Wednesday, 21 January - Paint the town red

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 21 January. In your Squiz Today…

• Heavy rain has caused an uptick in shark attacks in NSW

• The federal government’s hate laws have passed the Senate, despite a split in the Coalition

• And a very clever cow… 🐮

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who introduced a vibrant shade of the colour to catwalks back in 1959. Better known simply as Valentino, he died on Monday aged 93yo, and his signature ‘Valentino red’ is one of the many fashionable legacies he leaves behind…

Troubled waters

The Squiz

Beachgoers in NSW have been warned to avoid the water in and around Sydney over the next week after 4 shark attacks along the coast in 3 days - with authorities saying "just go to a local pool". The fourth incident happened a bit further afield - at Point Plomer beach, north of Port Macquarie on the mid-north coast, yesterday morning - with a 39yo surfer taken to a local hospital with minor cuts and grazes after being bitten. That followed a trio of separate attacks at Sydney beaches in the previous 48 hours, leaving a 12yo in critical condition, a 27yo in critical condition, and an 11yo escaping uninjured, but with a chunk out of his surfboard…

That seems like a lot…

And experts say there’s a reason for that. Recent rains and overcast weather across Sydney and NSW have led to murky oceans from stormwater and sewage runoff, drawing baitfish and, in turn, sharks. Combine that with warmer sea temperatures, and it’s ideal conditions for increased bull shark activity. That’s led to the closure of many of Sydney’s northern beaches, with Surf Life Saving NSW chief Steven Pearce’s advice yesterday was “if anyone’s thinking of heading into the surf this morning … think again”. But other experts - including Joel Nancarrow, who owns Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration - say the next week will be “the most dangerous time we’ve seen in years” for shark encounters. He’s not alone in warning there could be more attacks…

Anything else?

You’d think 4 shark attacks would be enough, but there’s also been a croc attack in North Queensland… A man in his 20s was taken to hospital after being attacked by a crocodile at Victoria Plantation, about 115km northwest of Townsville, just before 9am yesterday. Reports say he has puncture wounds on his back, legs and one of his hands - but is now in a stable condition… The state's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is investigating, but local mayor Ramon Jayo said Palm Creek, near where the attack happened, is a known spot for crocodiles. He said it’s a “reminder that we live in croc country and that we should all be croc-wise”. Wise words…

Sweet dreams are made of this

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Squiz the Rest

A deal is struck

That’d be the one made between the Albanese Government and the Liberals to get the new hate laws over the line yesterday… You might notice we didn’t say ‘Coalition’ - that’s because the Nationals split from the Libs to abstain from voting on the laws in the Lower House, and voted against them in the Senate last night (along with one Liberal senator, Alex Antic). That’s raised questions for Coalition leader Sussan Ley about party unity, but Nationals leader David Littleproud said his party's decision "does not reflect on the relationship within the Coalition". As well as the new hate speech laws, the proposed new gun laws have also gone through, with Labor and the Greens voting for them and the Coalition voting against. 
*It’s taken a bit to get to this point, so this Shortcut will catch you up on how we got here.

The tension over Greenland ramps up… 

…with French President Emmanuel Macron criticising US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats at the World Economic Forum in Davos this morning. ICYMI, Trump has promised to punish countries opposing his plan to take over the island by hitting them with a new 10% tariff from 1 February - that has European leaders considering their options, which could include something called the “anti-coercion instrument”. Known as the “big bazooka”, it’s a way of sanctioning the US and hurting American business by denying access to the European market. Macron called for the EU to pull the trigger on that, which - when you add Trump leaking a text from Macron yesterday - might make things awkward when Trump turns up at the exact same event tonight… 

Vale Dame Marie Bashir and Rob Hirst

We lost a couple of notable Aussies yesterday… We’ll start with Bashir - she was the first female to be made Governor of NSW in 2001, a role she held until 2014. The 95yo was a respected psychiatrist who worked in mental health, education and Indigenous health before her public service. PM Albanese said she had “a powerful sense of duty” and a “passion for helping others”, and NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced she’ll be given a state funeral… And tributes are flooding in for Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst, who died aged 70yo after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 3 years ago. They were led by his bandmate and Oils frontman Peter Garrett who said: “We are shattered and grieving the loss of our brother Rob. For now there are no words, but there will always be songs”.

Brooklyn brawls with the Beckhams

You might have seen Brooklyn Peltz Beckham’s name everywhere recently, and here’s why… There have been rumours of a feud between Brooklyn and his parents David and Victoria Beckham for months - particularly over perceived tension caused by his relationship with actor Nicola Peltz. Brooklyn hadn't spoken about it publicly until yesterday morning, when he went scorched earth on Instagram, putting out a statement accusing his parents of trying to ruin his relationship. Brooklyn says the narrative that "my wife controls me is completely backwards" - and actually his parents have been the controlling figures in his life. This morning, David Beckham - who is also in Davos - vaguely addressed the feud, saying “children are allowed to make mistakes”. Lots to unpack… 

How now, brown cow?

An Austrian Swiss Brown cow named Veronika has been seen using tools to give herself a good backscratch - meaning experts are now rethinking just how smart cows might be. Before now, only a select group of creatures - humans, chimps, crows, dolphins - were known to use tools, but Veronika has been spotted using a stick to scratch those hard-to-reach places. Once word got out, scientists worked to see what other tricks she might pick up - and she quickly got using a broom down pat - she’d switch to the bristled end for a general scratch and the pointy end when she needed to hit a specific spot. The researchers now believe cows are more intelligent than previously thought - if they figure out computers, we’re in real trouble…

Apropos of Nothing

Flagship ABC radio program AM has a new host, with Isabella Higgins set to take over from Sabra Lane, who presented the show for 9 years before stepping down in December. Higgins says she’s excited to begin, even with some big headphones to fill… 

Claude, the famous albino alligator from San Francisco, was farewelled in fine style this week with a funeral for the ages following his death in December. The funeral included hundreds of guests, a brass band and an 8-foot loaf of sourdough shaped just like Claude. Now that’s a sendoff… 

And it's usually spectators doing the head-turning at the tennis, but all eyes were on Naomi Osaka last night at the Oz Open when she made a dramatic entrance in an outfit with a hat, veil, and brolly - her own design with Nike, modelled on a jellyfish. We're glad she ditched the accessories - not sure how you'd play in all that…

Squiz the Day

7.30pm (AEDT) - Cricket - Big Bash League 'The Knockout' final Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars - Hobart, watch on 7plus

11.10am (ACDT) - Cycling: Stage One of the Men's Tour Down Under gets underway - check out a preview of the action here - Tanunda, South Oz

Lynas Rare Earths is set to release its December quarterly results and hold a shareholder briefing

ABS data release - building activity, September; engineering construction activity, September

There’ll be a series of economic meetings in the Philippines as part of ASEAN beginning today and continuing until 25 January, ahead of the first ASEAN Summit on 8 May 

National Hug Day

🐿️ Squirrel Appreciation Day (USA) 

Anniversary of:

• the birthday of Christian Dior (1905) 

• the execution of the last king of France, King Louis XVI during the French Revolution (1793) 

• the start of the Battle of Khe Sanh (1968)

• the first Clean Up Australia Day (1990)