Monday, 9 September - You’re one in a million

Good morning, it’s Monday, 9 September. In your Squiz Today…

• The US Government takes on Google in the next big competition case

• A super typhoon hits Asia

• And the Paralympics bid adieu to Paris…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Is what US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has rebranded his “meandering discourses”. At recent rallies, Trump has gone off-script to cover topics like electrocution, bacon sales and cannibal killers. He insists it’s not a sign that he’s past it - rather, a sign of a brilliant mind at work…

The US v Google - Round 2

The Squiz

Today, a historic trial between the US Justice Department and tech giant Google kicks off as the Biden administration continues to take the company to task over alleged antitrust violations. In simple terms, in this case, the US government claims Google uses anti-competitive tactics in the digital advertising part of its business, which has significantly harmed news publishers. The US Government goes in with some momentum - last month, it won a major lawsuit when a judge agreed that Google had spent billions to create an “illegal monopoly” to make it the world’s default search engine.

Back it up a bit…?

Put simply, Google is the world’s biggest digital advertising platform, making $460 billion in ad revenue last year. US regulators reckon that's down to the company tying together its tools for publishers and advertisers, giving it a "privileged position as the middleman". And they've alleged Google has control over the digital ad market because it actively shuts out competition. Another aspect of the case is how that affects news organisations as traditional news outlets (especially newspapers…) and digital publishers continue to shut up shop because they can't compete for ad dollars. As a result, Justice Department antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter says "journalism is under threat". Google rejects the allegations and says it doesn’t have to give its rivals technological advantages.

What could happen?

The case in Virginia will run for several weeks with dozens of potential witnesses including current/former Google employees, big publishers like News Corp, and antitrust experts. The verdict will be decided by a federal judge, and reports say the outcome will have a global impact. It's been a hot topic for our consumer watchdog for several years, and in the UK, regulators say Google's practices are “harming thousands of UK publishers and advertisers”. If the US government wins, Google could be forced to break up its adtech business which experts say would shake up the entire ad industry, boost competition and alter the future of big tech’s role in media/journalism. But Google will do everything it can to stop that, claiming it would "slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder" for small companies to grow. We’ll just have to watch this digital space…

Making time to reach out

Between work, family, friends and all the responsibilities we shoulder on any given day, it can be a lot. That’s why it’s important to ask R U OK? regularly to let those around you know they are genuinely supported, connected and cared about. It’s one simple question that can have a real impact. R U OK? Day is this Thursday, 12 September - and you can find free tips and tools to help you foster a supportive environment any day of the year at ruok.org.au

Squiz the Rest

A deadly super typhoon

Super Typhoon Yagi has turned deadly in northern Vietnam, where at least 14 people are confirmed dead and 176 injured after it made landfall on Saturday morning. At least 18 other people were killed on Friday when Yagi hit the Philippines and the Chinese island of Hainan. Meteorologists say it's the worst typhoon to hit Asia this year, with the Indo-Pacific Tropical Cyclone Warning Center saying 203km/h winds were recorded in Vietnam’s Hai Phong and Quang Ninh provinces. It’s caused power outages in the capital Hanoi along with widespread damage to buildings and cars. At least a dozen Vietnamese fishermen are still missing. Closer to home, the Bureau of Meteorology reckons much of southeastern Australia is in for a warm and wet spring, with higher-than-average temperatures and moisture potentially spelling more storms. Don’t put those brollies away just yet…

Pushing for solutions

Heads up - our new Governor-General Sam Mostyn will be handed the long-awaited Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s final report today. Despite the interim report - and 13 urgent recommendations - being handed down back in August 2022, reports say not much is known about what this final document will contain. Amy Cooper - the CEO of veterans’ support organisation, Soldier On - reckons the 3 Commissioners will make “good, clear and concise recommendations” and that they’ll “expect further momentum and traction from government”. Veterans’ advocate Julie-Ann Finney - who lost her son, 38yo Petty Officer David Finney to suicide in 2019 - is pushing for an ongoing body to investigate the broader issues the Commission has uncovered. She says it’s needed “because veterans and serving members and families, we have nowhere to go when anything is really wrong”. 

If this has raised any issues for you, you can find a list of support services here.

A political look-ahead

Our federal pollies are back in Canberra for another week, and there are a couple of things on the agenda worth getting across… First up, there are likely to be more questions for the Albanese Government - and by extension Treasurer Jim Chalmers - over their handling of the under-pressure economy. That follows last week’s release of the latest economic growth data that delivered a sluggish result in the wake of interest rate rises. The other thing set to get airtime is the government’s backflip on the inclusion of LGBTQI+ questions in the 2026 Census. The government’s copped some flak after saying sexuality/gender questions were “too complex” and wouldn’t be canvassed. Yesterday, Chalmers said the pushback has “been heard”, and questions on both sexual orientation and gender will now be included.

Swings and roundabouts

The Paralympics Closing Ceremony is on as we speak… All up, Australia finished 9th on the medal tally, bringing home 18 gold, 17 silver and 28 bronze. Para-athlete Madison de Rozario won our final medal - silver in the marathon T54 - revealing afterwards that her father had died the night before the Games started. Last day shout-outs go to Curtis McGrath who became a 4-time Paralympic gold medallist after taking out the 200m men's kayak single KL2 race, and James Turner, who won the men's 100m T36 sprint, collecting his second gold medal in Paris. He was our closing ceremony flagbearer alongside dual sport gold medallist Lauren Parker… Also on a high - US Open men’s doubles pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell claimed their first grand slam title in straight sets yesterday. But the Wallabies aren’t as perky after a “humiliating” loss to Argentina yesterday 67-27. You can’t win ‘em all… 

Miss Congeniality IRL

We think of Fiji as a chilled-out paradise, but when it comes to the island nation’s beauty queens, things have “turned really ugly” in a way that would shock even Kathy Morningside… Just 2 days after having been crowned Miss Fiji, organisers told 24yo Manshika Prasad she was no longer the winner, and runner-up 30yo Sydney-sider Nadine Roberts took the title. It followed mysterious claims the vote was rigged, prompting the need for "revised results". Cue lots of crying and questions from the mystified judges… That was until they discovered Roberts is married to disgraced Aussie businessman Jamie McIntyre - an associate of a property development firm that owns the event’s licence. Miss Universe Organisation stepped in and reinstated Prasad, but Roberts isn’t happy, calling herself the “real Miss Universe Fiji 2024”. Pageants… so much beauty hiding so much scandal… 

Apropos of Nothing

Japan is facing an ageing population and even their Royal family isn’t immune… Prince Hisahito has turned 18yo, making him the first male royal to reach adulthood in almost 40 years. Reports say it could force the nation to finally accept a female royal figurehead - it worked for us for 70 years… 

Speaking of queens, this year’s annual Broken Heel festival was extra special as it marked 30 years since the release of its inspiration, the film Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Luckily it doesn’t sound like fans will have to wait another 3 decades for the sequel… 

Also making a comeback is the Country Women’s Association - aka the CWA - cookbook. The organisation is posting vintage recipes online - including classics like Grandma's meatloaf and Weet-Bix slice - in a bid to help people deal with cozzie livs. We’ll be starting with broken glass jelly…

Squiz the Day

9.00am (AEST) - The Clean Energy Council Australian Wind Industry Summit 2024 (on until 10 September) - Melbourne 

10.00am (AEST) - A sentencing hearing is to begin for Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Button, who pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving causing the death of 10 people after a wedding last year (the hearing is set for 3 days) - Newcastle, NSW

11.00am (AEST) - The final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to be handed to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn - Canberra

Federal Parliament resumes (until 12 September) - Canberra

The second US Department of Justice antitrust case against Google is set to begin in Virginia, US

ABS data release - Building Approvals, July 

Minerals Week 2024 (on until 11 September) - Canberra

AFR Property Summit (on until 10 September) - Sydney

North Korea’s National Day

Birthdays for Adam Sandler (1966), Michael Bublé (1975), Hugh Grant (1960) and Michelle Williams (1980)

Anniversary of

• The death of revolutionary and Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong (1976)

• Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest-reigning monarch in British history (2015)

• Kim Il Sung established North Korea (1948)

Tuesday
3.00am (AEST) - The iPhone series 16 is set to be launched during Apple’s Glowtime event in the US