Monday, 19 January - Everything old is new again

Good morning, it’s Monday, 19 January. In your Squiz Today…

• Federal parliament’s back to tackle antisemitism and gun laws

• Trump ramps up the US bid for Greenland

• And partying online like it’s 2016…

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Squiz Sayings

Said Dr Charles Lee, a researcher on the trail of the artist’s DNA to study his genius through genetic material. It’s proving elusive to find, but the team thinks da Vinci might’ve left traces on his artworks. This lady’s knowing smile suggests they could be onto something…

Conceding some changes…

The Squiz

PM Anthony Albanese has made a last-minute overhaul to his legislative plan to tackle antisemitism after failing to get the Coalition or the Greens on board. Politicians have been recalled to parliament today to urgently pass the laws that have been drafted in the wake of the Bondi terror attack - but rather than a single bill covering multiple reforms, 2 separate bills will now be tabled for the gun buyback scheme and to give the government more power to ban hate groups. As for the hate speech laws - they have been shelved for now… The change in tack comes after weeks of back-and-forth, and Albanese says there’s now “no excuse” for voting down the legislation. 

So will the laws get through now? 

That looks likely… Coalition MPs and senators met last night, and we’re yet to hear where they’ve landed. It’s still dealing with the fallout from last year’s election loss and the first Newspoll of the year showing One Nation ahead of it on primary votes, so there’s a bit on Ley’s plate… But on the task at hand - Albanese’s got the Greens onside, and that will see gun law reform and the banning of hate groups get through, regardless of where the Coalition lands. As for what else will happen today - a lot of time will be dedicated to a motion of condolence condemning the Bondi terror attack, and survivors and families of the victims will be in attendance. The new legislation will also be introduced and passed by the House of Reps, before progressing to the Senate for debate tomorrow. 

There’s still a lot of reflection on the attack… 

There is - including the Day of Mourning on Thursday. We’ve learned more details about the commemoration - the theme is ‘light will win’, with flags to be flown at half-mast on government buildings across the country, and those in the private sector are asked to follow suit. A commemorative installation called ‘15 Pillars of Light’ will be set up at locations around the country, and on Thursday night, national institutions in Canberra and NSW will be lit up. Then, a nationwide minute’s silence at 7.01pm (AEDT) will be held, which TV stations will be asked to observe, before the Chabad of Bondi’s special memorial event. Aussies have also been encouraged to consider doing a good deed as a “mitzvah for Bondi” on the day, along with lighting a candle.

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Squiz the Rest

The US ramps up its bid for Greenland

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25% on at least 8 nations that don't support his plan to buy the Arctic territory from Denmark. They include Denmark, France, Germany and the UK, with tariffs starting at 10% from 1 February and set to increase in June if a deal isn't reached. The issue is causing major tensions between the US and its NATO allies, with Trump saying "world peace is at stake" and warning that NATO nations moving military to the region in support of Denmark amounts to "a very dangerous situation". As protestors rallied against the move in Greenland and Denmark over the weekend, European leaders criticised the US tariffs. In a joint statement overnight, the 8 nations said "tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral".
If you’re after a quick recap on why Trump is so keen for the US to control Greenland, we’ve got a Squiz Shortcut for you…

A shark attack in Sydney Harbour 

A 13yo boy is in critical condition after being bitten by a shark yesterday afternoon. The teen was jumping into the harbour with friends off rocks at the western end of Shark Beach near the popular swimming spot Nielsen Park in the city's east when he was attacked at around 4.20pm. He was bitten on both legs, and police say his injuries "are consistent with what is believed to have been a large shark". Witnesses say he was rescued by water police, and paramedics attached 2 tourniquets for "serious leg injuries" and at one stage gave the boy CPR before he was taken to hospital. The attack is the second in the harbour in 2 years after Lauren O’Neill was bitten off Elizabeth Bay in early 2024. Outside the heads, there have been 5 fatal shark attacks along the NSW coast in the past 5 years.   

Starting something fishy…

Sydney’s long-awaited new fish market opens today, and while it’s expected to be a national tourist drawcard, the project hasn’t exactly gone swimmingly… It’s 6 years late and $600 million over budget, and vendors and early visitors have been warned to expect “teething issues” over the coming weeks. A big snag is that the site’s planned ferry wharf isn’t due for completion until next year, making it tricky for visitors to reach the Blackwattle Bay site by public transport. Several vendors have also raised concerns about having to move seafood via goods lifts to outlets spread over 4 levels. Market operators say the new ways of working might take some getting used to, but the new venue is “a significant improvement on the previous site”. It stank… 

A smashing first day

If your tennis fan mates go missing this week, there’s a good chance you’ll find them glued to the action on centre court now that the Australian Open has officially begun. As one of the 4 grand slams, the tournament’s a big deal in the tennis world - so here’s a quick lowdown… More than 50 Aussies are competing across the events this year, but all eyes will be on our highest-ranked men’s player Alex de Minaur at #6 (he’s already through to the second round after Italian Matteo Berrettini withdrew). And in the women’s draw, our best hope is 19yo Maya Joint, ranked #32 in the world. We said goodbye to wildcard Venus Williams overnight, and with 13 female participants already holding grand slam titles, it’s going to be a tough battle to the top. Let’s hope no one gets ahead of themselves like this bloke…

Party like it’s 2016…

You might’ve noticed some (or lots) of people on social media calling 2026 “the new 2016”. Our feeds have been overrun with nostalgic photos of friends from a decade ago with an accompanying caption of what was going on in their lives at the time - many with a matching soundtrack. Think, Beyoncé songs from Lemonade… As for what it all means, some experts say people are reaching for memories of “simpler times”. Media and cultural studies academic Jessica Maddox says people weren’t online “doomscrolling” as much as they are today, and that’s “part of the reason why we look back and think it was easier or better, probably just because we weren’t plugged in as much”. Scrolling to relive times we weren’t scrolling - you know it makes sense…

Apropos of Nothing - Trends edition

While we’re talking trends, Gen Z has embraced designer label Ralph Lauren, thanks in part to its chain of coffee shops and links to pop icons like Taylor Swift. They’re not even deterred that their parents/grandparents still wear it, which is saying something…

In their sights though are fashion-conscious millennials taking mirror selfies… Gen Zs in South Korea call them “Young 40s” and they've become the punchline of memes, much like the cry-laughing emoji and the term 'adulting'. Nothing is safe…

And while some of us might be familiar with the plumping and lifting effects of hyaluronic acid on faces, some ski jumpers are rumoured to be using it to fill out, ah, lower down body parts to gain an aerodynamic advantage. The lengths some athletes will go to…

Squiz the Day

Federal parliament resumes to pass newly introduced laws tackling antisemitism and gun law reform in the wake of the Bondi terror attack… And you might hear some news around today that Australia and PM Anthony Albanese have been invited by US President Donald Trump to join the Gaza Board of Peace - Canberra 

7.00am - The Sydney Fish Market opens after a 6-year delay - Blackwattle Bay, Sydney

10.00am (AEDT): Hearing for former AFL star Nicky Winmar on family violence-related offences - Melbourne

8.30pm (AEDT): The International Monetary Fund will release the latest World Economic Outlook. The report provides the latest analysis of global economic developments and prospects.

It’s the Epiphany in the Orthodox Christian church, commemorating the baptism of Jesus

The World Economic Forum begins in Davos, (until 23 January). It’s an opportunity for the world’s leaders across public and private sectors to discuss global issues. 

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week begins

Martin Luther King Jr Day (USA)

Happy birthday to music icon Dolly Parton (1946) and Aussie national cooking treasure Maggie Beer (1945)

Anniversary of:

• ABC's Triple J broadcasting for the first time (1975)

• the birthdays of writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809), rocker Janis Joplin (1943) and rapper Mac Miller (1992)

• the death of former Aussie cricketer David Hookes (2004). His untimely death led to national discussions on organ donation.