Wildlife Conservation: NSW billionaire Mike Gregg and wife Sue donate $10m to protect 7,000 hectares near Port Macquarie, linking properties into a bigger wildlife refuge for koalas and other threatened species. Public Health & Science: CSIRO, University of Melbourne and RMIT unveil a working quantum battery prototype that could make charging far faster if it scales. Biosecurity: Australia seizes 100,000 illegal exotic cockroaches worth about $200,000 in NSW, warning pet traders and breeders about serious penalties. Cancer Loss: Melanoma pioneer Richard Scolyer dies aged 59 after a long battle with glioblastoma, including a world-first experimental treatment using melanoma immunotherapy. Housing Pressure: Sydney first-home buyers report prices still near $1m even as the market cools, with broken-condition flats and investor pullback blamed on tax changes. Community & Culture: Hornsby’s new bushland park reclaims an old quarry atop an ancient volcano, blending nature and heritage as housing grows nearby. Sports: Cricket Victoria seeks trademark approval for “Melbourne Rangers” as part of the BBL merger renaming process. Honours: King’s Birthday Honours 2026 recognise 949 Australians, including Tasmanian ex-premier Will Hodgman and anti-family-violence campaigner Natasha Stott Despoja. Justice & Governance: High Court justice Robert Beech-Jones warns against US-style judge “stacking” and flags a new front in Australia’s culture wars. Childcare: New data shows Greater Sydney has most of the country’s worst childcare centres. Mail Complaints: Australia Post faces thousands of complaints over delays, lost parcels and “attempted delivery” issues.