Timor-Leste in the spotlight: Intrepid Travel has named Dili on its 2027 “Not Hot List,” pointing to new flights, a growing café scene, and major upgrades like a US$240m airport project and a waterfront convention centre tied to ASEAN leadership in 2029. Regional football: FIFA confirmed the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 (Sept 24–Oct 5) with matches in Indonesia and Hong Kong; Timor-Leste is in Division Two, while Pakistan is in Division One Group B against Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Health diplomacy in Dili: WHO chief Tedros praised India’s health gains at the WHO South-East Asia meeting in Timor-Leste, highlighting Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and ASHA workers. Agriculture cooperation: India’s agriculture minister held talks with Malaysia and Timor-Leste on research, technology, food security and institutional MoUs. Local relevance: Davao City officials say water supply can handle peak El Niño, while Davao is also stepping up “Walk the Fault” mapping and safety work along active fault lines.