Brunei Energy & Infrastructure: Subsea7 won a “sizeable” $50m–$150m contract from Brunei Shell Petroleum for offshore pipeline replacement work, covering engineering, procurement, construction and installation for subsea pipeline and riser systems in waters up to 50m, with project management starting immediately from its Kuala Lumpur office. Philippines Fiscal & Power Reform (regional watch): The World Bank urged the Philippines to broaden its tax base via growth-friendly, fair excise and other revenue measures, while also pushing faster power-sector reforms to cut electricity costs and reduce heavy reliance on imported fuel. Philippines Development Finance: The World Bank approved a $268.62m water and sanitation project for island provinces (Bohol, Siargao, Jolo), aiming to improve climate-resilient services and create thousands of jobs. ASEAN Trade & Geoeconomics: A new ASEAN-Canada plan of action targets deeper trade, investment and economic cooperation, with an ASEAN-5 growth outlook highlighting opportunities amid fragmentation and climate risks. Brunei Tourism Push: Brunei’s Coffee Trail is set to promote Brunei coffee culture in Miri, Sarawak (Aug 7–9), aiming to draw cross-border visitors and give local entrepreneurs a market platform. Brunei Business Community: Tutong’s festival drew hundreds with a parade, fireworks and bazaar, explicitly supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and local tourism. Regional Corporate Moves: Mastercard announced multiple senior Asia Pacific leadership appointments, including a new Asia Pacific CFO role, as it expands core payments and digital commerce. Security & Tech (regional risk): Reports say a Chinese research vessel was warned off by Taiwan’s coast guard for hovering over the US-Taiwan Pacific Light Cable Network, raising concerns about undersea cable monitoring.