🗞️ Good to be back

Good morning. It’s good to be back in your inbox! We're here to ensure you stay one news story ahead of your "know-it-all" colleague.

To start the year, we have some bad news for the Jessica’s out there: you’ve officially been crowned the new "Karen".

Think of Jessica as Karen’s daughter with a millennial twist, she’s quick to post a Facebook rant and tag the offending company. Feel free to forward this to your favourite Jessica in your life!


All the headlines and more below...

AUSTRALIAN & GLOBAL NEWS

Wealth inequality in Australia widens amidst cost of living crisis

• Wealth inequality widens in Australia as billionaire fortunes surge amid cost-of-living pressures. LINK

• Nearly 50% of Gen Z lawyers in Australia are using generative AI without training, posing legal risks as misuse threatens confidentiality and competence. LINK

• Australia's proposed gun reforms include capped firearm numbers and shorter licences as cooperation fears and public backlash pose challenges. LINK

• Australia’s financial advice industry remains vulnerable as conflicted pay, misleading marketing and unprotected “sophisticated” investors expose it to future scandals. LINK 

• China achieved 5% GDP growth in 2025 as record exports and Belt and Road investments offset US trade restrictions and falling demand. LINK

COMPANY NEWS

NAB grows personal banking division with 180 lenders joining from rival CBA

• NAB boosted its personal banking division by hiring 270 lenders in the last financial year as 180 of them joined from rival CBA. LINK

• Wesfarmers abandoned its rescue of Priceline’s largest franchisee Infinity Pharmacy Group, which entered receivership with over $400M in unpaid debts. LINK

• Hourglass Cosmetics is ending its exclusive Mecca deal and launching with Sephora Australia in March, while expanding online despite past legal disputes. LINK 

• WiseTech Global is investing $8.7M in the charity that backed Grok Academy over 3 years, revitalising both organisations after public scandals. LINK

• City Chic Collective reported a 0.5% drop in H1 FY26 revenue to $69.2M as a 31.4% fall in US sales was offset by 7.4% growth in Australia and New Zealand. LINK

• PolyNovo reported a 26% rise in half-year sales to $68.2M as US performance strengthened and growth in new tissue regeneration product nearly tripled. LINK

• Orthocell increased its stake to nearly 12% in Marine Biomedical, securing US distribution rights for bone regeneration tech using oyster shells. LINK

CHART OF THE DAY

The fastest growing G20 economies in 2026

ONE MORE SCROLL

Editor’s Pick: The 26 most important ideas for 2026.

Draft Pick: New England Patriot and Los Angeles Rams reach conference championship game battling tough conditions in NFL playoffs.

Odd Pick: Scientists healed a man’s rare gut disorder by giving him someone else's poop.

TOGETHER WITH

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TRIVIA

We start back with 5 general knowledge questions:

1. Human blood is red due to iron, but what colour is a lobster’s blood (which uses copper to carry oxygen)?

2. Which "sea" is actually the world's largest lake, bordering 5 different countries?

3. Which US state was an independent republic for 10 years before joining the Union?

4. The term "computer bug" was popularised when a literal insect was found stuck in a relay. What kind of insect was it?

5. Astronauts often describe the smell of outer space as smelling like what specific backyard activity?

Answers below

OUR SOCIALS

ANSWERS

1. Blue
2. Caspian Sea
3. Texas
4. Moth
5. Seared steak / Hot metal

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