Timor-Leste Roundup: Oil expansion, record TB detections, gender strategy

Oil expansion

Finder Energy has expanded its operations through the acquisition of oil assets in Timor-Leste. The article contains a disclaimer regarding the limitations of backtested performance results, emphasising that these do not predict future outcomes and may differ significantly from actual trading results. It highlights the impact of various market factors and assumptions on the performance metrics presented, Tip Ranks reports.

Australia and Timor-Leste

Australia and Timor-Leste are enhancing their oil and gas partnership through bilateral talks focused on the Greater Sunrise Project and CO2 storage initiatives. These discussions aim to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, with related reports highlighting opportunities and challenges in addressing decarbonization and future energy investments in the region, Energy News Bulletin reports.

Record TB detections

In 2023, Timor-Leste reported a record 6,171 tuberculosis (TB) cases, a 64% increase from 2021, reflecting improved surveillance and diagnostic systems. Despite this rise, TB-related deaths have decreased by 55% since 2015, with significant reductions observed recently. According to WHO, Timor-Leste has the second-highest TB incidence in the WHO South-East Asia Region, with a rate of 498 cases per 100,000 people. Notably, 51% of cases were bacteriologically confirmed, and 45% were tested using rapid diagnostic methods.

AFF Futsal Championship

Vietnam started strong at the 2024 AFF Futsal Championship, defeating Timor Leste 4-1 in their opening match on November 2 in Thailand. Nhan Gia Hung scored the first goal early in the game, but Timor Leste equalized in the second half. Coach Diego Giustozzi urged a more aggressive approach, leading to three additional goals from Vietnam. They are in Group A and will face Malaysia, Brunei, and Thailand next. As reported by VOV, the championship runs from November 2 to 10, with teams competing in a round-robin format to qualify for the semifinals.

New gender strategy

The National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL) launched its second Gender Strategy (2024-2028) today, aimed at improving women's participation and creating gender-responsive policing services, coinciding with National Women’s Day. Supported by UN Women, the strategy addresses barriers to female recruitment and aims to increase women's representation, which was just 15% in 2022, and improve policies against sexual harassment within the force. According to the UN, approximately 600 police officers attended the launch in Dili, where PNTL’s Commissioner emphasized the importance of a diverse police force to enhance community trust. The new strategy aligns with broader national plans on gender equality and is backed by the UK, Canada, and South Korea.