Defence Tech & Regional Security: India’s Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh says India has signed a BrahMos supersonic cruise missile deal with Vietnam (not yet publicly announced) and that an Indonesia pact is in the final stages, with deal values still undisclosed; he also stressed that advanced arms sales usually come with technology sharing for “trusted” partners. Defence Tech & Local Industry: Malaysia’s Khaled Nordin says the country will consider arms only from suppliers willing to transfer technology and support local defence self-reliance, while he voiced disappointment over Norway cancelling export licences for a naval strike missile system. Maritime Trade Rules: ASEAN defence ministers at Shangri-La Dialogue reaffirmed commitment to free flow of trade and supplies through international corridors, highlighting the need to uphold transit passage under UNCLOS. Brunei Digital Skills: Brunei’s AITI says the TechXplore Digital Apprenticeship Program is boosting ICT graduates’ employability and global exposure aligned with Vision 2035. Brunei Fintech Regulation: Brunei Darussalam Central Bank updates its FinTech Regulatory Sandbox guidelines to expand eligible participants and clarify what solutions can be tested under safeguards. AI for Fraud Fighting: ScamReady ASEAN spotlights the Global Signal Exchange (GSE), where tech firms like Google and Microsoft help share scam signals to disrupt online fraud faster. Agri-Tech in the Region: Malaysia’s VentureTECH backs Pacton Technologies’ AI/IoT aquaculture platform FishSpeak, aiming to scale deployments across ASEAN including Brunei and the Philippines. Tourism & Partnerships: Travel Meet Asia 2026 returns to Jakarta (23–24 June) with Brunei as Official Partner Country and a push for Visit Brunei 2027.