Brunei-Singapore Ties: Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong met Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and reaffirmed a “special friendship” built on decades of trust, cooperation and people-to-people links, with both sides also marking defence ties (2026) and currency interchangeability (2027). Cross-Border Energy: Sarawak and Brunei said talks on a proposed cross-border electricity interconnection are progressing, aiming to boost energy security and resilience. Sultan’s 80th Birthday: Brunei marked Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s 80th with a grand ceremonial parade and state honours, while regional leaders including Cambodia’s Hun Sen, Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim and Sabah’s Hajiji Noor sent congratulations. Regional Mobility Rules: The UK introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation for short visits for eligible nationalities, and China published its 2026 list for 240-hour visa-free transit for 55 countries. Aviation Drills: India’s Rafales are set to train with F-35 stealth jets in Australia’s Pitch Black exercise, with jets already arriving in Darwin. Trade Talks: New Zealand hosted a major FIT Partnership ministerial meeting in Auckland, bringing together Brunei and other economies to reduce trade barriers. Sports & Community: Kuching will host the 35th ASEAN Veteran Basketball Tournament 2026, with Brunei among participating teams.