Timor-Leste diplomacy: Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale met President José Ramos-Horta on the UNGA sidelines, focusing on strengthening ties with Solomon Islands, including discussion of Timor-Leste’s sovereign fund model and a proposal for Solomon Islands to open an embassy in Dili. ASEAN and regional priorities: Singapore’s Grace Fu says ASEAN should prioritize a regional power grid, climate finance and resilience ahead of its 2027 chairmanship. Water and food security: UNSW and Permatil trained UNTL staff and students in surveying water catchment topography for catchment modelling, aiming to improve rural water access. Energy and infrastructure: Timor-Leste’s oil and gas push gets a boost as Fugro secured additional heavy geotechnical and metocean survey work for Greater Sunrise and Bayu-Undan pipeline routes, with fieldwork planned for 2027. Mining and investment risk: A report warns Pacific island states face sovereignty threats from deep-sea mining deals that can bypass local courts via offshore arbitration. Sports and culture: Dili’s film scene gets an international boost as Viking Sunset Studios brings Bali films Bandit and Semusim to the Dili International Film Festival. Health and development: World Heart Day coverage highlights the scale of cardiovascular disease in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, underscoring the need for earlier screening and prevention.