Squiz Today – Monday, 3 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"We've got a lot of bangers and wingers and dingers, a lot of noise, a lot of smoke, but that's why we all come here to enjoy it.”

That’s what makes Territory Day (the anniversary of self-governance in the Northern Territory) so special. For one day only locals can purchase fireworks – in fact, they bought 300 tonnes worth. Territorians and tonnes of crackers... what could possibly go wrong? Plenty it seems. Twenty-four people were hospitalised with injuries, including one man who may lose an eye. As they say, it’s all fun and games until…

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BIG WEEK FOR WORLD LEADERS

THE SQUIZ
World leaders (including our very own PM Malcolm Turnbull) are getting ready to meet in Hamburg on Friday and Saturday for this year’s G20 Leaders Summit. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting so she gets to set the agenda – and she’s picked climate change as the focus. That’s guaranteed a clash with ‘Modern Day President’ Donald Trump (in today's Twitter controversy he’s ‘wrestling’ CNN) who recently took the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Merkel said; “The Paris agreement is irreversible and non-negotiable…” (try that with your best faux German accent) and they needed to press ahead to cut greenhouse emissions.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE…
Before the G20, a crisis meeting will be held in Paris between Italy, Germany and France to discuss a new influx of migrants to Italy. More than 12,000 people arrived in just two days last week fleeing countries like Syria, Bangladesh and Egypt. Italy is looking at closing its ports and wants support from other European Union members. "What is happening in front of our eyes in Italy is an unfolding tragedy," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. So migration and the ongoing fight against Islamic State are two issues also bound to make it onto the G20 agenda.

AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE DOING AT THE G20?
The G20 is the world’s premier forum for global economic cooperation, so it’s good to be at the table. It’s also an opportunity to mingle with other world leaders. Ten bucks says Turnbull will be keen bend Merkel’s ear after Germany passed laws to legalise same-sex marriage on Friday - without Merkel's support, but with her facilitation. And when it comes to image management and likability, Turnbull should go no further than French President Emmanuel Macron. His hands-on approach to his ‘portrait officiel’ shows a man who knows exactly how he wants to be portrayed (although the memes are pretty funny). Aside from the amped-up networking opportunity, we’re betting Turnbull will just be relieved to leave our cray-cray local politics behind for a few days. 

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SQUIZ THE REST

JEFF HORN WINS BOXING BOUT – BRISSIE GOES OFF
It’s been described as one of Australia’s biggest sporting achievements ever: Brisbane schoolteacher Jeff Horn yesterday beat 11-time world champ Manny Pacquiao to take boxing’s WBO welterweight title. It didn’t go all Horn’s way – he was in trouble after the ninth round but he stepped it up and won on a unanimous points decision. The crowd topped 50,000 at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium and the bout was televised to millions throughout the world. Pacquiao is an intriguing character – he’s one of boxing’s greatest of all time and is a serving Senator in the Philippines congress (potentially providing future career inspiration for former PM Tony Abbott?). Horn took $500,000 in prize money and was gracious in victory; “Manny, you’re an absolute legend. Thank you.”

FAIRFAX LOSES INTERESTED BUYER
Private equity mob TPG and partners Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan have decided not to make a bid for Fairfax Media. It was confirmed yesterday following the end of the due diligence period on Friday (ie the time they had to look over Fairfax’s financials and other information). Reports say Hellman & Friedman remain interested but they're yet to put in a formal bid for the publisher of the Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Without a bid to consider, Fairfax is expected to announce today it will demerge its Domain real estate business – a move that will be welcomed by shareholders as Domain is a profitable business weighed down by Fairfax’s traditional newspaper businesses.

CRICKETERS UNEMPLOYED WITH NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT
With 230 professional cricketers becoming officially unemployed on Friday night, emergency meetings over the weekend were unable to get things back on track. An Aussie side is due to tour South Africa next week, and officials say a breakthrough is needed for the tour to go ahead. The bigger issue is whether it will be resolved in time for us to play England for the Ashes. There's a bit of time - the series doesn’t start until November. Even though they’re off contract, the Aussie Women's World Cup team currently playing in the UK will be paid for the duration of the tournament (where we beat New Zealand overnight). So that’s something.

VENUS TROUBLED AS WIMBLEDON KICKS OFF
Tennis champ Venus Williams has been named as the driver of a car responsible for the death of a 78yo man near her home in Florida. Reports say although she ran a red light at low speed and collided with a car that had right of way, it’s unlikely she will face criminal charges. However, the family of the man killed in the collision are suing her for wrongful death. Williams said she was heartbroken by the incident. Not a great way to start her 20th Wimbledon which kicks off today.

CARTERS CELEBRATE NEW ARRIVALS WITH TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS
That’s music megastars Beyonce and Jay-Z to you and I. Despite no formal announcement, entertainment news sleuths noticed two trademarks applications by the Carter family company: one for ‘Sir Carter’ and another for  ‘Rumi Carter’. If true, we’re giving them one out of two for that effort.

SQUIZ THE DAY

ABS Data Release - Building Approvals, May

Economic Data - House Prices for June; Australia Industry Group Manufacturing Index; ANZ Job Ads

Wimbledon Tennis Championships - until Sunday, 16 July

Sleep Awareness Week