ASEAN diplomacy in Manila: Eight foreign ministers are set to meet in Manila next week, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, China’s Wang Yi, Russia’s Sergey Lavrov and Australia’s Penny Wong among confirmed attendees. The Philippines will also host ASEAN’s Post-Ministerial Conferences and mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), with Timor-Leste included as an ASEAN member. Offshore energy services: Fugro has won a contract to run deepwater site characterization surveys for Timor-Leste’s Greater Sunrise and Bayu Undan gas developments, using geophysical, seismic and autonomous underwater vehicle work in waters over 3,000m. Mobilisation is planned for Q3 2026 and offshore operations for Q4, supporting pipeline routing, engineering design and geohazard assessment. Agriculture and jobs linkages: New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme is bringing Timor-Leste workers into orchard and vineyard labour, with more than 20,000 applicants after the programme opened in 2026—an effort to spread seasonal workforce demand across Pacific countries. Finance sector reform: Timor-Leste’s National Parliament approved the General Framework for the Financial System and Banking Activities, strengthening the Central Bank’s supervisory powers, adding resolution and deposit insurance funds, and tightening anti–money laundering and consumer protection rules. Food supply: Dili Dairy Factory says it has resumed production and returned to the market at full capacity after internal work and independent lab testing.