Offshore Energy Tech: Subsea7 and Worley both landed new Asia-Pacific deals tied to major operators—Subsea7 won a Shell Brunei pipeline replacement EPCI contract offshore Brunei (subsea pipeline and risers in up to 50m water depth), while INPEX selected Worley for engineering services across its Australian operations. Biodiversity & Conservation: Morton Arboretum researchers released a conservation gap analysis of 54 threatened or data-poor Asian oak species across Brunei and the region, finding 74% aren’t represented in botanical collections and flagging extremely rare species at high risk. Maritime Security & Training: RIMPAC 2026 wrapped its 30th edition with 30 nations, 30,000+ personnel, and large-scale drills focused on interoperability and preparedness across the Indo-Pacific. Connectivity & Cyber-Concerns: A report highlighted Taiwan Coast Guard warnings to a Chinese-flagged research vessel observed near the US-Taiwan Pacific Light Cable Network, raising renewed alarm over undersea cable intelligence gathering. Smart Mobility in Brunei: UTB’s Centre for Transport Research held an international sharing session on smart mobility for sustainable cities, covering traffic management, transport systems, and electric vehicles. Regional Tech Leadership: Mastercard announced multiple senior Asia Pacific appointments, including a new EVPs and CFO change, as it pushes AI-enabled commerce and data-driven payments. 5G Growth: Ericsson reported global 5G subscriptions passed 3 billion in Q1 2026, with Southeast Asia expected to surge through 2031.