Sovereign Wealth & Diplomacy: Prime Minister Matthew Wale met President José Ramos-Horta in New York to discuss deepening ties with Solomon Islands, with Ramos-Horta praising Timor-Leste’s sovereign fund as “prudent” and shielded from political interference. Oil & Gas Progress: Timor-Leste approved the Environmental Impact Statement for Finder Energy’s Kuda Tasi and Jahal (KTJ) offshore oilfields, clearing a major step toward final investment decisions. Offshore Surveys for TLNG: The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources selected TDI-Brooks (with Taka Hydrocore Indonesia) for a light geotechnical and environmental baseline survey offshore Timor-Leste to support Greater Sunrise and Bayu-Undan pipeline routing, with fieldwork due to start mid-January 2027. Water Security Training: UNSW and Permatil trained UNTL staff and students in surveying water catchment topography for catchment modelling, aimed at improving rural water access. Regional Finance & Climate: ASEAN leaders were urged to prioritize a regional power grid, climate finance, and resilience as Southeast Asia faces rising energy costs and climate risks. Digital Payments Cooperation: Timor-Leste and Indonesia’s central banks strengthened cross-border digital payments links, including QRIS expansion.