Squiz Today / 26 July 2019
Squiz Today – Friday, 26 July
SQUIZ SAYINGS
“We worked incredibly hard for it and enjoyed every single minute of it and now the challenge for us is to keep improving and try and stay there as long as we can."
Said tennis ace Ash Barty on her return to Brissie yesterday after a sizzling northern summer that saw her become the world's #1 ranked women's player. Keen to highlight the team effort that's gone into her success, there's no hint of 'me', 'myself' or 'I'... What a champ.
WILL CHINA INTERVENE IN HONG KONG’S PROTESTS?
THE SQUIZ
Hong Kong is bracing for another weekend of protests and this time, all eyes are on whether China will send in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to maintain order. Aside from its ongoing concern about the anti-China sentiment of the recent protests, China’s pride was hurt last weekend when protestors egged the Beijing Liaison Office and defaced its national emblem. But if China does send its army in, pundits say it could open a big can of worms involving an “exorbitant political cost” for the rising power.
BACK IT UP A BIT
• The unrest started in June when demonstrations against a controversial plan to allow the extradition of residents to mainland China, Taiwan and Macau brought hundreds of thousands of protestors to the streets.
• Critics feared the plan would erode the territory's judicial independence and that the move was a step towards China’s deeply-flawed justice system (think arbitrary detention, unfair trial and torture).
• Since then, Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam has said the plan is “dead”, but it hasn’t been formally withdrawn. That’s led to ongoing protests, including last weekend when pro-democracy protesters were involved in a violent clash with pro-China activists.
CAN CHINA JUST SEND THE ARMY IN?
China’s defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian this week set the hares racing when he pointed out that the PLA is legally allowed to 'help' with law and order at the request of Hong Kong’s government. “Some behaviour of the radical protesters is challenging the authority of the central government… This is intolerable,” he said on Wednesday. But even China's supporters wonder if it will get involved. “Once the PLA has taken charge of the situation in Hong Kong and quelled the riots, what’s next?” asked Hu Xijin of China’s nationalist tabloid Global Times.
SQUIZ THE REST
CANADIAN TEENS UPDATE
Canadian police have formally charged two missing Canadian teenagers with the murder of Leonard Dyck. The 64yo man was found 2km from the pair’s burnt-out vehicle last Friday. Bryer Schmegelsky (18yo) and Kam McLeod (19yo) are also suspected of murdering Australian Lucas Fowler (23yo) and his American girlfriend Chynna Deese (24yo). They were found shot dead almost 500 kilometres from where the teens went missing. Authorities have issued a country-wide warrant for their arrest. The motive for the murders still remains unknown. Schmegelsky's father Alan said his son - who had a troubled childhood and a fascination with Nazi imagery, guns and video games - had little hope of surviving the manhunt and was on a “suicide mission”.
PUERTO RICAN GOVERNOR GONE
Puerto Rico’s besieged governor Ricardo Rosselló announced his resignation yesterday, three days after insisting he would stay on. Days of mass protests in the US territory’s capital San Juan kicked off after Rosselló became embroiled in a messaging scandal that has seen two other top officials resign. The leaked 900-odd pages of messages revealed sexist, profane and homophobic exchanges between the governor and his allies aimed at ordinary citizens, supporters and rivals. The scandal ripped the scab off many issues including a decade-long recession, a series of corruption scandals and the mishandling of the Hurricane Maria disaster in 2017.
CHANGE AFOOT AS TEMPERS FRAY IN CANBERRA
First things first. The headline-stealer out of our capital yesterday was the attack Victorian state MP Will Fowles launched against a hotel door. In town to support newly-elected Labor allies, Fowles said he was “deeply ashamed” and would take time off to deal with drug and alcohol issues. Unfortunately for him, the incident unfolded as former TV journalist and current NSW CEO of Life Education Kellie Sloane was trying to get in… But probably the more significant story is Australia has a new top bureaucrat(now there’s a reality TV show concept…). Phil Gaetjens, a former chief-of-staff to Treasurers Peter Costello and Scott Morrison, will leave his job as head of Treasury to become Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Former Labor appointment Dr Steven Kennedy will take the reins at Treasury.
LOW RATES HERE TO STAY
The Reserve Bank has indicated interest rates may be cut even furtherfrom a record low of 1% in an attempt to stimulate economic growth. Governor Philip Lowe yesterday said that recent rate cuts, as well as tax cuts for low and middle-income earners, higher commodity prices and a stabilised housing market would all support the economy. But he said the central bank is prepared to slash rates even further if economic growth remained sluggish. Analysts expect rates will be cut to 0.75% later this year, and reckon there is a 50:50 chance rates will drop to 0.5% by the middle of 2020.
FEELING HOT IN EUROPE
Australia isn’t the only place experiencing a toasty July… Europe is currently sweating through a record-shattering heatwave. The UK had its hottest July day on record with Cambridge reaching 38.1C. Paris broke its all-time high-temperature record with a sizzling 42.6C yesterday. Imagine how sweaty the end to the Tour de France on Sunday will be... And records were also broken yesterday in Germany with 41.5C, and the Netherlands which reached 40.7C. The UK’s national weather service pointed its finger at the culprit saying "Climate change has increased the likelihood and severity of heatwave episodes across Europe." Another thing to note: there have been “unprecedented” wildfires burning in the Arctic across Greenland, Siberia and parts of Alaska.
FRIDAY LITES - THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
Looking for something to listen to (other than the Squiz Today podcast, of course…)? The UK’s Tatler magazine this week listed its favourite royal-themed podcasts. Special mention to 9Honey’s The Windsors hosted by Squizer Kerri Elstub which made the cut. We’ve recommended it in the past, and we're happy to plug it again it's that good.
If you’re interested in political campaigning, this is a fascinating explainer of how US presidential wannabe Elizabeth Warren's clever photo line works. And if you're not interested in political campaigning, the way the New York Times has executed the story is interesting too. Tip: keep scrolling to see it unfold...
In memory of Margaret Fulton who died this week, a favourite recipe of hers - beef bourguignon. From the Margaret Fulton Cookbook*, it's been a frequent flyer in our kitchen since forever.
*Purchase this book using this link and The Squiz will get a little commission.
SQUIZ THE DAY
Friday
ABS Data Releases - Australian Environmental-Economic Accounts, 2019; Government Finance Statistics, 2017-18
20th anniversary of the end of the Kargil Conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region
Australia's second longest serving prime minister John Howard turns 80yo
Saturday
Strive to be Kind Day (in memory of Allison Baden-Clay)
66th anniversary of the Korean War armistice
Sunday
Start of Donate Life Week - this year’s ask is for everyone on the register to get just one more person to sign up.
Wrap up of the Tour De France - Paris
Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s birthday
90th anniversary of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ birthday
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