Brunei-Philippines ties: India and Brunei discussed deepening bilateral links and parliamentary engagement, with India’s High Commissioner meeting Brunei’s Legislative Council Speaker in Bandar Seri Begawan. Regional diplomacy: ASEAN diplomats visited Bangladesh’s BSEZ, signalling interest in expanding investment and industrial cooperation across the bloc. Local sports & community: Labuan’s Super Novice 4X4 Challenge 2026 kicks off with 40 competitors from Labuan, Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, featuring seven stages and a Labuan Corporation-backed sports tourism push. Border operations in focus: Sindumin/Merapok Immigration Control Post in Sabah is flagged for deteriorated internal roads, obscured signboards, and calls to fully reactivate the post to ease congestion for visitors from Sarawak and Brunei. Environment & shared stakes: A new study says deadly Sumatra floods and landslides wiped out at least 7% of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan population, with Brunei-based Borneo Futures among the researchers. Energy & climate context: Analysis finds solar has overtaken gas in Asia to become the continent’s third-largest electricity source, driven by rapid growth in China, India and Pakistan.