ASEAN’s Newest Member Timor-Leste, also called East Timor, has joined ASEAN as its 11th member, marking a milestone for regional integration.
Why it matters: Membership opens doors to economic cooperation, disaster-response frameworks, and people-to-people exchanges.
Governance: ASEAN works by consensus among members across pillars like political-security, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation; accession typically follows an observer phase and capacity-building roadmap.

What HaRBInger 2025 Seeks Tokenized KYC means storing Know Your Customer credentials as reusable, privacy-preserving tokens to speed onboarding.
Offline CBDC explores Central Bank Digital Currency payments without network access, targeting resilience during outages and inclusion in low-connectivity regions.
Outcome: The hackathon channels prototypes toward secure, interoperable, and inclusive digital public infrastructure aligned with RBI’s prudential norms.

India–Mauritius Hydrography The Indian Navy’s INS Sutlej has a long-running partnership with Mauritius, mapping waters to update nautical charts and support safer navigation.
Why hydrography: Precise bathymetric data reduces maritime accidents, aids port development, and improves disaster readiness.
MoU context: Such bilateral Memoranda of Understanding advance the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision and build local capacity through training and data-sharing.