Public Housing Rights: A UN special rapporteur has criticised Victoria’s plan to bulldoze 44 public housing towers, warning the move may breach the right to adequate housing and faulting limited consultation and relocations away from communities. Fire Weather Watch: Summer heat is arriving early, with a total fire ban in place for the greater Sydney region as Brisbane and Sydney face potentially record early-September temperatures. Pacific Climate Push: Pacific Islands Forum leaders in Palau say climate change is the biggest threat to lives and safety, backing COP31 priorities and calling for faster action and climate finance. Markets & Rates: The ASX 200 ended a volatile week down nearly 1% as Middle East tensions, rising bond yields and renewed expectations of an RBA rate hike rattled investors. Nepal Rescue & Flood Toll: An Australian rescue expert praised Nepal’s tunnel breakthrough after two workers were freed after nine days, as the disaster death toll rises and hundreds remain missing. Security & Defence: The US says it will “accelerate force posture” initiatives at Australian bases, signalling expanded troop and asset stationing. Undersea Cable Risk: A new report highlights how Australia’s undersea internet cables could be targeted in global conflict.