Squiz Today – Tuesday, 7 July

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Through sheer determination, grit, a lot of luck, and a couple of Freedom of Information Act requests, we got it out.”

Said the campaigners behind a push to bring the smell of space to the masses. ‘Eau de Space’ was developed by NASA to help train astronauts, and is said to resemble a “mix of gunpowder, seared steak, raspberries and rum." Spicy…

---

CORONAVIRUS FIGHT GOES TO THE BORDERLINE

THE SQUIZ
For the first time in 100 years, the border between NSW and Victoria will close. In an effort to stop the coronavirus outbreak from spreading northwards, NSW authorities and the military will monitor the 55 crossings between the nation's biggest states from midnight tonight. That includes four highways, 33 bridges and two waterways - and they'll keep an eye on any air and rail arrivals. In a system that's to be ironed out, it’s expected that permits will be issued to allow essential travel across the border. Just hours after the announcement was made, health authorities in the NSW border city of Albury announced two new cases of coronavirus, including one person who had recently returned from Melbourne.

WHAT IS THE LATEST FROM VICTORIA?
Victoria recorded 127 new coronavirus cases yesterday, its highest daily increase of the pandemic to date. That includes 16 cases from the nine public housing towers that were put under severe lockdown measures on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases from the estates to 53. Two Victorians - men in their 60s and 90s - were confirmed to have died from the virus between Sunday night and Monday morning. That takes the national death toll to 106 people. And with new cases being reported outside the 12 postcodes in Melbourne that are subject to lockdown restrictions, it’s speculated that more areas could soon be included in the lockdown.

SO IT’S NOT ON TOP OF THE OUTBREAK YET?
No, and Premier Andrews said on the weekend that more “big numbers” could be expected in the days to come. Talking about the border lockdown yesterday, Premier Berejiklian yesterday said that what’s happening in Victoria "has not yet occurred anywhere else in Australia and it's a new part of the pandemic, and as such it requires a new type of response." Adding to that was Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd - he says the spike in Victoria "shows us how quickly the pandemic can change.” That’s why Premiers Andrews and Berejiklian agreed with PM Scott Morrison yesterday that “now's the time for Victoria to isolate itself from the rest of the country," Morrison says.

---

SQUIZ THE REST

---

DEADLY FLOODS IN JAPAN

At least 49 people have died in Japan and more are missing after heavy rain broke the banks of the river Kuma, causing flooding and landslides in the country’s southern island of Kyushu. The toll includes many nursing home residents who were unable to be saved. Tens of thousands of firefighters and military personnel have been dispatched to respond to the crisis, but search and rescue efforts have been hampered by rainfall that at one point exceeded 100mm (4 inches) per hour. Roads that have been blocked won’t open anytime soon with more heavy rain expected.

---

CHINA ACCUSES THE UK OF INTERFERENCE

Australia isn’t the only nation to have received a tongue lashing from China… The UK has been accused of "gross interference" after it last week confirmed up to three million eligible Hongkongers would be allowed to resettle there after China imposed a new security law on the territory last week. China’s Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming said the offer was “irresponsible”. But the UK says the law that effectively ends the ‘one country, two systems’ legal framework is in breach of the agreement that was struck when the British handed the territory back to Beijing in 1997. "We want a positive relationship with China... but the real issue here is one of trust, and whether China can be trusted to live up to its international obligations and its international responsibilities," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says.

---

BUBONIC PLAGUE WARNING IN MONGOLIA

Chinese officials have issued a health warning after a man in the autonomous region of Mongolia was diagnosed with the bubonic plague. While it isn’t yet clear how the man became infected, authorities have issued a warning which bans the hunting and eating of animals that could carry the plague, including rodents. The bacterial infection caused the worst pandemic in history - the Middle Ages-era Black Death - which killed about 50 million people. The bubonic plague is a rare occurrence today, with an average of seven reported cases every year. And while it can be fatal, it is now treatable with common antibiotics, and experts say it’s unlikely to lead to another epidemic.

---

WOMEN CALL FOR OVERSIGHT OF JUDICIARY

More than 500 women including many top legal eagles have signed an open letter to Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter calling for reforms to address the "quality, integrity and diversity" of federal judicial appointments. On top of that, they'd like to see the establishment of conduct standards for judges and independent bodies that could deal with complaints and assist with appointments. Claims that former High Court Justice Dyson Heydon sexually harassed his female associates prompted the call - accusations he denies. Victorian barrister Fiona McLeod, who has led the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Bar Association, last week said that it was “time for people to speak up” after years of not properly dealing with complaints against the legal system’s top ranks.

---

END OF A CULINARY ERA

Neil Perry, a giant of Australia’s dining scene, is hanging up his apron. With and successful ventures across cuisines including Rockpool (great steaks…), Spice Temple (terrific ‘modern Chinese’...) and Rosetta (yummy Italian), the chef with the iconic ponytail yesterday said it was “the right time for the next generation to have the opportunity afforded to me over 40 years ago." Perry sold his venues to the Urban Purveyor Group for a reported $60 million in 2016, and recent reports said he was looking to repurchase at least some of it. Perry will remain a consultant and a major shareholder in what’s now called Rockpool Dining Group. Our favourite recipe of his - this moussaka. Mmm…

---

A BIRTHDAY SONG FOR THE DALAI LAMA

To mark the occasion, the Tibetan spiritual leader has released his first music album. What else would you do on your 85th birthday when you’re a happy kinda guy?

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.30pm (AEST) - Stuart Robert, Federal Minister for Government Services, to address the National Press Club - Canberra

Solomon Islands National Day

World Chocolate Day

Ringo Starr turns 80yo (1940)

Anniversary of:
• Missouri becoming the first place sliced bread is sold (1928)
• the death of Sherlock author Arthur Conan Doyle (1930)
• the first Three Tenors concert featuring Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti in Rome (1990)
• Nelson Mandela stepping down as President of South Africa (1996)
• the London terrorist attacks that targeted commuters during the morning rush hour killing 56 and injuring 784 people (2005)