Squiz Today / 25 June 2019

Squiz Today – Tuesday, 25 June

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Nobody else in the world has two gravesites but Michael would be rolling in both…”

Said Rhett Hutchence of plans for a bronze statue of his rock star brother for Melbourne with the support of one branch of his family. He says the appropriate place to memorialise the INXS legend is Sydney where his life started and ended. But for now, it's another way for his family to tear each other apart


SHE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

THE SQUIZ
Like a chaotic accountant, three of our notable sports stars hustled to get some big wins under their belts before the end of the financial year. It rained success for three Aussie women yesterday in tennis, surfing and golf.

TELL ME ABOUT IT
Ash Barty - You've probably heard about her win in the Birmingham Classic yesterday that took her to #1 in the world rankings. The 23yo is just the fifth Australian to take the top ranking, and she is the first woman since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1976.

Sally Fitzgibbons - The 28yo’s win of Brazil’s Oi Rio Pro over triple world champion Carissa Moore was her first since early 2017, but it did the trick giving her the world’s #1 ranking. The win also blocked fellow Aussie Stephanie Gilmore (the reigning world champion and close mate of Barty’s) from taking the top spot. Small world…

Hannah Green - She became the third Aussie woman to win a golf major taking out the US PGA Championship by just one shot. The 22yo Perth star has been mentored by the last major women’s title winner Karrie Webb who said she was made for winning big tournaments. Green also made time to thank a young fan for helping her stay calm.

THAT’S EPIC...
And it’s about to get even epic-er. The Women’s Ashes cricket series against England kicks off next week and is on until the end of the month. A mix of test, one-day and T20 games, the #1 ranked Aussies are favourites to keep the Ashes in their possession. And the Netball World Cup is on for 10 days from 12 July. Injury-free and ranked #1, there are high hopes that our Diamonds will shine bright to bring home that title too. Both comps are being hosted in the UK so be prepared to give a knowing nod to any bleary-eyed zombies you run into during July.


SQUIZ THE REST


DARWIN SHAKES, RATTLES AND ROLLS

‘Crocodiles Rocked!’ ‘Did The Earth Move For You Too?’ ‘Darwin Shaken But Not Stirred’… Excuse us as we indulge in a spot of crystal-balling the front page of today’s NT News after tremors from an earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale rocked Darwin yesterday. The seismic event had its epicentre in the Banda Sea off Indonesia, about 700kms north of the Territory's capital, but the tremors were sufficiently large to trigger the evacuation of multi-storey office buildings and hotels in the city. But there was no threat of a tsunami and no reports of casualties in our neighbouring countries. Engineers are now looking for any signs of structural damage in the city. All's well that ends well…


ABC TAKES FEDS TO COURT

The ABC has launched legal action in the Federal Court asking it to rule invalid the Federal Police warrant that authorised this month's raids on its headquarters in Sydney. And it's asked for an injunction to prevent police from accessing the seized files relating to its coverage of secret Defence documents. Meanwhile, News Corp said it would go directly to the High Court to challenge the raid on Sunday Telegraph journo Annika Smethurst’s home.

And in other media-legal news... Former NT youth detainee Dylan Voller won the first round of his defamation case against The AustralianSydney Morning Herald and Sky News over comments posted on their Facebook pages. That sound you hear is a chill passing through our media companies as they reassess their social media moderation practices…


BODIES OF CLIMBERS RECOVERED

The body of Australian mountaineer Ruth McCance is believed to be among the seven found and recovered yesterday in the Indian Himalayas. The avid climber and experienced adventurer was one of eight who have been missing, feared dead, since her group failed to return to their base camp after losing contact on 26 May. The party of four Britons, two Americans, an Indian and McCance were attempting an ascent of India’s second highest mountain, Nanda Devi, when it is believed they were caught in an avalanche. Officials say they are searching for the remains of the eighth missing climber.


FUNDING FOUL CALLED AGAINST FOLAU

It’s the saga that just won’t quit... Yesterday GoFundMe shut down former Wallaby star Israel Folau’s call for donations to help pay for his future legal costs and said more than $750,000 collected in just a few days would be returned. The campaign “violates our terms of service”, said the crowdsourcing website adding it is “committed to the fight for equality for LGBTIQ+ people”. Folau’s spokesperson said the move, along with attacks on his website and questions over his prominent netball-playing wife Maria’s social media support have “hardened his resolve." The Australian Christian Lobby is supporting new fundraising efforts. To recap: Folau is fighting his sacking by Rugby Australia over controversial social media posts he says were an expression of his religious beliefs.


A DECADE SINCE MICHAEL JACKSON’S DEATH

Where did that time go? Jackson was 50yo when he died after being given a lethal dose of an anaesthetic by his doctor Conrad Murray (who was later found guilty of involuntary manslaughter). And while rusted-on fans continue to celebrate his groundbreaking musical talent, others were torn up over accusations of child abuse aired recently in the documentary Leaving Neverland by Wade Robson and James Safechuck - two talented kids who fell into his orbit. Even if you’re not a Jackson fan, this podcast episode from the New York Times’ ‘The Daily’ is worth a listen as it grapples with his legacy. We’re going in for another listen this morning.

SQUIZ THE DAY

7.30pm (AEST) - Cricket World Cup - Australia v England

8.00pm - Start of Sky News’ special political series Bad Blood/New Blood (finishes tomorrow night)

ABS Data Release - Characteristics of Australian Business, 2017-18

International Day of the Seafarer

Croatia’s and Slovenia’s National Day

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