Squiz Today / 20 August 2019

Squiz Today – Tuesday, 20 August

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“I'm just really excited to be enlisting."

So excited 23yo Reynaldo Arroyo has gone all 'short hair don't care' with his first cut for 15 years. Stylist: the US Army…


PRINCE ANDREW DRAWN FURTHER INTO EPSTEIN SCANDAL

THE SQUIZ
Buckingham Palace yesterday issued a new statement from Prince Andrewdistancing him from accused child abuser and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein after a video from 2010 showing him inside the hedge fund multimillionaire's mansion came to light on the weekend. Old accusations about Queen Elizabeth II's third child raised their ugly heads with the rearrest of Epstein in July and his death in custody just more than a week ago.

WHAT’S THAT ABOUT?
Claims that Prince Andrew was involved in the sex trafficking ring allegedly operated by Epstein and his associates have long been in the public domain. After he was photographed with Epstein in Manhattan's Central Park in 2010, he quit his post as the UK's Special Representative for Trade conceding he'd made an "error of judgment". But the weekend's airing of video footage of Prince Andrew farewelling a young woman at the front door of Epstein's home drew a new denial from the Palace. “His Royal Highness deplores the exploitation of any human being and the suggestion that he would condone, participate in or encourage any such behaviour is abhorrent,” the statement said.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You mean other than Prince Andrew having some Spanish vacay time with former wife Sarah Ferguson? Also feeding the fire are new documentsreleased in a legal action brought by Prince Andrew’s accuser (and now Cairns resident) Virginia Roberts Giuffre. She's accused several high profile men of abuse facilitated by Epstein and his associates. Authorities have promised the victims that with Epstein gone, those involved will be pursued.


SQUIZ THE REST


DRAMATIC ARREST IN MELBOURNE CBD

One of Australia’s most wanted fugitives - on the run for more than two years after allegedly murdering his brother with a sword in a shopping centre carpark - was yesterday captured in a citizens’ arrest in Melbourne’s CBD. Jonathan Dick was apprehended after he attacked two men, one of whom was a former school friend. Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said detectives are following up allegations that Dick was stalking his former mate and had attacked him with a hammer in August last year. Dick’s mother Carol said she was grateful her son was captured alive. There’s no word on whether the men will receive the $100,000 reward that was on offer for Dick’s capture.


PNG PILGRIMAGE CLAIMS LIVES

At least 11 people have died after becoming lost in cold conditions with limited supplies in the Saruwaged Ranges in Papua New Guinea, an ABC report says. More than 30 people, including children, are believed to have made a wrong turn after setting off a week ago for a religious celebration held in Kabwum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of German missionaries. A rescue helicopter mission has been underway since Sunday after a few members of the group were able to make their way down from the mountain to notify authorities. The tricky terrain means that only three people can be rescued at a time.


IRANIAN TANKER RELEASED

An Iranian oil tanker seized in the British territory of Gibraltar last month has been released after it assured authorities it was not headed to Syria with its load of fuel. The tanker's seizure was part of the tit-for-tat escalation of tensions between Iran and the West after the US raised sanctions on the repressive state. The release of the ship came despite America issuing a warrant last Friday for its ongoing seizure on the grounds that it has links to an Iranian terrorist organisation. Gibraltar was unable to comply with the request as US sanctions against Iran do not apply in the EU.


DISNEY+ SETS A DATE

And it’s 19 November. That’s when we say goodbye to Aussie fans of the Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars franchises as they take to their sofas for long stretches to stream to their hearts’ content. Australia and New Zealand will become the third and fourth countries to have access to the new platform that launches in the US on 12 November. And if superheroes aren’t your thing, your $8.99 a month will also get you access to 30 seasons of The Simpsons and a bunch of other Fox content following Disney’s $US71 billion acquisition of the film and TV studios last year. Industry analysts are interested in how the launch affects local services like Foxtel and Stan. But for now, that’s the summer school holidays taken care of…


PORSCHE AUCTION HAS AN INELOQUENT END

You know when you say '13' and the person you're speaking to thinks you said '30'? That happened with devastating effects on the weekend when the auction expected to fetch the highest-ever price for a Porsche car fell through. It seems the sale was doomed to fail when the auctioneer called out an opening bid of US$13 million, which was displayed on a screen as US$30 million. On it went as bids increased to $14 million (displayed as $40 million), and $15 million ($50 million). The sale was shut down when no one went beyond $17 million (aka $70 million) when the price was corrected on the screens. Embarrassed auctioneers RM Sotheby's said it’s continuing to try to close a sale on the car.


YOU’RE HAVIN’ A LAFF…

We live in interesting times when a joke about vegetables is voted the funniest of this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Our favourite was the Ross Smith gag; "A thesaurus is great. There's no other word for it". Boom…

SQUIZ THE DAY

11.30am (AEST) - Reserve Bank releases the minutes of its last meeting

Company Earnings Results - BHP; Seven West Media

World Mosquito Day

Birthdays for Amy Adams (1974) and Andrew Garfield (1983)

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