Squiz Today / 08 January 2019

Squiz Today – Tuesday, 8 January

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"Fiji Water woman”

Photobombing has never looked so glamorous...


HOME PRICE PAIN ON THE CARDS

THE SQUIZ
Not making a new year’s resolution for improvement: home prices in Sydney and Melbourne. Moody’s Analytics yesterday said our two biggest cities are in for further fallswith another 11% expected to be shaved off homes in some parts of the Victorian capital and 7% in areas of the harbour city. A fall of 2.8% is predicted for Perth. As for the rest of the country's capitals, home value gains of between 1.2% and 6.1% have been pencilled in.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
It's hard to be general because the rise and fall of home values over the last year have been patchy. In Sydney for example, Moody's says some suburbs that saw significant falls in 2018 (like the Hills District and the Inner West) will come back this year. Meanwhile, the glitzy Eastern Suburbs (home to many well-heeled Sydneysiders) did ok last year but is predicted to take a whack in 2019. But it's Melbourne that's expected to take the title of tumbling home price champion this year, particularly in the inner suburbs.

SO… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Investment bank Morgan Stanley says home prices are falling at the fastest rate in 35 years. That increases the chance of the tumble getting more out of hand than a small child on a car roof. And that, they say, ups the possibility of a recession. So there’s that...


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SAUDI WOMAN DODGES DEPORTATION
After spending the day bailed up in an airport hotel room in Bangkok, 18yo Saudi woman Rahaf Alqunun has received the assurance of the Thai government that it will not deport her. She is now “under the care” of the United Nations refugee agency, according to the Thais, and has left her room. She says a return to her family would put her life in danger after she renounced Islam. Alqunun had initially planned on claiming asylum in Australia but says a Saudi diplomat took her passport while she transited through Bangkok. She has appealed to a number of western countries for protection. Reports say her father has arrived in Bangkok, but her family have not commented.

TRUMP WHEELS AND DEALS ON WALL
“They don’t like concrete, so we’ll give them steel,” US President Donald Trump said yesterday. That was what he told his people to tell the Democrats’ people – namely, that he’d be up for a steel barrier for the US-Mexico border wall if concrete wasn’t to their liking. Democrats continue to push back on the US$5.7 billion project. Meanwhile, Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton appeared to pull back on the “we’re-getting-out-of-Syria” pre-Christmas pronouncement, outlining specific conditions that would have to be met before the US withdrew. Trump yesterday said he still wanted out but “I never said we’re doing it that quickly.”

ANNALISE BRAAKENSIEK REMEMBERED
The model/designer/actress/advocate was found dead in her Sydney apartment on Sunday. Former colleagues and celebrities remembered her warmly yesterday. Braakensiek was perhaps best known for her work on SBS TV comedy Pizza (and the movie Fat Pizza) for which she received a Logie nomination in 2004. She had been open about her bouts of depression and was a R U OK? ambassador.
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FREDDIE’S NIGHT AT GOLDEN GLOBES
Faster than you could say ‘flu shot’, Hollywood’s award season was underway. And bio-pic Bohemian Rhapsody is the champion, our friends… The film about the making of Freddie Mercury and Queen won the night taking out best dramatic picture and earning its star Rami Malek the best actor (film, drama) nod. "I love you, you beautiful man. This is for and because of you, gorgeous," Malek said in tribute to the rock god. Glenn Close took out best actress (film, drama) for her performance in The Wife cruelling Lady Gaga’s chance for her turn in A Star is Born. Still, the Monster Mother shared some glory with the film’s hit song Shallow winning its category. All the winners are here. And it’s a Tuesday in early January - what you need is a red carpet gallery, yes?

INDIA WHACKS ITS WAY TO HISTORIC WIN
Claiming its first test series win on Aussie soil after 71 years of trying, India didn't let the drizzly Sydney weather dampen its celebrations. Australia didn't fare well against the team currently considered the world’s best. Some commentators say the PR re-emergence after Christmas of former captain Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft (both suspended over last year’s ball-tampering incident) didn’t help the team's focus. Maybe future letters to themselves will include a winning strategy…

APROPOS OF NOTHING...
WHAT A STINGER - A lot of people swimming in Queensland waters are getting stung by bluebottles. Since December, 22,282 people sought treatment for stings compared to 6,831 in the same period last year. Ouch...

TWEETIN’ HECK -  Yusaku Maezawa, founder of Japan’s largest online fashion retailer, can now add ‘most retweeted tweet’ to his string of accomplishments. His post has been resent 5.6 million times since Sunday. His trick? A cash giveaway…

GARAGE OWNER’S LIFE TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BY ART - Thanks for nothing, Banksy...

Need a hand getting across what's happened in newsland over the holiday period? Squiz The Break here.

SQUIZ THE DAY

CES Tech Show (the world's largest consumer electronics show) kicks off (on until Friday) - Las Vegas

ABS Data Release - International Trade in Goods and Services, November

Tennis - Kooyong Classic (on until Thursday) - Melbourne

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's birthday (1983)

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