Latest news with #TimorLeste
ABC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Darwin hosts its first Asian Cup qualifier match, deepening cultural ties between nations
Darwin has hosted its first Asian Cup qualifier match, in which Australia's northernmost neighbour, Timor-Leste, clinched a narrow victory over the Maldives. It marked the first time a match part of a major continental competition has been played in the Northern Territory. The game was part of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)'s 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, with Timor-Leste's win meaning it is still in contention for round 3 of the competition. Speaking before the match, Timorese defender Jackson Pereira Fowler said for him and many of his teammates, the match was an opportunity to showcase their talents and culture in a country where many Timorese had sought refuge after fleeing war. Pereira Fowler, who was born in Australia, said playing in Darwin would be extra motivation for the team because some considered it "their second home". "The atmosphere would definitely make us feel more at home for the players from Dili, and it would be good for us as a team," he said. The decision for the qualifier to be held in the NT came after the construction of new sporting facilities in Dili left the Timor-Leste team without a suitable pitch. That led the Timor-Leste Football Federation to ask Football Australia and the federal government for the game to be played in Darwin. In a statement, Football Australia said it was "proud to support its fellow ASEAN Football Federation member association, Football Federation Timor-Leste, by approving Darwin as the neutral venue" for the qualifier. Off the field, Consul-General of Timor-Leste in the NT, José Amorim Dias, said he hoped bringing the men's soccer team to Darwin for the crucial match would help deepen the country's ties with Australia. "Football contributes to strengthening the bond between people … but also it helps to strengthen the bilateral relationship that Timor-Leste has with Australia," he said. Mr Dias said he hoped to see more collaboration between Australia and Timor-Leste to address social and economic issues, which he believed would contribute to both countries' development. Football Northern Territory chief executive Jamie Monteith said he would like to see more major sporting events played in the territory, and believed they could bring communities closer together. "[This match] is another opportunity to bring high-calibre football to the territory from a national perspective [and] it allows our players to witness and see what international football looks like," he said. Pereira Fowler said he believed sporting events like this could have far-reaching positive impacts for the communities involved, especially for young people. "It will show other Timorese kids from Dili, Darwin and wherever they are … that one day hopefully, [they can] be where I am now," Pereira Fowler said.
Free Malaysia Today
5 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Cross-border energy projects among topics discussed at Asean officials' meeting
The 43rd Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Energy in Kuching, Sarawak, convenes senior energy officials from all member states, with a delegate from Timor-Leste participating as an observer. PETALING JAYA : The latest developments on the implementation of cross-border interconnection projects under the Asean Power Grid initiative were among the main topics discussed at the 43rd Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) in Kuching, Sarawak. The ongoing meeting, which began yesterday and ends tomorrow, is organised by the energy transition and water transformation ministry (Petra) and chaired by the ministry's secretary-general, Mad Zaidi Karli. 'The meeting also discussed current progress in multilateral energy trade under the Laos–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore power integration project. 'Topics related to energy transition policies were also highlighted, including the scaling up of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, the potential of nuclear energy and the coordination of regional energy policies,' Petra said in a statement today. Other items for discussion on the agenda include a review of progress under the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II 2021–2025 and discussions on the development of the forthcoming APAEC 2026–2030. The meeting convenes senior energy officials from all Asean member states, with a delegate from Timor-Leste participating as an observer. 'The meeting also serves as a platform for member states to acknowledge the accession of Timor-Leste as a full member of Asean,' Petra said. The ministry added that initial preparations for the upcoming Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting, scheduled to take place in October, were also among the key topics of discussion. 'The strong cooperation established among all stakeholders places the region on a solid path toward a sustainable energy future, while also contributing to shared prosperity,' Petra said.
ABC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Unlikely Pacific rugby alliance steps up to support Timor-Leste in sports spotlight
Timor-Leste loves sport. The streets of Dili are a cacophony of noise and kaleidoscope of colour around the clock during FIFA World Cups, city beaches are alive with pickup games every sunset, and almost every minibus, or mikrolet , crawling the streets of the capital adorns its windows in effigies of Jesus - and football stars. So the chance to host the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) Games, and welcome junior athletes from Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe, is both a significant coming-of-age event for a country once solely focused on recovering from war, and a chance to indulge one of the population's great passions. But national broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Timor-Leste | RTTL, eager to bring the Games to the host nation and beyond, found itself short of equipment, and live sports broadcasting experience with the opening ceremony – set for July 17 – approaching fast. So, the network's new President asked ABC International Development's (ABCID) Indo-Pacific Broadcast Strategy team to help find a solution. Timorese energy meets Fijian know-how Délsio Dos Santos De Jesus and Joel Da Costa Dos Reis - camera operators/switchers for Radio-Televisão Timor Leste (RTTL) - watch the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) Sports team in action at the U20s Oceania Rugby Championship in Fiji. ( Fernanda Maria ) With the cooperation of a complex network of supportive partners, it did, but not in the most obvious way. Instead, a plan was hatched to take a team of Timorese to the sideline of a rugby pitch 5600 kilometres away. 'Rugby is brutal - they are so big and so physical,' says wide-eyed RTTL Graphic Designer and Camera Operator Joel, just three weeks later at the Oceania Women's Rugby Union Championship in Sigatoka, on the south coast of Fiji's biggest island. For all its sporting passion, rugby is virtually unknown in Timor. Women's rugby played at this elite level, unimaginable. But a Timorese team of three, supported by ABCID's Dili-based Project Coordinator Fernanda Maria, made the long trip South-East to observe how Fiji's MaiTV and FBC broadcast teams deliver world-class live sports coverage with minimal equipment and crew, at the women's series in Sigatoka, and the Oceania Under-20 Men's Championships in Nadi. They then travelled to the Fijian capital to see the operations at FBC headquarters. The Radio-Televisão Timor Leste (RTTL) sports team joined forces with the Oceania Rugby Commentary and Mobile Journalism Program participants in Sigatoka, Fiji ( Fernanda Maria ) RTTL's Chief of Sport Atanásia De Jesus Araújo Guterres and camera operator/vision switchers Délsio Dos Santos De Jesus and Joel Da Costa Dos Reis are buzzing at how the learnings could be applied at the Games in July, and beyond. 'Everything was new for me,' says Délsio. 'I was impressed with how the TV crews work, especially their teamwork and communication during the live broadcast, and I would like to do the same during the CPLP Games.' Atanásia is similarly impressed by the Fijians' professionalism. 'They use the equipment and deploy crew based on the budget allocated or offered by the steering committee of the sport event,' she says. 'The crew was very solid and the way they communicate with each other was very good.' An unlikely connection Délsio Dos Santos De Jesus and Joel Da Costa Dos Reis learn from Mai-TV's team at the Women's Oceania Rugby Championship in Sigatoka, Fiji ( Fernanda Maria ) The unlikely connection was made possible when, after hearing the RTTL President's plea, ABCID's Timor team contacted the ABCID Commentary and Mobile Journalism (CAMP) delivery team, knowing they would also be in Sigatoka, working with Oceania Rugby in June. It was perhaps the only sports event in the world that would serve the Timor broadcaster's needs in the time available. But for the plan to work, it would need the support of the rugby and broadcast fraternity and when the call went out, Oceania Rugby's Senior Manager of Women's Projects, Sheridan Graham-Tupaea sprung into action. 'As people of the Blue Pacific, we never hesitate to share knowledge and welcome others with open hearts,' she says. 'Building connections across various sporting codes is huge and knowing that from their experience here at our championships they'll take away so much and be able to deliver coverage of multiple sports at the games is amazing. 'It's a powerful reminder of how collaboration in sport can create lasting impact.' Connections across codes, countries and media professionals 'When our ABCID teams told me they had this idea to facilitate two of our most important partner countries to learn from each other and forge new relationships and professional exchange, I encouraged them to go for it, but I was very aware how complex it would be and the tight timeframes to pull it together,' says ABC International Development Lead, Jo Elsom. 'To see it happen so quickly and so successfully is really satisfying. 'Plugging in' our many highly skilled partners in this way is something we can only do because of a long time spent building trust and connections.' ABCID has also supported the delivery of new broadcast equipment to ensure RTTL is CPLP Games ready, and discussions are underway to expand live sports coverage, once the Games are finished. Given the Timorese' undying love of football, it might be a while before we see rugby played on the beaches of Dili. But rugby and the place that loves it arguably more than anywhere else, Fiji, have at least four new converts in the fledgling Asian nation. And Timorese football fans are set to get local live sports coverage like they've never seen before.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Join the Cross Border Fest in Kefamenanu, NTT 2025 -- Free Entry!
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at the border of Indonesia and Timor Leste! KEFAMENANU, Indonesia, June 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Tourism, through its Deputy for Event Development, will host the Cross Border Fest on July 18-20, 2025, at Oemanu Field, Kefamenanu, North Central Timor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. More than just music and entertainment, this festival celebrates identity, uniting two cultures in a spirit of unity and diversity. With the theme "Explore the Border, Feel the Wonder", the festival invites visitors to explore the unique culture, traditions, and geographical proximity of the border region. Showcasing local richness through Indonesia's IP, it strengthens ties between Indonesian and Timorese communities while boosting international tourism to North Central Timor. Every aspect of the event has been meticulously designed to delight your senses. And the best part? The entire event series is completely free to attend – no tickets required! Here's what you can enjoy at Cross Border Fest, Kefamenanu 2025: Music from the East That Echoes Across Borders The main stage will be lit with a special performance by Toton Caribo, an Ambon-born musician known for his powerful blend of Eastern Indonesian hip hop, with hits like "Bale Pulang II," "Darah Tinggi," and "Ngapain Repot." Local talents will also rock the stage—Harmony Band, Passive Band, Sky Band, ABG Kefa Dance Crew, and Sandalwood Studio. Catch these performances on 19 July 2025, from 7 PM to 10 PM WITA. Expect an energetic mix of sound, movement, and culture to electrify the night! Borderline Thrill: Cross-Country Motorcycle Race A major highlight is the motorcycle race, organized with support from the Indonesian Motorcycle Association (IMI) NTT and FMCTL (Timor Leste Motorcycle Association). Featuring 48 teams from Indonesia and Timor Leste, the competition includes classes like Two-Stroke, Four-Stroke, Matic, and Sport, held on a specially designed track in downtown Kefamenanu. The race will kick off with circuit prep and practice on July 18, followed by Race 1 and various classes from Kejurnas MP-1 to Race 12 on July 19. The finale on July 20 will include the final race, winner announcements, and the Wonderful Indonesia Trophy presentation, symbolizing cross-border racing supremacy. The roar of engines and cheers will create an atmosphere of sportsmanship and friendship! Local MSMEs Ready to Shine on a Global Stage What's a festival without a marketplace? At Cross Border Fest, 10 MSMEs from North Central Timor and NTT's local government programs will showcase their best products. The bazaar, open throughout 18–20 July 2025, is more than just a shopping space—it's a launchpad for local treasures to reach international visitors. So, while watching the festival, you are also helping the creative economy of the East Nusa Tenggara community! Green Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism This event is more than just an entertainment festival at the border! Cross Border Fest. Kefamenanu also cares about the earth by adopting a green event concept that is environmentally friendly. Not just for fun, VIP participants and local communities are also directly involved in real actions, such as calculating carbon emissions spent during the event and planting trees as a form of contribution to sustainable tourism. This environmental care activity will be held on July 19, 2025, at the North Central Timor Regent's Office Field, East Nusa Tenggara. Be part of this exciting event! Mark your calendar, bring friends and family, and experience the unique border vibes. For the latest updates, head to Instagram: @ See you at Cross Border Fest, Kefamenanu 2025! View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kementerian Pariwisata Republik Indonesia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
ABC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
More heads tipped to roll as police investigate inquiry report into Fiji anti-corruption commissioner
On the program today Landowners in PNG's New Ireland Province want the Prime Minister to cancel deep sea leases. More job losses expected as as police investigate inquiry report into anti-corruption commissioner. Fears climate change is exacerbating certain social issues including gender based violence in Timor Leste. Vanuatu's football Women's Development Officer strives to revive the women's league in Port Vila amid a tirade of social media abuse. An Australian inquiry into modern slavery hears of migrant workers living in unliveable accommodation. And aspiring and published Pacific and First Nations authors descend on Townsville in North Queensland for an annual writers festival.
