Brunei-Singapore Ties: Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah reaffirmed plans to strengthen bilateral links during the Sultan’s 80th birthday visit, including next-gen youth and business exchanges tied to the 2026 defence and 2027 currency interchangeability milestones. Cross-Border Energy: Sarawak and Brunei made steady progress on a proposed cross-border electricity interconnection, with talks aimed at improving energy security and supply resilience. Trade & Investment Cooperation: Brunei is part of the Future of Investment and Trade (FIT) Partnership as ministers meet in Auckland to cut barriers and boost rules-based trade for exporters. China Governance & Diplomacy: China’s ambassador to Brunei, Chen Shaochun, published a governance-focused piece marking the CPC’s 105th anniversary, underscoring China’s economic and stability narrative. Regional Security Watch: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to prioritise South China Sea discussions in Asia meetings, with the dispute still central to Indo-Pacific stability. Local Business Moves: Brunei-linked distribution reach is highlighted in regional FMCG expansion coverage, while Ai-CHA marked its 200th Borneo outlet with a campaign spanning Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan.