High Court Crypto Ruling: Australia’s High Court backed ASIC in the Block Earner case, saying the fixed-yield crypto product required an Australian financial services licence, capping a four-year fight and setting a precedent for digital asset regulation. Energy Bills Clash: Energy Minister Chris Bowen pushed back on a proposed shift to fixed network charges that could hit battery owners hard, arguing reforms must lower costs for everyone, not just change who pays. Household Tech & Retail: Kmart launched a standalone “K Home” store in Melbourne to take on homeware rivals, while Aldi rolled out blind-box grocery bundles and giveaways to drive foot traffic. Aviation for Aussies: Qantas confirmed Sydney–London nonstop flights as the first Project Sunrise route, with tickets opening in Feb 2027 and flights starting Oct 2027. Food & Consumer Trends: Mondelez’s State of Snacking report says snacking is increasingly replacing meals in Australia (44% of snackers), reinforcing demand for snack-led brands. Egg Industry Milestone: Australia’s first commercial in-ovo sexed chicks were delivered, aiming to improve egg production efficiency and animal welfare. Payments/Fintech: Paymentology teamed with Kobble to speed up embedded finance launches in Australia, targeting card programmes and branded accounts. LNG Supply Disruption Eases: Unions reached a deal with Inpex to end Ichthys LNG strikes, with cargo loading restarting after missed loadings.