Squiz Today – Thursday, 19 December

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Why was Australian student Alek Sigley detained in North Korea, according to the country’s officials?”

Is one of the questions in our first-ever Great Big Squiz Quiz. If you click that link, you'll see we've put together five quizzes for you to test your news memory on. And hint: “For a bad review of North Korea’s premier burger restaurant” is one of the incorrect answers to that question… Giddy-up!

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AUSTRALIA: SO HOT RIGHT NOW

THE SQUIZ
Tuesday was Australia's hottest day on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology's preliminary results. The average maximum temperature across the country reached 40.9C, breaking the previous record of 40.3C set on 7 January 2013. Spoiler alert: that record could fall again before the week is out…

IT MIGHT GET EVEN HOTTER?
Indeed it might. The BOM says the hot conditions southern and central Australia is experiencing will continue to intensify. That means the parts of South Australia and western NSW and Victoria currently experiencing an extreme heatwave will continue to reach temperatures in the mid-to-high 40Cs. Spare a thought for those who are in the Nullabor - it’s heading towards 50C and above. What that means is all sorts of high-temperature records could tumble until the Little River Band’s anthem kicks in late on Friday.

THAT CAN’T BE GOOD FOR BUSHFIRE CONDITIONS...
You’re absolutely right. The spring just gone was the second-warmest and second-driest ever recorded creating perfect conditions for bushfires. Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday warned the state is in for a "difficult few days" adding to calls from fire authorities around the country about the current high risks. Meanwhile, the heat has been put on PM Scott Morrison for taking leave and a rumoured overseas trip with his family while fires continue to burn. One person not going there is Labor leader Anthony Albanese. "I have many criticisms of Scott Morrison. One isn't when he chooses to go on leave with his family," he said.

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SQUIZ THE REST

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HISTORY UNFOLDING IN THE US AND UK

The year is not slowing down much, particularly for politicians in the US and UK. The US House of Representatives is debating the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, and a vote is expected soon. If it splits down party lines as expected, he will become the third president in history to be impeached. And let's just say Trump is feeling peeved about the whole thing… Note: that is not the end of the story… A trial will then be held in the Senate, and a two-thirds majority must be secured in a final vote to remove him from office. Stay tuned… And over the old London Town, they’re getting ready to get their pomp and ceremony on with the official opening of parliament today. The Queen’s Speech outlining UK PM Boris Johnson’s agenda is at 10.15pm (AEDT). Which means you have time to get your bingo cards together with ‘Brexit’ at the centre…

We’ve done the heavy lifting so you can nail your impeachment and Brexit chat. #SquizShortcuts

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FORMER BUSINESS LEADER ARRESTED

Multi-millionaire businessman Sir Ron Brierley has been charged with the possession of child abuse material. After an anonymous tip-off to police and a months-long investigation, Brierley was allegedly in possession of more than 200,000 child abuse images and videos on his laptop and two USB sticks when he was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday. The 82yo is a Kiwi who resides in Sydney, and he was known as one of the most feared corporate raiders of the 80s. In recent years, he has been a mentor to many of our business leaders. The Kiwi Government said it's too early to talk about revoking his knighthood.

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BODIES MAY NEVER BE FOUND

The bodies of two missing White Island volcano victims may never be found, according to New Zealand authorities. The bodies of 17yo Australian Winona Langford and 40yo Kiwi tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman are believed to be in the water and may have drifted up to 70km away from the island. Recovery teams have expanded their searches in the surrounding seas. But poor weather conditions, as well as ash and toxic gases from the volcano, have hindered recovery efforts since the weekend. Authorities have confirmed that 18 people died in the tragedy, including 16 Australians.

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ROCKING THE DARTS CROWD

For the first time ever, a woman has won a match in the World Darts Championship. Fallon Sherrock made history yesterday when she beat Ted Evetts 3-2 in London. The 25yo Englishwoman is one of two women to participate in the 96-strong championship. "I have proved that we can play the men and can beat them," she said. And she pulled it off in front of what was said to be a "raucous crowd" in London. It's a darts comp so that must have been something… Sherrock moves into the second round.

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COMING BACK TO THE FAR SIDE

You know you've been around for a while when The Far Side comes back around… If you're of a certain vintage, you will remember American cartoonist Gary Larson and his characters well. That's because his work graced every birthday and Christmas card you were given between the late-80s and mid-90s. His offbeat sense of humour avoided recurring characters but championed cows, ducks and scientists, and it was quite the cultural phenomenon... It's been almost 25 years since Larson's last single-panel comic appeared, but the 69yo yesterday launched a website and has promised to produce some new work. Also citing concerns about having “a second publisher and distributor of my work, known as Anyone With a Scanner and Associates,” he says “I'm hopeful this official website will help temper the impulses of the infringement-inclined”.

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NOT FEELING IT

Don’t worry, plenty of people don’t like a PDA…

SQUIZ THE DAY

ABS Data Releases - Labour Force, November; Australian National Accounts: Finance and Wealth, September

21st anniversary of the impeachment of US President Bill Clinton on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice (1998)

Anniversary of the release of Charles Dickens’ Yuletide tale, A Christmas Carol in Britain (1843)

Jake Gyllenhaal’s birthday (1980)