Squiz Today / 03 June 2019
Squiz Today – Monday, 3 June
SQUIZ SAYINGS
“I mean, what the hell?”
Said Dominic Thiem, the world's #4 ranked player, as he was kicked out of the French Open's main press conference room halfway through his post-match wrap. Waiting was Serena Williams who had just been beaten and was ready to talk. That's quite a power shot…
AUSTRALIAN MISSING IN HIMALAYAS
THE SQUIZ
A group of eight mountain climbers including Aussie woman Ruth McCance, as well as four Britons, two Americans and an Indian liaison officer are missing in India's Himalayas. It’s another chapter in what has been a deadly climbing season in the region.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT McCANCE’S PREDICAMENT
She was with a group of 12 climbers who set out on 13 May on what was expected to be a 24-day expedition attempting to summit a previously-unclimbed route up Nanda Devi East. Four climbers stayed behind at the second base camp as the group of eight pushed on from 22 May, and the groups stayed in radio contact. But they didn’t hear anything from the climbers after last Sunday, 26 May. One climber went up and found an empty tent and evidence of an avalanche, and it took them until Friday to raise the alarm with authorities. A search party was despatched on Saturday, but it will take three days for them to reach the site. Bad weather had prevented helicopters from being deployed until yesterday. Officials say the best-case scenario is that they are stuck somewhere but this morning rescuers described the chances of finding them as “bleak”. McCance, an executive coach, has written extensively about her love of climbing.
IT’S BEEN A DANGEROUS SEASON…
It sure has. Unconnected to what is unfolding on Nanda Devi, what has gone down on Mount Everest this year - one of the deadliest on record - has angered expert climbers. This account of one man getting to the summit and encountering inexperienced climbers is representative of concerns many have. Add to that the record number of permits granted and bad weather and some have called it a pressure cooker. To get a sense of the scale of what it takes to conquer the world’s highest mountain, the ABC has put together this terrific interactive article.
SQUIZ THE REST
VIRGINIA BEACH SHOOTER HAD QUIT JOB
A “horrific event of unbelievable proportion” is what Virginia Beach Police Chief James Cervera called Friday’s mass shooting in the US. Twelve people were killed by DeWayne Craddock, an engineer with the Department of Public Utilities. Craddock was killed in a subsequent shoot-out with police, and four others are in hospital with injuries. Having resigned from his job via email hours before the shooting, he used his security pass to enter his office building and legally-acquired firearms to kill his co-workers and a man who was there on business. Authorities are still looking into a motive saying, "we do not have anything glaring." Craddock's family offered their condolences to the families of the victims.
TRUMP A’SHAKIN AND A’STIRRIN…
US President Donald Trump has delivered a three-pronged shake-and-stir (if there is such a thing…).
• China - China is super unhappy about where things are up to with trade negotiations between the two power players. And neither side is for backing down...
• Mexico - Trump has overridden the advice of his advisers to blow things up with America’s southern neighbour. From next week, Trump will impose a 5% tariff (escalating to 25% by October) on imports from Mexico saying it’s not doing enough to stop “illegal” immigration.
• Duchess of Sussex - She’s “nasty”, said Trump, when he heard Meghan Markle suggested in her pre-Harry days that a move to Canada would be appropriate if he were elected. He now denies making the comment despite there being an audio recording of him saying it. Trump is in the UK on a state visit from today in the lead up to D-Day commemorations later this week, so #awkward...
MORRISON JETS OUT AS LABOR’S TEAM TAKES FORM
PM Scott Morrison has become the first PM in a decade to visit the Solomon Islands as he and wife Jenny jetted into Honiara yesterday for a 24-hour visit. Renewing friendships with old friends that have recently had their heads turned by China is said to be the reason for the trip - and a commitment of $250 million for local infrastructure will help… Morrison will then move onto the UK for the same reason Trump is there. Meanwhile, Labor leader Anthony Albanese yesterday put names against frontbench positions. Notable appointments include Senator Kristina Keneally who will take on Peter Dutton in the Home Affairs portfolio. Jim Chalmers moves to become Shadow Treasurer while Chis Bowen shifts to Health. And Bill Shorten has government services, which includes the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
QUICK SPORTS NEWS WRAP
BARTY STILL IN IT - It's been a stellar 2019 for Ash Barty already, but a fourth-round berth in the French Open continues her good run. She's the last Aussie left in the grand slam, and she got there without dropping a set. Fingers crossed she ploughs on through like a runaway cruise ship in her game against American Sofia Kenin tonight…
LIVERPOOL TAKES CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - It was an extraordinary road to the final with both teams pulling off miracles to win a spot in Saturday’s final. But on the night it was Liverpool who claimed bragging rights over the Tottenham Hotspurs. Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp was thirsty but happy…
AUSSIES TAKE OUT FIRST WORLD CUP MATCH - Chants of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie; Cheats, Cheats, Cheats" met Steve Smith and David Warner on Saturday night's opening game of the tournament as they made their comeback after last year's ball-tampering scandal. But they got on with it, and Warner was named man-of-the-match for his batting effort as Australia beat Afghanistan.
VALE ITUNES
The audio-visual scene these days is all about streaming services that give you access to everything you could ever want to consume without actually owning anything. And that's what original disruptor Apple is said to be moving towards. The tech giant is expected to announce today that the days of iTunes is over. Replacing it is said to be three things: its music streaming service Apple Music, a TV service for telly series and movies, and its Podcast service for anyone looking for the Squiz Today morning audio update. And there's a bunch of other stuff. Watch this space…
DROPPING IN
When cool dude/surfing champ Kelly Slater says this is one of the coolest things he’s ever seen, it’s worth a look.
SQUIZ THE DAY
Western Australia Day - Public Holiday
7.00pm (AEST) - French Open - Ash Barty v Sofia Kenin
ABS Data Release - Business Indicators, March; Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, March
ANZ Job Advertisements Survey for May
Anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack (2017)
The Squiz Archive
Want to check out Squiz Today from the archive?
Get the Squiz Today newsletter
It's a quick read and doesn't take itself too seriously. Get on it.