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- Medicare Gender Bias, AI-Powered Google Search, and Lab-Grown Meat
Medicare Gender Bias, AI-Powered Google Search, and Lab-Grown Meat
Spotify prices are going up, Uber sued for using spyware, and Google AI might get a paywall.
Pick & Scroll News
April 05, 2024
One Read, All Perspectives
Australian News
To achieve the national cabinet's target of 1.2 million new dwellings, Australia needs to approve approximately 80,000 additional homes annually. LINK
Australia witnessed a near-record sale of full battery electric vehicles in March, yet their market share shows signs of plateauing, indicating a slow shift towards mass adoption. LINK
Australian Tax Office ramps up warnings as small businesses fall behind on $50 billion in tax and superannuation debts. LINK
Australian households are allocating up to 45% of their income to taxes, with government tax revenue poised to reach a 23-year high. LINK
Australian household spending hits a 5-month peak in February, driven by rising costs of transportation and essentials amid persistent living cost pressures. LINK
A surge in household bank deposits amid rising interest rates and inflation suggests an expanding divide between economic classes. LINK
Top business schools, including the Wharton School, are integrating AI into their curricula, preparing students to leverage artificial intelligence in their future careers. LINK
Businesses have collected billions in GST and income tax from customers and employees but have not yet transferred these funds to the ATO, which is now seeking to recover over $50 billion in debts. LINK
Australia's first lab-grown meat, a quail cell-based parfait, hits the market in Singapore, marking a significant milestone in cell-cultured meat production and global food innovation. LINK
Gender bias in Medicare rebates leads to women paying more for certain medical procedures, prompting calls for a gender-focused review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule. LINK
Global News
India faces a rise in youth unemployment as the IT sector sees a decline in white-collar jobs, impacted by automation and artificial intelligence advancements. LINK
Economic losses due to natural disasters in the Asia Pacific region hit $65 billion in 2023, with floods being the most costly threat for the 4th consecutive year. LINK
A major earthquake in Taiwan resulted in 9 fatalities, over 1,000 injuries, and significant structural damage, marking the strongest earthquake the island has experienced in 25 years. LINK
NASA was tasked by the White House to establish a unified time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies by 2026, aiming to set international norms for space exploration and celestial activities. LINK
Company News
Suncorp finalises the sale of its New Zealand life insurance business for NZ$410 million to Resolution Life, exiting the life insurance sector completely. LINK
Scentre, the operator of Westfield shopping malls, faces shareholder backlash against its remuneration report, with CEO Elliott Rusanow awarded almost $5.5 million for 2023. LINK
Uber defends its use of spyware to gather information from competitor GoCatch, arguing it was not akin to burglary due to the rival's inadequate security measures. LINK
Transurban claims no involvement in the initial design of Sydney’s Rozelle Interchange, amid complaints of traffic congestion and delays following its opening. LINK
Spotify announces plans to increase its service prices in several key markets, including the UK and Australia, as part of its strategy to achieve long-term profitability. LINK
Google is exploring the introduction of premium AI-powered search features, potentially adding a paywall to its core product for the first time to address challenges posed by generative AI technologies. LINK
Apple is looking into personal robotics, investigating mobile robots for home use and advanced tabletop devices. LINK
Facebook revamps its mobile video player with a vertical format across all video content, mirroring the popular design of TikTok and Reels. LINK
Microsoft announces the end of support for Windows 10 by October 14, 2025 and introduces a yearly fee for Extended Security Updates to maintain system security. LINK
Amazon conducts layoffs within its cloud computing unit, AWS, affecting sales and marketing roles amid slowing sales growth alongside a recent decision to remove cashierless checkout technology from its US Fresh stores. LINK
Samsung Electronics is projected to post a significant increase in Q1 profit due to rising semiconductor prices, indicating recovery from a chip downturn. LINK
Coach sues Gap for trademark infringement, alleging illegal sales of T-shirts with the "Coach" brand. LINK
BlackBerry surprises with a profit in Q4, buoyed by increased demand for its cybersecurity services amid a rise in online crimes. LINK
Apple resolves service outages affecting the App Store, Apple TV+, Apple Music, and other services, impacting users across multiple regions. LINK
WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, recovers from an hours-long global outage, with the downtime affecting thousands of users and also impacting Instagram services. LINK
Paramount Global enters exclusive merger talks with Skydance Media, prioritising the independent studio over a $26 billion offer from Apollo Global Management. LINK
Levi Strauss raises its annual profit forecast following cost-saving measures and reduced discounts, signalling confidence in its financial outlook amid strategic adjustments. LINK
This Week’s Top Picks
In Melbourne, four key suburbs targeted for increased housing density haven't seen a major project in five years. LINK
The personal computing and console gaming market is expected to grow at a slower pace through 2026, with gamers playing fewer hours than before the pandemic. LINK
The most common Australian is currently aged 32, significantly shaping housing market demands. LINK
Half of Australian musicians earned less than $6,000 last financial year, pushing many to consider leaving the industry. LINK
The construction industry faces a 32% increase in insolvencies this year due to a "tsunami of impossible economic conditions". LINK
Apartment values are outpacing house prices in 50% of suburbs, reflecting worsening affordability for houses and a tight supply in high-density housing. LINK
The fitness industry proposes making corporate gym memberships tax-deductible to encourage exercise, despite it being a challenging sell to the Treasury. LINK
Nearly one in three new jobs created last year was related to the NDIS, masking the slowdown in other sectors such as construction and retail. LINK
Millions of Australians have lowered their credit card limits to cope, with the cost-of-living crisis seeing spending reaching a record high of $35.5 billion in January 2024. LINK
14,000 (15.9%) homes bought about three years ago were sold in the December quarter, with 6.5% of these sales incurring losses on average of $30,000. LINK
National home prices reach a new record, driven by population growth, a tight rental market, and low construction rates. LINK
AI technology filters out women with career breaks, risking a wider gender pay gap, according to Nuix's CTO. LINK
A study links long-term use of certain contraceptive hormones to an increased risk of brain tumours, urging caution over their prolonged usage. LINK
Chocolate prices continue their rise due to increased cocoa and transport costs, with sustainability issues in Africa exacerbating the situation. LINK