Diplomacy Boost: Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea just agreed to open reciprocal embassies after talks in Port Moresby on the sidelines of the inaugural Melanesian Oceans Summit, with Ramos-Horta backing Timor-Leste’s push toward deeper ASEAN ties and Marape pledging to lobby for PNG’s ASEAN bid. ASEAN Afterglow in Cebu: As the ASEAN summit wrapped, Timor-Leste PM Xanana Gusmão stayed on to tour Cebu’s heritage sites and signaled he’ll promote the city back home—while ASEAN leaders adopted the Cebu Protocol to amend the charter for the first time in nearly 20 years. Regional Tensions, Myanmar in the spotlight: Myanmar is again complaining it’s being shut out of ASEAN over “discriminatory measures,” as the bloc struggles to align on its peace approach. Health & Lifestyle: New research across 65 countries links eating out with higher obesity risk. Culture & Care: In Cebu, a “Nanay” houseparent story highlights how grief can turn into community motherhood.