Wildfire Haze: Timor-Leste closed schools nationwide for three days from October 15 as smoke from Indonesian wildfires worsened air quality. Authorities urged families to keep children indoors and avoid outdoor activity; El Niño-driven dry conditions are intensifying the fires. Economic Ties: Indonesia and Timor-Leste signed a bilateral investment treaty in Jakarta to encourage cross-border investment and align regulations. About 120 Indonesian companies already operate in Timor-Leste. Digital Economy: Timor-Leste is preparing to join ASEAN’s Digital Economy Framework Agreement, with work underway on electronic payments, customs links, data security and the legal framework ahead of a planned November signing. Climate and Health: Timor-Leste ranked among the top five countries for incorporating public health into national climate plans, scoring 22 out of 32 in a global assessment of 132 countries.