DILI: Timor-Leste has dropped to amongst the bottom of the list of countries in the East Asia and Pacific region that have adopted reform to improve its business environment, in an influential World Bank Ease of Doing Business report.

DILI: Timor-Leste’s Court of Appeal has approved a decree allowing use of the country’s petroleum fund for a $650 million buyout of ConocoPhillips’ and Royal Dutch Shell holdings in the Greater Sunrise gas project, a move that had been questioned on the grounds of its legality by opposition parliamentary members.

DILI: The ruling coalition government’s revised US$1.48 General State Budget Law for 2019 has been promulgated by the President of the Republic, setting up the major economic program for the next 12 months.

DILI: The increase of high-profile government members escaping court hearings by traveling overseas such as Francisco Kalbuadi Lay and Sergio Lobo are a “worrying” sign of the state of Timor-Lesate’s democracy, the Deputy Chairman of Fretilin Party has said.

DILI:Timor-Leste’s High Court could stop the approved decree that allows use of the country’s petroleum fund for a $650 million buyout of Royal Dutch Shell and ConocoPhillips’ holdings in the Greater Sunrise gas project, if a request from Parliament is made.