Jobs & Rates: Australia’s unemployment rate edged up to 4.5% in July, with employment down 15,800 and participation slipping to 66.9%, adding pressure to the already fragile jobs outlook. Household Stress: RBA governor Michelle Bullock said rates can stay on hold only if more people lose jobs—another 100,000 in coming months—underscoring how tight the policy trade-off is. Debt Watch: Australia’s national debt has crossed $1tn for the first time, with interest costs projected to rise to $29.5bn this year and $42.2bn by decade’s end. Hospitality Credit Risk: CreditorWatch says 3,910 cafes and restaurants closed in the year to July (12% of the sector), with 10% 60+ days behind on payments. Sanctions Loopholes: A parliamentary inquiry found no prosecutions for Russia-sanctions breaches since 2022 and urged tighter rules to stop Russian profits via third countries. Property & Development: Arada is expanding into Queensland with a $1.3bn twin-tower Broadbeach project targeting ~952 homes ahead of the 2032 Games. ASX Focus: Markets look set to open higher ahead of more earnings and the next batch of labour-market interpretation.