Friday, 15 May - Comfortably numb

May 15, 2026

Good morning, it’s Friday, 15 May. In your Squiz Today…

  • Trump and Xi play nice talking trade, tech and Tehran in Beijing…

  • The Federal Court finds that Coles misled customers over discounts

  • And getting your greens in early with a brekkie slice… 🥒

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🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Andrew Williams, Alice Dempster, Larissa Huntington and Sophie Felice

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

"When I reflect on my Chelsea career … I just feel happy."

Said homegrown football star Sam Kerr, who’s announced she’s leaving the English club after 6.5 years. She’s one goal shy of its all-time record of 116 goals going into her last game against Manchester United on Saturday, but whether she levels it or not, the league's leading striker has already left her mark… 

China rolls out the red carpet

The Squiz

US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping were all smiles and handshakes as they met in Beijing for face-to-face talks yesterday… Before they got started, Xi called for them to be “partners, not rivals” to “build a brighter future” - and in response, Trump said it was “an honour” to be Xi’s “friend” and that their relationship will be “better than ever before”. That’s quite a turnaround from the tone struck by the leaders of the world’s 2 largest economies in recent years - and it didn’t stop a warning from Xi of the potential for future “conflict” with the US over the issue of Taiwan’s independence.

Remind me what that’s about…

In short, Taiwan is a democratically governed island off the coast of China that Beijing wants to “reunify” with, and Xi hasn’t ruled out using force to do so - which the US is against. Before his visit, Trump flagged that he was open to talking with Xi about Taiwan… We don’t know if it’s been discussed yet, but yesterday, Xi called it “the most critical issue in US-China relations”. He said “if handled properly, bilateral relations can remain generally stable. If mishandled, [the US and China] will clash or even come into conflict”. For Taiwan’s part, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said they’re “confident” in their ties with the US, and hope the Trump-Xi summit won’t “produce any surprises”.

So what’s going to happen?

Let us know if you have the inside track… We do know that Trump and Xi agreed to a “constructive strategic and stable relationship” going forward, and reportedly reached a “positive outcome” on trade. They also discussed the war in Iran and said the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open”, but Trump backed away from speculation that he’d ask Xi to intervene there - saying he “doesn’t need any help”. Beyond that, there were no major announcements, but analysts say that’s not surprising, given the goal of the visit is to stabilise relations. There are more meetings scheduled today, but with Trump being honoured with a state banquet serving up Chinese cuisine last night, and inviting Xi to the White House in September, the diplomatic approach seems to be working…

Spring blossoms to autumn colour

Silversea's extended 2027 Asia season opens with Japan's cherry blossoms in spring and runs through to December, covering more departures across more of the year than previous seasons - with time across Japanese temples and South Korean cities along the way. The all-inclusive cruises take in well-known stops alongside some less-visited ports, with shore experiences built around local culture. Reserve by 2 June 2026 and there's up to $11,000 off per suite, plus an upgrade of up to two suite categories on selected cruises.

Squiz the Rest

Storm clouds gather for Starmer

British PM Keir Starmer’s future at the head of Labour is looking increasingly in doubt, with more than 90 MPs now calling for him to step down. Reports say some MPs might have been holding off challenging Starmer until King Charles had opened parliament out of respect, but now that’s done, it’s on… Last night, Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned ahead of speculation he’d launch a leadership challenge, but it hasn’t happened yet and there’s doubt he has the numbers. Another development further north could tip the balance - MP Josh Simons is stepping down in Manchester, allowing a by-election and a way for the city’s popular Mayor Andy Burnham to stand. In the UK you have to be an MP to become the PM - so this could pave the way. Stay tuned… 

A right of reply

Coalition leader Angus Taylor gave his response to the Albanese Government’s Federal Budget last night, and tax was front and centre... He wants income tax brackets indexed to inflation from 2028-29 to tackle bracket creep, saying it would save 85% of workers about $1,000 within 4 years. Analysts say it’s been backed by tax experts for a long time, but could be costly down the line. Taylor also targeted migration, blaming current levels for our housing supply issues and proposing major cuts. Business groups pushed back on that, saying skilled migrants are essential to the economy - but he did get the housing industry on side with his plan to overturn Labor's proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax. You win some, you lose some…
* If you want to learn more about Australia’s immigration debate, our latest Squiz Shortcut will get you up to speed…

Coles goes down down 

There was a big development in the ACCC’s case against Coles yesterday, with the Federal Court finding that the supermarket giant had misled customers over discounts. You might remember that the consumer watchdog took action over 245 grocery products sold from 2022-23, accusing Coles of using fake discounts to promote them. That claim was upheld yesterday, with the court finding that “Coles engaged in conduct in trade … that was misleading”. Experts reckon the decision will have a huge impact on how groceries are priced in the future, and it’ll mean more transparency for shoppers. The case is back in court in June, where the ACCC says it’ll ask for a “substantial” penalty to act as a “significant deterrent”. 

The Blues get it done

NSW has won the women’s State of Origin for the second year running, beating Queensland in game 2 of the series last night, 14-10. It’s the first time in 7 years they’ve won back-to-back women’s titles - no easy feat in front of a Maroon home crowd of nearly 24,000 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. Despite the score, it was a close tussle, and commentators say the Blues’ defensive play in preventing 2 Maroon tries (one 25 seconds before full-time) made all the difference. The match kicked off the NRL’s Magic Round, with all games over the next 3 days being played at the same venue. And while the Blues have the series sewn up, don’t put away your gear yet - the 2 women’s sides will meet again on the Gold Coast for a third game on 28 May.  

Drilling into the past

Next time you’re at the dentist, spare a thought for our (much) earlier ancestors who underwent dental work caveman style. A single molar unearthed in a Siberian cave has led researchers to the finding that Neanderthals used stone drills to treat cavities nearly 60,000 years ago. In a scientific study published this week, the tooth was described as having a deep hole that appears to have been created by a sharp, thin, stone tool - and researchers think it was possibly the beginning of rudimentary root canal treatment. Ouch… Archaeologists say it gives us an insight into Neanderthal behaviours, showing they weren't "brutish” but instead were a “sophisticated human population with complex cognitive and cultural capacities” - and obvs not scared of a bit of pain.

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

PSA: Season 2 of Rivals drops today on Disney+, so we’ve got a date with the couch this weekend. It continues the TV adaptation of the late Dame Jilly Cooper’s 1980s novel, but be warned, it’s not for the faint-hearted - just like this review… 

We’ve discovered a gadget called Bordy which is helping us to keep more of our pot plants alive. It’s shaped like a little bird, fits discreetly/cutely behind your plants, you fill it up and it drip-feeds them water. Genius…

And we’re all about easy, on-the-go breakfasts at the moment, and that means a bit of meal prepping on the weekend is in order. To that end, this RecipeTin Eats zucchini slice hits the simple/tasty spot if you find yourself with some time on Sunday afternoon…

Squiz the Day

Friday
Fingers crossed for Delta Goodrem - she’s singing in the second Eurovision semi-final any minute…

8.00am (ACST) - Defending Australia Summit, with keynote speakers Defence Minister Richard Marles and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas - Adelaide

10.15am (AEST) - A hearing in Ryan Meuleman's (referred to in the media as 'Bike Boy') defamation case against former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his wife, Catherine, Federal Court of Australia - Melbourne 

7.05pm (ACST) - Football: A-League Men semi-final, second leg - Adelaide United v Auckland FC, Coopers Stadium - Adelaide, watch on 10play 

Final day of the first block of public hearings in the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a 5-day diplomatic tour of Europe, visiting the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy 

Nakba Day, commemorating the 700,00 Palestinians and Arabs who fled or were forced out of Palestine during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war 

📚 Margaret River Readers & Writers Festival begins (until 17 May) - Margaret River, WA

Season 2 of Rivals drops on Disney+

A birthday for singer Role Model (1997)

Anniversary of:

  • the patenting of the world’s first machine gun (1718)

  • the formation of the National Woman Suffrage Association, founded by Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1869)

  • Aussie Jessica Watson becoming the youngest person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the world at 16yo (2010)

Saturday
9.30am (AEST) - Brisbane Dog Lovers Festival (until 17 May) - Brisbane

2.35pm (AEST) - Tasmania Devils to play their inaugural VFLW game against Casey Demons, North Hobart Oval - Hobart, watch on 7plus 

4.15pm (AEST) - Football: A-League Women's grand final Melbourne City v Wellington Phoenix, AAMI Park - Melbourne, watch on 10play 

7.40pm (AEST) - Football: A-League Men semi-final, second leg Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC, McDonald Jones Stadium - Newcastle, watch on 10play 

Queensland state by-election in Stafford in Brisbane's inner north 

The Batlow Cider Festival - Batlow

International Day of Light

Birthdays for actor Pierce Brosnan (1953), singer Janet Jackson (1966) and actor Megan Fox (1986)

Anniversary of:

  • the marriage of Marie Antoinette and future King Louis XVI of France (1770)

  • the release of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds (1966)

  • the death of former PM Bob Hawke (2019)

  • the fire that engulfed Loafers Lodge in Wellington and claimed the lives of five people (2023)

Sunday
5.00am (AEST) Eurovision Grand Final - Vienna, watch on SBS 

Sydney Writers' Festival begins (until 24 May)

🥳 Squiz Today Podcast 8th birthday

World Baking Day

Anniversary of:

  • the first rules of Australian Rules Football being published (1859)

  • the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum (1900)

  • the World Health Organization removing homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses (1990)

  • the release of the video game Minecraft (2009)

  • Michigan State University agreeing to pay $500 million to abuse victims of US gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar - the largest case of its kind in sports history (2018)

  • the death of Greek composer/musician Vangelis, well known for composing the Academy Award-winning score to Chariots of Fire in 1981 (2022)