Squiz Today – Monday, 9 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“I’m not in an emotional place yet to make that commitment.”

New Yorker Steven Doppelt’s buddy Tyrone died last year, so he put in his application and paid $25 to participate in some occasional petting. At a doggie day care centre. He’s paid money to play with dogs at a doggie day care centre…

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FOUR RESCUED, NINE TO GO...

THE SQUIZ
Four of the boys have been rescued overnight from a cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province. The group of 12 kids and their 25yo coach has been stuck in the cave for more than two weeks. Rescuers have a small window of opportunity to get the group out with heavy rains expected to return that will effectively seal off the cave until October.

HOW DID IT UNFOLD?
• An Aussie doctor assessed the group’s fitness on Saturday night.

• There was a break in the rain yesterday that allowed rescue teams to start the mission.

• The boys face a pitch-black 4km journey includes a mixture of walking, wading, climbing and diving against the current – all in complete darkness. For the underwater sections, each boy was accompanied by two expert divers – one in front and one behind.

• The most challenging section is the T-Junction, which is underwater and narrow (just 38cm high and 72cm wide) requiring one of the expert divers to carry the boy’s air tank for them to get through. It’s the section where a Thai navy diver died last week.

• The rescued boys have been taken to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital. Hopefully some fried chicken is waiting…

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The operation has been paused for the divers’ air tanks to be replaced. The operation will kick off again this morning so expect another dramatic day ahead.

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SQUIZ THE REST

DEVASTATING FLOODS IN JAPAN
More than 80 people are dead, and dozens are missing after record rainfall caused rivers to burst their banks in Hiroshima and other areas of Japan. Flooding and landslides have forced the evacuation of two million people, and hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged. Reports say some areas have received up to three times the average rainfall for July since Thursday. PM Shinzo Abe said 54,000 people had been deployed in search and rescue efforts.

A STEP TOWARDS BREXIT
UK PM Theresa May has finally got a plan past her Cabinet colleagues. It’s a ‘soft’ departure from the European Union that includes a UK-EU free trade area for food and goods (but not services). The free movement of people to the UK from the EU will stop. It’s not been enough to satisfy many in her party who want more separation from Europe. And if the UK keeps its trade arrangements in place with the EU, experts say it’s unlikely countries like ours will gain much from a new trade deal with the UK. May now has to take the plan to the EU.

QUICK ‘AMERICA RUFFLING FEATHERS’ WRAP
NORTH KOREA SAYS US “GANGSTER-LIKE” – Word up. Kim Jong Un’s homies be slammin’ the US of A. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his playas went to Kim’s crib to work out the shizzle on a plan for denuclearisation. North Korea said the US is not keepin’ it real. No diggity. The US is waiting on Kim’s peeps to holla back soon for reassurance that things are coolio.

US NAVY TAKES A TRIP THROUGH TAIWAN STRAIT – Which is expected to annoy China.

RUSSIA AND CHINA HIT BACK OVER US TARIFFS – And China has made a complaint to the ref (otherwise known as the World Trade Organisation).

SANTORO ARRESTED BUT UNLIKELY TO FACE AN AUSSIE COURT
Marcelo Santoro, the man accused of killing his former girlfriend, Brazilian businesswoman Cecilia Haddad, is in custody in Rio de Janeiro. Santoro left Australia around the time Haddad was found dead in Sydney’s Lane Cove River in April. Reports say Aussie police had no idea Brazilian police planned on arresting Santoro. He will likely face their justice system for Haddad’s murder (which is allowed under their penal system) with Brazilian authorities saying he will not be extradited to Australia (which is not allowed under Brazil’s constitution).

FAMILY LIVED IN FEAR OF EDWARDS 
John Edwards has been identified as the man who killed his two teenage children Jack and Jennifer in their home in Sydney’s northwest last Thursday night. He took his own life and was found at his home hours later. Reports say the children’s mother Olga Edwards is too traumatised to speak to police. Olga and her children were estranged from John and the family were said to be fearful of him. Letters were left by John for his two ex-wives and relatives, and authorities say his purchase of firearms earlier this year showed he had been making plans for the killings for some time. The focus is now on how he was able to get those guns.

A BIG WEEK FOR WEARY SPORTS FANS
The big news from the soccer World Cup is the local side Russia is out of the running. France will take on Belgium on Wednesday morning, and England (aka The Three Lions) face Croatia on Thursday morning. Those games will decide who will make the final in a week’s time. In Old Blighty, It’s Coming Home - a delightful piece of 90s sport-pop - is making a comeback. Warning: the haircuts are terrible, but it’s a catchy tune…

And at Wimbledon, all the Aussies are out of contention. Men’s champs Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic remain in contention. And #1 player Simona Halep is out of the women’s. Serena Williams is marching ahead – as is her baby Olympia. Williams was sorrowful that she missed her little girl’s first steps because she was at training. “I cried,” Williams said.

SQUIZ THE DAY

ABS Data Release - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women Celebrated, 2018

Prince Louis' christening - London

Spencer Tunick to photograph a bunch of naked people - Carpark of Woolies Prahran, Melbourne

Anniversary of the Commonwealth of Australia is established by the British House of Commons (1900)