Brunei in the spotlight (Digital): Brunei’s Digital Brunei 2030 push got a boost at the Digital Brunei Economy Forum 2026, with the Transport and Infocommunications minister stressing a coordinated push across government, society, business, data and AI. Brunei in the spotlight (Education & AI): ACER helped launch the Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards (BDDLS) for Years 1–11, with AI literacy built in from Years 3–8 and expanded pathways for older students. Regional arts & culture (Photography): Kuching hosted a regional photography convention with 120+ delegates from China, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia, positioning photography as a creative-industry driver. Regional arts & culture (Malay arts): Batam’s Kenduri Seni Melayu welcomed performers from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Thailand, featuring batik, Malay martial arts and dance. Local culture (Sarawak): Miri’s Taste of Borneo Carnival 4.0 tied culture with a low-carbon plan, including a proposal to run electric buses. Sports & community (Netball): A former Sri Lanka coach condemned alleged threats toward a national netball coach during an international friendly, calling it unacceptable. Tech diplomacy (Digital/AI/Cybersecurity): Kuwait and Brunei discussed deeper cooperation in digital transformation, AI and cybersecurity, including knowledge exchanges via Kuwait’s Sahel programme.