Brunei

The Philippines commemorated the 10th anniversary of a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea. China rejected the ruling as illegal, while the U.S. reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines under their security treaty. Territorial disputes in the region remain a flashpoint involving multiple nations.

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah appointed Prince Abdul Mateen, one of his youngest sons, as foreign minister during a cabinet reshuffle. The move is viewed as part of efforts to groom the next generation of leaders in the oil-rich kingdom. Prince Abdul Mateen, the 10th child and fourth son of the sultan, has over 3 million Instagram followers, offering a modern image to the royal family.

A cross-border scam crackdown involving 10 jurisdictions has uncovered US$752 million in losses, with Hong Kong accounting for over 40 percent of the total. The investigation involved law enforcement agencies from Hong Kong, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, the Maldives, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, with one of the largest losses involving a Singaporean firm whose funds were transferred to bank accounts in Hong Kong.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong are visiting Brunei and Malaysia to secure diesel, fertiliser, and other critical goods amid shortages linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran. The trip focuses on energy, food security, and trade agreements between the nations.