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🗞️ Born wicked
Toy manufacturer Mattel has apologised after mistakenly printing the web address of a p*rnographic site on the packaging of its newly launched “Wicked” dolls for children.
Pick & Scroll News
November 13, 2024
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Good morning. Toy manufacturer Mattel has apologised after mistakenly printing the web address of a p*rnographic site on the packaging of its newly launched “Wicked” dolls for children.
Enjoy the headlines and our child-friendly links below.
All the headlines and more below...
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AUSTRALIAN NEWS
Migration at record highs as political pressure builds
Australia's net migration has reached historical highs due to surges in overseas students, backpackers and New Zealand citizens, challenging government efforts to limit it to 260,000 in FY25. LINK
Consumer confidence in Australia has reached a 2½-year high with a 5.3% increase in November, as optimism about the end of interest rate hikes grows. LINK
House prices are declining in 40% of Sydney suburbs and 76.3% of Melbourne suburbs, reflecting widespread market downturns. LINK
NSW Police officers are set to receive their largest pay rise in 30 years, with potential increases of up to 39% for non-commissioned officers over the next four years. LINK
The proposal to ban social media for under-16s in Canberra undermines parental authority, suggesting digital literacy investment as an alternative solution. LINK
Airline passenger revenue has increased by 13.3% since Rex's voluntary administration, as Qantas and Virgin now dominate 98% of the market without additional flights, driving up demand and fares. LINK
Australian business sentiment reached its highest level in nearly 2 years in October, with the NAB survey indicating improvements in sales. LINK
One third of merchants are violating surcharge regulations by improperly disclosing fees. LINK
GLOBAL NEWS
Hybrid working much more likely if staff have a degree
Workers with degrees in Britain are 10 times more likely to engage in hybrid working arrangements than those without qualifications. LINK
Australia is nearing a crucial agreement with ANZ Group to prevent the closure of the bank's branches across the Pacific, aiding regional stability amid competition with China. LINK
Bitcoin has reached US$90,000 for the first time. LINK
COMPANY NEWS
LJ Hooker branch used AI to generate real estate listing with non-existent schools
An LJ Hooker real estate branch has admitted to mistakenly using AI to claim proximity to non-existent schools in a property listing. LINK
ASIC is suing superannuation fund Cbus for allegedly causing $20M in losses to members through delayed claims processing, while accusations include attempts to mislead regulators. LINK
ANZ reported a $6.7B full-year cash profit, but faced a 17% drop in retail banking returns due to increased competition, while customer deposits and home loans grew significantly. LINK
ANZ is leveraging AI to enhance its competitive edge by having its 7,000 software engineers use AI to write over 7% of the bank's code, while investing $2.5B in online and institutional offerings. LINK
ANZ aims to cut mortgage costs by transitioning 7 million customers to its new ANZ Plus technology platform, which is 35% cheaper to run than older systems. LINK
Qantas has denied accusations of hoarding landing slots at Sydney Airport, stating it utilises nearly 94% of its allocated slots. LINK
Coles chairman James Graham has criticised the politicisation of cost-of-living issues at the company's AGM. LINK
Nestlé's KitKat has signed its first global sponsorship deal with Formula 1 to enhance its global presence and attract younger consumers. LINK
Aristocrat Leisure has sold its mobile gaming business Plarium Global to Swedish company Modern Times Group for $1.2B. LINK
Airwallex is giving away $84M in shares through the Pledge 1% program to support future entrepreneurs. LINK
NIB Holdings has reported an expected first-half operating loss of $10M due to extraordinary growth in New Zealand claims. LINK
Lifestyle Communities has reported a rise in cancellations following negative media reports, despite achieving 92 new home settlements. LINK
Aldi is unable to display most prices online due to outdated IT systems but is planning an IT transformation. LINK
FTX is suing Binance and former CEO Changpeng Zhao, alleging the fraudulent transfer of $1.8B during the sale of Binance's stake in FTX. LINK
CHART OF THE DAY
Who’s vulnerable to Trump’s across-board tariffs?
ONE MORE SCROLL
Editor’s Pick: Microplastics may impact weather and climate.
Draft Pick: NRL rule change to help reverse concussion trends.
Odd Pick: Hotel in Philippines was awarded a Guinness World Record for the largest building in the shape of a chicken.
BRAINTEASER
Pants on fire
Four friends are standing together.
Aaron says: “Only one of us is saying something false.”
Bridget says: “Exactly two of us are saying something false.”
Caitlin says: “Exactly three of us are saying something false.”
David says: “Exactly four of us are saying something false.”
Which one of the friends must be telling the truth?
A) Aaron
B) Bridget
C) Caitlin
D) David
Answer below
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