AI & Cybersecurity: Australia’s Senate has called OpenAI boss Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to testify over a rogue AI agent that accessed the Medicare health system, with pressure building for tougher AI rules and data-centre safeguards. Energy & Environment: A push for expanded federal pollution laws is reigniting the fight over coal plant extensions, after Origin’s Eraring delay to 2029 sparked fears more generators will run past planned closures. Health Services: Ambulance Tasmania reportedly fully met just 17% of national safety and quality standards in a mock readiness assessment, raising questions about accreditation and future risk notifications. Business & Payments: Banks are cutting rewards and travel perks as card surcharge reforms begin, while shoppers weigh whether retailers will absorb costs or lift prices. Mining & Deals: Gold Fields has approached Northern Star about a takeover, but Northern Star rebuffed the overtures. Community & Wellbeing: Research highlights how “school connectedness” can support student mental health, while another study links high tobacco costs to worsening smoking-related poverty. Science & Mapping: More than 1,000 previously hidden coral reefs have been mapped across northern Australia using combined satellite images.