Royal Milestone: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah marks his 80th birthday today, celebrated in Bandar Seri Begawan as the world’s longest-reigning monarch after nearly 59 years on the throne, with the private, tightly guarded nature of his rule again in focus. Regional Diplomacy: A 14-country coalition led by the US and the Philippines reaffirmed the 2016 South China Sea arbitration as final and legally binding, while China rejected it as “null and void,” keeping tensions high ahead of ASEAN talks. Brunei Business & Skills: Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam’s SEED programme is training 13 participants from government and the public to build entrepreneurship skills, with support aimed at economic resilience and Vision 2035 goals. Entrepreneurship Support: Brunei also launched a training programme to empower entrepreneurs, adding to the push for wider participation in business growth. Travel Rules: The UK published its 2026 visa-free entry lists, while Germany confirmed visa-free access for citizens of 62 countries for short stays in 2026. Wealth Management Move: Lighthouse Canton hired a wealth management leader in Singapore as it targets doubling assets under management to $10 billion by 2027, including expansion into Brunei.