Brunei-Singapore Diplomacy: Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and both reaffirmed their “enduring special relationship,” with milestones including 50 years of defence ties (2026) and currency interchangeability (2027), plus youth and people-to-people programmes. Energy Cooperation: Sarawak and Brunei said talks on a cross-border electricity interconnection are progressing well, aiming to strengthen energy security and reliability, with negotiations hoped to conclude soon. Sultan’s 80th Birthday: Brunei marked Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s 80th with a grand ceremonial parade and state honours; regional leaders including Malaysia’s PM Anwar Ibrahim and Cambodia’s Hun Sen sent congratulations and pledged deeper ties. Regional Security: A retired Philippine judge urged ASEAN states to challenge China’s claim that there is no high seas in the South China Sea, arguing China’s “ten-dash line” declaration undermines the High Seas Treaty. Military Drills: India’s Rafale fighters are set to debut in Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black, training alongside F-35 stealth jets as the Indo-Pacific’s large multinational air combat drills ramp up. Travel Rules: The UK introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits, while China published a 2026 list of 55 countries eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit.