1. The 11th Crown Prince CIPTA Award 2027 Launched
The biennial Crown Prince CIPTA Award kicked off on 25 June. The launching ceremony was officiated by Minister of Education and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) Council Chairperson Datin Seri Setia Dr Dayang Hajah Romaizah, who delivered a speech. Since its inception in 2004, the CIPTA Award has been positioning itself as a platform for innovation empowerment and creative talents development, while nurturing a generation equipped with a competitive mindset and a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Themed on "Bridge. Innovate. Beyond", this edition highlights collaboration and innovation as solutions to current challenges and drivers of future growth. Open to innovators from Brunei and ASEAN countries, CIPTA 2027 features three main categories – Local Categories, Smart Junior Competition and ASEAN Categories
2. Brunei Holds Disaster Management Training, Urging Collective Actions
Brunei recently rolled out its first national disaster training and tabletop exercise of 2026. Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Manpower and Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin, who is also the chairperson of the National Disaster Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcoming address.
He pointed out that disaster risks facing Brunei have become more complex, dynamic and unpredictable, rendering the traditional single-agency response model ineffective. Disaster management must shift from post-disaster reactive relief to forward-looking proactive prevention, with an integrated coordination mechanism uniting the government, private sector, social organisations and local communities. This exercise targets existing bottlenecks including ambiguous inter-agency responsibilities and inadequate cross-departmental coordination. Participating agencies held in-depth discussions to test and refine joint response frameworks, coordinating emergency resources spanning social policy, public welfare, security, and public health, as well as national economic stability to curb cross-sector disruptions.
3. Brunei Records ASEAN’s Highest Per-Capita Carbon Emissions：Report
Data from the Global Carbon Budget 2025 indicates Brunei registered the highest per-capita carbon dioxide emissions among all ASEAN countries in 2024. Additional statistics from Climate Change Tracker show Brunei’s annual total greenhouse gas emissions stand at approximately 15.2 megatonnes of CO₂ equivalent, accounting for approximately 0.03% of global emissions.
Driven by its small population, Brunei’s per-capita emissions reach 32.8 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per person annually , placing it within the “extremely high” range. Experts noted that Brunei’s core long-term challenge to meeting its emission reduction targets lies in steadily advancing energy transition and fostering green and blue economies while sustaining the competitiveness of its oil and gas industry.
4. China and Brunei Hold Celebrations Marking 35th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
On 25 June, the China Public Diplomacy Association, the Chinese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei-China Friendship Association co-hosted a celebration ceremony for the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Brunei in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Ms. Tong Xiaoling, Vice President of the China Public Diplomacy Association, Mr. Chen Shaochun, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, Pengiran Norhashimah, Permanent Secretary of Brunei’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Mohammad Firdaus bin Abdul Rahman, President of the Brunei-China Friendship Association attended the event, together with nearly 300 representatives from Brunei’s government, parliament, media, think tanks, universities and Chinese community organisations.
Guests from both sides and representatives from all walks of life spoke highly of the fruitful outcomes of bilateral relations. They agreed that deepening friendly exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries have delivered tangible benefits to both nations and their peoples. All expressed confidence that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries and with joint efforts from both sides, the China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership and the building of a China-Brunei community with a shared future will reach new heights.
A cultural troupe from Quanzhou, Fujian Province presented splendid performances of intangible cultural heritage including Nanyin music and string puppetry, alongside an exhibition of distinctive cultural and creative products.