Thursday, 5 December - I know I have good taste

December 05, 2024

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 5 December. In your Squiz Today…

  • Political chaos in South Korea

  • The Aussie economy slows

  • And Beyonce is crowned the queen of pop…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“A dancer dances … even with replaced hips and scoliosis.”

Says entertainment legend, actress, singer and - yep - dancer, Liza Minnelli. She’s helping television execs with casting for her upcoming biopic, and she seems to be going a bit Gaga over who she thinks should play her…

A political power move in South Korea

The Squiz

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol is under pressure to resign - or face impeachment - after he declared emergency martial law on Tuesday night. It didn’t last long - Yoon called it off 6 hours later… Critics have called it the most serious threat to South Korea’s democracy since the 1980s - that’s when the last major uprisings against authoritarianism flared up. This time around, the decision drew mass protests and condemnation from Yoon’s own People Power Party and the country’s opposition Democratic Party, which is pursuing insurrection charges against Yoon over the chaos.

What is martial law and what brought this on? 

Good question. You can read up here, but in short, it’s when a country’s politicians and other decision-makers are replaced by the military, giving it unlimited powers. It also usually means a crackdown on political activities and protests. As for why Yoon made the declaration during an unannounced TV address late at night, that’s a mystery… He said “anti-state elements” and “threats posed by North Korea” were threatening the country’s democracy. He didn’t offer more details - but some reports have pointed out that it came as he faced off against the Democratic Party over his recent budget. After his declaration, troops made a short-lived attempt to secure the National Assembly building - but about 190 lawmakers got inside to unanimously reject Yoon’s order. He backtracked hours later...

What now?

Yoon’s critics say it’s the end for his leadership... It’s hard to see a way forward for him, given his own party called his declaration “tragic” and wants him and the key military/police figures involved held responsible… As for our leaders, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong says she’s “concerned” about the situation - and that as a close partner of South Korea, Australia hopes “for a democratic and peaceful resolution for the Korean people”. Just on them, South Koreans are said to be “embarrassed that he has ruined their country’s reputation”... And heads up, if you’re travelling there anytime soon, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has updated its travel advice - it says you should avoid “protests and demonstrations”.

The gift that keeps on giving

You don’t need us to remind you - ’tis the season for gift giving. But if you’re stuck trying to find a present for the busy people in your life, might we suggest Huskee - the Aussie creators of unique, reusable coffee cups. Huskee’s Christmas gift sets make a useful pressie for anyone in your life - your mum, your best friend, or your Secret Santa. And bonus - they’ll think of you every time they have a sip of their morning brew... With Christmas delivery deadlines coming up fast, you can hop to it here.

Squiz the Rest

Breaking ranks with the US on Israel              

Australia has voted in favour of a United Nations resolution demanding Israel end its “unlawful presence” in Palestinian territories, including Gaza. This isn’t the first time we’ve taken a step away from the US on the conflict - last month, Oz voted to support the “permanent sovereignty” of Palestinians over occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The US and Israel were 2 of 8 countries voting against this time around, while 7 others abstained. Our Ambassador to the UN James Larsen says the change “reflects our determination that the international community again work together to build momentum” towards a 2-state solution (which you can read up on here). But not everyone agrees - Coalition leader Peter Dutton says the government has “sold out the Jewish community for ‘green’ votes”.

Anything you can do…

Lawyers for Donald Trump have used President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son Hunter to argue the incoming leader’s hush money criminal conviction should be thrown out. Biden said his son was treated unfairly by the US Justice Department because of who he was, and Trump’s lawyers argue that’s exactly what’s happening to their guy. Trump was convicted by a jury in May of falsifying business records and was due to be sentenced last month, but that got put on hold after his election win. The hush money case has been run by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office has said it might look at delaying sentencing for 4 years while Trump is in office but isn’t keen on having the case dismissed altogether. Over to you, judge…

Slow going for the Aussie economy

New figures released yesterday by the Bureau of Stats show our economic growth for July-September is the lowest since the pandemic - 0.3% gross domestic product for the quarter, and down to 0.8% for the year so far. For reference, the Reserve Bank expected it to be higher - forecasting growth of 1.5%. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is blaming high interest rates, cost of living pressures and global unrest for our snoozy economy, and though his government is spending big, consumers = not so much… Average disposable income went up, but our spending stayed the same. Cue speculation that an interest rate cut in the first half of next year is looking good. Just on that - the Reserve Bank will make its next call on interest rates on Tuesday.

Commbank walks it Commback

Our largest retail bank apologised yesterday after they managed to put many customers and both major political parties offside with a $3 fee for customers looking to withdraw their own money. Customers were told on Monday that those who used an 'assisted fee withdrawal' service - aka getting money out with the help of a teller as opposed to using an ATM - would pay for the service. But after consumers and pollies kicked up a stink, head of retail banking services Angus Sullivan says the new fees are on pause for 6 months. He said customer feedback - not political pressure - led to the decision, and the bank “didn’t get the communication right”. Rethink things? Yes they CAN…

Beyoncé is top of the pop stars

The music mag Billboard yesterday crowned Queen Bey as the biggest pop star of the 21st century, beating Taylor Swift and Rihanna to the title. Billboard argued that while Taylor has the biggest commercial impact, Ms Knowles-Carter’s excellence, consistency (as they put it, she had no “flop eras”), and longevity gave her the edge - and with a #1 hit in 2000 and 2024, not many folks can say that. Drake, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Kanye West also cracked the top 10, with no room for Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa or Kendrick Lamar in the top 25. Billboard will also announce their #1 pop star of the year in the coming days. Note: if you’re a Spotify user wondering who your #1 artist is this year, Spotify Wrapped has dropped overnight. #nojudgement…

*For more on Spotify Wrapped, check out this week’s Weekly Wrap

Apropos of Nothing

After a 37-year snooze, a satellite dish in the West Oz town of Carnarvon is back receiving radar signals. Canadian company ThothX bought the mothballed dish in 2022 and has brought it back to life. Carnarvon, we have a solution…

The baggy green cap worn by Aussie cricket legend Don Bradman for the 1947-48 season has been sold for $479,000 at auction. Described as ‘sun faded and worn’ with ‘some insect damage’, the buyer was not deterred from forking out for a piece of cricket history…

The unfortunate website mixup on the packaging of Wicked dolls - which directed people to a - ahem - different website than intended has led to a class action lawsuit. One South Carolina mother said her daughter visited the link, causing them both emotional distress, so they’re part of a group seeking $5 million in damages. 

Squiz the Day

9.00am (AEDT) - Chris Dawson is appealing his sentence in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal for carnal knowledge of a former student - Sydney

2.20pm (AEST) - Women’s Cricket: Australia v India - First ODI - Brisbane, and watch on Kayo

5.30pm (AEDT) - We get to meet and chat to some of you wonderful Squizers at our very first Squiz Meet Up in Sydney

7.00pm (AEDT) - Soccer: Asian Champions League, Sydney FC v Kaya FC Iloilo - Sydney, and watch on 10 Play

Nominations for the Critics Choice Awards 2025 will be announced

ABS Data Release - Monthly Household Spending Indicator, October; International Trade in Goods, October 

Bartender Appreciation Day 

Anniversary of:

  • the birthdays of animator Walt Disney (1901) and muso Little Richard (1932)

  • the end of alcohol prohibition in the US (1933)

  • the death of former South African president and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela (2013)