Disaster Response Training: The U.S. Air Force and Royal Brunei Air Force kicked off PACIFIC ANGEL 26-1 at Rimba Air Base, starting Aug 31 and running to Sept 4, focusing on search-and-rescue and humanitarian disaster response with HC-130J, S-70i Black Hawks and C-295MW aircraft. Food & Tech Trade: Seafood Expo Asia/Seafood Processing Asia opened Sept 2 in Singapore, with Brunei among first-time country participants and a bigger push on processing technology and innovation across the supply chain. Regional Trade Ties: China-ASEAN trade topped US$1 trillion in 2025 and is accelerating in 2026, reaching about US$744b in Jan–Jul 2026, as both sides prepare for CAEXPO and CABIS. Haze Watch: Kalimantan haze may affect parts of the Philippines from Sept 1–3, with PM2.5 spikes reported in Metro Manila and possible improvement after Sept 4–6 if rain and winds shift. Judicial Capacity Building: The Philippines and Brunei Supreme Courts signed an MOU to strengthen judicial education and cooperation, including training on AI, cybercrime, trafficking, and climate-related disputes. Brunei Tech Partner: Concepts Technologies won ManageEngine’s “Emerging Partner of the Year” for expanding ManageEngine adoption and support across Brunei’s government and private sector. Agriculture Cooperation: China and Brunei launched a Senior Expert Advisory Program on hybrid rice breeding and seed production to boost rice productivity and research collaboration.