ASEAN and Timor-Leste push forward: ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn backed Timor-Leste’s integration and reaffirmed support for its 2029 ASEAN chair bid, as the country broke ground on a new International Convention Centre in Dili—aimed at boosting regional dialogue, investment and tourism. Regional development with partners: Timor-Leste also launched an international convention development project tied to hosting the ASEAN Summit, while the UAE began building a residence for 300 female students from low-income families in Aitarak-Laran. Climate resilience spotlight: Macquarie Group and MIT Solve named Timor-Leste’s Engineers Without Borders Australia and Raw Material as winners of the Macquarie Community Resilience Prize for a circular solar resilience hub. Health milestone: WHO recognized Timor-Leste for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly. Elsewhere in the region: Thailand cut visa-free stays for 54 countries from 60 to 30 days, citing overstays and security concerns. Human stories: In the Philippines, the family of former UP Cebu student leader Vince Francis Dingding chose to bury his remains in Negros after his death in an encounter.