Squiz Today / 05 June 2017

Squiz Today – Monday, 5 June

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Look forward to the day a female makes this list before a horse”

Australian cricketer Rachael Haynes points out the missing ingredient to The Weekend Australian’s ‘MVP’ List. There are male representatives from cricket, the footy codes, tennis and swimming, and Winx the racehorse. She’s a mare, but we think Haynes is talking about the human kind of female…


12 ARRESTED OVER LONDON TERROR ATTACK

THE SQUIZ
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with the terror attack in London on Saturday night. Seven people are dead (plus the three terrorists) and 48 are injured after the men used a van to run down pedestrians on London Bridge before going on a stabbing rampage in the streets, bars and restaurants of Borough Markets. Police were praised for their reaction time – they killed the attackers within eight minutes of receiving the first incident report. It’s the UK’s second terror incident in two weeks, and another so-called ‘low tech’ attack. 

WHAT’S THE REACTION BEEN AND WILL THIS IMPACT THE ELECTION?
It’s become a sad standard formula – world leaders expressed solidarity and national leaders highlighted British resilience. UK PM Theresa May said “enough is enough” and it was time for some “difficult and embarrassing conversations” in order to stamp out the "evil ideology that is a perversion of Islam”. Campaigning has been suspended by the Conservatives and Labour for Sunday only - there’s not a lot of time left with the election on this Thursday (8 June). The expected boost in support for May after the Manchester bombing didn’t materialise. In fact, Labour (while still behind) have closed the gap on May’s Conservatives. All eyes are now on the ‘One Love’ benefit concert in Manchester led by Ariana Grande, the performer the crowd came to see at the Manchester Arena almost two weeks ago.

GIVE ME THE AUSSIE ANGLE…
PM Malcolm Turnbull yesterday said two Australians had been directly affected by the incident. Brisbane woman Candice Hedge was stabbed in the neck, she said on Facebook that she was in pain but would survive. The other is Darwin man Andrew Morrison who was also stabbed but is ok. Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was in the Borough Market area at the time of the attack. And One Nation leader Pauline Hanson came under fire for doctoring the UK’s ‘Run Hide Tell’ campaign to fit her political messaging on stopping Islamic immigration. The incident will no doubt be a topic of conversation at the AUSMIN talks today – Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne are hosting their US counterparts Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis in Sydney for discussions on regional security.


SQUIZ THE REST

TERRORISTS RATTLE AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ
Seven people were killed and more than 100 injured in three blasts at a high-profile funeral in Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday. The crowd of more than 1,000 including Afghanistan’s CEO and the foreign minister, had gathered for the funeral of Salem Izidyar, the son of the senate’s deputy speaker. It was the third major blast in four days in the city.

Dozens of people were found dead in the streets of Mosul, northern Iraq, over the weekend. There’s no confirmation on how they died, but there were reports of IS shooting those seeking to leave. IS are said to want to keep civilians in areas like this as it makes it harder for Coalition forces (including Australia) to conduct air strikes.

MANILA ATTACK NOT TERRORISM
The lone Philippines Resorts World Manila attacker was identified as 42yo local man Jessie Carlos Javier. Thirty-seven died as a consequence of Friday’s attack, most from suffocation from smoke caused by fires lit by Javier. Authorities have denied any terror link - Javier had recently separated from his wife and had lost his job. He killed himself in the hotel.

SCARED CROWD CRUSH IN ITALY
Reports say a thousand spectators were injured in a stampede on Saturday night in Turin, Italy, and at least two were seriously hurt. They were watching the UEFA Champions League final between hometown team Juventus and Real Madrid on a big screen in the town square. Loud bangs caused by fireworks panicked the crowd (no doubt thinking it was terror related), leading to a rush that crushed people against security barriers. For completion, Real Madrid won the match 4-1.

VARADKAR WINS IRISH LEADERSHIP BALLOT
Record breaker Leo Varadkar won his party’s support to become their leader and Ireland’s next Taoiseach (aka PM) last Friday. He’s the youngest, first ethnically diverse and first gay leader in the country’s history. Varadkar has been described as a ‘Thatcherite’; ie he’s economically conservative. He said during the campaign that he wanted to be a champion “of those who get up early in the morning”. Tough crowd he’s picked – we early birds tend to be highly caffeinated and a bit cranky late in the day…

INVENTOR OF THE WETSUIT DIES AT 94YO
Jack O'Neill, the inventor of the wetsuit, died on the weekend at 94yo in California’s Santa Cruz. He founded the O’Neill surf brand in 1952 with the product that made year-round surfing possible for committed surfers (including drop-outs and wage-slaves in denial). O’Neill was famous for his eye-patch, a consequence of a surfing accident in 1971. His son Pat took over running the company in 1985 leaving Jack to pursue ocean and shark preservation projects. And some surfing, we imagine.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Australia hosting AUSMIN 2017 (aka Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations) - Sydney

10.00am (AEST) - Second game of the NBA Finals - Cleveland Cavaliers v Golden State Warriors. Warriors lead 1-0, it's the best of seven games to win the title. Go forth and impress your sporty mates with that gem... 

1.30pm (AEST) - A Celebration of the Life of Mark Colvin - City Recital Hall, Sydney and streamed at abc.net.au/news

ANZ Job Ads Survey, May

ABS Data Releases - Business Indicators, March

World Environment Day

Trial against Bill Cosby starts in Pennsylvania. He faces three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand. 

50th anniversary of the Six-Day-War between Israel and neighbouring Arab states

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