Thursday, 7 May - I'm blue, da-ba-dee-da-ba-di

May 07, 2026

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 7 May. In your Squiz Today…

  • The US and Iran indicate that a peace deal might be closer than ever

  • A group of women known as the ‘ISIS brides’ and their children are set to return to Oz tonight

  • And why so many big music acts have something called blue dot fever…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“It kicks ass.”

Said comedian Conan O’Brien about the new record from The Rolling Stones. Due out on 10 July, Foreign Tongues will be the band’s 25th album - a treat for any fan unable to obtain an appropriate amount of satisfaction…

Turning the page

The Squiz

The Trump administration reckons it’s getting closer to an end to its war with Iran, with Iranian negotiators currently reviewing a new peace proposal. We’ve heard this story before, but the US website Axios is reporting this is the closest the 2 sides have been to deal so far - with the agreement hinging on a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ that’s just one page long…

That’s a pretty important page…

Isn’t it, just… The idea is that the memo would declare an official end to the fighting and begin 30 days of negotiating over reducing Iran’s nuclear program and opening the Strait of Hormuz. You might remember that earlier in the week, the US military commenced ‘Project Freedom’, a plan to shepherd stranded ships through the Strait - yesterday, that plan was paused while Iran reviews the memo. The US wants a response by the end of the week - but one Iranian MP said the document reads like a US wishlist, rather than a deal. For the US’s part, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the offensive stage of the war, called ‘Operation Epic Fury’, was now over and that the US had achieved its objectives. He said they’re now all-in on opening up the Strait…

And what’s happening at home?

Even if the Strait does reopen within that 30-day period, experts say fuel and energy markets will still take a while to recover… Back in Oz, PM Anthony Albanese has dropped a $10 billion Budget teaser to shore up national fuel supplies. The plan - which is supposed to be in place by 2030 - includes increasing our minimum emergency stockpile by an extra 10 days, bringing it up to 50 days. There’s also more finance on offer for companies to buy fuel and fertiliser, and a plan for a government-owned fuel reserve to hold a billion litres of emergency diesel and jet fuel. Coalition leader Angus Taylor said the government hasn’t gone far enough - he’s still pushing it to hold at least 60 days of emergency fuel.

What’s the Treasurer saying?

In a special edition of the CommBank View: Economics & Markets podcast, Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlines how escalating conflict in the Middle East is complicating the economic outlook - and why that’s made this year’s Budget more challenging to finalise. For more insights and what to expect in next week’s Budget, visit the CommBank Newsroom.

Squiz the Rest

Home, but not free

A group of 4 women - known as the ‘ISIS brides’ - and 9 children are due to arrive back in Australia tonight, and police will arrest some of them when they do. To remind you, the women travelled to Syria between 2013 and 2016 where they married Islamic State (IS) fighters and had children. They’re part of a larger group of 34 women and children who’ve been in a detention camp since the defeat of IS in 2019. Under Oz law, IS is a terror organisation, and AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says “some individuals” could face terrorism charges. The Coalition has criticised the government for allowing the group to come back, but Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke says there are “serious limits” (aka legal restrictions) on preventing Australian citizens returning home.

Child protection workers have been stood down…

…following the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby in the Northern Territory last week - 47yo Jefferson Lewis has been charged with her murder. The NT government launched an investigation into the 5yo girl’s living situation in the weeks leading up to her death, with news reports (paywall) alleging that she was the subject of 6 child protection reports in 6 weeks. Yesterday, NT Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill said 3 workers have been stood down over the failure to protect the 5yo - and also said the investigation was revealing widespread problems that would require a more in-depth look at how the territory’s child protection department operates. Tonight, vigils for Kumanjayi Little Baby will be held around the country - you can see if one’s happening near you here…

Kier today, gone tomorrow?

Today’s going to be a big test for UK PM Keir Starmer, as England, Wales and Scotland will be voting in a bunch of elections that will be seen as a test of his leadership. Starmer’s popularity has been in strife for some time now - thanks to a struggling economy and a series of scandals - and polling indicates that his Labour Party is in serious danger tonight. It’s facing a big challenge from Reform UK to its right and the Greens to its left - and could lose half of the 2,500 English council seats (no, really) that it currently holds. While it’s still 3 years until the next general election has to be held, analysts say that kind of result could prompt Starmer’s challengers to make a move…

Vale Ted Turner

The US billionaire who founded CNN died yesterday at 87yo. He’s being remembered as having a huge impact on American life and media - particularly for creating the 24-hour news network, which he once called “the greatest achievement” of his life. But he had plenty of contenders for that crown: he won the America’s Cup in 1977, was Time’s Man of the Year in 1991, and consistently campaigned to eliminate nuclear weapons. His personal life made the news a bunch too - particularly for his 10-year marriage to Jane Fonda, who called him her “favourite ex-husband”. And if you didn’t mind a bit of Captain Planet in the 1990s, you can thank him for that too - he co-created the show to educate kids on environmental causes. The power is yours…

Pros and concerts

It hasn’t been a great year for touring musical acts, with a bunch of high-profile cancellations earning the label ‘blue dot fever’. It’s a reference to the blue dots on Ticketmaster seating charts that represent unsold seats - too many of those, and a concert tour quickly becomes unprofitable. So far, artists like Post Malone, Meghan Trainor and most recently, The Pussycat Dolls have all caught blue dot fever - cancelling part or all of their tours following poor ticket sales. As for why, analysts reckon some of those acts might have overestimated their popularity a bit, and rising ticket prices are also a factor during a global fuel crisis. Beware the blue dot…

Apropos of Nothing

If you haven't had enough Met Gala yet (and if not, check out our latest Squiz Shortcut with special guest Fashion Critical), here’s a breakdown of the specific artworks behind some of the night’s looks. We’ll let you judge which worked and which didn’t…

New research suggests a different (and now extinct) species of koala once inhabited Western Oz. A collection of skulls was found to be different from our very own koalas due to their dimpled cheeks - as if drop bears could get any cuter…

And the fifth season of US restaurant drama The Bear is set to drop on June 25 - but hopefully you’ve had your fill, because the show has confirmed that this season will also be its last. No coming back for, uh, sixths…

Squiz the Day

9.15am (AEST) - Rural and Regional Summit, which brings councils and community leaders together to explore the critical issues shaping rural and regional NSW - Sydney

9.30am (AEST) - First court appearance for cricketer David Warner on a charge of drink driving, Downing Centre Local Court - Sydney

11.00am (AEST) - Greens leader Larissa Waters will address the Smart Energy Council - Sydney 

12.30pm (AEST) - Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis, Barrenjoey chief economist Jo Masters and Grattan Institute chief executive Aruna Sathanapally are set to deliver the Women in Economics Network pre-Budget address to the National Press Club - Canberra 

6.30pm (AEST) - Vigils are scheduled to be held around the country for Kumanjayi Little Baby 

Scottish parliamentary election and Senedd election (Welsh parliament) 

ABS data release: International trade in goods, March 2026; Causes of death, 2024; 

Western Australia budget day 

Agfest begins in Tasmania (until 9 May) 

🐑 The Sheep Detectives is released in Australian cinemas

World Password Day

Anniversary of:

  • Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony premiering in Vienna (1824)

  • the makers of Agent Orange reaching a $180 million out-of-court settlement with veterans (1984)

  • Emmanuel Macron winning France’s presidential election (2017)