Squiz Today – 12 July 2024

The Squiz 

Ahead of the NATO Summit winding up today, delegates have levelled a big accusation against China. Yesterday, the 32 NATO members released a joint statement saying Beijing was “a decisive enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine” and it must “cease all material and political support to Russia’s war effort”, warning China could face consequences if it doesn’t… Experts say it’s the Western military alliance’s strongest rebuke of China, which has repeatedly denied providing military aid to Russia.

Umm what does that all mean?

NATO members – which is most of Western Europe, the UK, the US and Canada – are united against China’s alleged moves to help Russia, saying it “cannot enable the largest war in Europe in recent history without this negatively impacting its interests and reputation”. China has rejected the claim, saying it was “provocative” and “filled with Cold War mentality”… And while we’re talking about the war on Ukraine, NATO’s given its defence efforts a boost – and Australia has announced a $250 million military aid package. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said “support to Ukraine is not charity – it is in our own security interest” with the first F-16 fighter jets finally on their way to Kyiv as part of $64 billion in military aid to be delivered over the next 12 months. NATO leaders say Ukraine is on track to gain membership to the alliance – something Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t be happy about…

Anything else?

Indeed there is… The other big talking point between NATO leaders was what might happen if Donald Trump wins the US presidential election in November. Reports say they’ve been making contingency plans to “Trump-proof” the alliance because their past relationship with him was tense, to say the least… In February, he put them on edge again when he said that if he’s re-elected, he wouldn’t protect any NATO member countries who were behind on their membership payments. More than that, he said he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to those members… Meanwhile, President Joe Biden’s faced more calls to drop out of the race. And although senior Democrats have publicly backed him, reports say it’s a different story in private. Meet you back here next week?

Sins of the father

A 28yo father who allegedly killed 3 of his young children and injured 4 others and their mother in a house fire in Sydney’s Lalor Park has been charged with 9 offences including 3 counts of murder and 5 counts of attempted domestic violence murder after waking from an induced coma. More details about the incident last Sunday morning that NSW Premier Chris Minns says left a “deep wound” have come to light, as police believe the man lit numerous fires inside the house and locked the doors to stop his family from escaping. Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said it’s “one of the worst cases of [alleged] filicide we have in NSW in recent memory.” The case will return to court on 6 September. 

If you or someone you know needs support, you can find a list of services here.

Freedom for Alice

A snap 3-day curfew in Alice Springs ended yesterday after NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said there were “no reasonable grounds” to extend it. The 10pm-6am ban on kids and adults heading into the town centre was introduced after a series of violent attacks last weekend. Police Minister Brent Potter says officers are dealing with “the influx” of people from remote Aboriginal communities – locals say that happens in July with events like NAIDOC Week, Territory Day and the Alice Springs Show, but some say the NT Government didn’t plan for it this year. Alice’s Mayor Matt Paterson warned that curfews must not be repeatedly used – and Commissioner Murphy agrees; he says they are “not a long-term solution”.

More money matters

Yesterday we discussed job mobility, but now economic mobility is in the spotlight, as a new Productivity Commission report shows that while Gen X generally earn more than their parents, the prospects of Gen Y/Z aren’t so hot… That’s down to “weak income growth for people born in the 1990s” as a consequence of the 2008 global financial crisis. Despite the disparity, we have some of the best rates of economic mobility in the world, but there are “worrying signs” including poverty levels at their highest since 2001. It also found 86% of men earn more than their mothers, while only 37% of women earn more than their fathers, and women are off worse financially after a separation, while a man’s income increases. Despite the findings, Chair Danielle Wood says “the amount your parents earned … is not a life sentence”.

Coffin Bay gets the creepy crawlies

A rare phenomenon has washed up along South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula this week, with hundreds of giant spider crabs gathering near the seaside town of Coffin Bay. If you’ve heard of that spot before, it’s famous for its oysters – so the “big invasion” of crabs has led to some very bemused local fisherpeople… Lester Marshall said masses of bright orange crabs that “marched up through the channels” and congregated near his oyster farm are “a sight to behold”. He’s not wrong… “They’re so slow-moving but they’ve obviously moved hundreds of kilometres,” he said. The crabs grow up to 70cm wide and are normally solitary critters that prefer to spend their time in deep sea waters. Scientists believe the crabs’ rendezvous is so they can protect each other from predators while they moult – aka shed their exoskeletons. Crabtivating…

My love does cost a thing

Greek weddings ain’t got nothing on the 4-month “mega extravaganza” concluding in India this weekend, costing over $1 billion. The marriage of Anant Ambani – son of Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani – and heiress Radhika Merchant is “nothing short of a royal wedding”. It kicked off in March with a 3-day party featuring a private Rhianna concert for guests including Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Then came a 4-day Mediterranean cruise with a toga party, masquerade ball, countless custom gowns/jewellery, and performances by Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, Andrea Bocelli and David Guetta. There’s also been a 10-page dress code, a 5,500-strong drone show, and ​​waiters serving Champagne through hedges… A $10 million Justin Bieber gig this week started the final countdown to the main reception event in Mumbai on Sunday. We need a lie down just reading about it…

We enjoyed Adam Liaw’s episode of the music podcast Take 5 with Zan Rowe – aka our version of Britain’s Desert Island Discs. He talks about his career pivot from law to food, life since winning Masterchef and how food can be “a vehicle for stories” – so there’s a bit to cover in 5 songs…

The Netflix documentary series The Man With 1000 Kids is just as wild as the title suggests – and the bombshells don’t stop there… It’s a look at how loose international sperm donor regulations are, even when people think they’re going to a legit bank.

And we’re getting retro in the kitchen this week with this warming cheese fondue recipe. It might sound like a gimmick, but this traditional Swiss version is no joke in its mountainous homeland. Buy some decent bread to go with it and enjoy a cosy night in…

2.15pm (AEST) – Paralympic Opening Ceremony Aussie flag bearers to be named for the Paris Games by Governor General Sam Mostyn – Sydney

4.30pm (ACST) – Darwin Fringe Festival kicks off (until 21 July) – Darwin

ABS Data Release – Overseas Arrivals and Departures, May

Boulia Camel Races (on until 14 July) – Queensland outback

International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms

A birthday for women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai (1997)

Anniversary of:

• the marriage of King Henry VIII to his 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr (1543)
• Britain’s King Charles II ratifying the Habeas Corpus Act giving those under arrest the right to be brought before a judge or into court (1679)
• the death of US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (1804)
• legislation being passed that gives women 21yo and older the right to vote in Aussie federal elections (1902)