Monday, 23 September - My most imaginary friend

September 23, 2024

Good morning, it’s Monday, 23 September. In your Squiz Today…

  • Albanese firms up our Pacific alliances at the Quad

  • No let up for the Middle East

  • And a 90s favourite is back… 🐰

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Squiz Sayings

“I’m so proud to be an Austrian.” 

Said one of the country’s newest citizens - actor Stephen Fry, who gained citizenship thanks to a legal overhaul allowing the descendants of Austrians who fled Nazi rule to apply. He reckons it’s sehr gut that he can vote in the country’s upcoming election…

A brief appearance on the world stage

The Squiz

After a gruelling few weeks on the domestic political front, PM Anthony Albanese hit the road for the Quad Summit in the US alongside US President Joe Biden, Indian PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida. Biden played host in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware for his last Quad appearance, with the meetings at his former high school and his home. As for what the group discussed, they didn’t name China, but did flag they’re keeping a close eye on “coercive and intimidating manoeuvres in the South China Sea”. 

What’s that about? 

The Quad has always denied its goal is to counteract China’s moves in the Indo-Pacific, but Biden had a hot mic moment yesterday going against that - saying, “China continues to behave aggressively, testing us all”. To that point, they’ve agreed to ramp up maritime security efforts - although they didn’t announce major new plans aside from joint Coast Guard operations in the Pacific for the first time next year. There were also questions over the Quad’s future if Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump wins the election in November, and what US foreign policy will look like - a hot topic for us, given the AUKUS security pact… Biden said the Quad is “here to stay”, while Albanese believes AUKUS will continue to be supported by future US administrations. All up, analysts say it sends a clear message to Beijing that the alliance is sticking together…

So is Albanese on the way home?

Yep. He’s copped a fair bit of flak over his international trips since becoming PM, and on Friday, he was questioned again about his travel schedule over the next few months… Aside from the Quad meeting, he’s headed to Samoa for the CHOGM, Laos for the ASEAN and East Asia Summit, Peru for the APEC meeting and Brazil for this year’s G20 Summit. For his part, Albanese said he’s prioritising international trips he “has to make” alongside his responsibilities on home soil, where he’s got his work cut out for him as key election issues take shape. The PM’s returning to the latest Newspoll results (paywall) showing support for Labor has fallen to its lowest level since the 2022 election, with housing affordability overtaking cost of living as the #1 concern for voters. And with the RBA’s rate announcement due tomorrow, it’s likely to be a hot topic this week… 

You look lovely, deer

Summer is coming so it’s a good time to refresh your beauty game. Kotia is the world’s first skincare range made with 100% pure New Zealand deer milk. It sounds wild and it is, because it naturally contains vitamins A, B, D, and E, zinc, iodine, and protein to hydrate your skin for a healthy glow. Kotia products also use peptide technology to minimise imperfections, fine lines and pigmentation to renew your complexion. Check out the full range here. Squizers can use the code GLOW15 for a 15% discount.

Squiz the Rest

No let up for the Middle East

After Israeli and Hezbollah forces exchanged heavy fire over the weekend, the United Nations, the US and the UK have urged both sides to step back before the conflict breaks into all-out war. Responding to last week’s surprise attacks via devices in Lebanon/Syria, reports say Hezbollah fired a “barrage” of rockets into northern Israel - most of which were intercepted. And Israel says its military killed 12 senior Hezbollah commanders in air strikes in Lebanon. Overnight, UN chief Antonio Guterres said he feared “the possibility of transforming Lebanon [into] another Gaza”, while the White House and the UK both called for calm. Meanwhile, Israeli troops ordered the offices of Al Jazeera in the West Bank to close for 45 days after accusing it of “incitement to and support of terrorism”. It follows Israel’s Cabinet ordering a ban on the Qatari-owned network from operating in Israel in May.

An offer he can refuse

Former/hopeful US President Donald Trump says he won’t take part in a second televised debate against his opponent/current VP Kamala Harris because it’s “too late” with voting already underway in most states. Harris has accepted an invitation from CNN, but Trump reckons she’s keen because she’s “losing badly”. The numbers suggest otherwise - the polls after their match-up on 10 September show viewers thought Harris outperformed Trump, but it was close… And hang in there if you are a debate fiend - vice presidential candidates Tim Walz and JD Vance go head-to-head on 1 October. As for the money side of the campaign, Harris has some momentum… By the latest official numbers, the Democrats brought in $378 million in donations in August - triple the amount of the Republicans on $125 million.

Umbrellas at the ready

With most of the country having had pretty decent weather over the weekend, there’s no need to be too cocky and think that the bliss of beautiful spring conditions is here to stay… In the coming days, forecasters are predicting the whole of Oz is set for a drenching. Despite it now being well into September (typically our driest month…), experts say an unseasonable northwest cloud band could bring record-breaking heavy rain, and worse still, it could mark the beginning of a wet spring/summer with a potential La Niña emerging in the Pacific Ocean. It kicked off overnight in the north of Western Australia, but almost nowhere will be immune between now and Thursday, except maybe for some areas in northwest Queensland and on the west coast of Western Oz. Get yer gumboots at the ready… 

Footy finals incoming…

After a big weekend of footy, we now know the Swans will face off against the Lions in this Saturday's AFL Grand Final. Neither side has won the title in a long time… For Sydney, it was back in 2012, but for Brisbane it's a really distant memory as they were last victorious in 2003. No matter who wins, Victorians will be disappointed as none of the teams from our keenest AFL state made the cut, but they'll still host the event at the MCG. They might have better luck in the Brownlow tonight though, with experts predicting Carlton captain Patrick Cripps and Collingwood star Nick Daicos will share the accolade… For NRL fans, this weekend’s preliminary finals will decide who makes their 6 October Grand Final. On Friday, Melbourne Storm will face off against Sydney Roosters, before Penrith Panthers take on Cronulla Sharks on Saturday. 

Back to the future

Technology has come a long way over the past 30 years and while we might assume kids want the latest of everything, an old fad making a comeback is the Tamagotchi. For 90’s kids, it was the must-have toy/virtual pet that sorted the caring types from the not-so-attentive, and now the egg-shaped device is back and bigger than ever with Japanese company Bandai Namco opening its first Tamagotchi shop in London. And it’s not just the Brits who are mad for it… Global sales doubled in recent times, and while the new model looks like the original, it offers more functionality, including the ability to download stuff onto it to combat that “sense of fatigue that you might have gotten" from version one. For those keen to relive their youth - or desperate for anything that gets kids off their phones - you can get the gadget here in Australia. 

Apropos of Nothing - Animals out of place edition

Airplane food is never the best, but for travellers on a recent Scandinavian Airlines flight, it was so diabolical it caused an emergency landing… That was due to a mouse scurrying out of a passenger’s meal, sending everyone into a tailspin. This is why you should never serve ratatouille on a flight…

Formula 1 drivers in Singapore were determined to avoid a road-kill situation during final practice on Saturday ahead of last night’s Grand Prix, as they all pulled over after a fearless lizard strolled onto the track mid-race. Marshalls rounded up the rogue reptile before it got splatted…

And speaking of fearless… a 2yo Siamese found his way home 2 months after getting lost in Yellowstone National Park in the US - 1,400km from where he lives. Rayne Beau is now safely snuggled back up with sibling Starr in California along with their “ecstatic” owners. Who says curiosity would kill a cat…

Squiz the Day

9.30am (AEST) - The RBA Board begins its 2-day meeting ahead of tomorrow’s interest rate announcement - Sydney

9.55am (AEST) - Australian Cricket: One Day Cup - Victoria v Tasmania - Melbourne, and watch on Kayo Freebies

12.00pm (AEST) - Peter Dutton to speak at CEDA event about his nuclear energy plan - Sydney

7.30pm (AEST) - AFL’s Brownlow medal awards ceremony - Melbourne

King's Birthday public holiday (WA)

Paris Fashion Week begins (on until 1 October) 

Saudi Arabia’s National Day

Birthdays for Bruce Springsteen (1949) and Jason Alexander (1959)

Anniversary of:

  • the birthday of Ray Charles (1930)

  • the founding of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1932)

  • the founding of Nintendo Koppai (later Nintendo Company) by Fusajiro Yamauchi to produce and market the playing card game Hanafuda (1889)

  • the premiere of The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Modern Family (2009)

  • the death of Sigmund Freud (1939)