Wednesday, 29 October - Thinking 'bout the fall of Rome

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 29 October. In your Squiz Today…

• Hurricane Melissa - the strongest storm of the year - lashes Jamaica

• The Gaza ceasefire is under threat again

• And Sam Kerr’s captaincy comeback…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Was one of the lines British actress Prunella Scales made famous in her years playing Sybil Fawlty - wife to John Cleese’s Basil - in the sitcom Fawlty Towers. The role won her millions of fans around the world, who’ll be sad to learn that she has died aged 93yo. Vale…

The Caribbean takes cover

The Squiz

The biggest storm of the year, Hurricane Melissa, made landfall in south-west Jamaica this morning, in a situation the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) is calling “extremely dangerous and life-threatening”. At least 8 people have died preparing for the storm, with casualties in Jamaica as well as neighbouring countries Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It’s not only the strongest storm of the year, but also the strongest storm the island of Jamaica has ever experienced since records began in 1851. In a social media post before the storm hit, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said “We will weather this storm and rebuild stronger”.

Why is this storm so powerful?

Category 5 hurricanes are the highest level of storm, meaning they have winds of 252 km/h or more. But Melissa is even stronger - forecasters say it's hitting a maximum wind speed of 295 km/h. To put it in context, those are higher speeds than Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the US city of New Orleans back in 2005 and killed 1,392 people, and Hurricane Beryl, which also hit Jamaica last year. The other thing making Melissa so dangerous is its slow-moving speed - yesterday, it had slowed to 5 km/h, which is about walking pace. That's a problem because it can hit the same area with repeated waves of wind and rain, increasing the potential damage. According to the NHC, Jamaica could register rainfall of up to a metre in certain mountainous areas. 

How is the disaster response going?

Jamaica is no stranger to storms, but the scale of this one has authorities pleading with locals to get to a shelter. The latest update from Jamaica’s Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie is that 6,000 people are sheltered in place - particularly in the areas of St Elizabeth and Westmoreland, where Melissa made landfall. As for how long the storm will last, forecasters say it's heading northeast towards Cuba, and over the course of the day it's expected to weaken to a category 4, before downgrading again to a category 2 as it approaches The Bahamas around mid-morning Oz time tomorrow. Once that happens, authorities are hoping to start emergency relief flights to Jamaica. But there's today to get through first - for all the latest updates throughout the day, here’s a liveblog to follow along.

Keeping little ones cool this summer

Those with little ones (or shopping for them) know the drill - summer heat plus kids equals constant outfit changes and cranky wake ups. Love to Dream's new bamboo range tackles both. The fabric is clever - it stretches with every move, making the what-time-is-it nappy changes less of a wrestling match, and the bamboo in it helps with sweaty backs for a better sleep all round. The range covers everything from bodysuits to PJs, and they've built them to survive your washing machine's heavy rotation. Worth bookmarking for baby shower gifts too... Check the collection out here.

Squiz the Rest

The Gaza ceasefire is under threat…

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to carry out “intense strikes” against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation for alleged violations of the ceasefire terms. The agreement has been in place for nearly 3 weeks, and reports say there are 13 bodies of hostages still to be returned to Israel by Hamas. In the latest flare-up of tensions, Israel claims Hamas has been shooting at its forces and is stalling on handing back the remaining bodies. Israel says forensic tests carried out on the last body that Hamas handed back show they are more of the remains of a person whose body had been previously returned, which they say is a “clear violation” of the agreement. Hamas has responded by saying Israeli soldiers are hampering efforts to find the remaining bodies. The terror group says it’s complying with the ceasefire terms, and Israel is trying to "fabricate false pretexts in preparation for taking new aggressive steps”.  

The CIA’s in hot water…

…after Venezuela accused the US spy agency of plotting an attack on a US Navy ship, and blaming it on the Venezuelan government. Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said 4 mercenaries have been arrested over the “false-flag” plan, claiming it would have been carried out while the ship was anchored on the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The CIA is yet to comment. For context, military tensions between the 2 countries have been growing for months, with Venezuela claiming President Donald Trump is trying to oust President Nicolás Maduro, whom the US doesn’t recognise as a legitimate leader. It’s not alone in thinking that… Experts and US politicians have speculated that Trump wants to see regime change - but he claims he’s targeting Venezuelan cartels smuggling drugs into the US.

Some big Oz companies take a dive…

…after giving the market some unexpected news yesterday. First up, major tech company WiseTech announced that officers from the Australian Federal Police and Australian Securities and Investments Commission searched their offices on Monday. They were looking for information about the share trading activity of its billionaire founder Richard White - who hasn’t been able to stay out of the headlines this year. No charges have been laid against White or the company, but after revealing the raid yesterday, WiseTech’s share price dropped by almost 16%. Also not pleasing the market was CSL, which downgraded its expected profits - it said that’s partly due to dropping vaccination rates in the US. CSL’s share price dropped by almost 16% as well - it’s now at its lowest level in 7 years. A tough day on the markets… 
* If you want to know more about the declining vaccination rates in the US, we’ve covered it in a Squiz Shortcut…

Kerr makes her comeback

After playing her first game for the green and gold since late 2023 last weekend, Sam Kerr has officially made her return as the Matildas’ team captain this morning. It wasn’t entirely unexpected - Steph Catley, who’s been captain in Kerr’s absence, had said this week “now she’s back, she’s stepping back into the captaincy role, as she should, and we’ll support her through all of that”. We don’t have to wait to see her in action… The Tillies have a friendly against England in Derby this morning - starting right around the time we hit send on this newsletter. The Lionesses are expecting the Aussies to bring their A-game after ending their World Cup dreams during their last match-up in 2023. You can follow it live here… 

Sand, sun and solitude…

…might be on the list for Tasmanians looking to escape the Apple Isle’s chillier months each year, but Lee and Don Cameron have taken that to new extremes. The Hobart couple just started as caretakers of the remote Low Isles, about 15km north-east off Far North Queensland’s Port Douglas. They took up the jobs after answering an ad for a 12-month live-in position from ​​the Low Isles Preservation Society for grounds and vegetation maintenance, infrastructure repairs, and visitor support/education. The couple sailed around the world for 12 years before settling in Tassie’s capital - which Don says gave them a unique skill set… Given they’re a boat ride away from everyday luxuries like supermarkets, plumbers, and electricians, that resourcefulness will probably come in handy…

Apropos of Nothing

The Queensland Education Department is investigating after at least 8 Brisbane high schools taught Year 12 students about Emperor Augustus instead of Julius Caesar for their final ancient history exam. The schools will submit a “misadventure” application to cover the mix-up. Bet they’ll spend some time mulling it over…

Superstar baseballer Shohei Ohtani put in another all-timer performance in Game 3 of the World Series yesterday, which went for a marathon 18 innings - twice the length of a regular game. He’s earning that record paycheck, alright… 

If you’re hanging out for tidbits about the upcoming musical sequel Wicked: For Good, we’ve got some good news for you - those who have already seen part 2 of the Wizard of Oz-inspired blockbuster reckon it’s a belter…

Squiz the Day

6.00am (AEDT) - Football: Matildas v England in a women's friendly at Pride Park Stadium - Derby, UK, watch on Paramount+

8.00am (AEDT) - Former Queensland Premier Steven Miles will speak on tax matters at the Australia Institute’s Revenue Summit at Parliament House - Canberra

10.00am (AEDT) - The APEC Ministerial Meeting and CEO Summit both get underway, lasting until Thursday and Friday respectively - Gyeongju, South Korea 

10.00am (AEDT) - Closing statements will be delivered in the trial of NSW Police sergeant Benedict Bryant, who has been charged over the death of 16yo Jai Wright - Sydney 

11.30am (AEDT) - Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Krissy Barrett, will address the National Press Club of Australia - Canberra. And for a bit of background, check out her Squiz Who profile on Instagram…

2.00pm (AEDT) - Former NSW MP for Kiama Gareth Ward is due to be sentenced for sexually abusing 2 men - Sydney 

5.40pm (AEDT) - Netball: The 4th and final match of the Constellation Cup sees the Diamonds v Silver Ferns at Wolfbrook Arena - Christchurch, New Zealand, watch on Kayo

7.15pm (AEDT) - Cricket: Australia take on India in the first men’s T20I at Manuka Oval - Canberra, watch on Kayo

ABS data releases: Consumer Price Index, September Quarter 2025; Monthly CPI September 2025

Tanzania will hold presidential and legislative elections, with President Samia Suluhu Hassan on track to be elected on her own ticket after assuming the position following the death of then-President John Magufuli in 2021

The Netherlands will vote to elect a new parliament for the 3rd time in 5 years, after the collapse of his cabinet in June forced Prime Minister Dick Schoof to call a snap election

WACE written exams begin for Year 12 students in Western Australia ✏️

Turkey’s National Day

World Stroke Day

World Psoriasis Day

Birthdays for the voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellaneta (1957) and actor Winona Ryder (1971)

Anniversary of:

• the release of the first ballpoint pen in New York City, manufactured by Biro (1945)

• the first publication of the comic Asterix in the French magazine Pilote, illustrated by Albert Uderzo (1959)

• 77yo astronaut John Glenn becoming the oldest person to go into space, on board the Space Shuttle Discovery (1998)

• China announcing the end of the one-child policy after 35 years (2015)