Squiz Today – Wednesday, 18 July

THREE MINUTE SQUIZ

“Super awesome bogans.”

Are the three words travelling mum Evie Farrell chose to describe the way folk in other countries perceives Australians. And she’d know… Evie and her 8yo daughter Emmie are into their third year of globetrotting. Their adventures are captured on Mumpack Travel, an excellent family travel website and blog. We tracked down the dynamic duo for this week’s Three Minute Squiz.

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TRUMP "CLARIFIES" RUSSIAN MEDDLING COMMENTS

THE SQUIZ
US President Donald Trump says he accepts US intelligence agencies’ findings that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election campaign. Trump said he misspoke in the press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday by saying the word ‘would’ instead of ‘wouldn’t’. "The sentence should have been: 'I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia,'" he said. The remarks follow a wave of condemnation that Trump put the interests of Russia ahead of America's by siding with Putin over US intelligence agency assessments that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential race.

WHAT DID PEOPLE SAY?
Former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain - “No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant.”

Abby Huntsman, Fox & Friends Weekend host and daughter of the current US Ambassador to Russia - “No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.”

Former FBI Director James Comey – “This was the day an American president stood on foreign soil next to a murderous lying thug and refused to back his own country.”

Former White House Communications Director (for a moment) Anthony Scaramucci -  “He’s got to speak out about it, and he’s got to reverse course immediately.”

Former President Barack Obama – “Look around - strongman politics are ascendant… where those in power seek to undermine every institution or norm that gives democracy meaning."

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Trump has been riding an ‘America First' wave, and some say he was at risk of losing patriotic Americans who want to support him. So it was politically important for Trump to clarify that he backs US intelligence over Russia. But there’ll be a lot of poking around Trump’s explanation that it was just one misspoken word that was the problem. And, of course, it doesn’t change his story that there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia during the presidential campaign. Others will be fascinated that he is capable of a backdown, of sorts…

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SQUIZ THE REST

THINKING AHEAD ELECTRICALLY
Who doesn’t wish they had a bit of ISP in their lives? Or do we mean ESP – you know, extrasensory perception? Yep. Well, an ISP will have to do. The Australian Energy Market Operator yesterday released its inaugural Integrated System Plan (now you’re with us…) that looks 20 years into the electricity market’s future. Long story short:

• It says coal-fired power production will remain essential for the reliability of supply and keeping costs to consumers down, but it doesn’t see new coal-fired plants being built.

• It says more investment in interconnectors between states, pumped-hydro schemes (think Snowy 2.0) and storage/batteries will keep our lights on into the future.

• The key to success will be better planning. As the founding father of electricity Benjamin Franklin said; "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."

QUICK LAW AND ORDER WRAP
ELLENBROOK MURDERS – Reports say Teancum Petersen-Crofts had been at Midland hospital’s emergency department in an agitated state in the day before allegedly killing his mother and two siblings. Police also confirmed they had been called to the address several times in the lead up to Sunday morning’s tragedy.

FASHION CRIME - A dispute over clothes lead to the stabbing of two people and the shooting of another. Police said it was an “alarming escalation” of violence and there were bikie elements involved.

DOHNT TRY THIS AT HOME - A two-day manhunt in the South Oz town of Wallaroo ended last night with the arrest of Jake Dohnt. He’d been on the run since pulling a gun on police after they tried to pull him over on Monday.

HAWAII LAVA BOMB INJURES TOURISTS
The Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is nothing but persistent. It continues to erupt lava into the sea that authorities say creates “a corrosive seawater plume laden with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic particles". A tourist group received first-hand experience in how dangerous the area is when their boat was hit with a lava bomb leaving 23 passengers with injuries. One woman's leg was broken, but most others were lucky to escape with minor burns.

NETFLIX AND MARKET CHILL
Quarter after quarter of solid subscriber growth didn’t immunise the streaming juggernaut from a 14% hit to its share price after reporting forecasts had been missed by a million new users in the last three months. Netflix shares have doubled in value this year due to its ability to meet its targets growing to 130 million subscribers internationally. So who’s to blame? The internal forecasting person. Their bonus isn’t looking good…

FAREWELL TO A SOCCEROO GREAT
Aussie soccer great Tim Cahill took to Twitter yesterday to announce his retirement from the Socceroos. He played more than 100 games for the green and gold and holds the record of Australia's highest scorer with 50 goals. "No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country.” Maybe he’ll now put more time into his fashion brand…

LOBSTER, REDHEAD LADY, FROZEN FACE
Looking to shake up your emoji game? Apple has 70 new ones on the way…

SQUIZ THE DAY

Reports say the freed Thai Cave Boys will give a press conference today

Nelson Mandela International Day on what would have been his 100th birthday

Dennis Lillee's birthday (1949)