UK Budget Push: The British Chambers of Commerce urged Chancellor John Healey to scrap the state pension “triple lock” for inflation-linked rises, saying it could free about £3.3bn over two years to back youth jobs, alongside calls for lower energy costs, business rates relief and more export support. Markets & Rates: Asian stocks climbed on a strong US jobs backdrop and higher oil, while investors weighed Fed rate timing; in New Zealand, the NZX 50 slipped as rate-sensitive landlords weighed and oil stayed elevated. Energy & Geopolitics: Australia’s ASX 200 edged up as energy gains offset tech weakness, with crude rising on renewed Iran-linked tanker attacks and Hormuz risk. UK Housing: Lloyds reported the first annual fall in UK house prices since late 2023, pointing to higher borrowing costs and uncertainty keeping buyers and sellers on the sidelines. Local Business Red Tape: Quezon City waived barangay clearance fees for “nano” enterprises and rolled out secure electronic payments across 142 barangays to cut queues and paperwork. Trade & Investment Deals: Lao chili producers secured letters of interest with verified buyers at an FAO-backed matching event in Vientiane, while Georgia said it will invest $700m in the Anaklia deep-sea port, targeting operations in 2029. Corporate Moves: Brazil’s Anatel approved Metodo’s conditional acquisition of Oi’s fixed telephony assets, with service obligations running to 2028. Funding Watch: India’s Lickicious raised Rs 19 crore to expand pet nutrition manufacturing and R&D, and Malaysia saw RM11.1bn of foreign inflows into government bonds in August.