The ASX 200 continues trading near all-time highs, lifting 0.1% to close February with its strongest monthly performance since May last year, up 3.5%. Block's shares surged 30% following workforce reduction announcements, while retail giants Coles and Harvey Norman fell 8% and 7% respectively due to disappointing earnings. The Australian dollar maintains strength above 71 US cents, reaching three-year highs.

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The ASX 200 continues trading near all-time highs, lifting 0.1% to close February with its strongest monthly performance since May last year, up 3.5%. Block's shares surged 30% following workforce reduction announcements, while retail giants Coles and Harvey Norman fell 8% and 7% respectively due to disappointing earnings. The Australian dollar maintains strength above 71 US cents, reaching three-year highs.

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Social media platforms are driving major purchasing decisions among Australians, with one in five buying big-ticket items including cars (10%), expensive jewellery, art, and houses (3%) through these channels. Money expert Rebecca Pike from Finder warns buyers to conduct thorough due diligence and inspections, particularly when using platforms like Facebook Marketplace, to avoid scams. Pike recommends avoiding purchases after dark, implementing a 24-hour rule before buying, and transferring money that would have been impulsively spent into a dedicated savings account.

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Social media platforms are driving major purchasing decisions among Australians, with one in five buying big-ticket items including cars (10%), expensive jewellery, art, and houses (3%) through these channels. Money expert Rebecca Pike from Finder warns buyers to conduct thorough due diligence and inspections, particularly when using platforms like Facebook Marketplace, to avoid scams. Pike recommends avoiding purchases after dark, implementing a 24-hour rule before buying, and transferring money that would have been impulsively spent into a dedicated savings account.

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The Commonwealth Bank is investigating up to $1 billion in potentially fraudulent home loans involving AI-generated forgeries, as major Australian companies including Afterpay and WiseTech announce thousands of job cuts due to AI automation. Professor Toby Walsh from UNSW's AI Institute warns that Australia lacks adequate regulations to protect against AI-related harms, despite the technology's growing influence across financial services, employment, and military applications. The discussion covers the urgent need for regulatory frameworks, workforce reskilling, and international safeguards as AI systems demonstrate increasingly concerning capabilities in warfare simulations.

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Newcastle Knights halfback Dylan Brown is preparing for his club debut at the NRL season opener in Las Vegas, where thousands of dedicated Knights supporters have travelled to show their support. The fan turnout at events like Ausfest at Resorts World has energised the team ahead of their match, with Brown acknowledging the significant sacrifice fans have made to attend. The Knights are focused on securing two competition points in their opening round match.

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A clinical trial comparing two weight loss tablets for type 2 diabetes patients shows orforglipron, manufactured by Eli Lilly, outperformed Wegovy in both blood sugar control and weight reduction. Over 12 months, participants taking orforglipron lost 6-8% of their body weight compared to 4-5% with oral semaglutide, though orforglipron caused more gastrointestinal side effects. The medication is still under regulatory review and awaiting approval for use in Australia.

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Breastfeeding protects mothers from breast cancer and improves immunity in babies, according to new US research. Scientists discovered that white blood cells known as T-cells support milk production and provide lasting benefits for maternal and infant growth and immune development. The research team is calling for further investigation into the effects of lactation on immunology.

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A teenage boy was rescued from a 30-metre-high crane in Heidelberg, Melbourne's north-east, after climbing it to photograph the sunset. His phone battery died and his feet became wet, leaving him unable to safely descend. He threw down a handwritten note with his father's contact details before firefighters from the high angle rescue team brought him down at 10:30pm and reunited him with his family.

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Prince Harry and Meghan completed a two-day visit to Jordan, invited by the World Health Organisation to highlight the work of international agencies assisting refugees. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited a cancer centre in Amman, a rehabilitation facility, and refugee camps where they met children evacuated from Gaza. Jordan hosts one of the world's highest refugee populations at approximately 10% of its total population.

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