‘Dream realised’: East Timor becomes ASEAN’s 11th member

Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hailed East Timor’s joining as the group’s 11th member state as a “dream realized”

At a formal ceremony held on Sunday at the bloc’s annual summit in Kuala Lumpur, East Timor, which is also known as Timor-Leste, received ovations and cheers from the public.

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A new beginning that would “immensitate opportunities” for trade and investment was described as historic for his country by a sensitive Gusmao.

This is a powerful affirmation of our journey, which is marked by resilience, determination, and hope, according to Gusmao, for the people of Timor-Leste.

He said, “Our accession is a testament to the spirit of our people, a young democracy that was born out of our struggle.”

Not the journey’s conclusion, however. This is the start of a new chapter of inspiration.

Anwar Ibrahim, the prime minister of Malaysia and the current head of ASEAN, described East Timor’s accession as “completeing the ASEAN family” and “reaffirming our shared destiny and deep sense of regional kinship.”

Following a 14-year wait, Malaysia’s admission is regarded as one of its most notable achievements under its ASEAN chairmanship.

Before East Timor gained full independence in 2002, Portugal abruptly pulled out of its colony in 1975, allowing for annexation and occasionally bloody occupation by neighboring Indonesia.

Jose Ramos-Horta, president of East Timor, has long advocated for ASEAN membership. He also witnessed the event on Sunday. During his first term, his first application was submitted in 2011.

Ramos-Horta, 75, who was awarded the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, first suggested East Timor joining ASEAN in order to ensure his nation’s future through regional integration.

In 2022, East Timor became the regional body’s observer status, but its full membership was hampered by various issues.

The 1.4 million-strong nation is among Asia’s poorest and hopes to benefit from the integration of its fledgling economy, which accounts for only a small portion of ASEAN’s overall $ 3.8 trillion gross domestic product (GDP).

Nearly two-thirds of East Timor’s population is under 30 years old, while 42 percent of its population lives below the national poverty line.

The oil and gas industry is its main source of government revenue, but it is looking to diversify as resources are quickly dwindling.

East Timor has access to the bloc’s expanded regional market, free trade agreements, and opportunities for investment.

Ramos-Horta stated in an interview with Channel News Asia in Singapore that his nation must maintain stability and not impose ASEAN, adding that East Timor could draw on its experience in conflict, including those involving border disputes and the South China Sea.

That is crucial if we can in the future help to strengthen ASEAN mechanisms like conflict mechanisms. We place a premium on dialogue in each ASEAN nation, Ramos-Horta said.

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India’s Sharma, Kohli deny Australia an ODI series sweep in Sydney

In what may have been their final ODI international in Australia, India avoided a whitewash against Australia when Virat Kohli rebounded from back-to-back ducks with a meticulous half-century.

Although neither player has confirmed that Saturday’s game was their final encounter in the Down Under, neither of them will feature in the upcoming five-game T20 series against Australia that will begin on October 29.

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In what could be their final international series against Australia, both players batted off a 237-1 lead with more than 11 overs to spare, while Sharma recorded a 121-run, unbeaten 121 with 13 fours and three sixes and Kohli scored 74 not out.

After India lost its 18th consecutive toss in an ODI, fast bowler Harshit Rana’s 4-39, which included six of its bowlers, outlasted Australia for a record-breaking 236.

By winning the Adelaide match on Thursday by two wickets, Australia had won the series 2-0. In the rain-shortened opener in Perth, that came as a seven-wicket victory.

Shubman Gill, the captain of India, scored 24 runs off 26 balls before being defeated by Josh Hazlewood, the captain. It’s been a delight to watch Rohit and Kohli work together for so long.

Rohit Sharma’s 33rd ODI hundred was recorded at the SCG [Saeed Khan/AFP]

Returning to form, Sharma and Kohli

At the Sydney Cricket Ground, where they shared a 168-run partnership, marking their first century partnership since January 2020, the crowd of nearly 40, 000 cheered loudly.

Before scoring his century with a single against the leg-spinner, Sharma twice lofted Adam Zampa (0-50) for sixes on either side of the wicket before scoring a strong sweep against the spinners on the front of square to complete his strong sweep.

When Kohli drove Hazlewood for a single to wide mid-on from the first ball he faced, he was dismissed without scoring at Perth and Adelaide. When Kohli cut Zampa to the point boundary and welcomed Mitchell Starc with a straight-driven boundary, Kohli’s confidence grew.

Kohli fought back to finish his half-century off 56 balls before falling short of the LBW review on 36.

Kumar Sangakkara (14, 234) and Kohli now trail only Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 18 426 runs with a score of 14 , 234.

Before Australia collapsed and were bowled out in 46.4 overs, Matt Renshaw (56) had already scored his maiden ODI half-century.

All six of Australia’s first six batters managed to reach the 20-run mark, but they were unable to lead by a score. India kept picking up wickets with regular intervals, losing four wickets for 18 runs after sitting comfortably at 183-3 in the 34th over.

Mitchell Marsh’s promising start came to an end when he gave himself too much room against left-arm spinner Axar Patel and was clean bowled on 41 in the 16th over after Travis Head (29) started aggressively before offering a tame catch off Mohammed Siraj at backward point.

For the fourth-wicket stand, Renshaw and Alex Carey added 59 runs, with Shreyas Iyer taking a stunning catch while turning around. When Renshaw advanced down the wicket to Washington Sundar (42-44)’s off-spin, he was out LBW in the 37th over, but he was hit low on the pads. Before Australia was bowled out, Ellis made a small cameo of 16 with three boundaries.

In the middle of our first innings, Marshall said, “We needed one more stand.” had a fantastic platform at 183-3, but was unable to cash in.

India's Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli react.
India’s captain Shubman Gill, second from right, greets Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as they return to the pavilion following their victory in the third ODI at the SCG.

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Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,340

On Sunday, October 26, 2025, how things are going:

Fighting

  • At least five people, including two children, were hurt when Russia launched a drone attack on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, early on Sunday, according to officials.
  • At least two people were killed and 12 others were hurt in the overnight attacks by Russian drones and missiles in Ukraine on Saturday, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. In the wintertime, she claimed that Moscow was trying to “create a humanitarian catastrophe” in her nation.
  • According to Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha in a separate post on X, the Russian attacks targeted “critical infrastructure,” the energy grid, a railroad, residential areas, and other regions. He remarked that “Russian terror can and should be stopped,” calling for “stronger sanctions” against Moscow.
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, claimed that Patriot air defense systems are required more frequently as a result of these attacks. He wrote, “Ask America, Europe, and the G7 countries to make sure that no more lives are threatened by such attacks.”
  • In a statement released on Telegram, the Ukrainian Air Force said it had detonated 50 of the 62 drones and four of the nine missiles that were launched on Saturday by Russian forces.
  • Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that its forces had destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including seven that were intercepting Moscow.
  • Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, claimed that Ukrainian forces harmed a dam on a reservoir in the border region and caused damage. He cautioned people to temporarily evacuate two border settlements because the strikes could result in flooding.

diplomacy and politics

    Donald Trump, the president of the United States, stated to reporters on Air Force One as he boarded the plane that he would not be wasting his time meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin until he believes a deal will bring about peace between Russia and Ukraine.

  • According to a US official and another person, Trump’s administration is also working on additional sanctions to address key areas of Russia’s economy if Putin continues to halt the conflict, according to a Reuters news agency.
  • The US official, who was quoted by Reuters, claimed that Washington would like to see European allies implement additional sanctions or tariffs on Russia.
  • Zelenskyy said the most recent US sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil send “a powerful and desperately needed message that aggression will not go unanswered.”
  • Zelenskyy stated in a separate statement on Telegram that Ukraine anticipates receiving 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets starting in 2014, and that the agreement is necessary to protect the nation.
  • However, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation, claimed in an interview with CNN that Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv are close to reaching a compromise.