Timor-Leste’s Cluster Munitions push: East Timor signed a declaration of accession to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Vientiane on 15 September, moving closer to full membership after depositing its instrument—part of broader efforts to tackle UXO risks and protect affected communities. ASEAN culture on the move: The ASEAN-Korea Center opened the Jeonju ASEAN Hall in South Korea, bringing together traditional objects and hands-on programs like exhibitions and cooking classes—an example of regional culture traveling beyond capitals. Regional trade meets tech: The 23rd China-ASEAN Expo opened in Nanning with Timor-Leste attending for the first time as ASEAN’s 11th member, while AI and higher-value products take center stage. Tourism, but with care: Intrepid Travel’s 2027 “Not Hot List” includes Dili in Timor-Leste, pitching lesser-visited destinations as a way to spread benefits and reduce overcrowding. Education and mobility ripple effects: Australia tightened international student rules, limiting most students’ ability to bring partners or children—an indirect pressure point for families and study pathways across the region.