Squiz Today / 20 September 2019
Squiz Today – Friday, 20 September
SQUIZ SAYINGS
"I’ll just have to go clean up.”
Said Chicago lawmaker Jaime Andrade after a pigeon relieved itself on his head as he was giving a TV interview about cleaning up a public transport stop known as "pigeon poop station." Some people call that lucky, we say those birds are vindictive…
CLIMATE CHANGE FRONT AND CENTRE
THE SQUIZ
More than 2,000 businesses are expected to close for at least part of today as bosses give staff the opportunity to join students around the country at rallies calling for more action on climate change. Organisers of the Climate Strike say they expect “hundreds of thousands” of children and adults to join them in capital cities and more than 100 regional centres and towns across the country. The action comes days before next week’s United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York.
WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?
Inspired by teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, strikes have been organised around the world for today. It is the third in Australia since October last year. As for the specifics of their ask: they are calling for no new coal, oil and gas projects (including the Adani mine), 100% renewable energy generation by 2030, and government funding to help the transition of fossil fuel industry workers and communities. And while federal Coalition ministers have previously criticised student climate strikes and corporate activism, their response has been more muted this time around.
AND WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NEW YORK NEXT WEEK?
The UN is hosting a big summit of government, business and community leaders on Monday. It aims to "boost ambition and accelerate actions to implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change”. Thunberg, a 16yo Swede, has been the star of the show so far. She spent two weeks sailing to New York on a zero-emissions sailboat to attend the summit. And after days of media engagements, she appeared before a US Congressional hearing yesterday urging them to “listen to the scientists” and take action. The International Panel on Climate Change report she referenced in her testimony says urgent and significant action needs to be taken to cap global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
Confused about climate change? Want to know more but can't stand the politics and the shouting? We've got you covered. Check out our Squiz Shortcut on Climate Change, and in less than 10 minutes you'll be all over it.
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BALANCED BOOKS BOLSTERS BUDGET
Last financial year’s federal budget bottom line was in better shape than the government expected - $3.5 billion better… After forecasting a $4.2 billion deficit, we ended up $690 million in the red. PM Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg made a big deal during this year’s election campaign of the Coalition’s plan for a $7 billion budget surplus in 2019-20 - something Frydenberg says is within our grasp. Labor’s Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the result was down to higher iron ore prices and not spending $4.6 billion that had been earmarked for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Frydenberg acknowledged there are “challenges ahead” - something underscored by yesterday’s unemployment figures which crept up a point to 5.3%.
MORRISON READY FOR SOME TRUMP-STYLE POMP AND CEREMONY
As PM Morrison and wife Jenny jetted out of Canberra yesterday morning for Washington DC, US President Donald Trump has his people rolling out the red carpet. Morrison and Australia will be honoured with Trump’s second-ever State Dinner at the White House. Expected to join the Morrisons for Friday’s dinner at Don and Mel’s (and hopefully for a gander at the renos) are Aussie business types Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest, Kerry Stokes, Anthony Pratt, Gina Rinehart, and Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch. Golfer Greg Norman, a pal of the President’s, is also tipped to be there. Also on the itinerary are trade and economic discussions, a trip to the UN, a visit to NASA’s headquarters and talks with tech entrepreneurs. Let’s hope Morrison’s left his snazzy sandals at home this time…
TAMIL FAMILY REMAIN IN LEGAL LIMBO
With just a couple of hours remaining on the clock before an order expired preventing the deportation of Priya and Nades Murugappan and their two young daughters, a Federal Court judge said the family’s case needs to be decided at trial. The family, which had settled in the Queensland’s Biloela before being detained when their visas ran out last year, have already tried many legal avenues to stay in Australia. This case relates to their youngest daughter’s claim to protection in Australia. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said they will remain on Christmas Island with the next legal phase expected to take months.
QUICK WORLD NEWS WRAP
BALI BONK BAN - Imminent changes to Indonesia’s criminal code would not only impose new restrictions on Indonesian but tourists are well. For example, unmarried Australians looking for some between-the-sheets fun in Bali could be jailed. The new laws also make it a crime for couples who aren't married to live together, amongst other things. Experts say it’s a reflection of the increasing conservatism in the majority Muslim country.
TRUDEAU RED FACED OVER BROWN FACE - Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was embarrassed yesterday when photos from an 'Arabian Nights' work party in 2001 showed he’d dressed up with dark makeup applied to his face, neck and hands. And it wasn't a one-off - other occasions have also been revealed. Trudeau apologised saying he didn’t consider it to be racist at the time. It's lousy timing for him - Canada is in the middle of an election campaign that analysts say is tight.
BIRD ON A WIRE - Except you need to sub-out 'bird' for 'fighter pilot'...
DANIEL JOHNS SUES
Silverchair frontman and enigmatic rock god, Daniel Johns yesterday confirmed he is taking legal action against Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph, its editor and one of its journalists, for a front-page report story in mid-August saying he had become partial to days-long benders at a notorious Sydney S&M brothel. Johns’ says the report defamed him for its assertion that he was a pervert who is interested in all sorts of things that we are too polite to mention here... Johns said he has never been inside the establishment. The article is no longer available online, but he has not received an apology from the news outlet.
FRIDAY LITES - THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you’ll be interested in reading her latest interview with Rolling Stone. The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama…
We’ve been waiting for this… Between Two Ferns with Zack Galifianakis is a favourite, and now it’s a movie on Netflix, out this weekend. If it’s half as funny as this, and this, it’ll be great tune-out fodder.
And what would we do without our phones? When you put it like this, it is weird how attached we are...
SQUIZ THE DAY
Friday
Start of the Rugby World Cup - Japan (on until 2 November)
Second anniversary of Hurricane Maria that resulted in 2,975 deaths in Puerto Rico
Anniversary of the Battle of the Sexes tennis showdown between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs (1973)
Sophia Loren’s birthday (1934)
Saturday
2.45pm (AEST) - Rugby World Cup - Australia v Fiji
World Alzheimer’s Day
National days for Armenia, Belize and Malta
Start of Oktoberfest (on until 6 October)
Sunday
World Rhino Day
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