Tuesday, 15 October - You wanna be startin' somethin'

October 15, 2024

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, 15 October. In your Squiz Today…

  • Tensions between China and Taiwan heat up

  • Trump’s safety is in the spotlight again

  • And an Aussie champ rides out on a high… 🚴‍♀️

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“Can we change the public perception of a cockroach by giving it a voice?”

Asks Jack Ashby from Cambridge University about a new project that utilises AI to give the dead animals in its museum a voice. From crispy cockroaches to a massive fin whale skeleton, they can answer questions about their time on Earth. Those cockies - they never say die…

A reheating of China-Taiwan tensions

The Squiz

China has been criticised by US and Australian leaders after its People’s Liberation Army launched a fresh round of large-scale military drills around the self-governed island of Taiwan. The drills are the fourth in 2 years, prompting Taiwan to deploy fighter jets and ships to respond in a way that “does not escalate” the situation. China said its moves are a “stern warning” against “separatist acts” - analysts say the military moves are likely linked to a speech from Taiwan’s new-ish President William Lai at Taiwan’s National Day celebrations last week when he said his government would resist “annexation” by Beijing. Whatever the reason, the US Department of State says it’s “seriously concerned” by China’s response. 

Remind me what this is about again… 

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway territory and wants to bring it back into the fold as part of its ‘One China’ plans. Its leaders say they’re prepared to do that by force if necessary... Taiwan, on the other hand, has its own democratic government led by President Lai (a strong supporter of Taiwanese independence) and a big ally in the form of the US. As for why China - a global superpower and the 2nd-largest economy in the world - wants to “reunite” with Taiwan, there are several reasons, but experts say a big one is that it’s geographically in a spot of strategic maritime significance. In short, if China controls the region, it could also control Asia’s major shipping routes…

So what’s going to happen? 

It’s difficult to say, but the US and its allies, including Australia, have long been concerned that China might make good on its promise to take Taiwan by force. Yesterday, the Biden administration said there’s no “justification” for the drills and called on China to “act with restraint”. You might have also heard that there’s a US election coming up… Whoever wins the presidency and how they view/respond to Chinese aggression will be a top-order issue. Vice President Kamala Harris supports Taiwan's independence and has said the US will “continue to support Taiwan's self-defence, consistent with our longstanding policy”. Her Republican rival Donald Trump is no China fan, but he has said that Taiwan should pay the US for its protection. 

A dazzling display of sustainability

Aussies are big on solar panels, with more than 25% of our total renewable energy being generated via the rooftops of residential and commercial buildings*. That includes Westfield, which has 9 of its shopping destinations set up with rooftop solar, with plans to expand to more destinations across the country. Good to know as you’re eyeing off that must-have item in your favourite store under their ambient lighting... Find out more at westfield.com.au.

*Source: Clean Energy Council

Squiz the Rest

Trump’s safety in the spotlight again

That’s after it came to light yesterday that a man with guns, multiple passports and false media/VIP passes was blocked at a rally held by former/hopeful US President Donald Trump in Coachella, California on Saturday. The local Sheriff Chad Bianco said that 49yo Vem Miller was plotting to kill Trump, and his deputies "probably prevented" a "third assassination attempt". Miller made it to the inside perimeter of the rally, where he was arrested without a fuss and later charged with gun offences before being released on $5,000 bail. For Miller’s part, he says he’s “100% a Trump supporter”. Bianco said Miller considers himself a ‘sovereign citizen’ - they are people who reckon they aren’t subject to any government statutes unless they consent. Don’t stuff up your algorithms by searching for them… 

America comes to Israel’s defence

The US is set to send troops and a fancy anti-missile system to Israel in response to Iran's recent missile attacks that were in retaliation for Israel's assassinations of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders. Keeping up? The deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system "underscores the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defence of Israel," the official statement said. But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has warned that "we have no red lines in defending our people and interests," he said. Closer to home, Labor federal MP Peter Khalil's electorate office was vandalised yesterday morning, including with a symbol associated with the Hamas terror group. Khalil is the son of Egyptian migrants and was recently made the Albanese Government’s Special Envoy for Social Cohesion. He said what happened was “disturbing and concerning.”

A request to show them the money

As former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann pursues an appeal against a defamation decision that found he likely raped his former colleague Brittany Higgins, he's also trying to navigate some tricky money issues… The court ordered him to cough up $2 million to Ten after he lost his case against the TV network and presenter Lisa Wilkinson over an interview with Higgins aired on The Project. Now, Ten wants the court to order Lehrmann to pay $200,000 in security if he wants to keep going. Lehrmann's lawyer Zali Burrows says that’s impossible because he’s "on a Centrelink income" and called Ten’s move a "bullying tactic". She also shut down any possibility Lehrmann could earn much coin going forward, calling him “arguably Australia’s most hated man”. With friends like that… A decision about how this all moves forward is pending. 

Debit card fees declined

The Albanese Government plans to ban sneaky surcharges on debit card payments to put a stop to people having to pay to use their own money. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will outline the plan in more detail today while announcing a $2.1 million funding boost for the ACCC to target businesses charging more than they should be for card payments. At the same time, the Reserve Bank is set to launch a review of those payment costs for retailers. It’s legal for businesses to charge for card payments but it can’t be more than what they pay for the transaction. Reports say Aussies are shelling out $960 million each year in debit and credit card surcharges, but the proposed ban would only apply to debit card fees. Chalmers wants the fees scrapped by 2026, saying Aussies shouldn’t “be punished” for paying by card.

A couple of champions

Aussie Olympian Grace Brown is rolling out of the professional cycling world on a high after winning the Crono des Nations race in France on Sunday. The win is the cherry on top of the 32yo’s dream final season as she added multiple trophies to her cabinet back in Melbourne - including our/her first gold medal at the Paris Olympics back in July. She’s feeling pretty positive about retirement - after getting off her bike yesterday she said “it's time for the rest of life”. Another happy athlete is Ruth Chepngetich - the newly crowned women’s marathon world record holder after finishing the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56 - nearly 2 minutes faster than the previous best. She’s the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier, but she also ran the 42.195km eleventy million times faster than we ever could…  

Share The Squiz love

You getting your people onto The Squiz is a gift to us, so we’re giving something back... Each person who signs up using your unique link by 19 October gets you into the draw to win a $450 Go-To voucher - their whole schtick is skincare that’s effective, effortless, and fun… A bit like us. And have we mentioned how easy sharing your favourite shortcut to the news is? Copy and paste the link below and share it round to your network…

Your unique link: https://squiztoday.thesquiz.com.au/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

PS: Your friends will need to confirm their email to guarantee entry into the draw. This competition ends at 11.59pm AEDT on 19 October, and the winner will be drawn on 20 October 2024 and contacted via email. Go forth…

Apropos of Nothing

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Crocs has come out with a new range to help our 4-legged friends put their best paws forward… If you’re thinking ‘Are ‘Pet Crocs’ really necessary?’, the company says they’re “one of the most highly requested products in brand history”. Fur real…

The CSIRO has made a breakthrough in its research of the endangered Australian spotted handfish that could help conservation efforts. Also known as “underwater punks” thanks to their “mohawk-like” dorsal fin, they can’t say ‘you don’t understand me’ anymore…

PSA for Oasis fans: it’s almost time to get in the Ticketmaster queue… General admission for the Oasis Live '25 Tour goes on sale today. With huge demand already prompting the band to add extra shows, there’ll be no slowly walking down the hall to get your hands on tickets…

Squiz the Day

10.00am (ACST) - The NT parliament is sitting, and tougher bail laws are set to be on the agenda - Darwin

9.45am (AEDT) - The Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee is holding a public hearing into the Future Made in Australia bill - Canberra

10.00am (AEDT) - Oasis Live '25 general admission tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster for Melbourne shows and 12.00pm (AEDT) for Sydney shows 

10.00am (AEDT) - International human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (who represented Julian Assange, and also Amber Heard in her defamation case against ex-husband Johnny Depp) will give a keynote speech at SXSW - Sydney 

10.00am (AEDT) - World Bank Pacific economic update briefing - Fiji

9.35pm (AEDT) - Soccer: Men's World Cup qualifier - Australia v Japan - Japan, and watch on 10 Play

✍️ Written examinations in the NSW HSC begin (until 8 November)

Telstra AGM

Cassie Sainsbury - aka Cocaine Cassie - is launching a book about her ordeal being jailed in 2017 for cocaine trafficking in Colombia

ABS data release - Overseas Arrivals and Departures, August

World Students' Day

Breast Health Day

Anniversary of:

  • the birthdays of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844), PG Wodehouse (1881) and Michel Foucault (1926)

  • the first ballet performance, Ballet Comique de la Reine, in Paris (1581)

  • the execution of Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari for spying for Germany during WWI (1917)

  • the premiere of I Love Lucy (1951)

  • the publication of EB White's Charlotte's Web (1952)

  • the ‘Balloon Boy’ fake news story (2009)