The Scoop

02/10/2026

Shenzhen Airlines launches direct Brunei-Shenzhen flight.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Shenzhen Airlines has launched a new route between Brunei and Shenzhen, establishing a direct air link between the sultanate and one of southern China’s major economic hubs. The service, which began on September 29, is expected to strengthen tourism and connectivity between...

19/09/2026

📢 HAPPENING NOW!

Global Town Hall 2026 is underway, kicking off with a keynote address by H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste, followed by a series of panels exploring international development, justice and humanitarian issues.

Upcoming speakers include:

🇮🇪 H.E. Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland
🇵🇬 H.E. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
🇵🇸 H.E. Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine
🇮🇷 H.E. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran

🌟 A featured session will also focus on Palestine: “Palestine – From Aspiration to Reality: Prospects and Challenges for Palestinian Independence and Statehood.”

Join the conversation at globaltownhall.id

🗓 Saturday, 19 September 2026
⏰ 10:00–22:00
💻 Virtual / Live Streaming

The event is free and open to the public. Register at globaltownhall.id to receive the livestream link.

Swipe through the carousel for the complete agenda and list of speakers.

The Scoop is proud to support Global Town Hall 2026 as one of its global media partners.

Global Town Hall

18/09/2026

The Scoop is proud to be a media partner for Global Town Hall 2026, an international forum bringing together voices from around the world to advance dialogue on development, humanitarian issues and justice.

Global Town Hall serves as a platform for civil society — including universities, opinion leaders, NGOs, think tanks, grassroots activists and journalists — to exchange perspectives on issues that matter to their communities and the wider world. A defining feature of Global Town Hall is its commitment to bringing together perspectives from diverse regions and across political systems.

Organised by Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI), this year’s Global Town Hall is themed: “Calling for a Global U-Turn: Recentering Development, Reclaiming Humanity, Restoring Justice in a Crazi(er) World.”

The event is free and open to the public.

🗓 Saturday, 19 September 2026
⏰ 10:00–22:00
💻 Virtual / Live Streaming — register at globaltownhall.id to receive the link.

World leaders speaking at Global Town Hall will include:

🇮🇪 H.E. Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland
🇹🇱 H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
🇵🇬 H.E. James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
🇵🇸 H.E. Dr Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine
🇮🇷 H.E. Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
🇻🇳 H.E. Lê Hoài Trung, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam

🌟 There will also be a featured session on Palestine: “Palestine – From Aspiration to Reality: Prospects and Challenges for Palestinian Independence and Statehood.”

For the complete agenda and list of speakers, visit globaltownhall.id.

11/09/2026

NBT toyotabrunei has crowned its “Fuel Your Vacation Rewards” winners, with Dhyaa Farina Eiliyah Abdurrahman Layang @ Farinah Layang taking home the $8,000 grand prize.

Other top winners were Yayah Amjah ($5,000), Pondok Sari Wangi Seafood Restaurant Sdn Bhd ($3,000), Hainoorrahman Hj Mohd Isa ($1,500) and Rozianah Hj Abdul Karim ($1,000).

The rewards continue this September with the “Rising with Raize” Campaign, offering up to $2,000 in shopping vouchers, plus “Fantastic 4 Deals” with up to $2,500 in treats on selected Fortuner, Vios, Veloz and Rush models.

Visit your nearest toyotabrunei showroom and find out more about this month’s offers.

02/09/2026

The sun rises above the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque as a thick haze blankets Brunei's capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Smoke from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan have carried over to Brunei and Sarawak, pushing air quality across Borneo to dangerous levels.

📸: Rudolf Portillo Photography | Videography

02/09/2026

Schools will close for the next two days and implement home-based learning after air quality plummeted yesterday.

Brunei-Muara and Belait recorded PSI levels of 219 and 211 respectively, while Temburong and Tutong both saw readings in the 160s.

JASTRe Brunei announced yesterday that it has enhanced air quality monitoring to incorporate PM2.5 concentrations into its Pollutant Standard Index (PSI) reporting.

These small particles can pe*****te deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular and respiratory issues.

PSI readings between 200 and 300 are classified as "very unhealthy." The public is advised to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, while those with existing heart or respiratory conditions should avoid all outdoor activity.

When PSI readings cross the 300 mark, air quality enters "hazardous" territory. Smoke from regional forest and peatland fires has already pushed air quality across Borneo to dangerous levels, with several areas in Sarawak and Kalimantan seeing PSI readings exceed 400.

31/08/2026

Haze blanketed the capital this morning, with PSI levels in Brunei-Muara reaching 94.

The transboundary haze is expected to persist into September, as forest fires rage across Central and West Kalimantan, with southwesterly winds blowing smoke into Brunei and West Malaysia.

Brunei is also experiencing an unseasonably hot and dry weather, with El Niño exacerbating conditions.

📸: Rudolf Portillo Photography | Videography

30/08/2026

Air quality in Brunei has worsened over the past week as hotspot activity surges across Borneo.

The highest PSI reading yesterday was recorded in Brunei-Muara (73), while the lowest was in Belait (50). Both fall within the moderate air quality range of 50–100 — a significant increase from a week ago, when readings were in the 20–30 range.

The health ministry said moderate PSI levels can cause coughing, eye irritation and runny noses, and advised those with asthma or heart and lung conditions to reduce outdoor activities.

The worsening air quality comes as forest fires intensify across Borneo. On Aug 29, satellite imagery detected 1,180 hotspots, with most located in Central and West Kalimantan.

Southeast Asia is facing a longer, hotter and drier season this year, fuelled by a more intense El Niño climate event.

Brunei experienced 20 days of excessive heat in August, with the highest temperature of 38.2°C recorded in Labi. Rainfall is also 45% below the typical monthly average for August, according to the Meteorological Department.

Weather conditions are forecast to remain hot and dry over the next week, with transboundary haze expected to persist.

21/08/2026

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan earlier this evening ahead of the 27th Annual Leaders' Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Upon arrival, the PM and his delegation were welcomed by HRH Prince Abdul Mateen, Brunei's foreign minister.

Dato Seri Anwar will meet HM the Sultan tomorrow to review the progress of ongoing bilateral cooperation, address outstanding issues, and exchange views on regional and international issues.

Both leaders are also expected to witness the signing of a bilateral instrument.

📸: Information Department

12/08/2026

Brunei is currently experiencing hazy conditions as smoke from devastating wildfires in Kalimantan is carried across Borneo by southwesterly winds.

The haze has blanketed parts of the island, with the air pollution index (PSI) reaching unhealthy levels in some areas.

In Brunei, PSI levels have remained good to moderate over the past week. However, authorities warn that moderate levels (50–100) can cause minor symptoms such as coughing, eye irritation and a runny nose.

If conditions worsen, people with asthma, heart or lung conditions, children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with dust allergies are advised to reduce outdoor physical activity.

Southeast Asia is also facing a longer, hotter and drier season this year, fuelled by a more intense El Niño climate event.

Brunei can expect drier and warmer weather ahead, with rainfall forecast to be 20–40% below normal in August and daily temperatures reaching up to 36°C.

Here are some reminders during the dry season:

🚫 Avoid open burning. The public is strongly urged to refrain from open burning to prevent the haze from worsening.

🚒 Report fires. Call 995 immediately to report bush or forest fires.

🌤️ Check conditions. Follow JASTRe Brunei for the latest PSI readings and Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department for weather updates.