Friday, 21 February - Step back in time

February 21, 2025

Good morning, it’s Friday, 21 February. In your Squiz Today…

  • The government swoops in to save Whyalla Steelworks

  • Hamas returns the remains of a family to Israel

  • And some burritos to spice up your weekend…🌯

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“[I] really would like it to be returned.”

Said former PM Scott Morrison of a 1990s family photo album that accidentally made its way to an op shop. A TikTok user was the one to find/buy it, and says he’s not sure about returning what he thinks is “a great book for the coffee table”. It would definitely be a talking point…

Dodging a Whyalla wipe-out

The Squiz

South Oz Premier Peter Malinauskas was joined by PM Anthony Albanese in the regional town of Whyalla yesterday to announce a joint state/federal $2.4 billion rescue package for the local steelworks. It followed the state government forcing the Whyalla Steelworks (which is owned by parent company GFG Alliance…) into administration on Wednesday afternoon after months of growing financial woes. 

What happened?

Here’s the background, but essentially, despite producing about 75% of our structural steel (aka the steel used in construction projects), the plant has struggled for years. It was last in administration in 2017, which is when GFG Alliance - owned by British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta - swooped in. He was initially hailed a hero by Whyalla locals - about 2,000 of whom have ties to the steelworks. But as promises to upgrade the facility fell over, it became clear he was hemorrhaging money - in December, he said he’d lost $1.3 billion there. Politicians were also taken in by Gupta in the early days, but with the business now owing tens of millions, and Gupta’s promises to make payments never panning out, things turned sour.

So why the government bailout?

As we said - the steelworks employs thousands of people. And with new ABS data showing about 23,000 Aussies lost jobs in January - and a federal election on the way - maintaining jobs is front of mind for the Albanese Government. The PM described it as “an investment in the nation” because “there's no industry that is more important … than steelmaking”. The money will be used for immediate upgrades and assistance to keep the steelworks operating - with about $1.9 billion earmarked for new infrastructure. As for Gupta, reports say he’s seeking legal advice after saying South Oz was on the “wrong course” by forcing the steelworks into administration. But the Australian Workers Union says it’s "the right move to stabilise the business”.

Your fresh market update…

At the Squiz, we’re all about giving you the useful stuff. So, we’ve teamed up with Woolies to share their top weekly fruit and veg picks. Here’s what to grab this week:

🍐William Bartlett Pears - These are the original multipurpose sweet treat - good for cooking or snacking on fresh.

🍉Watermelon - Enjoy the last days of summer with this icon. There have been cracking growing conditions this season.

🥕 Carrots - Keep ‘em in the crisper drawer to maintain maximum crunch.

Squiz the Rest

“A day of grief”

…Is how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described yesterday, when the remains of a mother and her 2 young sons taken hostage and killed during the war in Gaza were returned by Hamas. The bodies of 33yo Shiri Bibas, 4yo Ariel, and his 9mo baby brother Kfir were presented in coffins to Israeli forces, along with the body of another elderly hostage Oded Lifschitz. They are the first deceased hostages to be returned under phase one of the ceasefire negotiated last month. The family was kidnapped from their home in the 7 October terror attacks, along with Shiri’s husband Yarden, who was released on 1 February. A further 6 living hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners are due to be exchanged tomorrow.

Trial time for Yoon Suk Yeol

The South Korean President is facing court for a preliminary hearing on charges of insurrection after he tried and failed to bring in martial law - where the military takes over the duties of government - back in December. Yoon said he was trying to protect the country from North Korea sympathisers in the opposing parties, but critics say he was just acting in his own interests after a drop in his political fortunes. If he’s found guilty on the charge of illegally trying to take control of the government, he could face a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. The initial hearing lasted about an hour and Yoon was there but didn’t speak -  the next hearing in the case is set for 24 March.

A big day in big tech

Microsoft reckons it’s taken a leap towards quantum computing with its new Majorana 1 chip, something it’s been working on for 2 decades. Quantum computers will essentially be able to do things it would take current computers millions of years to do and might be able to solve problems in areas like health research that seem impossible now. The company reckons this chip, which uses tiny particles to do its work, might make that possible in just a matter of years. And Microsoft competitor Apple had news too - its new iPhone 16e will ditch the home button for good, and costs $400 less than the iPhone 16. It’s out next weekend, so watch out for those queues outside Apple stores…

The tomb where it happens

A team of Egyptologists are cock-a-hoop after discovering a pharaoh’s tomb near the city of Luxor. The team of British and Egyptian experts said they knew it belonged to an Egyptian ruler because the ceiling, which was still intact, was painted blue with yellow stars - an honour reserved only for pharaohs. It’s the tomb of Thutmose II, the husband of one of Egypt’s female pharaohs, Queen Hatshepsut. It’s the first time a pharaoh’s tomb has been discovered in over 100 years, since Howard Carter discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun in 1922. It’s the result of 12 years of work, but the team reckons they might know where a second tomb is, so they’ll keep digging…

Boy, your likeness is all that I think about…

The Princess of Pop - aka Kylie Minogue - began her Tension world tour in Oz this week, and it has some calling for the comeback of a statue honouring the pop star… It might ring a bell for Melburnians but for everyone else, a sculpture of Minogue used to stand (jazz hands/red heels included…) at Docklands. It was Love At First Sight for fans, but an apartment development meant a move was eventually put into Loco-Motion in 2016. The bronzed Minogue has since spent nearly a decade in storage - and now, Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece says he’s Spinning Around at the thought of finding it a new home (paywall). Don't say it's like a fantasy…

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

Currently airing its 18th season in the UK, the panel show Would I Lie To You? features 2 teams reading out statements they haven’t seen before and the other team trying to guess if they’re lying or telling the truth. It’s a hoot, and older seasons can be seen on Prime Video, BINGE and ABC iView.

If you like a good cover song, check out the Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. Founded by a couple of US TV comedians, they post regular covers to YouTube - we’re partial to this version of Baker Street by Joe La Truglio (aka Charles from Brooklyn Nine-Nine), who has a great voice…

If you’re after some easy comfort food, might we suggest these beef burritos from Recipe Tin Eats… Simple, tasty, and the best bit (in our humble opinions…) is that they’re freezable, making them perfect for a spot of weekend meal prep. What more can you ask for…

Squiz the Day

Friday
9.00am (AEDT) - Women's soccer: SheBelieves Cup, Matildas v Japan - Houston, and watch on Paramount +

9.30am (AEDT) - Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock and senior RBA officials will appear at the first biannual public hearing of the year - Canberra

10.00am (AEDT) - Motorsport: Supercars Championship, Sydney Super Night (until 23 February) - Sydney, and watch on 7Plus

Company half-year results for Inghams Group, Latitude, and QBE Insurance

Adelaide Fringe (on until 23 March)

🧘 World Yoga Day

International Mother Language Day

Birthdays for director Jordan Peele (1979), actor Elliot Page (1987), and actor Sophie Turner (1996)

Anniversaries of:

  • the publication of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels' The Communist Manifesto (1848) and the first issue of The New Yorker magazine (1925)

  • the birthdays of singer Nina Simone (1933) and actor Alan Rickman (1946)

  • the assassination of civil rights activist Malcolm X (1965)

Saturday
7.20am (AEDT) - Rugby Union Sevens (SVNS) series continues (until 23 February), Australia v Ireland - Vancouver, and watch on Stan Sport

5.30am (AWST) - South32 Rottnest Channel Swim - Perth

4.00pm (AEDT) - Motorsport: FIM Superbike world championships (until 23 February) - Phillip Island, Victoria, and watch on SBS

8.00pm (AEDT) - Men’s Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy, Australia v England - (the series goes until 9 March) - Pakistan and the UAE, and watch on Amazon Prime Video

Taiwanese band Mayday Mayday will become the first Mandarin-speaking rock band to headline Sydney’s Accor Stadium tonight

Big Ocean Boogie dance party - Torquay, Victoria

Single Tasking Day

International Margarita Day

Cat Day - Japan 

Birthdays for singer James Blunt (1974) and actor Drew Barrymore (1975)

Anniversary of:

  • the British House of Lords ruling that authors do not have perpetual copyright (1774)

  • Wildlife Warrior Steve Irwin’s birthday (1962)

  • Scottish scientists announcing they’d cloned an adult mammal, producing a lamb named "Dolly" (1997)

  • the Christchurch earthquake (2011)

Sunday
Germany's general election

10.00am (AWST) - State Liberal campaign rally - Perth

🎾 Play Tennis Day

National Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day

Day of Defenders of the Fatherland and the Armed Forces - Belarus

Birthdays for actor/comedian Aziz Ansari (1983), actor Emily Blunt (1983), and actor Dakota Fanning (1994)

Anniversary of:

  • The Times of London publishing the world's first classified ad (1886)

  • the first mass inoculation against polio (1954)

  • rapper Eminem releasing his first major record album The Slim Shady LP (1999)