed struggles for democracy in Myanmar,...

World : Timor-Leste To Strengthen ASEAN’s Global Links, Says Vice Minister

By V. Sankara DILI (Timor-Leste), Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Timor-Leste’s admission into ASEAN will expand the bloc and strengthen its global outreach, said its Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Rangel. Rangel said membership offers the country an...

Laos and Timor-Leste Implement Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders

KPL The Governments of the Lao People’s Democratic and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste have officially brought into force an Agreement on Visa Exemption for Ordinary Passport Holders, aimed at promoting and facilitating travel between the...

Myanmar and Timor-Leste hold bilateral talks to promote relations

September 19, 2025 Myanmar News Agency 14 Union Minister U Than Swe holds talks with Mr Bendito dos Santos Freitas, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Timor-Leste yesterday. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Democratic...

New chapter of cooperation with Timor-Leste

Department of Defence Indo-Pacific Endeavour commenced in Timor-Leste on September 16 to mark the 26th anniversary of the 1999 INTERFET peacekeeping mission. Addressing the crowd in Dili, Chief of the Timor-Leste Defense Forces (F-FDTL),...

Gen Z protests: Why are Asia's youth so angry?

Over the past two months, Gen Z-led demonstrations have convulsed parts of South and Southeast Asia — from Kathmandu to Jakarta, from Dili to Manila. While Nepalese demonstrations brought down the country's government, the most recent youth-led...

Student-led demonstrations win concessions in Timor-Leste

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. Thousands gathered in the capital city of Dili on Monday to protest the planned expenditure...

Demonstrations shake Timor-Leste now

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Timor-Leste’s capital, Dili, on Tuesday (September 16) over a government plan to provide luxury cars to members of parliament. The demonstrations forced the government to cancel the scheme, but...

asia East Timor lawmakers agree to scrap lawmaker pension allowances that sparked student protests

DILI - East Timor's lawmakers have agreed to scrap plans to provide lifetime pension allowances for themselves, they said on Wednesday (Sept 17), bowing to pressure from thousands of students who have staged demonstrations against the plans since...