🗞️ Royal sneezes

Good morning. We hope you’ve successfully navigated another week! Here are a few headlines we didn’t cover this week:

• McDonald’s has pulled the Quarter Pounder from its US menu after an E. coli outbreak left over 50 people ill and claimed one life.

• Mickey the cockatoo was finally rescued from a Coles supermarket after spending four weeks "living on brioche." Multiple attempts to capture him failed, but bringing in Old Lady Doris, another cockatoo, finally calmed Mickey down, allowing for his safe removal.

• The visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla went largely without a hitch, aside from some minor heckling and an alpaca named Hephner who sneezed on the royal pair.

All the headlines and more below...

PODCAST

🎧 Your morning wrap on-the-go LINK

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Perth Airport free customer Wi-Fi allows for data harvesting

• Perth Airport's free Wi-Fi policy has been criticised for allowing broad data harvesting and distribution. LINK

• Australian banks are arguing for a lower lending criteria, including the 3% serviceability buffer, to help more first-time home buyers enter the market. LINK

• Victorian firefighters face pay deductions for attending a rally during duty hours over wage negotiations and equipment concerns. LINK

• Doctors in Western Australia have treated a case of scurvy, highlighting its re-emergence due to poor diets and a rising cost of living. LINK

• Tasmania's renewable energy generation has fallen to a 15-year low due to unusually dry conditions, forcing the state to increase fossil fuel usage and electricity imports to meet energy demands. LINK

• About 10% of farmed salmon in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour died over a 7-month period. LINK

GLOBAL NEWS

North Korean troops are in Russia

• US officials confirmed that North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support the fight against Ukraine. LINK

• China has accused Australia of "systemic racism and hate crimes" in response to Australia's criticism of China's treatment of the Uyghurs at the United Nations. LINK

COMPANY NEWS

Grill'd faces Australia's ‘first-ever' fast food strike over low-pay, 'unfair' conditions

• Grill'd faces scrutiny over a new pay deal that exploits a loophole to underpay workers compared to minimum industry rates by eliminating weekend penalty rates, despite offering a 12% base pay increase. LINK 

• Richard White, the billionaire CEO and founder of WiseTech Global, has stepped down immediately amid damaging revelations about his personal life and accusations of bullying. LINK

• More than 400 Qantas engineers are set to strike on Friday with planned work stoppages in multiple Australian cities, amid ongoing labour disputes as pilots recently rejected a 26% pay rise. LINK

• ABC is restructuring to prioritise audio by creating a dedicated division to enhance their future focus on radio and digital audio platforms. LINK

• Super Retail Group has increased discounts at Rebel Sport while reporting a 2% growth in same-store sales amid slowing sales. LINK

• Qantas will launch a new "safety academy" in 2025 offering short courses in areas like health, cyber and risk management. LINK

• Starbucks promises to simplify menus and emphasise Starbucks' core identity, amid investor optimism despite recent declines in store sales and earnings. LINK

• Nvidia has expanded its collaborations with major Indian firms and introduced an AI model for the Hindi language. LINK

• IBM reported a downturn in its consulting and infrastructure segments as businesses reduce discretionary spending. LINK

• GrainCorp has shipped 31,000 tonnes of chickpeas to India, racing to beat the reinstatement of tariffs that could significantly cut exporter profits. LINK

• Hyundai Motor Co reported a 7% drop in Q3 operating profit due to slowing demand and increased competition. LINK

• Tesla's shares surged 12% after CEO Elon Musk projected a 20% to 30% increase in vehicle sales next year. LINK

• McDonald’s US has been issued a food safety alert regarding an E.coli outbreak linked to its Quarter Pounders, with 49 illnesses reported including 1 death and 10 hospitalisations. LINK

CHART OF THE DAY

Economic Forecasts for 2024

ONE MORE SCROLL

Editor’s Pick: Standing desks do not reduce risk of stroke and heart failure, study suggests.

Draft Pick: The Lionel Messi effect is in full swing with annual attendances for the MLS increasing by 5% from last year to 11.5 million for the year.

Odd Pick: Children's soft play centre apologises over body bag Halloween decorations.

TRIVIA

HSC Exam Period

We round out our HSC week of trivia with Aboriginal Studies. Here are some questions which probably won't make the cut for the exam today:

1. What does NAIDOC stand for?

2. What are the 3 colours on the Aboriginal flag and what do they stand for?

3. What is the term for a person who is recognised as having special spiritual knowledge and healing powers in many Aboriginal cultures?

Answers below

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ANSWERS

1. National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee
2. Black represents the Aboriginal people, red represents the earth and yellow represents the sun.
3. Elder

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