• Brunei Darussalam: Sago production, from a cottage industry to an enterprise
• Brunei: Government is introducing solar as part of alternative energy plan
• Heart of Borneo programme presented to the Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting

• Brunei embraces strict Islamic laws

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Positive Trends
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Brunei Darussalam: Sago production, from a cottage industry to an enterprise
6 January 2013 - Before the discovery of oil, cottage industry was one of the main economic generators in Brunei Darussalam. The cottage industry involving those residing at the famous water village or fondly known as Kampong Ayer and on land comprised of cloth weaving; brass work; silverwork; songkok-making; and many more. One that continues to strive to this day is production of sago. With the assistance and guidance from the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to ensure its sustainability, the cottage industry remains intact with great efforts to preserve it as part of the culture and tradition of Brunei and at the same time, develop it into one of the contributors to the local economy. (more)

Brunei: Government is introducing solar as part of alternative energy plan
14 August 2008 - Mitsubishi Corp, Japan's biggest trading company, said on Thursday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Brueni's Energy Ministry to build and operate a test solar power plant in the western part of the Sultanate in a three-year project starting in 2010. The tiny but wealthy nation on Borneo island is aiming to introduce renewable power sources to diversify its primary energy supply, with hurdles yet to be cleared including the grid system and know-how on installation and maintenance. (more)

Heart of Borneo programme presented to the Asean-EU Ministerial Meeting
17 March 2007 - The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, presented the Heart of Borneo rainforest preservation programme to other leaders at the 16th Asean-European Union Ministerial Meeting. (more)

Sponsors of National Day celebration in Brunei honoured
21 February 2007 - Brunei Darussalam, on the island of Borneo, will be soon be observing its 23rd National Day celebration. The generosity of many business in sponsoring the event was commemorated in a special ceremony in the Tutong District office. (more)

Brunei Princess awards best environment poster winners
11 January 2007 - Student winners of Brunei's Environment Poster Competition on 'What a Clean Environment Means to Me' were honoured at a recent dinner. Her Royal Highness Princess Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah awarded the winning prizes. (more)

More new species discovered in Borneo
19 December 2006 - Scientists have discovered at least 52 new species of animals and plants on the southeast Asian island of Borneo since 2005. Borneo is one of the most important centers of biodiversity in the world. (more)

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Flops
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Brunei embraces strict Islamic laws
30 April 2014 - Brunei on Thursday (30 April) embraced a form of Islamic Shariah criminal law that includes harsh penalties, a move slammed by international rights group as a step backward for human rights. The tiny Southeast Asian nation began phasing in a version of Shariah that allows for penalties such as amputation for theft and stoning for adultery. Most of the punishments can be applied to non-Muslims, who account for about one-third of the 440,000 people in the oil-rich country. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has introduced the law as a 'great achievement' for Brunei. (more)