Diplomacy in Moscow: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is “keeping its guard up” over NATO’s reported war preparations, speaking after talks with Timor-Leste’s FM Bendito Freitas and reiterating Russia’s focus on protecting against threats from Western neighbors. Climate finance pressure: Pacific leaders at Pre-COP31 in Fiji warned that slow, insufficient climate funding is leaving them exposed to rising seas and failing water supplies, using Tuvalu’s sea-reclamation work as a stark example of what’s at stake. Timor-Leste in regional talks: Timor-Leste and the Philippines signed an MoU to boost higher-education cooperation, including mobility, scholarships, research, quality assurance, and credit transfer. Trade push: Timor-Leste began exporting Laga salt to New Zealand (300 tonnes), aiming to cut import dependence and grow jobs through private-sector-led production. Security crackdown: Timor-Leste investigators detained 16 people in Dili over a telecom scam allegedly impersonating Japanese police to target victims in Japan. Energy outlook: Timor-Leste is considering a second LNG project on the south coast, even as work continues toward its first LNG development.