Venidora Oliveira – Communities are continuing to build houses on protected land, even though it has been banned by the government.
National MP Fernanda Lay said the fourth constitutional government had already identified environmentally sensitive land for protection and asked communities not to build homes in these areas.
Thomas Ora, Dili, Timor Leste – Indonesian Christians have pledged help for hundreds of Timor-Leste farmers whose crops have been ravaged by the El Nino weather pattern.
The assistance follows an appeal by the head of the church's social action arm in Timor-Leste.
Paulina Quintao – The policy of equivalent education has been criticized as being unfair to dropout youths due to the learning environment, which is different to the formal system.
Dylan Amirio, Dili, Timor Leste – Timor Leste is probably not on the average list when it comes to destinations for spiritual tourism, or even tourism in general.
Most people, particularly Indonesians, view Timor Leste only as that little country that struggled and endured the brutal and murderous 30-plus year occupation by Indonesia's Soeharto regime.
Paulina Quintao – The Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) has acknowledged that it was difficult for victims of sexual abuse, particularly incest, to return to their families and society.
Paulina Quintao – The Health Ministry (MH) has launched a public awareness campaign since the President approved the new tobacco control law on June 2.
The Chief of the Department of Non-infectious Diseases, Dr Helder Juvinal, said they had six months to communicate the law to the wider community before it was formally implemented.
The Hague tribunal decision last week in the South China Sea case will have far reaching implications, finding that any 'historic rights' China claimed within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of other states were extinguished by UNCLOS itself, and China's subsequent ratification of the treaty in 1996.
Ruby Taylor – The Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) has welcomed Timor Leste as part of the growing country members of the forum.
This followed the signing of the instrument of accession by HE Hernani Coelho da Silva, Foreign Affairs Minister of Timor Leste on July 14, signalling their formal admission to the PIDF Charter.
Djemi Amnifu, Kupang – Many Timor Leste citizens remain stranded in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), years after a UN referendum that resulted in Timor Leste's independence.
Timor Aswa'in Union Congress (Untas) in Kupang revealed that the many residents of both countries had been deprived of their right to welfare.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the South East Asia Journalist Unions (SEAJU), along with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Freedom House, in reiterating its call for the Prime Minister of Timor Leste, Dr. Rui Maria de Araujo, to immediately drop the criminal charges against journalist Oki Raimundos and Lorenco Martins from the Timor Post.
Amanda Hodge, Jakarta – The East Timor government has accused Australia of hypocrisy for appealing to China to use international law to resolve its disputes with Asian neighbours over the South China Sea while refusing to do so itself in its ongoing tussle over the Timor Sea.
Thomas Ora, Dili – The director of the youth commission for Dili Diocese has criticized the Timor-Leste government for not doing enough to curb unemployment.
"Unemployment increases but the government does not create any [plan] to reduce it," Father Joao Soares ucanews.com on July 13, responding to a recent government report on Timor-Leste's high unemployment rate.
Sarina Locke – For a Timorese family, owning a cow is a luxury and owning a herd of cattle is a sign of wealth. Most of East Timor's cattle are skinny and riddled with parasites and diseases.
Chronic malnutrition is holding back growth in East Timor, with more than 40 per cent of its population living below the poverty line.
Paulina Quintao – Concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the National Directorate for Food and Economy Inspection as food products continue to be sold past their expiry date.
National MP Jorge da Conceicao Teme called on the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Environment (MCIE) to implement more regular controls, adding that consuming may cause harm to people's health.
Tom Clarke – Territorial aggression. Refusal to abide by the rule book. It's a challenging set of behaviours.
Paulina Quintao – The National Directorate for Food and Economy Inspection has identified 58 stores in Dili selling food past the expiry date in the last six months up until June.
Most of the stores in question were foreign-owned. The inspections were conducted under law decree no. 23/2009 implemented to ensure food safety for consumers.
Venidora Oliveira – Timor-Leste's mobile court has resolved 1143 cases since being established in 2010, representing significant progress, according to the Timor-Leste Country Director of United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Claudio Providas.
The response from Australia's foreign minister, Julie Bishop, to the ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration against China highlights a central contradiction in Australia's foreign policy.
Paulina Quintao – The Ministry of Education (ME) has established nine community centers this year aimed at improving study opportunities for illiterate people.
National Director of Adult Education Miguel Godinho Martins said one of the major problems faced in the past was that there were no suitable or permanent places for learning.
Venidora Oliveira – The Ministry of Social Solidarity proposed the law on social security contribution for the workers in Timor-Leste for their retirement or in case of injury.
Paulina Quintao – Unemployment across the country has reached 11%, with mostly graduates among the jobless, according to 2013 research by the Secretary of State for Vocational Training Policy and Employment (SEPFOPE).
General Director of SEPFOPE Jacinto Barros Gusmao said the unemployment rate was increasing every year due to the limited job opportunities in Timor-Leste.
Paulina Quintao – USAID is providing numeracy training to female producers through its Advance Agriculture program as most women in rural areas still don't know how to count in order.
Paulina Quintao – The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for Southeast Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said the three major achievements in Timor-Leste's health sector since independence were a reduction in infant mortality rates, good progress in eliminating malaria and improvements in health infrastructure.
Nelson Moura – The owner of a Macau consultancy business appeared before East Timor Prosecutor's Office (MP) 20 months after being arrested in connection with a money laundering case, news agency Lusa reported.
Andrea Needham – What do you do when your government is selling weapons to a brutal regime? Weapons which are then used to attack civilians in a nearby country, killing thousands? When you've written letters and signed petitions and marched and rallied and protested in every way you can think of?
M. Veera Pandiyan (The Star/ANN) – He may be facing the biggest fight of his life but the charismatic leader of the world's youngest democracy certainly didn't show it.
Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao dispensed with protocol and reached out to total strangers as he went on spontaneous walkabouts after arriving in Malacca for a conference, three days earlier.
Paulina Quintao – Thirty types of medicine are currently out of stock at the Dili Municipality Health Center (MHC) warehouse.
Dili Municipality Health representative Agustinha da Costa Saldanha acknowledged the issue, but stressed it hadn't had a significant impact on community health services.
Celestino Gusmao – Indonesia recently held a symposium on the violent events of 50 years ago which brought the Indonesian General Suharto to power. The results were inconclusive as the dictator's defenders denied the massacres and attacked those who want Indonesia to finally deal with its blood past.
Dan De Luce – There's a major Asian power that refuses to compromise in its far-reaching territorial claims in oil-rich waters, despite appeals from its smaller neighbor to resolve the dispute in an international court.
Dalia Kiakilir – On June 23, 2016, a majority of United Kingdom voters decided in favor of a proposal to leave the European Union. Known as Brexit, the result of the referendum will have a massive impact not just in Europe but in many parts of the world.
Mark Bowling – Brisbane parishes are using the election campaign to press Federal politicians on one of the most divisive international issues on Australia's doorstep – drawing a fair maritime boundary between Timor-Leste and Australia.
Paulina Quintao – Some teachers are still using corporal punishment to discipline students while at school, according to the President of the National Commission for the Rights of the Child (CNDL), Commissioner Maria Barreto.
Paulina Quintao – The Secretariat of State for the Socio-Economic Support of Women (SEM) re-established the Gender Working Groups (GWGs) in those Ministries and Secretariats which have already been restructured.
Venidora Oliveira – There are currently 3000 motorbikes and cars operating illegally across the country, according to Acting Minister Longuinhos Monteiro, who blamed weak import controls.
Cayla Dengate – The humid heat of Fiji is quelled inside the surgical ward of Suva Colonial War Memorial hospital.
In the calm, air-conditioned rooms, Timorese registrar Mingota da Costa Herculano talks quietly to a doctor. She may not quite believe it, but she is an astounding example of where determination can take you.
Susan Marx – "From its ruggedly beautiful landscapes to its centuries-old traditions, Timor-Leste offers one of the world's last great off-the-beaten-track adventures," begins Lonely Planet's description of Asia's youngest country, which fought to gain independence from Indonesia 14 years ago.
Okky Madasari, Jakarta – "Have you ever imagined, if only Indonesia didn't invade Timor Leste in 1975, would everything be very different now? Would your country be much better than it is today?" I asked Jose Ramos-Horta during a road trip from Dili to Baucau, the country's second largest town, earlier this month.
Venidora Oliveira – There are calls for the Indonesian government to take serious action to locate thousands of Timorese people that went missing between 1975 and 1999.
National MP Arao Noe de Jesus Amaral said to date the Indonesian government had made no commitment to work with Timor-Leste to find out what happened to the missing Timorese people at that time.
Venidora Oliveira – The government plans to reform its fiscal policy by introducing a value-added tax (VAT) in order to increase the country's revenue streams and reduce dependence on oil funds.
"We will use the VAT by asking the companies or industries to pay taxes and to increase the country's revenues," said Deputy Minister of Finance Helder Lopes.
Tim McDonald, East Timor – On the road that goes from East Timor's capital of Dili to Suai, on the Island's south, there's a cross by the roadside. It commemorates Jakarta Dua, or Second Jakarta.
Tim McDonald, Suai, East Timor – Near Suai on East Timor's south coast, a rusty old oil pump sits near a beach, some mangroves and the ruins of an old prison from the Portuguese era. It's not good for much, but it hints at the country's oil and gas wealth potential.
Timor-Leste (East Timor) within the next three years will have a modern port in Tibar bay, 12 kilometres from the capital, Dili, according to a contract signed this week with Bollore Ports, according to a statement obtained by Macauhub.
By Max Lane
Executive summary
Emma Fulu Freelance – A recent study conducted by The Asia Foundation found that 3 in 5 ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 in Timor-Leste had experienced physical or sexual violence by a husband or boyfriend in their lifetime.
A large Burger King conspicuously located in front of a plaza in the East Timor capital drew the attention, at least momentarily, of local and foreign investors arriving in the plaza's lobby to attend an international investment conference.
Cars were parked in front of the restaurant. Inside, young people stood in line, waiting for their turn to place orders.
Paulina Quintao – The Women's Association of Manatuto Municipality (WAMM) has bought female entrepreneurs and employees together to help provide ongoing practical assistance to vulnerable families and women in rural areas in Manatuto municipality.
Venidora Oliveira – It is claimed the government spent more than $44 million on the construction of the Ministry of Finance building, which so far remains empty and unused.
Paulina Quintao – The National of Parliament has approved consumer protection law that allow for complaints against shop owners if the goods bought were of poor quality.
National MP Jorge da Conceicao Teme said the law was necessary as 99% of goods and materials in Timor-Leste were imported.
Grace Phan – The words spoken by President Barack Obama in Hanoi, Vietnam in May resonated loudly with the people of Timor-Leste. The president reminded all that "Nations are sovereign, and no matter how large or small a nation may be, its sovereignty should be respected, and its territory should not be violated. Big nations should not bully smaller ones."
Paulina Quintao – The Indonesian Government has agreed to pay about 3,000 former Timorese civil servants who worked during the occupation and are still owed money for benefits. The names were left off the list for payment despite having the correct documentation.