Squiz Today – Wednesday, 20 September

SQUIZ SAYINGS

“Summer Breaks ‘83”

That’s the first album ABC’s 7.30 host Leigh Sales ever owned. We wonder if it was the indecipherable Reckless by Australian Crawl or Roberta Flack’s Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You that took her fancy? Leigh is the subject of our very first Three Minute Squiz interview - check it out here. There’s even a favourite dinner party recipe…

---

TRUMP DOES IT HIS WAY AT THE UNITED NATIONS

THE SQUIZ
US President Donald Trump has delivered his address to the UN General Assembly and warned of the growing threats posed by the likes of “rogue regimes” like North Korea and Iran. He was very Trump-esque with the language: 

- “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea.”

- “Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself.” (Referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.)

- “The United States and our allies are working together throughout the Middle East to crush the loser terrorists and stop the re-emergence of safe havens they use to launch attacks on all of our people.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Despite all the colourful language, one of the key points is Trump wants leaders to do more to secure the prosperity and security of their own countries. As one Trump aide said before the speech; “he will not tell them (other nations) how to live. He will not tell them what system of government to have. He will ask countries to respect the sovereignty of other nations. That’s the rationale for the basis of cooperation.” Trump’s diplomacy puts ‘America First’ - something that will continue to be tested with rogue nations like North Korea and Islamic State continuing to dog the world.

WHAT’S THE REACTION BEEN?
“Muted” and “stone-faced”, said The New York Times, but there was “polite applause”. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu was said to “beam”. “In more than 30 years of my acquaintance with the U.N., I have not heard a more courageous and sharp speech,” he said. That’s because Trump also spoke of his dislike of the Iran nuclear deal. And French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech (he followed Trump) highlighted an area that some thought the US should have addressed – climate change. But one person who should be pretty happy with her trip to the UN is our Foreign Minister Julie Bishop – she’s scored a coveted meeting with Ivanka Trump. 

---

SQUIZ THE REST

MELBOURNE HOUSE PRICE GROWTH CONTINUES TO BEAT SYDNEY
Melbourne continued its run at Sydney for the title of Australia's hottest property market. Official stats released yesterday show price growth in Melbourne rose by 3% in the April-to-June quarter while Sydney registered 2.3% growth. The two cities' price growth for the 2016-17 financial year was 13.8%. But Melbourne has some way to catch up – Sydney’s average house prices are about 40% higher. Meanwhile, around the grounds: Hobart had annual growth of 12.4%, Canberra 7.9%, Brisbane 5% and Adelaide 3%. Price falls were recorded in Perth (-3.1%) and Darwin (-4.9%). And the reasons the Reserve Bank kept interest rates on hold this month were also released yesterday – they say they're concerned about continuing house price increases and further growth in home loans.

US RESETTLEMENTS BEGIN
Reports say about 50 Manus Island and Nauru detainees will today be told that they will be resettled in the US. Under a "one-off" deal between the Australian government and former President Barack Obama, the US will take a number of heavily-vetted refugees. A notice posted this week at the detention centres says further processing and more approvals are expected in the coming months. "Please be patient," it said. 

SUU KYI’S BIG SPEECH DISAPPOINTS HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS
In a live-televised address to the nation, Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi said her country was not fearful of world scrutiny over the Rohingya Muslim crisis. With more than 400,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh after the Myanmar military engaged in what the UN says is a "textbook example of ethnic cleansing", Suu Kyi left human rights groups unimpressed when she said that her government needed to find out more. She was meant to be in New York for the UN General Assembly this week but cancelled the trip to focus on the crisis.

CHANNEL TEN’S CREDITORS BACK CBS DEAL
In fact, reports say those owed money after Network Ten went into administration “overwhelmingly” voted in favour of the big American broadcaster’s bid, which was sweetened from $32 million to $40 million ahead of yesterday’s meeting. Administrators KordaMentha said the transaction would be finalised in weeks, subject to approval by the Foreign Investment Review Board. Creditors did not choose to delay voting on the deal despite WIN TV’s Bruce Gordon and News Corp’s Lachlan Murdoch putting $55 million on the table on Friday. The expression: “too little, too late” springs to mind… Gordon was expected to launch a legal appeal yesterday morning but didn’t. He still has time given the creditors vote has to be approved by the court in coming weeks.

WOOLIES HAS A TUESDAY TO FORGET
It took about 100-ish complaints on Facebook and Twitter for claims of a “shopper boycott” of Woolworths to circulate yesterday. The spark was an interview on ABC’s 7.30 by former CEO Roger Corbett who aired his anti-same-sex marriage views. Many didn’t agree with him and despite Corbett not having been the boss of Australia’s biggest supermarket chain for more than 10 years, a few said they wouldn’t shop at Woolworths again. For their part, Woolies, which serves about 17 million customers a week, said they support a Yes vote. Some days you can’t win.

TOYS ‘R’ BROKE
And at the more fun end of business, Toys ‘R’ Us have filed for bankruptcy in the US and Canada. Experts say they haven’t made the transition to online retailing as well as others and have relied on customers coming into stores to drive sales. The business has 1,600 stores around the world (including about 40 in Australia). Stores will stay to open while they restructure, although some poor performers will be closed. The toy category is in trouble - just last month Lego took its first sales hit in 13 years.

CASHED-UP HOLD-OUTS MOVE ON
Shanghai’s famous 'nail house' has been demolished after blocking traffic for 14 years. The brilliantly stubborn owners refused to move because previous offers of compensation were too low. But after receiving more than $550,000 for the home in their middle of a road, the owners vacated and it was pulled down in less than two hours. Nail houses are those where the owners refuse to move, and often the road or development goes ahead around it. You’ve got to admire the owners’ resolve - they’re kinda like the Chinese versions of the Kerrigan family from The Castle.

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.30pm (AEST) - Rod Sims, Chairman of the ACCC, addresses the National Press Club on 'Shining a light: Australia’s gas and electricity affordability problem' - Canberra

ABS Data Release - Survey of Health Care, 2016; Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015

Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year (from 20 to 22 September)