Middle East shocks markets: Oil jumped and US stocks slipped after US strikes hit Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, lifting Brent back above US$90 and pushing bond yields higher. Pacific infrastructure & geopolitics: The US will fund a US$60m deep-sea port at Penrhyn in the Cook Islands, with New Zealand managing the build and contributing US$10m, as Pacific influence battles intensify. Public sector pay fight: The PSA says the Government should settle collective bargaining with 10,000 public servants rather than attacking workers planning a 9 September strike. Telecom competition: One NZ has proposed combining radio access networks with 2degrees in a joint wholesale company (RANCo), aiming for efficiency while keeping retail competition. Auckland transport planning: Auckland Transport released options to replace western rail level crossings between Kingsland and Mount Albert to support more frequent City Rail Link services. Housing & construction pressures: Greater Wellington updated flood protection costs for Te Awa Kairangi to $535.4m, while diesel rebound is lifting residential construction costs. Business stress signals: Centrix data shows about 3,000 hospitality businesses stopped trading in a year, with liquidations up sharply. Local dealmaking: Heartland’s proposed TSB acquisition would expand reverse-mortgage scale, with shareholders to vote 30 September. Consumer & tech: Epson launched an A3 desktop dye-sublimation printer for small businesses, and GeoMe rolled out curbside pickup for independent retailers across Australia and New Zealand.