Squiz Today – Monday, 23 January

THE SQUIZ
Plans for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have been announced, including a formal ceremony at Westminster Abbey and a concert at Windsor Castle. The events will take place over 3 days from 6-8 May, with the Monday being a public holiday in the UK (no word yet on whether Aussies will get one too…). While Charles has been the monarch since his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died on 8 September, the coronation is a 1,000yo practice that “signals the conferment of God’s grace upon a ruler”. The British royals are the only mob in Europe still carrying out the tradition.

GIMME THE REGAL RUNDOWN
It starts with “the King’s procession” from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey on Saturday, where a “solemn religious service” will be conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. It will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future” and include “The Coronation Oath”, with Charles swearing to govern his subjects “according to their respective laws and customs”. Then a “coronation procession” will take them back to Buckingham Palace, where they’ll wave from the balcony. Sunday is party time with a concert and light show, which the palace says will be headlined by “some of the world’s biggest entertainers” – and a choir including NHS workers, refugees, LGBTQIA+ and deaf singers. Millions of Brits will also join street parties for the “coronation big lunch”. And on Monday’s day off, “the big help out” is to promote volunteers.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROYAL ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM?
Nothing’s been said about which family members will appear where during the big weekend. There are conflicting reports about whether Harry and Meghan have been invited – given the recent high-profile criticism of their royal rellies, the pair may still attend but take a back seat, as they did at last year’s Queen’s jubilee celebrations and her funeral. Also likely to be a low-key presence is Prince Andrew for reasons we know all too well… Front and centre, though, will be future monarchs William and Kate and their children, as well as extended family members, other European royals, and world leaders, who’ll all be there to mark the historic event. It’s still to be confirmed, but that could include PM Anthony Albanese – and it’s rumoured Hugh Jackman and Kylie should be so lucky too…

Tragedy at LA Lunar New Year celebrations

Police are hunting for a gunman who killed 10 people at a ballroom dancing studio in Monterey Park on the eastern edge of Los Angeles overnight, where the city’s Asian-American community was celebrating the Lunar New Year. Ten others were wounded, leaving some in a critical condition. Early reports suggest the shooter – who remains on the run – may be Asian, and eyewitnesses say a semi-automatic weapon was used, but that has not been verified. Police have confirmed they’re investigating whether another incident at a different ballroom venue in nearby Alhambra that occurred about 20 minutes later is connected. California Governor Gavin Newsom says authorities are “monitoring the situation closely” and gave his condolences for the “victims of a horrific and heartless act of gun violence”. It marks the 33rd mass shooting in the US this month.

Hipkins hops to it

New Zealand’s Labour Party has elected a new leader/PM following Jacinda Ardern’s surprise resignation on Thursday. Reports say that Chris Hipkins – the sole nominee – was seen as the safest choice to replace Ardern in the lead-up to the country’s general election in October. The 44yo was elected to parliament in 2008 and was minister for the police, education, public service and COVID response portfolios under Ardern. He acknowledged the challenge of succeeding Ardern – including the “abhorrent” abuse his predecessor endured – and spoke about needing to get on top of NZ’s growing cost of living problems. Hipkins says becoming PM is “the biggest responsibility and the biggest privilege” of his life. His deputy will be Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni, who will become the first Pasifika to hold the government’s 2IC job. The changeover takes place on 7 February when Ardern and Deputy PM Grant Robertson vacate the roles. 

Lighting up the night sky

If you’re up for pondering the night sky, you might be in luck… A green-coloured comet from the outer solar system is travelling past Earth – it’s steadily gaining brightness and will make its closest approach on 2 February. Discovered in March 2022 by Californian astronomers who dubbed it C/2022 E3, it’s better known as the Green Comet. We’re not sure exactly when we’ll be able to see it in Oz – scientists say it’s unpredictable and may be tricky to spot from the Southern Hemisphere – but it’ll still be worth trying to catch a glimpse… Reports say due to its elliptical – aka egg-shaped – orbit, the last time it came this close was back when our Neanderthal ancestors roamed the Earth 50,000 years ago. On its current trajectory, it’ll pass at a distance of about 43 million km from Earth, making it faintly visible to the naked eye/better with some binoculars. Find out more here.

Farewelling a tennis icon

Aussie tennis legend Sam Stosur finished her on-court career on Saturday with a first-round loss in the Oz Open mixed doubles. That was just a blip in a successful and long career with the 38yo celebrated for her contribution. Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley praised the 7-time grand slam champion for her career and presence as a role model. Stosur said it’s “hard to think that it’s over now”, but she’s been “very blessed”. Meanwhile, Polish world number 1 Iga Świątek was knocked out of the tournament by reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, and Andy Murray’s hopes were also dashed in a loss against Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut. Serbian Novak Djokovic will face off against Aussie hopeful Alex de Minaur today for a place in the quarter-finals. Go the Demon… 

Gettin’ golden in Tamworth…

Hollywood awards ceremonies have been hogging the spotlight lately, but for country music fans, all eyes were on Tamworth in regional NSW this weekend as the Golden Guitars were handed out. Amber Lawrence was named female artist of the year as she celebrated 2 decades at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. But the night’s biggest surprise went to male artist of the year, Andrew Swift – he won despite not having released an album in 2022. Even he was shocked, saying it was “absolutely incredible.” Also pleasantly surprised was 10yo Tiggy Heart Eckersley – she became the youngest-ever winner in the event’s 51-year history. She took home a trophy for co-writing song of the year Star of the Show with her parents, Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley, and friend Dan Biederman. The night’s top prize went to Gold Coast-based Casey Barnes, who claimed best country album for Light it Up. Giddyup… 

Sydney Harbour Bridge was shut down yesterday morning while Hollywood heart-throb Ryan Gosling shot some dramatic action sequences for his new movie, The Fall Guy. Apparently, scores of fans were falling over themselves to catch a glimpse of the star…

It might look like a movie villain, but this whopping 2.7kg cane toad is all too real, according to ranger Kylee Gray who found her in Queensland’s Conway National Park… Thought to be a world record-breaker, ‘Toadzilla’ has been removed…

Religious figures often appear in strange places, but for Argentinian footballer-turned-god Lionel Messi, his food-based apparition is the result of a computer algorithm. The World Cup winner’s face can be seen from the heavens after a farming engineer sowed a cornfield in the champ’s honour. It’s really quite a-maize-ing…

3rd hearing block of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme begins – Brisbane

Anniversary of:
• the Shaanxi Earthquake, the deadliest ever recorded that killed 830,000 in Shaanxi Province, China (1556)
• the first musicians being inducted into the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, including Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley (1986)