Regional Haze: Timor-Leste backed joint action as Indonesian wildfires spread toxic smoke across the region; schools in Timor-Leste were closed from Oct. 15 to 17. Indonesia says it has accepted firefighting help from Malaysia and Singapore, while a monitor estimates nearly 1.92 million hectares have burned. Gas Development: Sunda Energy won a 12-month extension to its offshore production-sharing contract, allowing more time to agree a plan with state-owned TIMOR GAP for the delayed Chuditch-2 well. Greater Sunrise: President José Ramos-Horta says the first agreements for the long-stalled gas project could be signed early next year, though questions remain over the commercial case for a planned LNG plant on Timor-Leste’s south coast. Energy and Aid: Ramos-Horta told a Perth summit that dwindling development aid is prolonging reliance on diesel and fossil-fuel development, which he says is needed to power a transition to a greener economy. Diplomacy: Timor-Leste and Russia are exploring closer political and economic ties, including potential projects in energy, minerals, fisheries and tourism.