CPTPP Trade Boost: The UK’s full entry into the CPTPP takes effect today (1 Sept), bringing Brunei into the bloc’s zero-tariff access for eligible goods and aiming to add about £2bn a year to the UK economy long term. Regional Health & Environment: Hazardous haze from Indonesian forest and peatland fires has choked parts of Malaysian Borneo, with smoke reaching Brunei and Singapore and pushing air quality readings above 300 in Sarawak. Judicial Training Tech Focus: The Supreme Courts of the Philippines and Brunei signed an MoU to strengthen judicial education and cooperation, including on AI, cybercrime, electronic evidence, trafficking, and climate-related disputes. Brunei-China Agriculture R&D: China-Brunei launched a Senior Expert Advisory Program on hybrid rice breeding and seed production, supporting Brunei’s push for higher rice productivity and food self-sufficiency. Brunei IT Partner Win: Concepts Technologies was named ManageEngine “Emerging Partner of the Year” for expanding ManageEngine adoption and security monitoring services in Brunei. Security & Satellite Watch: Satellite imagery suggests new radar/early-warning style construction on Yagong Island near Antelope Reef in the South China Sea, adding to China’s expanding footprint. Energy Data for Brunei Offshore: TGS secured a longer seismic acquisition campaign offshore Indonesia and also disclosed it obtained data brokerage rights from the Petroleum Authority of Brunei for subsurface data over an offshore block.