Subsea Connectivity Boost: China Telecom says the Asia Link Cable (ALC) has landed in Hong Kong at the Chung Hom Kok Cable Landing Station, aiming to become the highest-capacity Hong Kong–Singapore route and to supercharge cloud, AI and cross-border digital trade across China, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. ASEAN Digital Resilience: A separate regional push highlights how identity and access controls are becoming harder to manage as cloud and AI expand the “attack surface,” with Brunei’s personal data rules cited alongside wider ASEAN regulatory momentum. ASEAN Chair Spotlight: The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship is set to take centre stage at the BusinessWorld Economic Forum on May 18, with discussions on turning regional priorities into corporate action. Hajj Logistics Update: Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative adds Senegal and Brunei for Hajj 2026, letting pilgrims complete entry steps and baggage check-in at home airports before boarding dedicated buses. Brunei Angle: Brunei is explicitly named in the ALC route and in the Hajj pre-clearance expansion.