Ramos-Horta honoured for service to foreign relations

THE former President of Timor-Leste and leader of East Timor's independence movement was recognised for his service to foreign relations in Sydney on Sunday.

Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove at Kirribilli House gave Jose Ramos-Horta, an Honorary Companion of the Order of Australia.

The award was in recognition of Dr Ramos-Horta's "eminent service" to strengthening Australia and Timor-Leste relations and his "outstanding leadership" in bringing independence to Timor-Leste.

It was part of a three-day trip to Australia for the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, where he also spoke on "preventing conflicts" and achieving peace at an international health conference in Sydney on Saturday. - APN NEWSDESK

• Streakers 'a pain in the backside' - All Blacks coach
• Pilot radioed twice to save plane before fatal crash
• US mother killed by stone gargoyle falling off church
• Faulty printer outs PE teacher's relationship with student
• NASA astronauts give geography lesson from orbit