Tinder, Taiwan and Tay Tay

Australian News

• Sydney's first metropolitan e-scooter trial has commenced in Kogarah, with 60 scooters available for use on roads with 50km/h speed limits within the trial area. LINK

• A decline in new home loans suggests slower property price growth in 2024. LINK

• South Australian egg farmers are forced to pass on rising production costs to consumers amid high food prices. LINK

• As a result of the Rozelle Interchange, more asbestos has been discovered in recycled mulch near Sydney's Rozelle Parklands. LINK

• A majority of caravans on Australian roads are illegally overweight, with the industry advocating for specialised towing courses and licenses. LINK

• Perth experienced the highest increase in rental prices in 2023, with some tenants facing weekly increases. LINK

• Lamb prices in Australia are expected to rise in supermarkets following a sharp increase in wholesale sheep prices at the start of 2024. LINK

• Rental prices in most Australian capital cities increased last year, but Canberra's rents remained flat. LINK

• The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) received a record number of complaints in 2023, with nearly 9,000 related to scams. LINK

• Total online retail sales in Australia surged by over a billion dollars (27%) in November 2023 due to Black Friday sales - this dropped followed by a slight decrease in December and a sharp drop in January. LINK

• There has been an increasing number of families needing social housing, with over 43,000 Queenslanders on the waitlist. LINK

Global News

• Australian companies Westpac, ANZ, and Santos have closed operations in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, following the outbreak of violence. LINK

• Over US$4.6B flowed into US bitcoin ETFs on their first day of trade, with investment managers in Australia preparing to launch local products amidst bullish investor sentiment. LINK

• Uranium prices hit a 16-year high last week. LINK

• Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te vowed to defend the island from China's "intimidation" after securing victory in this weekend’s elections amid Beijing's threats. LINK

• British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a £2.5B military aid package for Ukraine. LINK

Company News

• Tinder and Grindr will be part of Australia's new campaign to promote sexual health testing, addressing the rise in sexually transmitted diseases, especially among young adults aged 20 to 34. LINK

• Twitch, owned by Amazon, has made significant staff cuts in Australia as part of a global reduction, decreasing its workforce by over a third amidst widespread job cuts in the technology sector. LINK

• Airwallex is preparing for an IPO within the next two years. LINK

• Hertz plans to sell a third of its US electric vehicle fleet and shift back to petrol-powered cars, citing weak demand and high repair costs for EVs. LINK

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating whether Boeing made sure a part that blew off a jet was made to US design standards. LINK

• Online retailer The Iconic's lack of payment verification measures exposes its 2.1M customers to potential fraud. LINK

• Citigroup plans to cut 20,000 jobs over two years following a "clearly disappointing" quarter resulting in a US$1.8B loss. LINK

Other News

• The Early Eras Tour in the United States netted the singer-songwriter US$13M per night, with the Australian leg expected to generate $136M in economic activity. LINK

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