Regional Trade & Investment: Sabah International Expo 2026 (SIE2026) opened in Kota Kinabalu with participation from 15 countries, including Brunei, positioning Sabah as a “gateway to global opportunities” with about 300 booths and an expected 10,000 trade visitors. Haze & Public Health: Malaysia declared an emergency in Serian, Sarawak after air pollution hit emergency levels from Indonesia’s fires, while haze continues to spread across Southeast Asia and has also been affecting Brunei. Digital Payments Leadership: Mastercard named Beena Pothen as Division President for West Southeast Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar, to drive digital commerce and wallet growth. Brunei-Linked Mobility: Suzuki’s Brunei distributor Boustead launched Pakistan-made Alto and Every mini-cars, marking Suzuki’s first export of Kei-sized models from an overseas production base to Brunei. Finance Skills Push: Brunei launched National Financial Literacy Day 2026, a three-day push to improve financial habits and digital financial literacy. Sports (ASEAN): Manila Digger FC will host the first leg of its ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup playoff against Brunei’s Kasuka FC, with the return in Bandar Seri Begawan.