KIIS FM, Jamaica, and Atlassian

Australian News

• Inefficient messaging on platforms like Slack and Teams costs knowledge workers 166 hours annually, underscoring the need for efficient communication tools.

• Australia's Reserve Bank reports August's average variable home loan rate at a decade-high of 5.99%, due to reduced bank discounts targeting new borrowers.

• Australian tourism receives a lift with inbound travel nearing pre-Covid levels, boosted by more visitors from the US, New Zealand and China, following China's eased travel regulations.

• Melbourne and Sydney inner property markets see a decline in investors due to weak capital growth and elevated holding costs; Melbourne's investor-owned listings reach 60% in the September quarter.

• A majority of Australia's voters rejected the proposal to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution; ACT being the sole jurisdiction in favour.

• Australian fuel prices surpass $2/Litre for 7 consecutive weeks, a spike since the Ukraine conflict commenced.

• Over 1,300 representatives to converge at Brisbane's 3-day National Housing Conference, aiming to address housing challenges.

• Between 2013-2022, 163 young workers aged under 25 died due to work-related injuries in Australia; most deaths involved men and were majorly caused by vehicle incidents.

Global News

• Jamaica mulls over severing its ties with the British monarchy, eyeing a shift to a republic status.

• Singapore battles rising sea levels to safeguard $80B in real estate, as a third of the nation lies within 5 metres above sea level, risking substantial financial damages.

• China's consumer inflation remains stable in September, while producer prices persistently decline.

• Argentina discloses a 12.7% inflation rise in September, leading to a staggering 138% annual rate.

• A 6.5 magnitude earthquake hits western Afghanistan, resulting in 1 death and 35 injuries, with multiple recent quakes causing widespread destruction and approximately 1,000 fatalities.

• US reports North Korea's shipment of 1,000 containers filled with equipment and munitions to Russia for the Ukraine war.

Company News

• Uber predicts 85% price surges under Labor’s gig economy regulations, potentially reducing driver trips by 140M and impacting app usage in regional areas.

• 99 Bikes owner Pedal Group faces a downturn since the Covid-induced biking frenzy peak, feeling the pinch from a bicycle surplus as bike demand drops.

• Microsoft successfully completes the acquisition of Activision Blizzard after lengthy hold-ups.

• Ferrari initiates cryptocurrency payments for its luxury cars in the US, planning a Europe extension due to high-end customer requests.

• ANZ found guilty of non-disclosure of a $790M gap during its 2015 $2.5B fundraising, violating continuous disclosure obligations.

• PwC stands accused of misleading the Senate over its simultaneous plans of selling its consultancy branch while advocating against division.

• Atlassian seals its largest-ever deal, acquiring video-messaging startup Loom for $US975M, investing in remote work trends.

• Canva informally advises emerging startups on hiring in Manila, contrasting tech industry appeals for more Australian roles.

• Canon unveils a vital tool aimed at producing cutting-edge semiconductors.

• Pfizer revises its annual revenue projection downwards by 13% and plans to cut US$3.5B in jobs and expenses due to subpar COVID-19 vaccine sales.

Other Picks

• NBA champion Matthew Dellavedova pivots investments towards tech startups and cryptocurrencies, wary of central banks' fiscal policies.

• New Zealand's rugby team outplays Ireland, winning 28-24 in the World Cup quarter-final.

• NASA discloses water and carbon-rich samples from the ancient asteroid Bennu, reinforcing theories of extraterrestrial life origins on Earth.

• Kyle and Jackie O secure a $200M KIIS FM contract, expanding to Melbourne.

• Australian studies bring attention to a Dutch additive to cattle that has potential to dramatically cut methane emissions.

• New mango varieties from a 25-year-old National Mango Breeding Program, has hit supermarket shelves.

• NSW Farmers Association data exposes static apple prices over 2 decades, pushing producers out and spotlighting profitability issues; Chinese apple imports soar as Australian exports diminish.

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