Squiz Today / 23 February 2018

Squiz Today – Friday, 23 February

SQUIZ TODAY

“File this away in: ‘things you didn’t know you needed but are now willing to sacrifice rent for.’”

Vogue says you need this $750 Celine plastic bag. Do you really?


RED CARPET FOR TURNBULL AND TRUMP POW WOW

THE SQUIZ
This visit is big. The red carpet will be rolled out for PM Malcolm Turnbull later today when he receives what’s said to be the biggest ceremonial welcome for an Aussie PM in 10 years. Turnbull is in Washington DC with our biggest ever delegation of Aussie CEOs/business types and political leaders – all in the name of strengthening economic ties.

WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA?
• Regional partnerships and security – China's influence is the hot topic right now.

• Trade – The Trans-Pacific Partnership mega-trade deal is back on track, and Trump has signalled the US could be interested again. Pundits say that would be a good outcome for us.

• Investment and infrastructure – We want to further open investment doors. The buzzword - infrastructure asset recycling (just say it with confidence…).

• Immigration – The US is in the middle of a great big political debate about immigration policy, and Australia's ‘merit' based system is often referenced as a system to emulate. And Australia remains hopeful the US will take more of the refugees on Manus Island and Nauru.

• Guns – A subject that’s getting a lot of presidential attention after the mass shooting at a high school in Florida last week. It's another conversation where our name is being dropped.

[SHAKES HEAD] AMERICA AND GUNS…
Yep. Trump yesterday held a ‘listening session’ with school shooting survivors and the parents of victims. Critics were not impressed with the suggestion that arming teachers could keep students safe. Nor were they complimentary about the talking points that Trump took into the meeting including the prompt “I hear you”. Turnbull said earlier this week he would not use the visit to tell the US what to do about their guns policies. But let’s suspend belief and hope Trump asks…


SQUIZ THE REST

SITUATION JOYCE UPDATE
Victorian Nationals MP Andrew Broad yesterday said he wants leader Barnaby Joyce to stand down and for the party’s parliamentary members to have their say in a meeting on Monday. Whether Broad will be successful in forcing a vote on Joyce’s leadership is not yet clear. But it’s a big move that will likely dominate the political news over the weekend. And last night it was confirmed that there has been a harassment complaint made against Joyce by a Western Australian woman. Apparently that's behind the WA Nats leader withdrawing support for Joyce's leadership earlier this week. How this all ends is still far from clear.

ISRAEL THWARTED AUSSIE TERROR PLOT
Remember the brothers who were arrested in July last year for plotting to bring down an international flight with a bomb disguised as a meat-mincer? It turns out it was Israel's intelligence services that tipped off our police. Khaled and Mahmoud Khayat from Sydney’s west were charged with planning a terrorist act. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton yesterday thanked the Israelis for their good work.

SCHOOL OVERDOSE CAPTURED ON VIDEO
The dark web, Snapchat and an obscure Russian drug have all conspired to land seven Year 10 students from the Gold Coast in hospital. Four remained in a critical condition last night after overdosing on what is believed to be Phenibut. The group from Saint Stephen’s College overdosed on Wednesday while at school. Reports say the boys filmed their overdose and sent it around via the social messaging app. Police are investigating, and the principal said it was a distressing and emotional time for the school community.

QUICK BUSINESS NEWS WRAP
Meanwhile, reporting season rolls on…

QANTAS – The Flying Kangaroo delivered an 18% increase for the July-December period taking their profit to $607 million. To think it wasn’t that long ago that things looked very grim indeed.

NINE ENTERTAINMENT – In an industry of declining ad revenue, Nine increased its take by 10%. Its 55% jump in profit to $116 million for the half year sent its share price up more than 15% to a two-and-a-half-year high.

DAVID JONES – It’s owned by Woolworths South Africa, as is the Country Road Group. The department store’s fortunes went the way of other discretionary retailers – operating profit was down 29.4% to $84 million. So it's going to get the Country Road team to do some of its private label range to boost sales.

FRIDAY LITES – THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK
Confession time. We’re a bit obsessed with white sneakers at the moment. Which means we’re only about three years behind the trend. Here’s a guide the best on the market according to fashionable people.

We're also a bit keen on the New York Times podcast The Daily. Last week there was this incredible (and quick) rundown on how Russia got in heaps of trouble last Winter Olympics for government-sanctioned doping of its athletes. Which led us to this article. And will lead us to watch (hopefully this weekend) the doco they're all going on about – Icarus. It's been nominated for an Oscar.

And we’re a fan of Ray Martin’s Great Moments in Australian History series on SBS’s The Feed. Last night a new episode dropped - The History of the Goon Sack. Who knew Ray was so funny.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday

ABS Data Release - Energy Account, 2015-16

Company Results Announcement - Woolworths Group

David and Louise Turpin, the Californian parents charged with the torture of their 13 children, due to reappear in court

US National Banana Bread Day

Sunday

10.00pm (AEDT) - PyeongChang Winter Olympics closing ceremony. Snowboard cross silver medallist Jarryd Hughes will carry the flag for Australia

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