Sultan’s 80th Birthday: Brunei marked Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s 80th with a grand ceremonial parade in Bandar Seri Begawan, followed by state honours at Istana Nurul Iman, as regional leaders sent congratulations and best wishes. Regional Diplomacy: Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor joined the celebrations, while Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen pledged to deepen Brunei-Cambodia ties. Trade & Investment: New Zealand’s NZIBF backed the FIT Partnership ministerial meeting in Auckland, saying it could help trade-dependent economies cut barriers and make cross-border business easier. Climate Risk for Brunei: A South-east Asia haze warning points to a possible “Godzilla” El Nino plus a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, raising the odds of severe transboundary haze affecting Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Brunei in the wider region: Brunei Investment Agency is listed among Asia’s sovereign wealth funds in a new ranking, alongside major regional players.