Coal & water conflict: Peabody has started NSW approvals to expand the Metropolitan coalmine under Sydney’s water catchment, proposing 22 new underground longwall tunnels to 2044—drawing fresh warnings about drinking-water impacts even as the Mining and Energy Union backs jobs and output. Plastic recycling backslide: Australia’s federal government has shelved a 2023 plan for national packaging standards, citing cost-of-living pressure, and will instead work with states on “opportunities to improve” rules. Bird flu in urban wildlife: H5 bird flu has spread into mainland foxes, including metropolitan Adelaide, prompting calls for a major rethink of fox control in cities where high densities could move infected carcasses around. El Niño pressure on food bills: Australia’s worst-case El Niño outlook is being linked to higher supermarket prices, adding to cost-of-living strain and raising questions for the RBA. Nepal floods and climate links: Nepal marks mourning as the death toll climbs to 1,356 and nearly 5,000 remain missing after glacial floods; Australia is among those sending disaster support, while climate-risk debate intensifies. Endangered moth mystery: Scientists tagged 14,000 endangered Bogong moths in the Snowy Mountains but none have been found so far, leaving migration routes uncertain. Aquaculture welfare complaint: Animals Australia is urging Tasmania’s biosecurity watchdog to investigate alleged animal welfare breaches in Atlantic salmon farming amid disease and mass mortality claims.