Squiz Today / 10 July 2018

Squiz Today – Tuesday, 10 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“As soon as everybody got naked I was like 'yep I'm good, I'm fine'."

Said one participant of renowned photographer Spencer Tunick’s latest elaborate shoot. You've got to admire someone who is ok with getting naked with 300 other people. In a supermarket carpark. On a cold winter’s morning in Melbourne…


FOUR MORE RESCUED, FIVE TO GO…

THE SQUIZ
Four more boys have been taken out of the cave they have been stuck in for more than two weeks in northern Thailand. Four boys and their 25yo coach remain in the cave.

HOW DID ROUND TWO GO?
Very well. Rescue mission chief Narongsak Osottanakorn said things went more smoothly and more quickly than day one. That’s because the procedures for the team of 90 expert divers to get the boys through the cave were more familiar and refined. Reports also say efforts to pump water out of the cave to lower water levels have also helped.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Here we go again. There are contradictory reports about whether rescuers will try to get the remaining five out tonight or if it will take a couple of days. Fingers crossed for them. Reports say the rescued boys’ parents have not been told who has been recovered and have not been allowed to see them in hospital with Thai officials quoting health reasons. What a reunion it will be...


SQUIZ THE REST

MAY’S BREXIT BLOWUP
Man the barricades! UK PM Theresa May has an internal party revolt on her hands. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (with the excellent hair) and David Davis, the minister responsible for Brexit, have resigned from cabinet. Taking exception to May’s ‘soft’ Brexit approach, Johnson's resignation letter says the UK is missing the chance to do things differently. “That dream is dying, suffocated by needless self-doubt,” he wrote. Davis said the PM needs “an enthusiastic believer in your approach, and not merely a reluctant conscript.” It doesn’t bode well for May’s survival in her job with the ‘hard’ Brexit sharks now circling.

BRITISH NOVICHOK VICTIM DIES
Dawn Sturgess, a 44yo from Amesbury, Wiltshire who was inadvertently exposed to the nerve agent Novichock (the same poison used in the attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia), died in hospital. Investigators are trying to determine how the couple was exposed. Reports say it could have happened when Sturgess and partner Charlie Rowley went through some bins looking for items to sell. Relatives say the pair struggled with drug addiction. Rowley remains in a critical condition. Russia continues to deny any connection to the cases.

DROUGHT MEETING TACKLES LOOMING CRISIS
Thing to know: All of New South Wales is either in drought, on drought watch or experiencing the onset of drought. More than half of Queensland is in drought, and other states are also affected. So the federal government’s drought roundtable to discuss drought policy was timely. Long-term strategies were discussed as was farmers’ access to income support. The National Farmers' Federation has previously called for "smarter" ways to support the industry.

PACKER CLEARS HIS SCHEDULE
Recuperating billionaire James Packer has resigned from the board of his private company Consolidated Press Holdings. The gaming mogul unexpectedly resigned from the Crown Resorts board in March with a spokesperson citing mental health issues. Following treatment in the US, Packer has kept a low profile in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and was seen last month in France.

CHECK YOUR FROZEN VEG
A recall has been issued for several frozen vegetable products sold at Aldi, IGA and Woolworths. The regulator is concerned the products are potentially contaminated by listeria bacteria and could be connected with the deaths of six people in NSW and Victoria earlier this year. The product list is here.

BURNING LOVE
We have three examples today – sad and happy.

Crafty TV personality Tonia Todman’s home burnt down yesterday. Reports say guests at her B&B stoked a fire and flames spread to claim 90% of her historic homestead in Kyneton, Victoria. “I loved it. We will rebuild somewhere in the country,” she said.

Reports say Justin Bieber and his girlfriend of a month (although they’ve known each other for ages) Hailey Baldwin are engaged. She’s the daughter of fabulous Baldwin brother Stephen and, like her new fiancé, is a committed Hillsong convert. Apparently, the Beeb’s security people asked those nearby to put away their phones before he popped the question. Romantic.

And the royal christening of Prince Louis has happened. Pictures are here.

SQUIZ THE DAY

ABS Data Release - Building Approvals, May

National Australia Bank Business Survey for June

Anniversary of the liberation of Mosul, Iraq from Islamic State (2017)

Anniversary of Omar Sharif's death (2015)

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