Royal Milestone: Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah turns 80 today, marking nearly 59 years on the throne as he continues to lead as Prime Minister, Defence and Finance Minister, and head of Islam in Brunei. Regional Diplomacy: Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is in Brunei this week as the city-state’s representative for the Sultan’s 80th celebrations, underscoring close ties. Energy & Offshore Jobs: Noble’s 2013-built drillship Noble Viking has landed a new six-well Brunei contract worth about US$136.2m, starting early 2028 for roughly 296 days. Wealth Management Expansion: Lighthouse Canton appoints Angelina Saik in Singapore to push Southeast Asia growth and target doubling assets under management to US$10b by 2027, including Brunei. Trade & Investment Talks: New Zealand hosts the FITP Partnership ministerial meeting in Auckland, aiming to cut trade barriers and red tape. Business Growth in Borneo: Ai-CHA opens its 200th Borneo outlet and runs a “Borneo 200 Campaign 2026” across Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan. Maritime Tensions: The Philippines steps up efforts around Scarborough Shoal as 10 years pass since the 2016 UNCLOS arbitration, while China rejects the ruling. Cyber Risk: A warning flags rising state-backed, AI-driven cyber threats hitting Southeast Asian governments, calling for faster reforms.