Diplomatic Ties & Regional Moves: Timor-Leste’s top diplomat Bendito dos Santos Freitas is set to visit South Korea next week for talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on expanding cooperation in the economy, security, and broader sectors, following the two countries’ formal diplomatic relations since 2002. Aviation & Tourism: Aero Dili has launched a new direct Darwin–Dili international service starting 21 June, running twice weekly, expected to boost Australian visitor arrivals and give travellers more options across the Timor Sea. ASEAN Milestone: Timor-Leste’s ASEAN accession is framed as a strategic turning point, with analysts pointing to the credibility signal it sends to investors despite ongoing development gaps. National Mourning for Francisco Guterres: Condolences continued to pour in after the death of former President Francisco Guterres, including messages from Laos and Singapore, as Timor-Leste marks a week of mourning. Local Governance & Service Delivery: The government also highlighted decentralisation work and community development planning through a “Government Page” TV episode featuring the Secretary of State for Local Development. International Cooperation: Timor-Leste presented its experience digitizing public services and running a one-stop shop at a UN forum, underscoring efforts to modernize administration.