Squiz Today / 27 August 2019

Squiz Today – Tuesday, 27 August

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"Last night I think had a knock-off Nando's and two bars of Yorkie biscuit and raisin."

Said English cricket hero Ben Stokes of his impeccable pre-game-changing preparation. Imagine what he could have done on a real Nando’s…


BREXITING BORIS’S BIARRITZ BALANCING ACT

THE SQUIZ
US President Donald Trump wasn't the only G7 head-honcho under pressure at the summit in Biarritz, France. When it comes to looming deadlines and big hurdles to jump, the gold medal goes to Brexit-enthusiast UK PM Boris Johnson.

WHERE’S THAT UP TO?
With the come-hell-or-high-water Brexit date of 31 October, Johnson has been warming his nation up to the proposition of a no-deal Brexit. What that means is the UK could exit the European Union on that date without an agreement in place. And given the UK’s laws are EU laws in many instances, that could mean the UK is hit like a tornado blasted by a nuclear bomb (as ordered by US President Donald Trump...). Maybe not that dramatic, but you catch our drift... But there has been an upside to the weekend’s meetings for Johnson. With European Council president Donald Tusk in attendance, the pair have had positive talks. And that means there’s an inch of light on reopening negotiations on the fly in the white wine (which is so much worse than a fly in the ointment) - the Northern Ireland backstop. And so, Johnson let the metaphors flow

WHAT’S IN A POST-BREXIT UK FOR US?
Possibly more trade with the UK. PM Scott Morrison met with Johnson last night and the pair agreed Australia would be among those at the top of the queue for a trade deal. The UK was our eighth biggest export market in 2016-17, so there’s room to grow. Morrison said once the UK was out of the EU, "we will be at the starting line". The pair also discussed the UK having a more significant presence in the Pacific region - something that would help Australia counter the growing influence of China in the region.


SQUIZ THE REST


WORLD LEADERS COUGH UP AMAZON FIRE FUNDS

And to finish up on the G7 meeting, leaders have agreed to provide A$33.5 million in fire fighting support to the Amazon region. (Note: President Trump skipped the meeting...) French President Emmanuel Macron said the funds would be available immediately to pay for waterbombing efforts. But Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro didn’t receive the news well saying Macron was treating Brazil "as if we were a colony or no man's land". And he struck a particularly low blow overnight having a go at Macron’s wife Brigitte on social media. Macron responded with; “What can I say? It’s sad. It’s sad for him firstly, and for Brazilians.” And for a bit of background on why these fires are important, ABC TV’s 7.30 had a good rundown on it last night.


IN THE (PLASTIC) BAG FOR LABOR

A fundraising dinner before the 2015 NSW state election has left a bitter and long-lasting aftertaste for Labor. A six-week hearing by the state's corruption watchdog kicked off yesterday, and it was straight out of the gates with a big accusation. After the aforementioned dinner that featured former federal leader Bill Shorten, it’s alleged that Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo delivered $100,000 in cash in an Aldi plastic bag to Labor HQ. With Huang prohibited at the time from making political donations, his accusers say his contribution was lodged in smaller amounts under other people's names in an attempt to circumvent the state's electoral funding laws. Huang has generated quite a bit of political intrigue in recent times. He was central to former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari’s downfall. And the Morrison Government stripped him of permanent residency in February. Dastyari said he was looking forward to giving evidence to the inquiry.


A CONTENDER STEPS INTO THE RING

While 21 US Democrats remain in the race to win the party’s nomination to be its candidate in next year’s presidential election, just two have officially put up their hand from the Republican party to challenge President Trump. Yesterday, former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh joined former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld in the race for the Republican primaries. Walsh, who is a conservative radio host with hard-line views on immigration, said he would challenge Trump whom he called a "bigot" and a “narcissist”. However, critics remembered the time Walsh tweeted that then-President Barack Obama was a Muslim. Hold onto your hat…

And while we have you... Former members of President Trump’s communications team have been busy. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is off to be a commentator at Fox News. Anthony 'The Mooch' Scaramucci is at war with his former boss. And Sean Spicer will appear on America’s version of Dancing with the Stars. How good would it be if he was paired with Melissa McCarthy


PUMICE THERAPY HEADS TOWARDS THE REEF

A giant sheet of pumice stones the size of Manhattan may hold the key to restoring the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists say the 150km-square 'raft', which is expected to float to Australia over the next seven months after making its way through New Caledonia and Vanuatu, could bring with it new sea life, like barnacles, crabs and corals.  And these creatures could have a positive effect on the reef’s environment, which is under pressure from rising sea temperatures and other environmental threats. The pumice raft originated from an underwater volcano which erupted near Tonga earlier this month.


“ANOTHER BLACK GIRL”

South Sudanese-Australian supermodel Adut Akech has called for the media and fashion industries to step up their game after Who magazine illustrated an interview it had done with her with a photo of another model, Flavia Lazarus. Taking to Instagram, Akech said she believed it “would’ve not happened to a white model”, and said the slip-up went against the message she was trying to convey about attitudes to refugees in the interview. Akech is in Melbourne for Fashion Week, and organisers apologised for the confusion.


TURN THAT FROWN UPSIDE DOWN

Geez, it's been a long week. So a smile-inducing item or two won't go astray.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP RUINED THE QUEEN’S LAWN - And while that might not actually be true, we like the idea of HRH taking PM Morrison outside to inspect the damage.

WE’RE NOT SMILE-CRYING YOU ARE - Jockey Tye Angland was left a quadriplegic after a race fall last year. On the weekend, he was reunited with one of his favourite charges, Trapeze Artist. The stallion was happy to see him.

AND TO PICK YOU UP AGAIN - We saw this article a couple of weeks back on the bloke who’s one of the most-watched Aussies on US TV but isn't well known here at home. But it wasn't until the weekend that we saw James O'Halloran, a model on The Price is Right, has been at it for a while. This James Corden segment explains how technically difficult his job is…

SQUIZ THE DAY

ABS Data Release - Producer Price Indexes, June

Company Earnings Results - Caltex; Inghams; Wesfarmers

World Rock Paper Scissors Day

Birthdays for Tom Ford (1961) and Mark Webber (1976)

The Squiz Archive

Want to check out Squiz Today from the archive?

Get the Squiz Today newsletter

It's a quick read and doesn't take itself too seriously. Get on it.