Yesterday, Dili officially became the 11th nation in the Southeast Asian bloc. The end of a 14-year journey was marked by a highly symbolic ceremony attended by all regional leaders. Prime Minister Rala Xanana Gusmao was the last to add his signature. Challenges and responsibilities related to inclusion remain.

Human Rights Watch is calling for a new investigation into the disappearance of the supporter of the opposition government-in-exile who went missing in Ampang (Malaysia). The advocacy group also warns of the risk of a possible transnational crackdown by Myanmar’s military junta. The activist fled in 2015 and was living under the protection of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Zaw Zaw, a powerful businessman who heads the Myanmar Football Federation, was appointed to chair FIFA's Social Responsibility Committee. Sanctioned in the past by the United States for his ties to the military, the oligarch has over the years built an influential network that links business, sports, and charity through his Ayeyarwady Foundation. Malaysia's foreign minister is in Myanmar today, while the junta’s planes, backed by China, continue to bomb civilians.

After more than 40 years in camps, thousands of refugees see the prospect of long-awaited change. Karen refugee: ‘I have never seen my homeland’ and ‘if Thailand allowed us to work legally, everything would change’. A workforce that could also help fill the gap left by Cambodians following clashes on the border. New air raids by the junta in Shan State.

A court in Wenzhou has convicted 39 members of the Ming family, originally from Shan State in northern Myanmar, for fraud and drug trafficking, among others, activities that generated estimated proceeds of over 10 billion yuan. Among those sentenced to death are the son and granddaughter of the family patriarch, Ming Xuechang, who died under controversial circumstances during his arrest. This is part of Beijing’s broader crackdown on crime syndicates operating in Myanmar.

In a clear change of direction, the East Timorese government has assured Myanmar's military regime that it will no longer allow opposition groups to engage in political activities or have an office on its territory. This move contradicts President José Ramos-Horta's previously announced positions and Timor-Leste's image as a country that defends human rights. It appears, however, to serve the strategic objective of full membership in the regional body, scheduled for October.