AFLW Venue Debate: AFLW boss Laura Kane says the inaugural Australia-Ireland women’s international at North Sydney Oval (under 10,000 capacity) is driven by fan data, defending the sellout and promising bigger grounds when demand supports it. Test Selection Pressure: Scott Boland is pushing for a spot in Australia’s “big three” quicks for the first Test vs Bangladesh, with a call looming between Boland and Josh Hazlewood as Darwin conditions likely demand a frontline spinner. Rugby Safety Push: Queensland Reds boss Scott Cordingley urges World Rugby to outlaw and explicitly document the hip-drop as a dangerous, potentially career-ending tackle after another under-20s injury. NT Child Protection Overhaul: A damning interim review into Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death says risk wasn’t identified and acted on quickly enough despite domestic violence indicators, with NT child protection laws under renewed scrutiny. Pine Gap Protests: Arrernte Traditional Custodians led a major protest at the Pine Gap base, calling for the spy facility to shut down. Illegal Dumping Case: A Melbourne-area man received a record $60,000 fine for using his property as an illegal waste dump, with authorities now targeting the trucking companies involved. Climate Diplomacy: Australia joined Pacific ministers in Sydney for Talanoa talks ahead of COP31, including a push for better access to trusted climate information. Sports & Culture: beIN reports record World Cup viewership for Arab matches, while a new study highlights how Mithaka people in Queensland harvested channel millet for thousands of years.