Squiz Today – Monday, 15 November

THE SQUIZ
A new global agreement – known as the Glasgow Climate Pact – has been struck, but it’s not the far-reaching, ambitious deal many hoped for. After 2 weeks of talks, it’s forecasted that pledges made during the summit would limit global warming to 2.4C. That’s a long way off 1.5C – the target that nations have previously agreed on as the global warming goal. COP26 President Alok Sharma became emotional yesterday as he apologised to delegates, saying compromises were vital to ensure that progress could be made. “I think today we can say with credibility that we’ve kept 1.5C within reach. But its pulse is weak, and we will only survive if we keep our promises,” he said.

GIVE ME THE NOTABLE POINTS…
At a glance:

• It’s the first-ever climate deal to expressly agree to reduce the use of coal. Note: coal is responsible for about 40% of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions, so it’s a big-ticket item…

• But – and it’s a big but – the pact calls for a “phase down” rather than a “phase out” of coal. That happened when China and India intervened moments before the summit closed saying nations like theirs “have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication”.

• And another thumbs down: developing countries’ demand for funding to compensate them for climate-related losses also fell short. They met stiff resistance from the US and the European Union.

SO WHAT’S NEXT?
World leaders will be back at the negotiating table toot sweet with nations requested (but not required) to bring their emissions targets in line with the goal of 1.5C warming at COP27 in Egypt next year. That puts pressure on the Australian Government to bring forward a more ambitious 2030 target – something PM Scott Morrison didn’t do in Glasgow. And it puts more action on climate change on the agenda for the Coalition, Labor, the minor parties and independents ahead of a federal election, which is due by the end of May next year. Liberal MPs facing challenges from climate candidates are already looking an update the 2030 emissions reduction target – something Team Morrison says it will not do.

Biden and Xi get set for talks

The presidents of China and the US are getting on the video blower on Tuesday morning (our time). The aim: “to stop, or at least slow down, the downward spiral in US-Chinese relations”. Their agreement to work together on climate change is a good place to start, but after that, things get tricky… Chinese President Xi Jinping last week warned the West against taking a Cold War approach against China. But the US says Taiwan, human rights, cybersecurity and trade tussles are all up for discussion. On the first issue, Aussie Defence Minister Peter Dutton last week said we’d be all the way with the USA if it took military action to defend the breakaway territory. In response, Chinese state media said we’d need to get ready for China to attack Oz. So let’s hope that doesn’t transpire…

Putin denies Russian role in Belarus migrant crisis

We haven’t talked about this one as it’s heated up in recent days, so let’s set it up. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is a human rights denier who cracked down on his own people last year when they protested against a dodgy election result. His regime also forced a passenger jet carrying an opposition journalist to land in Belarus, and he was detained. International sanctions were imposed, and Lukashenko has responded by refusing to stem illegal migration. Worse, Belarus flew migrants from countries like Iraq, Syria, and Yemen and pushed them to the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. And as winter closes in, it’s at a crisis point. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin (aka Lukashenko’s biggest supporter) blamed the West for the stand-off. Pundits say things will likely get worse for those on the border before a resolution is found. #SquizShortcut

Ita arcs up over Aunty probe

Australia’s national broadcaster has been in the sights of critics and politicians a lot this year. After a torrid time, the ABC Board launched an independent review into how it handles complaints last month, but that didn’t stop Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg from launching an inquiry via the Senate’s Communications Committee last week. “I am worried that complaints are not being seriously addressed, and this is undermining the organisation,” he said. Not welcoming feedback as a gift is ABC chair Ita Buttrose… She yesterday called Bragg’s probe “an act of political interference designed to intimidate“. Communications Minister Paul Fletcher is staying out of it – his spokeswoman said it is “a matter for the Senate”.

Oz wins the T20 World Cup

Australia was too much for New Zealand’s Black Caps, taking the match by 8 wickets with 7 balls to spare. Fans could have gone to bed after the toss when it was decided that we would bat second, which delivered good juju to so many teams in this event… Our standout players were Mitchell Marsh and David Warner – their partnership piled on 92 runs, taking Oz a long way towards the 172-run target. Marsh went on to top score for the Aussies with 77 runs. Australia is the unexpected winner of the Dubai-based tournament, and the team’s success was fuelled by a belief in one another. “We actually love each other,” said Marcus Stoinis. “It’s beautiful.” Aww… It’s the first men’s T20 World Cup we’ve won since it launched in 2007, and it adds to the Aussie women’s T20 title won before the pandemic got real in March last year.

Taylor’s version a winner

The interwebs was set alight on Friday as independently-minded singer/songwriter Taylor Swift released her latest do-over of her previously released work. This time it’s her 2012 Red album (with huge hits like We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together and I Knew You Were Trouble) that’s been given the ‘Taylor’s Version’ treatment. Adding to the OMG vibe was the release of a 15-minute short film All Too Well, named after a much-loved track of the same name. She’s never confirmed it, but new lyrics have cemented in fans’ minds that it’s about her relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. Since its release, it’s racked up 23 million views. #SquizShortcuts

Two taxidermied flamingoes are being resurrected to become gay icons for South Australia’s LGBTIQ+ Feast Festival. The last 2 pink beauties in Oz, Chile and Greater were thought to be males when they were adopted by the gay community. Spoiler alert: Chile was found to be female when she died in 2018…

Last year they were masked. This year, the Three Wise Men have COVID travel passes sorted, so they are cleared to go and see baby Jesus. Who knows what next year holds…

If you struggle under “the tyranny” of Elf on the Shelf, a US judge is here for you… Judge Robert Leonard has made an order banishing the elves, saying it’s his “gift to tired parents”. Mum always said if someone offers you help, take it.

From 9.00am (AEDT) – Senior officials from the military, Defence, Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs departments to give evidence about Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan, including the chaotic departure from Kabul in August – Canberra

From 11.30am – Australian Reconciliation Convention (on until 17 November) – Sydney

Melbourne Fashion Week begins (on until 21 November)

Start of National Skin Cancer Awareness Week (on until 21 Nov)

Birthdays for ABBA singer Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad (1945), shoe designer Jimmy Choo (1948), Youtuber and entrepreneur Jeffree Star (1985), actor Shailene Woodley (1991)

Anniversary of:
• the ousting of Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe (2017)
• the death of rapper Lil Peep at 21yo (2017)