Health Costs Pressure: Australians are paying far more for specialist care, with new federal analysis showing out-of-pocket specialist fees rising sharply over the past decade, fuelling cost-of-living anger. Climate & Energy: A new report urges Australia to phase out fossil fuels fast—closing coal by 2034 and cutting oil and gas demand—arguing it’s the clearest path to meet 1.5°C goals. Water Security (NSW): Dubbo has switched on a $7.8m advanced wastewater plant that can turn hard-to-treat sewage pollutants into recycled water, boosting regional resilience. Justice & Rights: The Commonwealth Ombudsman flags major concerns with how the AFP handles complaints, including categorisation, conflicts of interest and force-related reviews. Legal Legacy: Australia mourns Mary Gaudron, the first woman appointed to the High Court, who has died aged 83. Politics & Defence: Crossbench MPs plan a bill to block Australian defence goods being used in potential human-rights breaches, including in the F-35 supply chain. Environment (NSW): After a decade of predator-proof fencing, 13 native species have returned to NSW reserves and are breeding again. Sports (Cricket): Zimbabwe name a 15-man ODI squad for the series in Harare, with Sikandar Raza set to captain after Richard Ngarava’s injury. International (Travel): Australians are flocking back to bucket-list cruising, with Travelmarvel restarting Nile sailings. Community Safety: A Gold Coast garbage truck driver avoided disaster after a vape sparked in recycling, with firefighters investigating the cause. Human Interest: A Queensland woman’s death after falling 80m at Bali’s Kelingking Beach has renewed calls for safer tourism routes.