Money

Injury rates among gig economy workers are being underreported

Published

3 years ago

July 29, 2022

Costa Haritos

The gig economy soared to new heights as people were restricted to stay-at-home orders but new research highlights the high injury rates among the sector

You may not have heard of the gig economy, but you have almost certainly used its services.

From Uber Eats, to Deliveroo and Menulog, these services are removing connection and enhancing convenience.

At the click of a button, users can select from nearby restaurants and have their food delivered to their door within minutes.

But new research from Macquarie University has found gig economy workers who are delivering meals on bikes, are getting hurt while they’re on the job.

SafeWork NSW reported 37 pedal cycling injuries that were linked with commercial delivery between 2019 and 2020.

However, researchers found at least 43 cycling-related injuries during the same period.

“For 172 of these records, 46 per cent, we couldn’t confirm their work status; but of the remaining records, we were able to identify 43 (12 per cent) commercial delivery cyclists and 153 (42 per cent) non-commercial cyclists.”
Dr MITCHELL SARKIES, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

TICKER NEWS spoke with Dr Mitchell Sarkies from Macquarie University, who found these workers were injured from crashing or coming off their bike.

“But they kept delivering to the end of their shift before going to the ED and discovering they had a concussion or fracture,” he says.

Around one-third of Australians use a meal delivery service. Meanwhile, around 81 million users are on Uber Eats in the U.S., which makes it the most popular single app delivery service.

Who are these workers?

These cyclists are predominantly male and likely to be younger in age. In most cases, they are likely to have a primary language other than English.

“These figures support previous claims that suggest most commercial delivery cyclists are temporary migrants in Australia,” Dr Sarkies said.

Dr Lauren Christie from St Vincent Health Network told TICKER NEWS “there was a high incidence of minor injuries in relation to broken bones, people experiences falls, grazes and scrapes, as well as some other injuries as well.”

“It will be really important moving forward that we look at ways that we can improve the accuracy of the data.”
DR LAUREN CHRISTIE, ST VINCENT’S HEALTH NETWORK

Dr Christie believes more training and safety practices should be put in place to protect these “inexperienced, and vulnerable road users”.

Money

Gold plunges as investors react to Middle East ceasefire

Gold prices fall over 2% to below $4,000, as investors shift from safe-haven assets after Gaza ceasefire news.

Published

1 day ago

October 10, 2025

ticker NEWS

Gold prices fall over 2% to below $4,000, as investors shift from safe-haven assets after Gaza ceasefire news.

Gold prices have fallen sharply, dropping over two per cent to below $4,000 per ounce, as investors took profits following the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. The deal between Israel and Hamas triggered a shift away from safe-haven assets, with silver and platinum also sliding.

The U.S. dollar strengthened as markets responded to the news, making precious metals more expensive for foreign buyers. Analysts say the pullback is likely temporary, with long-term demand for gold and silver expected to remain strong amid global instability and rising debt levels.

Market experts warn that volatility will continue as geopolitical tensions persist, even as short-term optimism grows around the Middle East peace process.

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Money

Gold and silver prices drop after Gaza ceasefire

Gold dips below $4,000/oz amid profit-taking and Gaza ceasefire; silver also softens from record highs

Published

1 day ago

October 10, 2025

Ahron Young

Gold dips below $4,000/oz amid profit-taking and Gaza ceasefire; silver also softens from record highs

In Short:
– Gold prices fell over 2% to below $4,000 per ounce due to a stronger dollar and profit-taking.
– Silver eased to $48.93 per ounce, influenced by market activity and ongoing high demand despite supply issues.

Gold prices fell over 2% on Thursday, dropping below $4,000 per ounce. The decline followed a strong rise earlier in the year and was influenced by a stronger dollar and profit-taking after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.Spot gold decreased to $3,959.48 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery settled at $3,972.6.

Silver also experienced a slight decline, easing from its record high to $48.93 per ounce. The dollar index increased, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers.

Traders noted increased activity in the market as profit-taking coincided with reduced tensions in a historically volatile region.

An independent metals trader stated that while gold and silver may need to consolidate further, the underlying demand drivers remain intact.

Market Overview

Gold surpassed $4,000 per ounce on Wednesday, reaching $4,059.05, boosted by geopolitical tensions and strong demand from central banks. The asset has gained about 52% this year, reflecting a significant increase due to various economic factors. The U.S. central bank’s decision to cut rates in September also contributed to the rally, with expectations for future cuts in the coming months.

Silver’s price increase of 69% this year is tied closely to similar economic trends impacting gold. Notably, liquidity issues in the silver market are being exacerbated by strong demand and tight supply conditions. Other precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, also saw declines during this period.

Money

North Korean hackers steal $2 billion in crypto

North Korean hackers steal over $2 billion in cryptocurrency, marking the largest annual total in history

Published

2 days ago

October 9, 2025

Ahron Young

North Korean hackers steal over $2 billion in cryptocurrency, marking the largest annual total in history

In Short:
– North Korean hackers stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, nearly tripling last year’s total.
– A shift to social engineering tactics has led to increased targeting of high-net-worth individuals for cyber attacks.

North Korean hackers have reportedly stolen over $2 billion in cryptocurrency assets in 2025, setting a record with three months still left in the year.

Data from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic indicates that this amount nearly triples the total stolen last year, accounting for approximately 13% of North Korea’s estimated GDP and raising the regime’s total crypto theft to over $6 billion since 2017.

A significant portion of the 2025 theft is attributed to the February hack of cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, which amounted to $1.46 billion.

The FBI has linked this breach to state-sponsored North Korean hackers, who exploited weaknesses in Bybit’s wallet management system. More than 30 additional cyber attacks have also been associated with North Korea this year, including notable breaches at LND.fi and WOO X.

Shift In Tactics

A shift in methodology among North Korean hackers has been observed, as they now focus on social engineering rather than technical exploits. According to Elliptic, the primary vulnerability lies with individuals rather than technology.

High-net-worth individuals and corporate executives are increasingly targeted due to their relatively weaker security measures.

The hackers utilise deceptive tactics, including phishing schemes and fake job offers, to access private cryptocurrency wallets. Intelligence reports suggest that the stolen funds are used to finance North Korea’s nuclear programmes.

The regime has also improved its money laundering techniques by employing various cryptocurrencies and mixing methods to obscure fund origins. Blockchain analysts are actively tracking these stolen assets, with notable progress achieved in identifying recoverable funds.