ASEAN Trade & Timor-Leste: ASEAN economic ministers in Manila agreed to provisionally apply an updated trade deal, letting ready members use the Second Protocol to Amend ATIGA “voluntarily and reciprocally” to keep goods moving despite the Middle East crisis—Timor-Leste was not among the initial 10. Investment Diplomacy: Hong Kong signed the first protocol to amend its ASEAN investment agreement, aiming for non-discriminatory treatment across 10 ASEAN states; Timor-Leste’s extension is pending ASEAN internal steps. China-ASEAN Expo: Timor-Leste co-hosted and debuted as ASEAN’s 11th member at the China–ASEAN Expo in Nanning, opening its pavilion and showcasing coffee, vanilla, cinnamon, handicrafts and tais textiles while seeking market links. Regional Security & Law: Cambodia and Thailand kicked off UN-backed UNCLOS compulsory conciliation in Singapore over a disputed Gulf of Thailand seabed area, with the process starting despite tense early exchanges. Cluster Munitions: Laos concluded the CCM Third Review Conference in Vientiane, adopting a 2027–2031 action plan to expand membership and implementation.