Squiz Today – Tuesday, 12 June

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“More than a little embarrassed.”

Said former SA Premier Jay Weatherill, and he’s not referring to his recent election loss. Weatherill was bushwalking on the weekend, broke his leg, and had to be carried uphill for two hours to get to the ambulance. How the mighty have fallen…

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‘DOTARD’ MEETS ‘LITTLE ROCKET MAN’

THE SQUIZ
US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are in place in Singapore for the year’s most anticipated global political event. Today's unprecedented meeting is more than just a chance to glimpse the jogging North Korean bodyguards. It’s the first time the leaders of the two countries have ever met. And the agenda is ambitious. The hope is that Trump and Kim can agree on a plan for North Korea to give up its nuclear capabilities and begin a “new relationship” with the US and the world. Reports say it will be a 1:1 meeting with just translators present.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?
After decades of diplomacy/threats between the two countries, Kim and Trump got off to a bad start. North Korea escalated its nuclear and missile testing and insults flew between the two leaders. But the Winter Olympics in South Korea’s Pyeongchang and efforts to have North Korea involved brought about some dialogue. And after more on-again-off-again false starts than your primary school relationship, the leaders will meet today. Trump says he believes he’ll know within the first minute of today’s meeting whether Kim is someone he can do a deal with. Let’s hope Kim plays Tom Cruise to Trump’s Renée Zellweger and has him at “hello”…

SO WHY ARE WORLD LEADERS CRANKY WITH TRUMP?
You’re right. There wasn’t a lot of love between Trump and the G7 gang on the weekend. As was anticipated, the issue that dominated the summit was trade, and specifically how Trump’s tariffs have majorly upset the applecart. Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau, who has promised retaliatory measures, was singled out by Team USA for special mention. A picture released by Team Germany was said to illustrate the tone. Others said it was a matter of perspective (isn’t it always…). But one pundit said Trump had to hang tough and not show any weakness/compromise ahead of the Kim meeting. A burger for world peace, anyone?

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SQUIZ THE REST

A NAG FROM BIRMO
Education Minister Simon Birmingham wants families who are eligible for government child care payments to get online to complete the forms. Switching over to the new Child Care Subsidy on 2 July, he says a third of eligible families are yet to submit their form. The payment replaces the Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate payments and will be subject to a means test and an activity test. That means families have to be working, volunteering, studying or looking for work to receive the payment. Birmingham was probably that guy who got all his uni assignments done days in advance…

ARDERN HOPES KIWI MEDIA KEEPS IT NICE
NZ PM Jacinda Ardern is getting close to having her first child (her due date is 17 June) and she has announced plans for how the government will run while she takes six weeks maternity leave. While facing what could be her last press conference before giving birth, she said she hoped her family would be given the opportunity by the media to have some quiet time. “Let’s just say I hope we don’t find ourselves in a situation where New Zealand media follows Australian media.” Ardern was referring to the attention former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, partner Vikki Campion and baby son Sebastian continue to attract, including a confrontation with a photographer on the weekend.

DOVER IN A DIVE
One of Australia’s largest financial advisers Dover Financial is shutting up shop. It comes on the instruction of financial regulator ASIC which continues to investigate claims of poor conduct. You might remember a few weeks back when a bloke collapsed while giving evidence at the Royal Commission into banking and financial services? That was Dover’s owner Terry McMaster. Dover has 40,000-50,000 clients and $4 billion in funds under management. Questions are being asked about how clients can make future claims against Dover for any poor advice they may have received if they aren't around.

HER MAJ’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS
Dawn Fraser’s recognition as Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours means a lot to her. "I rate this as highly as winning my first gold medal in Melbourne.” The feisty jetski enthusiast took out a top gong in this year’s honours. Other notable Aussies to be honoured were business journo Robert Gottliebsen, comedian Tom Gleisner, business advocate Jennifer Westacott and Paralympic gold medallist Kurt Fearnley. Women outnumbered the men on the list for the first time. The full list is here.

VAUGHN’S DRINK DRIVE DISHONOUR
Actor Vince Vaughn was arrested in California on the weekend for suspected drink-driving and resisting arrest. Turns out he wasn’t aggressive with police, but was “delaying the investigation”. We note this only to draw your attention to his mug shot, which is what we imagine a pic of a 48yo in a high school yearbook would look like. Vaughn’s spokesman said he had no comment.

VALE ANTHONY BOURDAIN
There was shock at the news of the suicide of chef and storyteller Anthony Bourdain on Friday. His CNN series Parts Unknown was award-winning for its success in showcasing "both the extraordinary diversity of cultures and cuisines, yet how much we all have in common.” A lot has been said and written about who he was. One account that stood out was this from Marilyn Hagerty, a +90yo food critic who was befriended by Bourdain when the world was making fun of her. Class act.

SQUIZ THE DAY

11.00am (AEST) - US President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un to meet - Sentosa, Singapore

ABS Data Release - Housing Finance, April; Lending Finance, April

National Australia Bank Business Confidence Survey, May

UN World Day Against Child Labour

Independence Day, Philippines

National Day, Russia

Anniversary of Anne Frank's birthday (1929)