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🗞️ Coffee surfing
The lengths to which employees will go to avoid the office are always surprising, but a recent situation in China goes beyond “coffee surfing.”
Pick & Scroll News
December 17, 2025
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Good morning. The lengths to which employees will go to avoid the office are always surprising, but a recent situation in China goes beyond “coffee surfing.”
Government officials were allegedly using printed paper masks of their colleagues to successfully bypass facial recognition systems designed for time-and-attendance tracking.
It really doesn't say much for the quality of the facial recognition!
All the headlines and more below...
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
Government forces insurers to pay Bondi attack claims, overruling terror exclusions
The Fed government activated Australia’s terrorism insurance pool for the first time in over 10 years to ensure Bondi attack claims are paid despite terrorism exclusions. LINK
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner is reviewing social media clips of the Bondi attacks while no takedown orders have been issued as posts don't meet legal thresholds. LINK
Rising grocery costs are impacting Australians with limited shopping access, pushing many to choose cheaper or alternative food options. LINK
The $3B Central Place Sydney tech hub was scrapped by developers due to weak tenant demand as the site shifts toward co-living accommodation. LINK
Sydney Airbnb listings dropped 48.3% from 2019 levels as regional areas like the Whitsundays and Barossa grew 27% on average while cities shifted towards long-term rental markets. LINK
Australian property investment appears less lucrative as high reinvestment and upkeep costs nearly match a home’s full value every 25 to 40 years. LINK
WA Premier Roger Cook gained new fast-track powers through the State Development Act’s passage, enabling rapid approval for strategic projects while oversight concerns grow. LINK
Queensland rejected a proposal to give AEMO emergency gas reserve powers as VIC and NSW seek more federal aid to prevent energy shortfalls. LINK
COMPANY NEWS
HelloFresh, Youfoodz accused of wrongfully charging 100K customers
HelloFresh and Youfoodz face legal action from the ACCC for wrongfully charging over 100,000 Australians after misleading subscription cancellation terms. LINK
Benalla Health was fined $230K after a 93-year-old woman died from injuries in a fall caused by a faulty chair, as WorkSafe found the aged care provider failed to ensure equipment safety. LINK
Qantas workers may soon receive payments from the airline's $120M fund as a Federal Court judge pledges to resolve the delays before Christmas. LINK
Aldi was ranked as Australia's cheapest for holiday groceries with a $72.41 basket, undercutting Woolworths, Coles and IGA, according to CHOICE. LINK
JPMorgan has launched a tokenised money-market fund named MONY on Ethereum, offering blockchain yields for high-net-worth investors with a US$1M minimum. LINK
AusPayNet scrapped its 2030 retirement plan for the BECS payments system as 90% of retail A2A payments still relied on the platform in July 2025. LINK
Ford recorded a $29B write-down, abandoning all-electric vehicle plans as it shifted to hybrids amid declining global and Australian EV demand. LINK
Employment Hero narrowed its yearly loss to $35.2M as it grew revenue by 47% to $243.5M, targeting profitability amid slowing growth. LINK
ONE MORE SCROLL
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TRIVIA
Only 2 countries across the globe officially begin their names with the word “the.” Can you name them?
Answers below
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