The Timor Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) is the military body responsible
for the defence of East Timor. The F-FDTL was established in February
2001 and currently comprises two small infantry battalions, a small
Naval Component and several supporting units. The F-FDTL's primary role
is to protect East Timor from external threats. It also has an internal
security role, which overlaps with that of the Policia Nacional de Timor
Leste. This has led to tensions between the services, which have been
exacerbated by poor morale and indiscipline within the F-FDTL. The
F-FDTL's problems came to a head in 2006 when almost half the force was
dismissed following protests over discrimination and poor conditions.
The dismissal contributed to a general collapse of both the F-FDTL and
PNTL in May, and forced the government to request foreign peacekeepers
to restore security. The F-FDTL is currently being rebuilt with foreign
assistance and has drawn up a long-term force development plan.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timor_Leste_Defence_Force>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1867:
By the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, signed by Franz Joseph I
of Austria and a Hungarian delegation led by Ferenc Deák, the Dual
Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was established.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Compromise_of_1867>
1914:
The ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sank in the Saint
Lawrence River after colliding with the Storstad, killing 1,012 on
board.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Empress_of_Ireland>
1942:
Bing Crosby recorded his version of the song "White Christmas",
which went on to become the best-selling single of all time, with over
50 million copies sold.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Christmas>
1954:
The first annual Bilderberg Group meeting of leaders from
European countries and the United States took place in Oosterbeek,
Netherlands.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group>
1985:
A wall at Brussels' Heysel Stadium collapsed under the pressure
of football fans escaping a riot before the European Cup Final between
Liverpool and Juventus, killing 39 people and injuring over 600 others.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heysel_Stadium_disaster>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
apothegm:
A short, witty, instructive saying; an aphorism or maxim.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/apothegm>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
I have investigated the dust-heaps of humanity, and found a treasure in
all of them. I have found that humanity is not incidentally engaged, but
eternally and systematically engaged, in throwing gold into the gutter
and diamonds into the sea.
--G. K. Chesterton
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/G._K._Chesterton>