Qantas' bumper profits, Woolworths' back pay ruling, Coles' inflation defense, Optus' outage probe, Flight Centre's resilient demand, gambling industry performance, the influence of the Big Four consultants, bureaucratic remuneration transparency, and an alleged Australian gas scam in Japan dominate economic news.

• Flying high: bumper Qantas profit despite fee hikes — Michael West -
• Optus to outline changes in triple-zero outage probe — Michael West -
• The Big Four and the Death of Reform | The West Report — Michael West -

• Coles hits back, blames inflation for prices going up — Michael West -
• Fat Cat bureaucrats. Rem Tribunal out of touch, out of sight — Michael West -
• Demand for travel remains resilient: Flight Centre — Michael West -
• Australian gas not keeping the lights on in Japan. What’s the scam? — Michael West -
• Punters take some skin off but gambling giant wagers on — Michael West -
• Court ruling on back pay dents Woolworths profit — Michael West -

Concerns are raised over Australian families in Israel and Lebanon, the rhetoric around ISIS brides, Australia's military subjugation, inflation's shadow on the federal budget, the absence of unions in Gaza protests, Australia's complicity in the Palestine conflict, the potential for an Australia-Indonesia green economic partnership, and the ongoing debate for Australia to become a republic.

• Australian families urged to leave Israel, Lebanon — Michael West -
• The rhetoric ramping up over ISIS brides has nothing to do with the women and children themselves — Crikey -
• Colonial cringe runs deep: Australia's military subjugation — Independent Australia -

• Inflation woes to cast shadow over next federal budget — Michael West -
• From Vietnam war to Gaza genocide. Where have all the unions gone? — Michael West -
• The olive branch of hypocrisy: Herzog’s tree and Australia's complicity — Independent Australia -
• The Australia-Indonesia green economic opportunity — Independent Australia -
• The case for Australia ditching the royals and becoming a republic is now a matter of integrity — Crikey -

Compact homes are explored as a solution for cheaper city living, while young women are giving up on home ownership due to rising costs, and a housing tax break is criticized by a top economist.

• Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living — Michael West -
• Young women giving up on home ownership as costs rise — Michael West -
• ‘Dumbest option’: top economist slams housing tax break — Michael West -

Nvidia continues stellar growth, WiseTech plans to cut coders due to AI, and data centers are proposed as energy grid 'shock absorbers', highlighting significant shifts in the tech sector.

• Nvidia delivers another quarter of stellar growth — Michael West -
• Data centres spruiked as energy grid ‘shock absorbers’ — Michael West -
• AI writing on the wall as WiseTech to cut 2000 coders — Michael West -

Donald Trump's recent State of the Union address is analyzed as a "State of Unreality," following earlier discussion of his stalling agenda.

• Donald Trump’s 108-minute State of Unreality — Crikey -
• Ahead of the State of the Union, Donald Trump’s stalling agenda may be the least of his problems — Crikey -

The ongoing impact of forced adoption is highlighted, emphasizing that it remains an unsettled part of Australian history.

• After the Apology: Why forced adoption Is not settled history — Independent Australia -