Energy & Industry: Timor-Leste’s Autoridade Nacional do Petróleo has approved Finder Energy’s Environmental Impact Statement for the Kuda Tasi and Jahal (KTJ) offshore oilfields, clearing a major regulatory step as the project moves toward final investment decisions. Offshore Surveys: TDI-Brooks has been selected for a light geotechnical and environmental baseline survey offshore Timor-Leste to support TLNG pipeline routing, with fieldwork set to begin mid-January 2027. More Survey Work: Fugro also won additional Timor-Leste contracts for heavy geotechnical and metocean surveys tied to Greater Sunrise TLNG and the Bayu-Undan Pipeline Highway, with offshore work planned for early 2027. Diplomacy: Vietnam’s first resident ambassador to Timor-Leste, Pham Binh Dam, presented credentials to President José Ramos-Horta, pledging deeper cooperation and support for Timor-Leste’s ASEAN integration. Regional Payments: Bank Indonesia signed an MoU with Timor-Leste’s central bank to explore cross-border QRIS payments, aiming to improve digital payment connectivity between the two countries. Politics & Society: Timor-Leste welcomed Morocco’s Western Sahara autonomy plan at the UNGA, while reiterating the need for consultation with the people concerned.