Monday, 2 December - Because you’re so smooth

December 02, 2024

Good morning, it’s Monday, 2 December. In your Squiz Today…

  • Civil war flares up again in Syria

  • More arrests over the Laos methanol poisoning cluster

  • And the Roos win a flag…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“The burning of Notre Dame was a national wound and you were its remedy.”

Said French President Emmanuel Macron as he praised workers who have spent more than 5 years restoring the 12th century cathedral after fire gutted it in 2019. The rebuild is now complete, ready for the doors to be opened to the public next Saturday. Très magnifique…

The Syrian civil war flares up again

The Squiz

Syrian troops have temporarily withdrawn from the country’s second-largest city Aleppo after rebels took control over the last few days, gaining ground for the first time since 2016. That was when Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces took the city with Russian backing, holding it ever since with additional help from Iran and Hezbollah. But with those allies distracted by other conflicts, the rebels have taken their chance, making it all the way to the city’s centre.

Back it up a bit…

Fair enough because it’s been out of the headlines for a few years. Assad has ruled Syria since 2000 (taking over from his father), and he’s faced various uprisings since then. But this civil war has its roots in the 2011 Arab Spring - a series of anti-government demonstrations across the Arab world that were met with a violent response in Syria. The anti-Assad movement became a military force led by what is now known as the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) organisation. HTS started life associated with the Islamic State, which got involved with the rebels in 2013, but broke away a few years later. The civil war has been going on for 13 years, and Assad’s 2016 victory in Aleppo was a major turning point in his favour. Over 500,000 people have been killed in the war so far - and over 6 million refugees have fled the country.

Have other countries weighed in? 

Yep, there are plenty of countries with a stake in the Syrian civil war. Key Syrian ally Russia has already responded with airstrikes on rebel strongholds, killing at least 20 people and wounding 50. The US has troops in Syria’s northeast - but its main focus throughout the war has been turning back Islamic State’s influence within the rebellion - it says the rebels are a terrorist organisation and has called for de-escalation in the region. Other big players include Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel, all of whom could be drawn in if the rebel’s push gets legs. As for Assad - who controls about 70% of Syria as it stands - the prospect of losing Aleppo is a blow to the stability of his government and a threat to his 24-year grip on power. He has promised to “defeat all terrorists and their supporters”. 

Squiz the Rest

Hamas shares more proof of life

Video footage of a young Israeli-American hostage being held in Gaza has been shared by Hamas. In the clip, 20yo Edan Alexander addresses his family and makes emotional pleas to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming US President Donald Trump to negotiate his release. Talks were held in Cairo over the weekend to make a deal for the return of the remaining 101 hostages held by Hamas militants inside Gaza - half are believed to be still alive. It comes as food relief organisation World Central Kitchen (WCK) says it has paused its operations after an Israeli airstrike killed 3 of its aid workers in Gaza. There was anger over a similar incident in April when a WCK convoy targeted by the Israeli military killed 7 workers, including Australian Zomi Frankcom. In this case, the Israel Defense Forces says it was targeting a terrorist who took part in the 7 October Hamas attacks…

Tracking down tainted alcohol

Police in Laos are pushing forward with their investigation into the mass methanol poisoning event that left 2 Aussie teens and 4 others dead and has zeroed in on where they believe the alcohol was manufactured… The factory - just outside Laos’ capital, Vientiane - is where the Laos Ministry of Health believes Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky were made. They’re the same products our government website Smartraveller has warned Aussies to avoid out of “serious safety concerns”... Reports say the owner of the factory has been arrested. That’s on top of the arrest of 11 others who worked at the Nana Backpackers Hostel, where the majority of the victims had been staying. The hostel’s manager Duong Duc Toan denies that Tiger Vodka shots served at his bar are what made the victims sick.

While we’ve got you, if you want to learn more about methanol poisoning, here’s a handy Shortcut. You’re welcome.

Trade talk ramps up

Fresh from a week of parliamentary pandemonium where a bazillion (or 31...) bills were passed on the last day, PM Anthony Albanese has been asked to explain how he’s preparing for US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House - and his new economic policies… The big concern is what impact Trump’s plans for tariffs on global imports would have on Aussie producers. There were already warnings that our exports to the US could become 10-20% more expensive. And now, Aussie farmers say their $16 billion in trade with China could be under threat (paywall) if Trump pushes for our largest trading partner to take more agricultural imports from the US - cutting our lunch… Albanese’s also been pressed on whether he’ll visit Trump to discuss trade directly - following Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s lead. He’s neither confirmed nor denied that’s on the cards…

Unbeaten to the top

If you're a North Melbourne fan, congrats on a big weekend - and if you're not, just know your North Melbourne friends/family members/colleagues have bragging rights after the team won the AFLW grand final. They beat the Brisbane Lions 39-9 at Melbourne’s Ikon Park. It was extra sweet because it capped off the team’s undefeated season - making them the first national team in history, men’s or women’s, to do that. Well done also to the Melbourne Renegades - they won their first-ever WBBL title yesterday, beating the Brisbane Heat - taking them from last place in the previous season to first. Over in Ireland, the Wallabies put in a strong effort early yesterday but fell short against the home side, 22-19. And last night, the Tillies lost their second friendly against Brazil on the Gold Coast, 2-1. Onwards and upwards…

Is there strife on Mars… bars?

A British man who discovered a Mars bar without the ripple on top has been compensated by makers Mars Wrigley UK. Before you get too excited and start hunting for smooth Mars bars hoping to strike it rich, he was compensated just under $4... Harry Seager discovered the immaculate confection after buying it from a local servo and posted it on the ‘Dull Men’s Club’ Facebook page, where it became an online sensation - many members queried if Mars was planning to free the ripple altogether. But Mars has promised that swirls still run the world - this anomaly simply slipped through their production line. For Seager’s part, he says he’s happy with his windfall because he can buy another 2 bars with it…

Apropos of Nothing

The banana-taped-to-a-wall artwork Comedian has been eaten by the man who bought it for $9.5 million. Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun consumed the eye-wateringly expensive potassium boost during a press conference in Hong Kong, but he says he expects the value of the artwork to go up, even as the banana is going down…

A sour note for the World Beekeeping Awards this year as there’ll be no prizes for honey due to worries over fraudulent entrants. Nearly half of the honey tested in Europe in 2023 was said to be fake - so there'll be no sweet victories until organisers know the contenders are legit. 

British actor Keira Knightley is many things - an Oscar nominee, a box-office superstar - and, uh, dental drummer extraordinaire. On this weekend’s episode of The Graham Norton Show, Knightley played Cher’s hit Believe on her teeth - in front of the woman herself. Luckily, Cher liked the performance - she could handle the tooth…

Squiz the Day

8.00pm (AEDT) - A landmark climate case brought by law students from Vanuatu testing the obligations of nations to prevent greenhouse gas emissions is set to begin in the International Court of Justice (set down for 2 weeks) - Netherlands

Australia-New Zealand scrutiny of legislation conference - Melbourne

Cyber Monday

ABS Data Release - Retail Trade, October; Building Approvals, October; Business Indicators, October

National days for the United Arab Emirates and Lao People’s Democratic Republic

World Computer Literacy Day 

Birthdays for Ann Patchett (1963), Lucy Liu (1968), and Britney Spears (1981)

Anniversary of:

  • Napoleon Bonaparte being crowned Emperor of France (1804)

  • the Smith Family charity marks its centenary (1921)

  • the release of Fred Astaire's first film, Dancing Lady (1933)

  • Fidel Castro becoming President of Cuba (1976)

  • the death of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar (1993)