Squiz Today – Wednesday, 11 September

THREE MINUTE SQUIZ

"Children would walk between 5-10 kilometres to get to school, mostly on an empty stomach, without shoes on their feet, to attend a classroom that’s a mud hut, with no access to learning resources, desks, pens, pencils and often 100 to a class with a single teacher.”

And that’s why keen Squizer Annabelle Chauncy created a foundation to give children in Uganda access to education. A country NSW kid and lawyer by training, she’s won more awards for her good works with School For Life than we can point a stick at. Please welcome Annabelle to this week’s Three Minute Squiz.

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TRUMP’S BATTLE ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT

THE SQUIZ
His approach to dealing with matters on the world stage has been, let's say, unconventional. And things aren't getting any easier… In breaking news this morning, US President Donald Trump needs a new National Security Adviser. John Bolton is out - whether he resigned (Bolton’s version) or Trump pushed (Trump’s version) is a matter of contention... The policy hawk, who the President said has “never seen a war he doesn't like", was at odds with his boss for much of his 17 months in the job. And just like that, Trump is looking for his fourth adviser since he took office - just when Afghanistan and North Korea are scalding hot issues.

WHAT’S THE GO WITH AFGHANISTAN?
After 18 years of war and months of difficult negotiations between officials, Trump yesterday scuppered the proposed deal with the Taliban that included a plan to remove US troops from Afghanistan. Despite senior US officials expressing hope that talks could get back on track, Trump yesterday said the negotiations “are dead”. He canned Sunday's secret talks with the Islamic fundamentalists (and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani) after it claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing attack in Kabul last week which killed 12 people, including US soldier Barreto Ortiz. Experts and foreign diplomats warn that Trump’s move may lead to increased violence in the region.

AND NORTH KOREA?
Yesterday, officials from the secretive state said they were keen to reengage with the US on the denuclearisation process. Negotiations between Trump and Kim Jong Un are stalled despite Trump’s grand gesture/visit in June, so it was considered good news. And then two hours later, North Korea launched two short-range missiles into the Sea of Japan. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster… North Korea has conducted 10 test launches since May.

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SQUIZ THE REST

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BORIS’ BREXIT BOMBS OUT

It was a day of more defeat for UK PM Boris Johnson as MPs returned home to their constituencies with the parliament’s five-week suspension kicking in. His efforts to call an election failed - again. And he lost a vote to suppress the government’s internal chit-chat about its no-deal Brexit plans - their communications are set to be published. Let's hope there are some quality cat videos in that treasure trove… What's a PM without an imminent Brexit to do now? He's going to negotiate with the brick wall known as the European Union. "No matter how many devices this Parliament invents to tie my hands, I will strive to get an agreement in the national interest," he said. #SquizShortcuts

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SOME FIRES DELIBERATELY LIT

Queensland Police yesterday confirmed they were speaking to a group of teenagers who are suspected of deliberately lighting the out-of-control bushfire that claimed at least one home (revised down from yesterday’s reports of 10 homes lost) at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast. The fire in that area remains dangerous with more residents told to evacuate last night. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, currently in Switzerland for discussions with the International Olympic Committee about a 2032 Brisbane bid, will come home earlier than her scheduled weekend return. In northern NSW, fires in Bees Nest (near Armidale) and Drake (near Tenterfield) remain out of control after breaching containment lines. In total, reports say more than 130 fires are burning on the east coast in the worst start to the bushfire season in recorded history.

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WARMING UP TO CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS

Statements and research papers are flying thick and fast as groups gear up for the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York later this month. Yesterday’s contribution was a cost-benefit analysis on building resilience to climate change produced by the Global Commission on Adaptation - a group of 34 leaders in politics, business and science, including the likes of former Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. It contends that investing $1.8 trillion in mitigation projects could produce social and environmental benefits worth over $7 trillion. One area of work the analysis looked as was helping farmers transition to drought-resistant crops - something that would pique the interest of Aussie farmers as they head towards another smaller than average harvest.

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THE STORY BEHIND THE WEINSTEIN STORY

A new book about the fall of movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is out - and it’s causing waves. She Said - Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement is an account from New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor - the pair broke the story in October 2017 (around the same time as Ronan Farrow’s bombshell for the New Yorker was published outlining other claims). The book goes into what it took to get the allegations into the light of day, and what Weinstein’s people were doing to protect him. Turns out actress Gwenyth Paltrow was a key marshalling point - while she was too scared to go on the record in the early days, she had a crucial role in supporting other actresses to speak. Weinstein faces sexual assault charges stemming from the accusations of two women.

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#AUSTRALIAGOTGAME

The Boomers (aka the Aussie men’s basketball team) have more than survived the group stage at the FIBA World Cup in China - they are unbeaten after five games. How cool is that? Aron Baynes was a star in yesterday’s nail-biting win against France, as was Patty Mills who became our first player in 21 years to score more than 30 points in a World Cup game. That’s put them into the final eight with the sudden-death quarter-final against the Czech Republic tonight. If the Boomers win that, they’ll meet Spain or Poland in the semi-finals. We’ve never made the semis before. Fingers-crossed emoji…

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APROPOS OF NOTHING - ‘BEST OF’ EDITION

The best quick exit from the office was performed in downtown Perth yesterday. Note: they did it in suits…

The best political candidate ad, possibly ever. What’s not to like about a former CIA agent who can drive like the billy-o and says she has “a few scores to settle”?

And the best house in Magill, South Australia. "It's not for the faint-hearted," says the agent. Tip: keep clicking through the pics…

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.30pm (AEST) - Shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to address the National Press Club on 'Time’s Up: Why Australia Needs a National Integrity Commission'

11.00pm - Basketball World Cup - Australia v Czech Republic - Shanghai

ABS Data Release - Overseas Arrivals and Departures, July;

Release of the latest Westpac Consumer Confidence Index

18th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in Washington DC killing 2,996 (2001)

And wanna get you hands on a $100 gift card from Woolworths? All you need to do is read every email from this week. Too easy.