Telecom Investment: Viettel (Timor-Leste’s Telemor brand) approved a US$560m push into the Dominican Republic, underscoring how regional telcos are scaling digital infrastructure abroad. Energy & CCS: Santos says it’s keeping its offshore carbon capture and storage plan alive in Timor-Leste, using Bayu-Undan as a brownfield base to handle CO2 from Barossa while seeking fiscal and regulatory approvals with Timor-Leste. ASEAN Integration & Diplomacy: Vietnam and Timor-Leste leaders met in Hanoi and agreed to expand cooperation as Timor-Leste settles into ASEAN; Vietnam’s NA chair also flagged support for signing and implementing bilateral agreements. Regional Policy Platform: The ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in Hanoi put Timor-Leste alongside other ASEAN leaders, with Vietnam urging ASEAN to move from adapting to global trends toward shaping rules—plus a stronger innovation and digital-economy agenda. Marine Economy: Timor-Leste launched National Sea Day and Ocean Week 2026, promoting ocean conservation, marine education, sustainable development and Blue Economy activities nationwide. Climate Risk for Renewables: A Zurich Insurance report warns most ASEAN renewable sites face severe climate exposure by 2030, with resilience spending potentially cutting losses—relevant as Timor-Leste weighs its energy transition path.