Squiz Today – Monday, 14 October

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“G’day”

Is the bit of Aussie slang that migrants most struggle with, according to a survey by translation service LanguageLoop. 'Mate', 'good on ya', 'how ya going?' and 'she'll be right' round out the top five. There goes half our vocab…

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MAKING PROGRESS ON SOME TRICKY ISSUES

THE SQUIZ
Brexit and the US-China trade war - they’re two issues that have confounded policymakers and chilled markets with progress hard to come by. But talks in the last few days have resulted in some promising developments…

THERE’S SOME PROGRESS ON BREXIT?
Incredible, right? And maybe it will come to nought, but UK PM Boris Johnson is locked in “intense” talks with the European Union with a leaders' summit on Thursday and Friday seen as the last chance to agree to the terms of a 31 October Brexit. Things have come a long way in the last few days. Johnson's revised plan – created to avoid concerns about a hard border in Ireland – has been criticised by EU leaders. But talks between Johnson and the Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar late last week resulted in the pair saying they could "see a pathway to a possible deal". And if Johnson didn’t have enough on his plate this week, he’ll unveil his government’s agenda with a Queen’s Speech overnight.

AND WHAT’S HAPPENING ON THE US-CHINA TRADE FRONT?
Since US President Donald Trump started upping tariffs to tackle the "unfair trade practices" of China in early 2018, international markets have been worried about the growing rift between the world’s two largest economies. And after months of on-again-off-again talks, a preliminary agreement was reached on the weekend. While it falls short of a comprehensive settlement, Trump said it was a good start that includes China’s purchase of US$40-50 billion of American agricultural products. That all sounds good for the global economy, but Aussie farmers will be keen to see if the deal casts them as the losers in the exchange…

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SQUIZ THE REST

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TRUMP UNMOVED AS TURKEY STEPS UP ATTACKS

Despite more world leaders expressing concerns about Turkey's military offensive into northeastern Syria, US President Donald Trump has again defended his decision to abandon Kurdish fighters, America’s partner in the fight against Islamic State in the region. “I don’t think our soldiers should be there for the next 50 years guarding a border between Turkey and Syria when we can’t guard our own borders at home,” he said. Trump’s statement came after the Pentagon confirmed US troops had been fired on by Turkey. And underlining international concerns that Turkey’s military action could see a resurgence of Islamic State, Kurdish forces said they will no longer prioritise the guarding of thousands of captured IS fighters if the offensive continues. Reports say almost 800 relatives of foreign IS members have already escaped the Ain Issa displacement camp as fighting raged nearby.

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DEATH TOLL MOUNTS IN JAPANESE TYPHOON

At least 35 people are dead, 17 are missing, and more than 160 are injured after Typhoon Hagibis ripped across Japan on the weekend. More than 100,000 people were evacuated across central, eastern and northeastern regions of the country as they were hit with floods and landslides caused by rivers bursting their banks. One of the most violent typhoons in recent years, Hagibis (which means "speed" in the Philippine language) made landfall on the main Japanese island of Honshu on Saturday evening with wind speeds reaching 160km/hour. Things eased yesterday morning when the significantly weakened storm moved out to sea. Some pics of the damage left behind are here. With Japan currently hosting the Rugby World Cup, local fans were cockahoop that the Japan v Scotland game in Yokohama was able to go ahead last night - and that the home side recorded an unexpected win.

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FEDERAL PARLIAMENT RESUMES

Just when you were used to a bit of shoosh from Canberra’s Parliament House, the federal political gang are back together for a fortnight of sittings. On the agenda: the Coalition’s push for tougher laws for child abuse offences. Team Morrison is also looking to repeal legislation which makes it easier to transfer sick refugees on Nauru or Papua New Guinea to Australia for medical treatment (aka the Medevac laws passed before the election). A new probe into the banks’ market power, climate change and a push for Morrison to rebuke President Trump for his decision to abandon Kurdish fighters are issues that are also tipped to get some airtime. On the Coalition’s political pot-shot list: the growing scandal over illegal donations to the NSW branch of the Labor Party.

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DON’T DO THE ICE ICE, BABY…

We've rolled more ankles and twisted more knees than we've had chip sandwiches. Which is a lot… And sure, they're injuries that might have happened while celebrating with a bit too much enthusiasm, but the resulting pain is no party. Which is why we try to keep abreast of the latest developments in treating bung joints. And it seems that RICE - not the delicious carb, but the acronym for 'rest, ice, compression, elevation' - is out of date, certainly when it comes to the 'ice' part. Icing the injured area delays recovery by slowing the blood flow to the injury, experts say. What’s in? Getting back on your feet ASAP. Finally, a reason to get rid of those frozen peas…

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A TRIO OF ACHIEVEMENT

AND THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER IS… - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. At 43yo, he’s Africa’s youngest leader, and in less than two years in power he’s ended two decades of hostility with longtime enemy Eritrea. And he’s started reforms that promise a better life for impoverished citizens across the country.

RUNNING MAN - Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge became the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours. Completing the 42.2km Vienna course in one hour 59 minutes 40 seconds with no competitors and a series of pacesetters, it will not be recognised as an official marathon. Kipchoge holds the official marathon world record of 2:01:39. Meanwhile, Kenya's Brigid Kosgei knocked 81 seconds off the 16-year-old women's marathon world record held by Britain's Paula Radcliffe overnight recording a time of two hours 14 minutes 04 seconds in the Chicago marathon.

STRENGTH AND POISE - American Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in the sport’s World Championships history with two more gold medals overnight. Of the 25th medals she's won, 19 are gold. No wonder they're naming moves after her…

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HOLY GUACAMOLE...

Last and probably least (given the calibre of those last few achievements), check out the size of this world record-breaking avo. Sing it, Dr Jean...

SQUIZ THE DAY

Federal Parliament resumes

Queen Elizabeth II to present the Johnson Government’s forthcoming priorities to the Parliament in an official Queen’s Speech

World Standards Day - so it’s not a day to drop them…

Anniversary of the deaths of Antarctic explorer Douglas Mawson (1958), actor Errol Flynn (1959) and crooner Bing Crosby (1977)