Squiz Today – Friday, 12 November

THE SQUIZ
In a surprise development, the US and China have agreed to work together to slow global warming during this decade. They are the 2 biggest emitters of greenhouse gases globally, and COP26 conference-watchers say the joint declaration could be significant in the drive to limit global warming to 1.5C by the end of the century. How is it going to work? Well, the deal has its sceptics because there are no deadlines or specific commitments to further emissions reductions… But the superpowers say they will jointly “raise ambition in the 2020s” and boost clean energy, combat deforestation, and curb methane emissions.

BUT DON’T THEY HATE EACH OTHER’S GUTS?
Fair question. On this issue, China’s top climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua said “there is more agreement between China and US than divergence”. And John Kerry, the US climate envoy, said the nations “have no shortage of differences, but on climate, co-operation is the only way to get this job done”. And it didn’t happen overnight… Officials have held more than 30 meetings this year to talk it through. Xie said it was the right thing to do because the nations have a “special obligation to work together on keeping the world a peaceful and sustainable place.” Rumours that the men broke into a rendition of Plastic Ono Band’s Give Peace a Chance to seal the deal are unconfirmed…

ARE YOU REALLY SURE THEY DON’T HATE EACH OTHER’S GUTS?
Yeah, you’re right to ask again particularly after President Xi Jinping (who cemented his position as China’s forever leader yesterday) returned to the America v China theme. He said that the “Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era.” On the other side, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the “US is a resident power in the Indo-Pacific” and it’s “not going anywhere”. That will all make for an interesting conversation when Xi and US President Joe Biden meet virtually early next week – and they will come across each other at today’s virtual APEC leaders’ summit. It focuses on the region’s economic recovery from COVID, easing the supply chain chaos, and funny shirts…

Unemployment spike to be short-lived, experts say

As lockdowns in NSW and Victoria began to ease in October, the unemployment rate hit a 6-month high, jumping from 4.6% in September to 5.2% last month, with Victoria accounting for most of the 46,000 jobs lost. And the underemployment rate (aka those who have some work but want more) lifted from 9.2% to a 12-month high of 9.5%. But in a sign that things are on the improve, participation nudged up from a 15-month low of 64.5% in September to 64.7% as Sydney’s jobseekers sensed the light at the end of a COVID tunnel. Analysts say this data is already “a little bit dated”, and the next lot will show employment rebounding as the economy shakes off the Delta outbreak. Bring. It. On.

Boeing settles 747 Max crash case

Aviation giant Boeing has agreed to compensate the families of the 157 victims of 2019’s Ethiopian Airlines crash involving one of the company’s flawed 737 Max passenger planes. To recap: the disaster was one of 2 that investigators attributed to the popular aircraft’s faulty automated flight-control system. The planes were grounded worldwide for 20 months, but they have since returned to the skies after changes were made to their systems. As part of the legal settlement in the US, Boeing has accepted responsibility for the deaths, but families won’t be able to seek punitive damages. Legal eagles say the agreement could see the families of the 189 victims of 2018’s Lion Air crash near Jakarta pursue compensation from Boeing through the US legal system, and some have started that process already.

C’mon Aussie c’mon…

Australia is through to the T20 World Cup, beating Pakistan by 5 wickets with 5 balls remaining. It came down to the wire, but Aussie batsman Matthew Wade saved the day with 3 sixes in a row to win the game. He made 41 not out from 17 balls – marvellous… Now it’s on to the final, where we will take on New Zealand at 1.00am Monday (AEDT). The Kiwis are first-time T20 finalists after their surprise victory against world #1 England yesterday morning – after they were narrowly defeated by England in the 2019 one-day World Cup. Australia hasn’t played the Kiwis in this World Cup, but we did win a warm-up match 4 weeks ago. And we don’t want to get superstitious on you, but the key will be batting 2nd… Only once has a team lost batting last this tournament. Go the Aussies, and good luck with that early start on Monday…

Wilson finds a new home

The volleyball befriended by actor Tom Hanks’ character in the 2000 film Cast Away was one of 1,000 famous film props up for auction this week. Wilson is “heavily distressed with paint applied to create a worn, dirty appearance”, and he/it spent a lot of time submerged in water, the listing said. Despite the wear and tear, $420,000 was the price paid – a bargain for a true mate that can’t talk back… The annual 3-day sale is one of the world’s largest film and television memorabilia auctions, and believe it or not, Wilson was not the main event… Michael J Fox’s hoverboard featured in Back to the Future II fetched a levitatingly high $550,000. You can check out the listings here.

João Carlos Martins is an acclaimed pianist and conductor, and a year ago, he broke a 20-year spell away from the keyboard when a smart man made him some bionic gloves. You might have seen it – it was everywhere… And this article with the full story goes one better with a rollercoaster ride through Martins life…

Six-times Olympic medalist Andrew Hoy is back in the saddle and this video of a cross-country course he rode this week has you holding the reins. Those eventing horses are incredible athletes.

Aussie food writer Jill Dupleix is a Squiz favourite. And last week, Good Food posted a fresh take on her smashed potatoes – a concept she came up with. What a legend – and we’re totally here for it.

10.00am (AEDT) – A state funeral for Aussie TV icon Bert Newton is held in St Patrick’s Cathedral – Melbourne

APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (until 13 November) – virtual

Company AGM – Lendlease

A hearing to formally remove Jamie Spears as conservator – Los Angeles, California

Ribit. Start of FrogID Week (until 21 November)

World Pneumonia Day

Birthdays for musician Neil Young (1945), author Naomi Wolf (1962), actor Anne Hathaway (1982), actor Ryan Gosling (1980), figure skater Tonya Harding (1970)

Anniversary of:
• the birthdays of artist Auguste Rodin (1840), founder of modern China Sun Yat-sen (1866), and actress Grace Kelly (1929)
• Leon Trotsky being expelled from the Soviet Communist Party, paving the way for Joseph Stalin to consolidate complete power (1927)
• the first known photo of the so-called Loch Ness Monster being taken by Hugh Gray (1933)
• Cyclone Bhola becoming the deadliest cyclone ever recorded after killing up to 500,000 in modern-day Bangladesh (1970)