Squiz Today / 12 October 2022
Squiz Today – Wednesday, 12 October
%%=Format(@localdatetime, “dddd, d MMMM yyyy”)=%%
Squiz Today Podcast
Getting you past the halfway mark.
Today’s listen time: 9 minutes
Squiz Sayings
“All I saw was death.”
Wrote the original space captain William Shatner of his experience of going to space onboard a Blue Origin flight last year. That would sure take the ‘joy’ out of joyflight…
Remembering the 2002 Bali terror attack
THE SQUIZ
The family and friends of the victims of the 2002 Bali terror attack, along with survivors and first responders, will gather at Parliament House in Canberra and the Australian Consulate in Bali to commemorate the 20th anniversary today. Immediately after the attack, then-PM John Howard said Australians would “grapple inadequately and in despair to try and comprehend what has happened”. Now we’re 20 years on, Jason McCartney – a former North Melbourne footballer who was one of the most public faces of the tragedy after he received burns to more than half his body – said he hopes people can find comfort today. “Everyone’s a little bit different in what stage of grieving they are at around this, even though it is 20 years on … It’s just about being really caring and supporting,” he said.
BACK IT UP A BIT…
It was a raging Saturday night when 2 bombs went off in Kuta, one of Bali’s popular beach and resort areas. Just after 11pm, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb inside Paddy’s Bar, and a 2nd explosion followed across the road, caused by a homemade bomb in a vehicle parked outside the Sari Club. And about 10km away, another bomb placed in front of the US consulate in Denpasar was detonated remotely – it did minor damage. In total, 202 people were killed, including 88 Australians. South East Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiah – linked to al-Qaeda – was found to be behind it. Those involved later said they originally planned the attack for 11 September to mark the first anniversary of the terror attacks on the US, but the bombs were not ready in time. “Just to call it an act of terror just, I suppose, underplayed the absolute devastation, the brutal, savage devastation represented over the taking of so many young lives,” former PM Howard said earlier this week.
AND WHAT’S THE TALKING POINT TODAY?
Well, a couple of things. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, analysts have flagged concerns about the resurgence of extremism in Indonesia – the world’s most populous Muslim country. For their part, counterterrorism efforts remain high, with more than 2,300 people arrested since a specialised unit, known as Detachment 88, was established in the wake of the attacks. And the other point is the imminent release from prison of bomb maker Umar Patek. Sentenced to 20 years, he’s expected to be freed soon after serving 11. This week, Inspector General Marthinus Hukom, the boss of Detachment 88, said “we should not hold grudges”. PM Anthony Albanese has previously said his release would “add to the distress and trauma” suffered by those affected by the terror attack.
Need a refresher on the 2002 Bali bombings and how what happened on 12 October changed our relationship with Indonesia? Our latest Squiz Shortcut has you sorted.
World NewsSquiz the Rest
A boost for Ukraine’s defence
Ukraine will bolster its armed forces following Russian airstrikes across its major cities on Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing to “make the battlefield more painful for the enemy”. US President Joe Biden says America will chip in with more funds for Ukraine’s defence and said missile defence systems would be delivered in the next couple of months. Reports say the death toll from Russia’s retaliation over the explosion on its prized Crimean bridge is now 14, and 97 have been injured. Meanwhile, tensions are also rising between Ukraine and its northern neighbour/Russian ally Belarus. President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed – without evidence – that Ukraine is planning an attack on his country. That will see some of the nation’s 60,000-strong defence force deployed to fight alongside Russian troops. Ukrainian officials say they don’t believe an invasion from Belarus is imminent.
World NewsDodging a global recession
The movers and shakers from the big international financial organisations are warning that the risk of a global recession is growing. World Bank President David Malpass says the ongoing Ukraine conflict, slowing growth in advanced economies, and currency depreciation are to blame. And International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva flagged climate disasters and the continuing fallout from the pandemic as significant problems. At the other end of the wealth scale, 54 nations urgently require debt relief to stop poverty levels from rising. The United Nations says those countries are already home to half the world’s poorest people. Speaking ahead of a meeting with G20 finance ministers, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said he reckons Australia can avoid a recession, despite the global economy being in “a dangerous place”.
AusPolOptus facing costly probes into data hack
The hits keep on coming for Optus… The telco will be subject to 2 new investigations over the massive data hack that saw 9.8 million Aussies’ private information leaked, with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner on the case. It will investigate the company’s handling of customers’ data, including whether they took “reasonable steps” to prevent “misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure”. There will also be a look at why it had all that data in the first place… If it finds serious or repeated violations of our privacy laws, the Federal Court could apply penalties of up to $2.2 million for each breach. And the Australian Communications and Media Authority will look into whether Optus failed in its duty to protect customers’ data. Neither regulator has indicated how long their inquiries will take.
Australian News Business & FinanceRevving up for the EV ute
Electric and hybrid cars are becoming a more common sight on Aussie roads, and now tradies are set to get in on the EV action with the first fully electric utes to go on sale in Oz next month. Last month, Chinese car maker LDV announced it was sending a fleet of its eT60 utes our way alongside an electric van and people mover. The model has already been picked up in Kiwiland, where they sell for NZ$79,990 a pop – aka A$100*… A new report from management consultancy Boston Consulting Group predicts electric utes and vans will make up more than half of all light commercial vehicle sales here by 2030 as costs continue to drop. Trucks are also set to get an electric shakeup in the coming months, with Tesla boss Elon Musk confirming that the company has started production on its first semi-trailer. It looks like it could be fun to take for a spin…
*You’ve correctly identified that as an attempt at a Kiwi currency joke. Apologies…
Australian News Business & FinanceA unique solution to too much screen time
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also apparently takes a village to get kids off their devices, with one in western India implementing an internet ban. With many studies focusing on the harms associated with kids’ technology use, Vadgaon in Maharashtra state decided to act on concerns about the amount of time their children were spending on their screens – a problem that worsened during the pandemic. So locals agreed to ban devices for all 3,000 residents between 7-8.30pm. There was initial reluctance from villagers, but now many say its brought positive change, including more homework getting done and more quality family time. It sounds like every parent’s dream, but a move to India might be a bridge too far to turn it into reality…
Quirky News World NewsApropos of Nothing
A date has been set… The coronation of King Charles will be held on Saturday, 6 May, at Westminster Abbey. His wife Camilla will also be crowned as Queen Consort. He will be 74yo making him the oldest new monarch to be crowned.
Speaking of stepping up later in life, Malaysia’s former PM Mahathir Mohamad will make another run for parliament at 97yo. He has already been the nation’s leader twice – the last time was in 2018 when he was 92yo.
And Outlander fans might be interested to know that one of Scotland’s oldest clans finally has a new chieftain after a 340-year delay. The clan’s last chief John Buchanan died in 1681 without a male heir, but an extensive genealogical search has identified his replacement, John Buchanan. How’s that for diversity?
Quirky NewsSquiz the Day
10.00am (AEDT) – ARIA Award nominations announced
12.30pm (AEDT) – Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus addresses the National Press Club – Canberra
5.30pm (AEDT) – Netball – Constellation Cup Game 1 – Australia v New Zealand – Auckland
20th anniversary of Bali terrorist attacks that killed 202 people – including 88 Australians (2002)
ABS Data Release – 2021 Census 2nd Release
Company AGM – Commonwealth Bank; CSL
Spain’s National Day
Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea
Birthdays for actors Hugh Jackman (1968) and Josh Hutcherson (1992)
Anniversary of:
• the first Oktoberfest, when the Bavarian royalty invites the citizens of Munich to join the celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen (1810)
• Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh begins selling raincoats (macs) after patenting them (1823)
• The Day of Six Billion: when the 6 billionth human in the world was born (1999)
Get the Squiz Today newsletter
It's a quick read and doesn't take itself too seriously. Get on it.