Energy & Investment: Timor-Leste broke ground on a major solar power plant with storage in Manatuto, a $107 million EDF–Itochu joint venture expected to cut fuel imports and supply about 30% of electricity demand by 2028. Diplomacy & Business Climate: President José Ramos-Horta urged foreign firms to be “adventurous” and take risks as Timor-Leste opens its economy, pointing to how early entrepreneurship can grow fast. Regional Sports: Vietnam thrashed Timor-Leste 7-0 in the ASEAN Championship opener, while Singapore edged Cambodia 2-1 in the same group—setting up Timor-Leste’s tough campaign. Travel Mobility (Regional): The Henley Passport Index 2026 placed East Timor among the stronger Asean passports, ranking 4th in the bloc. ASEAN Foreign Ministers: US reaffirmed South China Sea interests as ASEAN and China push talks on a Code of Conduct, with Timor-Leste’s FM Bendito dos Santos Freitas pictured at the Manila meetings.