PALM Worker Welfare: A viral video showing a Fijian father and other Pacific workers, including people believed to be from Timor-Leste, living rough under a Sydney bridge has triggered a welfare inquiry in Australia, raising fresh questions about support systems for seasonal labour migrants. Maritime Diplomacy: Cambodia has formally started compulsory conciliation under UNCLOS to resolve its overlapping maritime dispute with Thailand, pointing to a peaceful, law-based path after Thailand cancelled a 2001 agreement. Arts & Culture (Timor-Leste in the spotlight): Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta used the Shangri-La Dialogue to argue that prevention and dialogue matter as much as defence, while a separate piece notes Timor-Leste’s presence at the Venice Biennale via its pavilion. Local Culture (regional arts scene): Lapu-Lapu City’s Art Gallery and Cultural Hub reopened with a “Tatak Lokal” push for local artists, adding more exhibition and workshop space for creatives. Education & Community: Brigada Eskwela preparations in Lapu-Lapu highlight how schools and families are gearing up for the new year—while traffic and daily burdens remain a real challenge.