Wednesday, 20 November - Hey, I got a lot of faith in ya

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 20 November. In your Squiz Today…

• An Aussie is jailed in Hong Kong

• Mass protests in New Zealand

• And a NSW shearer setting a high baa…🐑

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said British vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisholm at the end of a 10-year project to work out what King Richard III sounded like. His remains (sans the rumoured hunchback) were found under a car park in 2012, and scientists have unveiled their recreation of his voice. Now do King Tut…

Caught on the wrong side of Hong Kong’s laws

The Squiz

Australian citizen Gordon Ng has been sentenced to more than 7 years in jail over his involvement in pro-democracy campaigns in Hong Kong. He was one of 45 former politicians and activists to receive their sentences yesterday, ranging from 4-10 years in jail after a landmark mass national security trial. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the Aussie Government is “gravely concerned by the sentence handed down” to Ng and other activists. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade hasn’t been allowed to provide Ng with consular assistance since his arrest - but Wong says they’ll keep trying.

What’s this about?

It goes back to Hong Kong’s huge protests in 2019-2020 that were linked to China’s increasing influence over the territory - a former British colony that’s now a special administrative region of China. In response to the demonstrations, Beijing implemented a new national security law in Hong Kong that effectively meant any criticism of China could be deemed a crime. So when a group of 47 pro-democracy activists, including Ng, organised an unofficial primary election ahead of Hong Kong’s general election in 2020, they were arrested and charged with subversion. Two were acquitted, and yesterday, the rest were sentenced. The US has described the trial as “politically motivated”, but Chinese officials say the crackdown was necessary to restore law and order in Hong Kong.

And how is Ng involved?

The trial judges say Ng, who pleaded not guilty, was an “active participant” in organising the primary election. They also found he pressured others - by buying newspaper ads and posting on Facebook - to support the pro-democracy movement and force the resignation of the China-friendly Hong Kong Chief Executive. Ng was found guilty of the charges against him in May, and Wong says the government has expressed their “strong objections”. She also called on China to “cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society … including the repeal of the national security law”. A friend of Ng’s, who didn’t want to be named, spoke in Hong Kong yesterday - saying, “the punishment is too severe, truly too severe. He went to prison at 42 and won’t be out until he is 50”.

Squiz the Rest

Tensions are running high in Ukraine…

…on the 1,000th day of its war against Russia, as Russian president Vladimir Putin signed off on lowering the bar for the use of nuclear weapons. It came after Ukraine launched 6 US-made long-range missiles into Russia overnight at a military target in the Bryansk border region. Russia says 5 of the weapons were shot down and another was damaged, avoiding casualties. World leaders are on edge after Russian officials said US President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use the weapons against Russian targets was “risking the start of World War III”. Putin has updated Russia’s doctrine for the use of nuclear weapons to now state that it can use them if attacked by “conventional weapons”, and that an attack by a non-nuclear power with “the … support of a nuclear power would be seen as a joint attack”.

Charging ahead in the Jones case

The former radio host is now facing 26 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching offences after police added 2 more against a ninth victim yesterday. Jones has been bailed, but he’s been told not to go far until his court appearance on 18 December. During Monday’s press conference, NSW Police’s Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald praised the alleged victims for their bravery, which Jones’ lawyer Chris Murphy took issue with - he called it “contemptible” to commend them before the matter had gone to court. Murphy also said Jones maintained he was innocent and would defend the case. Strike Force Bonnefin, the investigation that led to the charges, is still going - police have said they expect more victims to come forward. 

Kiwis in a flap over a bill

A crowd of 45,000 people gathered in Wellington yesterday in the culmination of a 9-day march to protest the Kiwi Government’s plans to change the way the Waitangi Treaty signed by British and Māori leaders in 1840 is interpreted. They presented a 203,653-signature petition and chanted "kill the bill" - aka the Treaty Principles Bill introduced by New Zealand's conservative Act Party. That party is in the governing coalition in New Zealand, and they reckon the Waitangi Treaty (which guides policy affecting Māori people) discriminates against non-Indigenous people. PM Christopher Luxon isn’t interested in the bill becoming law but agreed to allow the Act Party to introduce it, so here we are… The march (called a hīkoi) went from the northernmost point of the country all the way to the capital - that’s over 1,000km…

Bunnings-cam ruled a no-go

Back in 2022, consumer advocate CHOICE revealed that 3 big retailers - Kmart, Bunnings and The Good Guys - were using facial recognition tech in their stores, and noted that many shoppers didn’t know they were being filmed. Fast-forward to the here/now, and the Privacy Commissioner has made a call on Bunnings - they say it was a breach and told the home improvement chain to destroy the data and not do it again. Between 2018-21, the tech was used in 63 stores across NSW and Victoria, but the Commissioner found that small signs set up at the store entrances weren’t a good enough warning for customers. Bunnings wants the decision reviewed - it’s released vision of staff being attacked and it says the cameras made stores safer. As for Kmart and The Good Guys, the Commissioner is still looking into Kmart, while the case against The Good Guys has been dropped.

Setting a high baa

A woman from the NSW town of Yass has claimed a world record after shearing 395 merino lambs in 8 hours. Nikki Lyons took up her clippers again after raising 4 kids and spent 18 months training for the feat - including working with people on her nutrition, mindset, physical fitness and shearing skills. She said she hoped her effort would inspire more women to take up roles in a male-dominated industry. Lyons is actually the second Aussie woman to set a shearing world record this year - 31yo Jeanine Kimm set the record for merino ewes in May, shearing 358 in 8 hours. And if a sheep shearing world record feels like something you could have a crack at, here’s the list of records from the World Sheep Shearing Records Society for your consideration. You’re welcome…

Apropos of Nothing

The SpaceX Starship, the biggest rocket ever built, is set to launch its sixth test flight at 9am AEDT this morning - and perhaps more excitingly, the second time that SpaceX will try to catch the rocket's booster in mid-air using its 'chopstick' metal arms. You can watch the launch live online.

The famous Christmas window display of London department store Selfridges features the work of some Aussie talent this year. Perth quilter Lana Dragicevich was asked to contribute to the display, and did she ever - 2 of the quilts she made were 5m high and 3m long, the biggest she’s ever done.

And in galling news for anyone who’s ever been told they don’t have enough experience for a job, a 7yo boy has scored a role at a Russian IT firm. Coding prodigy Sergey can’t actually get paid until he’s 14yo, but the company offered him the job of head of corporate training when he’s ready. Who needs school anyway…

Squiz the Day

As we press go, Rafael Nadal has just bowed out of the Davis Cup quarterfinals, where he was repping Spain in what could be his last professional tennis match... Keep an eye out for the Aussies, they’re up against the USA tomorrow night in Malaga, Spain

And in another high-stakes match playing out as we speak, the Socceroos are versing Bahrain in a World Cup qualifier over in Bahrain, catch it on Paramount+

Also on today:

12.30pm (AEDT) - Former BBC Foreign Correspondent Dr Nick Bryant will address the National Press Club on 'the Consequential Country’ - Canberra

5.00pm (AEDT) - 2024 Aria Awards red carpet - Sydney, and streamed on YouTube 

7.00pm (AEDT) - 2024 ARIA Awards begin - Sydney, and on Stan 

7.00pm (AEDT) - AFL: National draft (first round) - Melbourne 

ABS data release - Australian National Accounts: State Accounts, 2023-24 

World Children’s Day 

Africa Industrialization Day 

Transgender Day of Remembrance 

⏰ See ya! It’s National Go Home On Time Day 

Birthday for former US President Joe Biden (1942)

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889) and Robert F Kennedy (1925)

• the start of the Nuremberg war trials (1945)

• the marriage of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip (1947)