Wednesday, 30 July - Give a little bit of your love to me

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, 30 July. In your Squiz Today…

• The UK pushes Israel for peace in Gaza

• Police investigating a mass shooting in NYC

• And a lot of buzz about a cross-border convoy… 🐝 

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker about charging people $50 a pop to watch the iconic New Year's Eve fireworks live from her council's prime harbourside land. As any real estate agent in the city would say, that view will cost you…

A proposal for peace

The Squiz

UK PM Keir Starmer says his government will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza". Following an emergency meeting of his national cabinet, Starmer called for an "immediate ceasefire", the release of all remaining hostages by Hamas, and for the United Nations to be allowed to send more aid into the region. If that doesn't happen, he'll follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron by using a General Assembly of the UN in September to officially recognise Palestine. 

What would that mean?

As it stands, over 140 countries recognise Palestine as its own state (here’s a full guide…), but those who don't include the UK, France, the US, and Australia - we recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories instead. This move would mean that the UK and France formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign country, with increased diplomatic rights and recognition. Some analysts say recognition would largely be a symbolic thing, but Israel is firmly against Palestinian statehood, and Starmer was clear that it’s aimed at ramping up pressure on the country to reach a ceasefire with Hamas. It also comes as experts warn famine is setting in for a third of the Palestinian territory’s 2.1 million people, with more images showing the impact it’s having on civilians. Starmer said the move is aimed at changing those “increasingly intolerable” conditions on the ground. 

And what’s the reaction been?

Reports say that Starmer spoke with the leaders of France and Germany about the plan over the weekend before also briefing US President Donald Trump - Israel's biggest ally - during their meeting in Scotland on Monday… But Trump says they “never discussed” it and that the US has “no view” on Palestinian statehood. Starmer also called Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu overnight - with the Israeli foreign ministry later saying it “rejects” the UK plan, calling it “a reward for Hamas and harms efforts to achieve a ceasefire”. Next up: the proposal will be presented to other allies - including Arab states - in the coming days. As for PM Anthony Albanese, who’s been stepping up his criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza in recent days, we’re yet to hear his thoughts - so that’s something to keep an eye out for today…

New Squiz podcast ‘The Big Threat’ drops today

Don’t miss our new podcast series ‘The Big Threat’ - all about the global information wars and the rising threat mis- and disinformation pose to democracies around the world. Join Bryce Corbett as he travels to the US and Europe meeting the journalists, academics and media literacy advocates taking the fight to fake news. The first episode drops today on the News Club channel.

Squiz the Rest

A shooting in midtown Manhattan

New York police are still searching for a concrete motive for why 27yo Shane Tamura opened fire in a highrise building in Park Avenue, but they say a suicide note he was carrying in his pocket might provide a clue. Tamura walked into the office lobby at around 6.30pm local time and started firing an MR rifle. He killed a police officer and 3 others before turning the weapon on himself. So far, police have identified Tamura as a Las Vegas native and say he spent 2 days travelling across the country to NY. The building he opened fire in housed the offices of global companies, including investor group Blackstone, and the NFL. Reports say Tamura played competitive football when he was younger, and that he was carrying a note in his pocket claiming he was suffering from CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a brain disease linked to head trauma. 

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Trump’s trade turnabout

Just days before the pause on US President Donald Trump’s so-called reciprocal tariffs is set to end, he’s said that he’s considering lifting the global baseline tariff to 15-20%. FYI: that baseline tariff had been set at 10%, and was due to come into effect on Friday. And since Oz hasn’t locked in any other deal, the tariffs on many of our exports to the US could be doubled. Analysts reckon that would leave us in a worse spot than expected… The Coalition’s been critical of PM Anthony Albanese for not locking in a better deal with Trump, with trade spokesman Kevin Hogan saying “he needs to go over [to the US] and … argue Australia’s case”. But Daniel Mulino, our Assistant Treasurer, labelled Trump’s comments “off the cuff”, and thinks “we’re going to have to see what specifics come down the pipeline”. 

You too, YouTube…

The video streamer is the latest platform to be included in the Albanese Government’s social media ban for children under 16yo, following a push by our eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant. It was initially spared from the ban, but the government has reversed that decision, and now only YouTube Kids will be available for youngsters to watch. YouTube has given the move a thumbs down, and its parent company Google has threatened to take legal action against the government, claiming the platform is an essential educational tool for students and teachers in classrooms. The world-first social media age ban is due to come into effect from December, but tech companies will be given a 12-month grace period to comply. And with the rules for the platforms set to be tabled in parliament today, this won’t be the last you’ll be hearing about it…

*Want to know more about the social media ban for under 16yos? We’ve got a Squiz Shortcut for you… 

The Matildas will be waltzing with… 

The Philippines, Iran and South Korea in the group stages of next year’s Women’s Asian Cup in March. The official draw for the tournament took place last night, and it’s the matchup with South Korea that will be giving Tillies fans a bit of pause - that’s the same team that knocked us out of the tournament last time, with a 1-0 victory in the 2022 quarter-finals in India. But next year, the Matildas will be playing the major international tournament on home soil, and riding a wave of renewed national support following their World Cup run to the semi-finals in 2023. They’ll be kicking off the tournament on 1 March at Optus Stadium in Perth, and looking for their first Asian Cup win since 2010 - with China and Japan the other leading contenders to win. C’mon, Aussie, c’mon… 

We’ll bee there soon

In a handy bit of interstate co-operation, apiarists in Western Oz are helping out some South Oz almond farmers by sending a convoy of bees over the border. That’s because South Aussie beekeepers have had a tough run of it, affected by drought and worried about the varroa mite, which is a bee-killing parasite that means any bees transported across state lines need to be firmly checked and monitored. But the almond trees they grow need bees for pollination, and with less of them on hand, they’ve looked west for some help and purchased 600 beehives from WA to help out, which will be transported across the border in trucks. It’s a story to swarm warm the heart…

Apropos of Nothing - Travel tales edition

Denmark has become such a popular wedding destination for engaged couples thanks to its chilled-out marriage laws, that it’s now started to make it difficult for the local Danish lovebirds to get married themselves. They’re happy to share the love - just not all of it… 

The resort town of Les Sables d’Olonne in France has had it up to here with people walking around half-naked - a practice that’s become so common they’ll now fine people up to $266 if they don’t cover up. Whereas in Australia, we’re still voting in speedos… 

A video of a crocodile stuck under a ute in Kakadu National Park has gone viral online, racking up millions of views on TikTok - the man who took the footage, Matteo Mastratisi, said he’s never seen anything like it in his 10 years in Arnhem Land… And for anyone who missed out on our surfing doggos yesterday - here’s the right link…

Squiz the Day

11.30am (AEST) - Scott Farquhar, co-founder of software company Atlassian, will address the National Press Club of Australia - Canberra

4.15pm (AEST) - Rio Tinto will release its half-year results

The Albanese Government’s rules for tech platforms included in its social media ban for under 16yos are expected to be tabled today in parliament - they now include YouTube

ABS data release - monthly consumer price index indicator, June 2025; Consumer price index, June quarter 2025 (these are the figures the Reserve Bank will take into account in its next decision about the cash rate) 

The 2025 NAPLAN results are out  

The Lowy Institute Perspectives will present an ANU Malaysia Update: “Malaysia, China, and the region in a pivotal year.”

Vanuatu’s Independence Day 

National Tree Day

International Day of Friendship

🍰 National Cheesecake Day

Birthdays for actors Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947), Terry Crews (1968), Simon Baker (1969), and Yvonne Strahovski (1982), and director Christopher Nolan (1970)

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Emily Brontë (1818) and Henry Ford (1863)

• the first FIFA World Cup Final which saw Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 (1930)

• the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the deaths of 880 crew. Many were attacked by sharks, inspiring the 1975 movie Jaws (1945)

• Chelsea Manning convicted of 17 espionage charges (2013)