State Funeral Logistics: Hong Kong is coordinating a state funeral for Tung Chee-hwa, the city’s first chief executive under Chinese rule, with the Administration Wing saying arrangements will be announced. Markets & Energy Shock: Asian stocks slid as Brent oil pushed past US$100 amid Middle East escalation, reviving rate-hike fears and dragging sentiment across sectors. Shipping Safety: A deadly fire hit a foreign-flagged cargo ship during maintenance at Qingdao’s Beihai Shipbuilding yard, with at least 20 dead and five missing; Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang called for urgent rescue and accountability. Mainland Auto Exports: China’s passenger car exports surged past last year’s total in the first eight months, driven by EV and plug-in hybrid growth, while domestic sales kept falling. Hong Kong Customs Crackdown: Customs seized about $3.9m in suspected counterfeit goods in the “Swift Net” operation, arresting one person after strikes at courier and logistics firms. Financial Ties: HKMA, HKEX, DFSA and Nasdaq Dubai set up a strategic working group to deepen Hong Kong–Dubai market cooperation, including sustainable and Islamic finance. AI IPO Watch: DeepSeek has picked CITIC Securities to prepare a STAR Market IPO, aiming to raise fresh capital for computing and model development. Health & Regulation: Hong Kong will roll out standardised plain cigarette packs from March next year, with full enforcement by December. Construction Accountability: Buildings Department filed 259 charges over repair works linked to the Wang Fuk Court fire incident. Biotech Push: NetDragon backed HKUST’s “NetDragon Professorship in Medical Technology” to boost interdisciplinary medical research. Trade & Industry: Anjoy Foods approved a USD 74.25m Indonesia JV to expand local production, including frozen surimi and shelf-stable products.