Renewables Finance: Ashurst Perkins Coie says Timor-Leste has secured US$85.7m for its first utility-scale solar plus battery storage project, a 73.7MW grid solar plant paired with an 80.2MWh BESS, with power sold to EDTL under a 25-year deal. Regional Trade & Tech: Timor-Leste is also in the spotlight at the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, debuting as a full ASEAN member and co-host as CAFTA 3.0 opportunities and an “AI Marketplace” draw thousands of buyers and firms. Disarmament: Timor-Leste signed on to the Convention on Cluster Munitions at the CCM Review Conference in Vientiane, backing global humanitarian efforts even without a direct cluster-munitions history. Mining Watch: Estrella Resources expands its Timor-Leste copper-gold hunt with two new exploration licences, while noting conditional approval for a maiden manganese export to Indonesia. Sports Note: Timor-Leste’s men’s team opened the 46th Chess Olympiad with a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein’s opponents’ side in the first round, signaling early momentum.