International Infrastructure Push: Timor-Leste has officially broken ground in Dili on a new International Convention Centre in the old port precinct, with leaders including PM Xanana Gusmão, President José Ramos-Horta, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn and Australia’s Richard Marles marking the foundation stone laid on 20 May. The project is set to boost tourism and events capacity ahead of major regional gatherings tied to Timor-Leste’s 2029 ASEAN Chairmanship, with a main convention hall plus conference rooms, auditoriums and exhibition spaces, alongside a pier promenade, aquarium, Ferris wheel, and entertainment and retail areas. Regional Integration Momentum: ASEAN’s chief used the ceremony to underline support for Timor-Leste’s deeper integration, framing the centre as a platform for dialogue and cooperation. Global Context, Local Relevance: This week’s broader coverage also highlights how countries are racing to build resilience and cooperation—whether through ASEAN-linked planning or wider international initiatives.