Homegrown food entrepreneurship: A growing number of Australians are running micro food businesses from home kitchens, selling niche cultural treats like Croatian-style biscuits via Instagram—driven by nostalgia, convenience and community demand. EVs as backup power: New Zealand’s Auckland trial will test two-way EV chargers that can feed stored power back to homes during peak demand or outages, potentially cutting bills and reducing reliance on separate home batteries. Wildlife smuggling crackdown: Authorities warn organised black-market reptile trade is being fuelled by international students targeted via social media, after record interceptions and recent charges over attempted exports. AI regulation debate: A new US “light-touch” AI accord signed by Trump and tech leaders leans on company self-controls plus external auditing, while critics point to repeated hacks of government systems. PFAS remediation partnership: Carus is partnering with Australian firm RemBind to expand PFAS (“forever chemicals”) soil and groundwater remediation tools across the US. Consumer finance & retail investing: Income-focused investors are weighing ASX dividend plays IAG vs Coles, with attention on dividend yields and payout/franking differences. Local business boost: WA’s Land Forces defence expo in Perth is expected to bring tens of millions to hotels, restaurants and small businesses. Online gaming oversight: A US proposal would require monthly activity statements for licensed online gaming operators, mirroring Australia’s earlier approach.