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Let's be honest, who among us hasn't fantasised about a kid-free holiday?
Pick & Scroll News
August 06, 2025
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Good morning. Let's be honest, who among us hasn't fantasised about a kid-free holiday?
A Spanish couple took that dream a little too literally this week. Instead of booking a babysitter, they reportedly left their 10-year-old son at Barcelona Airport after discovering his passport had expired.
Unsurprisingly, their master plan went pear-shaped pretty quickly. The police got involved, the holiday was a write-off, and they were left with a whole lot of explaining to do.
Moral of the story? Stick to the tried and true babysitter, folks. It's a much safer bet.
All the headlines and more below...
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
'Heartbreaking reality': The essential products 1 in 8 Australians can't afford
1 in 8 Australians have forgone basic hygiene items due to cost of living pressures. LINK
Most Australians under 30 will retire comfortably based on superannuation projections and ASFA benchmarks. LINK
Australian household spending is 4.8% higher than June last year, as discretionary spending volumes grew due to improved consumer confidence. LINK
The $1B Waratah Super Battery has commenced operations at a former NSW coal plant to stabilise Australia's renewable energy grid. LINK
The NSW government has delayed reducing the daily gambling limit for casinos from $5,000 to $1,000 by 2 years to August 2027. LINK
NSW's first renewable energy zone cost has increased to $5.5B, raising concerns about Australia's energy transition. LINK
The ATO warns that tax return estimates may not reflect actual refunds due to prefill delays and prior obligations. LINK
Aussie motorists will pay more for petrol and diesel at the bowser from this week following another increase to the fuel excise. LINK
Australian job advertisements dropped 1% in July due to education and retail declines. LINK
Australian inflation has fallen to 2.1% annually while households struggle with elevated prices. LINK
Australia is experiencing fewer marriages, divorces and births due to economic pressures. LINK
GLOBAL NEWS
Global M&A hits US$2.6T peak year-to-date, boosted by AI and quest for growth
Global M&A deals have reached US$2.6T for the year, driven by megadeals and AI investments. LINK
COMPANY NEWS
Qantas is devaluing its Frequent Flyer points
Qantas is devaluing Frequent Flyer points by 20%, and adding 400,000 reward seats. LINK
Amazon's satellite network will replace the Sky Muster system to provide faster internet to 300,000 remote Australian users by FY26. LINK
HSBC has launched an innovation banking division in Australia to service startups with venture debt offerings. LINK
CBA flagged $130M in second-half provisions for Bankwest restructuring and customer remediation. LINK
Microsoft reached a US$4T valuation with a 25% profit surge while reducing its workforce due to AI integration. LINK
Toyota Australia transferred $470M in dividends to its Japanese parent while maintaining market leadership. LINK
Microsoft and Amazon are converting Europe's old power plants into AI-powered data centres. LINK
TSMC has initiated legal action after discovering potential trade secret leaks regarding its 2-nanometer chip technology. LINK
Credit Corp achieved a $94.1M annual net profit whilst increasing its dividend, as the company forecasts a 12% profit rise for FY26. LINK
TPG Telecom will return $3B to shareholders following the sale of its Vision business to Vocus, offering minority investors the option to reinvest up to $688M whilst targeting an 18 cents per share dividend for 2025. LINK
CHART OF THE DAY
ChatGPT: spreading faster than COVID
Source: Ophir asset management
ONE MORE SCROLL
Editor’s Pick: ‘Japanese walking’ is a fast way to boost your health.
Draft Pick: AFL superstar sidelined in mammoth blow.
Odd Pick: A cat named Leonardo da Pinchy doesn’t want your affection. He wants to steal your underwear.
TOGETHER WITH
Take what you’re doing offline and circle back on team wellness because real team bonding happens with puppies, not PowerPoint. Give your team an event they’ll actually look forward to with Puppy Yoga!
We’ve got you covered with Corporate Cuddles and Puppy Yoga 🐶
TRIVIA
“Brothers and sisters, I have none,
But this man’s father is my father’s son.”
Who is the person?
Answer below
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