Squiz Today / 03 November 2021

Squiz Today – Wednesday, 3 November

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Squiz Today Podcast

We say it, you spray it. Because we know there are people who listen in the shower…

Today’s listen time: 9 minutes

SYD
16 / 25
MEL
20 / 25
BNE
16 / 25
ADL
17 / 23
PER
10 / 23
HBA
13 / 25
DRW
27 / 36
CBR
8 / 25

Squiz Sayings

“We none of us will live forever.”

Said Queen Elizabeth in her taped address to the COP26 climate summit. It’s thought to be the first time she’s been caught lying in public – she’s clearly going to live forever…

Pledges galore at COP26

THE SQUIZ
The world leaders’ segment of the United Nations’ COP26 climate conference in Glasgow (not Edinburgh…) is in full swing. Heads of government (including PM Scott Morrison) continue to put forward their proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions and keep the 1.5C global warming target within reach. In addition to that parade, 2 pledges that seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have received widespread support – and Australia has signed up to one.

WHICH ONE?
The one to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. Trees play an essential role in sustaining life on Earth by providing oxygen and absorbing 30% of carbon dioxide emissions. And Dame Judi Dench loves em’ which is reason enough to care quite frankly… Every year the world loses around 5 million hectares of forest (for context, Tassie is almost 7 million hectares), and three-quarters of that is down to land clearing for farming. It’s an issue across the world, but it’s a major problem in Brazil and Indonesia. Both countries are on board, along with nations that account for 85% of the world’s forests, including Oz. Experts say it’s a step forward – but there is scepticism because a deal from 2014 wasn’t delivered on.

AND THE OTHER?
Overnight, US President Joe Biden and the European Union’s Ursula von der Leyen have launched a global partnership to slash methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels. While carbon dioxide usually steals the spotlight, methane is more powerful, and experts say it’s responsible for a third of current warming from human activities. About 40% of methane comes from natural sources, but the majority comes from agriculture (hello farting cattle and sheep) and natural gas production. More than 100 nations have signed up – but not Australia. For one, the Nationals’ made it a condition of their support for the net zero emissions by 2050 target. Not a fan: Deputy PM/Nats leader Barnaby Joyce told farmers they would need to “go out and start shooting your cattle” to reach the target. For its part, Meat & Livestock Australia has a goal to reach net zero emissions across the industry by 2030, and the gas sector is also looking to make improvements.

Environment & Science World News

Squiz the Rest

Police believe Cleo taken by an opportunist

As the search for missing 4yo Western Australian girl Cleo Smith hits 2.5 weeks, authorities say they are getting “closer and closer” to identifying the person/people who abducted her from the Blowholes campsite near Carnarvon, 960km north of Perth. Police have interviewed and eliminated more than 110 people from their investigation and say there is a “small handful” of people they are yet to track down. “I think it’s more than likely an opportunistic type event,” lead investigator Superintendent Rod Wilde said yesterday. As well as locating the people they are yet to speak to, police are focused on the campsite, looking through data taken by mobile towers in the area, searching the dark web, and securing satellite imagery captured over the area around the time of Cleo’s disappearance.

Crime

How are the COVID states doing?

Not too bad, thanks for asking. Starting in NSW, the easing of more COVID restrictions has been brought forward as vaccination targets continue to be met ahead of time. From next Monday, fully vaccinated residents will be able to boogie down, have unlimited guests in their homes (as long as they’ve been double jabbed), and go to an event with a full-capacity crowd. For unvaccinated residents, the date when they can enjoy the same freedoms has been pushed back from 1 to 15 December, or when NSW hits 95% vaccination. Victorians also received some good news yesterday – the state recorded 989 new local cases – the first time the new daily case number has been below 1,000 since September. And in the nation’s capital, the ACT recorded 8 new cases yesterday as its outbreak peters out. Australia’s jab champs, 93.2% of the territory’s residents aged 12yo and over are fully vaxxed.

Australian News

No change to interest rates in the here and now

…but the future outlook has changed, says the Reserve Bank. Its board met yesterday and as expected, they decided to keep interest rates at the record low of 0.1% for the 12th month in a row. But there is chatter about what’s next because inflation is on the up, and the indicators show the national economy will get its groove on now that lockdowns have ended in Sydney and Melbourne. With those things heading in the right direction, the central bank says it will ditch one of its key economic stimulus measures known as ‘yield curve control’ – and that’s a whole thing for economic types. If you need something to help you fall asleep tonight, here’s an explanation… But the key takeout from yesterday is there’s a sense that interest rates will rise ahead of Governor Philip Lowe’s previous prediction of “not before 2024”. Economists say not this year, and maybe not in 2022 – but 2023 could see some movement.

Business & Finance

The race to second

Geez we’ve watched a lot of telly during this pandemic – a lot of it via a streaming service. Ted Lasso (Apple), Clarkson’s Farm (Prime), Vigil (Binge), Girls5Eva (Stan), The Kominsky Method (Netflix) and Criminal Minds (Disney+) – we’ve seen ’em all… And it’s Disney+ that has had significant success in Oz since its launch at the end of 2019. The Financial Review says (paywall) market research data shows the international entertainment heavyweight is about to become Oz’s 2nd biggest streamer. Netflix holds the biggest share of our video-on-demand hearts with Amazon Prime Video in the #2 spot – until recently. The reason for Disney+ making ground – its vast library of family-friendly content, analysts say. The report says that Australia’s original pay-tv outfit Foxtel now accounts for 11% of streaming subscriptions across Kayo, Binge and Foxtel Now.

Technology

A Verry Elleegant win

It’s verry hard to be elleegant with that spelling… But what a race the 6yo Kiwi-bred mare ran in the Melbourne Cup yesterday, breaking clear of the leading pack in the final 300m to win the nation’s biggest race by 4 lengths. It’s the first Cup to be claimed by Sydney-based trainer Chris Waller – he’s best known for his successful partnership with supermare Winx. And jockey James McDonald was emotional about the win. “I was blowing kisses to her the whole way. I don’t know. I just can’t believe what’s just happened,” he said. Queensland’s hot favourite Incentivise hung on for 2nd. Picture galleries of fashion and the vibe are here.

Sport

Apropos of Nothing

Couples who met via a dating app are 6 times more likely to divorce in the first 3 years of marriage than those who met through friends, family and neighbours, according to a new study commissioned by the UK’s Marriage Foundation. Given they spruik couples counselling, take that with a grain of salt…

Finally, technology is doing something good for us… We have one word to say to you: food delivery robots.

If unpacking is your version of fun, Aussies developers have turned it into an award-winning game. More evidence we are doomed as a species…

Quirky News

Squiz the Day

12.30pm (AEDT) – His Excellency Jean-Pierre Thebault, France’s Ambassador to Australia, addresses the National Press Club – Canberra

6.00pm (AEDT) – The Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science are announced – Canberra

Company AGM – Domino’s Pizza

The 68th Sydney Film Festival begins (until 14 Nov)

National Days for Dominica, Micronesia, and Panama

Birthdays for US Vogue editor Anna Wintour (1949), sports star Ellyse Perry (1990) and model/TV personality Kendall Jenner (1995)

Anniversary of:
• the patenting of the first modern elastic bra by New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob (1913)
• the Soviet Union launching Sputnik 2 with space dog Laika aboard (1957)
• the election of US Presidents Lyndon B Johnson (1964) and Bill Clinton (1992)
• the release of Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s single I Will Always Love You (1992)
• Michelle Payne becoming the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup (2015)

Australian News

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