Squiz Today – Monday, 22 January

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"He brought me home a burger and some flowers from the dairy, so that was lovely."

Kiwi PM Jacinda Ardern says partner Clarke Gayford knew just how to celebrate the good news that their first child is due in June. She is not the first female PM to have a bub while in office, Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto did it in 1990. PS: love a Kiwi dairy…

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WASHINGTON SHUTS DOWN

THE SQUIZ
On the eve of US President Donald Trump's first year in office, the US federal government shut down many of its services after a stopgap budget didn’t get enough votes in the Senate by midnight on Friday. It’s the first time this has happened while the same party has controlled both houses of Congress and the White House. (Note: Republicans have 51 of the Senate’s 100 seats, and the bill required 60 votes to pass – a process Trump has questioned.) The last government shutdown was in 2013 over President Barack Obama’s pursuit of health care reforms (aka ‘Obamacare’).

WHAT’S THAT ALL ABOUT?
Tied up in this are the negotiations on immigration, and particularly what will happen to undocumented immigrants who came to the US when they were young (known as the ‘Dreamers’). Trump had been positive about a bipartisan deal - but it all fell apart in a meeting where some now infamous words were allegedly said. Since then, with efforts to put it back together not coming off, Senate Democrats essentially told Republicans and the White House to "get nicked" by rejecting their budget. The White House said it would "not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizen's hostage over their reckless demands."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
There was hope a deal for government funding up until 8 February would be passed before Monday morning, but negotiations appear deadlocked. So for now, there's the blame game, wild tweeting, Women’s March 2018 (including here in Oz) and a missed anniversary dinner to contend with. Trump is due to go to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday evening – that’s also up in the air for now.

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SQUIZ THE REST

KABUL HOTEL SEIGE ENDS
Afghan special forces yesterday ended an overnight siege at the city’s Intercontinental Hotel (not part of the IHG group) with all three attackers killed. The assailants stormed the hotel through the kitchen on Saturday night taking hostages. Fourteen foreigners and four Afghans were killed and more than 160 people were rescued from the hotel during the siege. The Taliban have claimed responsibility.

TURPIN TORTURE DETAILED
Details of the Turpin children’s depraved upbringing have been outlined in a Californian court. The allegations levelled at parents David and Louise Turpin of physical and psychological torture are horrendous. Apple pies and unopened toys that the 13 siblings could see but not touch; prolonged periods of being chained up with no access to a toilet; just a couple of showers a year. The 29yo daughter weighed just 37kg when she was found last week. The only good news is the prosecutor said the 2yo did not appear to have been abused and had been getting enough to eat.

HOUSEKEEPING!
You like to be current so here’s an update on some stories you’ve Squiz’ed:

CRAIG MCLACHLAN VOWS TO FIGHT – The actor yesterday told News Corp Sunday papers his career has been “annihilated” by claims of harassment and bullying and he’s gearing up to sue Fairfax Media and the ABC. He admitted that the environment was a bit Benny Hill-like. However, “Does being cheeky and naughty equate with being a bully? No, it does not,” he said.

NASSAR SENTENCING HEARING CONTINUES – Former US gymnastics coach Larry Nassar's sentencing hearing will take some more time to hear witness statements. It's expected to wrap up this week so stay tuned.

TOM PETTY’S DEATH AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE – The medical examiner said there were a lot of drugs in the system of the music legend, who died in October. Fentanyl (the same stuff that got Prince…), oxycodone, generic Xanax and other medications were detected. He had been prescribed the drugs to deal with knee issues, depression and a fractured hip, his family said.

HATCHES, MATCHES AND DISPATCHES
Kim Kardashian and hubby Kanye West have revealed the name of their latest addition – Chicago West. She’ll be known as Chi (which we think is meant to be announced as ‘shy’). Just keeping you pop culture current…

Singer Ed Sheeran is engaged to Cherry Seaborn. The two met at school but didn’t become an item until 2015 when they moved in and got cats together – something Sheeran said was a sign it was serious.

Rugby League great Graeme Langlands died at 76, he had been suffering dementia for several years. The footy establishment said he was one of the best players we’ve ever seen. In later years he was accused of assaulting a teenage girl in the 80s – accusations his family say he was never aware of due to his medical condition.

Author Peter Mayle died at 78. If you’re of a certain age range there’s a good chance you’ve read three of his books: A Year in Provence, and embarrassing kids classics Where Did I Come From? and What’s Happening to Me? Who knew! He died in France after a short illness.

And speaking of France, renowned French chef Paul Bocuse – the “Pope of French cuisine” – died at 91. A hero to many, President Emmanuel Macron said; "His name alone summed up French gastronomy in its generosity and respect for tradition but also its inventiveness." Bocuse was also not really into monogamy and didn’t believe women made good chefs. So, you know, swings and roundabouts…

AUSSIE OPEN – AUSSIES OUT
We well and truly OD’d on tennis on the weekend – and it was great. Sadly Nick Kyrgios lost his match last night against Grigor Dimitrov. Kyrgios looks like he’s turned a page in his career with a great effort over the week. And Ash Barty didn’t get past Naomi Osaka on Saturday. So that’s the Aussies done. We reckon the #1 seed Simona Halep is looking good in the women’s draw despite fighting a record-equalling long match on the weekend. And the big three – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – have made it through to the second week of the tournament.

ASSISTING WITH YOUR MONDAY PROCRASTINATIONS
Give the Google Arts and Culture app a go. When you’ve installed it (just go to the App Store on your phone and search Google Arts and Culture), scroll down to the “Is your portrait in a museum” feature. You’ll be prompted to take a selfie, and it will be matched to a gallery portrait. Ours was so unflattering it reinforced the urgency of our health kick plans. But a friend of ours got this John Singer Sargent beauty (a painting with a great backstory) – which is perfect for her.

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.00pm (AEDT) - Screen Actors Guild Awards

Funeral for actress Jessica Falkholt - Sydney

Anniversary of the Roe v Wade US Supreme Court decision (1973)

Anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria (1901)