Monday 20 July, 2020

TikTok ban in Australia?; Netball heads north; a Royal wedding in London; and Cleo the wonder dog.

 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

 

THE LOWDOWN

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And it’s welcome back to school as Term 3 kicks off in NSW, ACT, SA, Tasmania, Victoria and WA..

Making news today: The Australian government is set  to launch an inquiry that could see social media apps like TikTok banned. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his government is looking very closely at apps like TikTok to examine whether they are safe for Australians to use. 

India has already banned TikTok – and 57 other apps owned by Chinese companies – and America’s President Donald Trump is also threatening to shut down the service in his country too. 

What’s the issue? These governments are concerned that private information about TikTok’s hundreds of millions of users could be accessed by the Chinese government and used for purposes we would not like. 

TikTok denies this is the case and says it only exists to help users create and share fun videos. Watch this space. 

AFL players packed their bags and cossies last week, a whole bunch of NRL players did the same, and now it’s time for the Super Netball superstars to follow suit, after news at the weekend that the competition is moving north to Queensland.

As the coronavirus continues to cause havoc in Victoria and – to a lesser extent in NSW – netball officials have decided the safest place to locate the Super Netball teams from southern states is up in the Sunshine State.

The Vixens and Collingwood flew up to Queensland yesterday, while the Adelaide Thunderbirds, West Coast Fever, the NSW Swifts and the Giants will follow suit in the coming weeks. The shortened season is on track to kick off on August 1. 

 

SPIN THE GLOBE

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Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a news story from wherever it stops, and today we’ve landed in Windsor – just outside London, England – where a surprise royal wedding took place over the weekend.

One of the Queen’s grand-daughters – Princess Beatrice – married her fiance in a private ceremony with only twenty guests in attendance – in keeping with these COVID-restricted times. 

The bride wore a dress that had been loaned to her by the Queen – and a diamond tiara – which is like what you get if you crossed a headband with a crown – which was the same one the 94 year old Queen had worn at her own wedding more than 70 years ago.

Because as you know, Nanas love hanging on to old stuff and passing it down to their grandkids for dress-up … and royal weddings and stuff. 

 

ANIMAL KINGDOM

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A new school term means a new series of Squiz Kids segments — and in this next segment, we feature a news story starring our furry, feathered and scaly friends. 

Today’s story is about Cleo – the labrador – who went missing from her owner’s home – and showed up four weeks later at the house she used to live in.

After going missing from her new house, Cleo walked 80 kilometres, even crossing a river, to get back to her old home. 

The new owners of Cleo’s old home were able to get the microchip scanned in Cleo’s ear and contact her owners – who couldn’t believe their beloved pooch had gone to such incredible lengths to find her way home. Even if it was the wrong home. Bet she ate a lot that night.

 

SQUIZ KIDS SALUTES

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And another new Squiz Kids segment … because new stuff is always cool … and in this one, we’ll be celebrating incredible people doing amazing things. 

A today we salute two people.

First off, a great big Squiz Kids salute to 6-year-old Bridger Walker, from Wyoming in the United States – who threw himself in front of an attacking dog to protect his little sister last week. Bridger- a huge Avengers fan – got a special video message from Captain America actor, Chris Evans – who said he was so impressed by little Bridger’s bravery, he was sending him a genuine Captain America shield. Cool.

Second: a great big Squiz Kids salute to the Dad in Tasmania who jumped into the ocean on Friday to save  his 10-year-old son, Lucas, after a shark snatched him off the boat they were fishing from. 

Lucas was recovering in hospital yesterday and was said to be in good spirits. See? Sometimes us Dads do have our uses.  

 

THE S’QUIZ

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This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you’ve been listening …

  1. What’s the name of the social media app that the Australian government is considering banning? 
  2. Which sport is following the AFL and NRL and heading north to Queensland?
  3. Name the grand-daughter of the Queen who got married at the weekend?

 

SHOUT OUTS

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It’s July 20… celebrating a birthday today is Aussie basketballer Ben Simmons, and Australia Zoo founder, Terri Irwin. 

It’s also National Farm Safety Week – so a big shout out to our many Squiz Kids listeners who live on farms and their families work on farms. Stay safe out there! 

Also celebrating a birthday today are these Squiz Kids … Nikita from Picton, Finn and Jiya from Jindalee, Jack from Downer, Mabel from Moorabbin, Ananya from Box Hill and Abigail from Canberra.

And some belated birthday shoutouts… Jason from Jindalee, Arty from Woolloomooloo, Luca from Crow’s Nest, William from Forest Lake and Pearl from Melbourne.

Happy birthday to you all. 

Classroom shoutouts… Stages 2 & 3 at Abbotsford Public School, Classes 5A and 5B at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Ingham, classes 3/4W with Mr Wright and 3/4M with Mrs Maranesi at Balgownie Public School, class 4C at Mount Terry Primary School and class 5/6a OC at Tighes Hill Public School.

 

The S’Quiz Answers:

  1. TikTok
  2. Netball
  3. Princess Beatrice