Squiz Today – Wednesday, 27 February

THREE MINUTE SQUIZ

"It’s fair to say that the outback got into my blood and I’ve made it my life. Or maybe it’s the outback that’s made me the person I am today."

That’s keen Squizer Jo Fort. She and Nichelle Hodgson are the women behind the iconic Innamincka Hotel in remote South Australia. Through them, The Squiz is a major news source for the town (population 12…) - a claim to fame you’ll soon find in our sales pitch. Please welcome Jo and Nich to this outback edition of the Three Minute Squiz.

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CARDINAL GEORGE PELL GUILTY OF CHILD ABUSE

THE SQUIZ
It was confirmed yesterday that Cardinal George Pell has been convicted of child abuse charges. The 77yo was found guilty of abusing two choirboys at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s in a trial that concluded in December last year. Reporting on the trial and its outcome in the ensuing months was not allowed by the court. That changed yesterday when a suppression order was lifted after charges against Pell relating to the alleged indecent assault of boys at a swimming pool in Ballarat in the 1970s were dropped.

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

• Pell is Australia’s most senior Catholic and was the third highest ranking official in the Vatican as the man in charge of the Church’s finances. He is a divisive figure who has been criticised for his handling of abuse claims over many years.

• Note: his vocation started as a parish priest in the Diocese of Ballarat, which has been subject to hundreds of claims of child abuse from the 1960s to the 80s. Pell was charged with historical child abuse offences in June 2017. He stood aside from his powerful job and returned to Australia from Rome.

• He maintains his innocence and an appeal has been lodged against his conviction. Meanwhile, his lawyers will argue he should receive a lenient sentence given his health, age and low risk of re-offending.

• The Vatican said the trial’s outcome was “painful news that has shocked many” and it would wait until the appeal process had run its course before taking any action against Pell.

• Chief Judge Peter Kidd has indicated he will remand Pell in custody from today.

ANYTHING ELSE?
A lot. Like what’s going to happen to the 100-odd journos who have been accused of breaching the suppression order imposed during the case. But the last word on this for us today goes to the surviving victim in the case. A man who pleaded with media to keep his identity from the public. “I am just a regular guy working to support and protect my family as best I can,” he said through a spokeswoman.

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SQUIZ THE REST

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TOWNSVILLE TRAGEDY - MISSING BOYS FOUND DEAD

Police sounded optimistic on Monday night that Jhulio (3yo) and Barak Eatts (5yo) would be found alive, but it was not to be. The brothers were found dead yesterday morning in the Ross River, not far from a park where they were known to play. It's thought the boys went into the water and "they looked like they were having fun and it's turned to tragedy," police said. Community leaders expressed their sadness and shock.

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KIM AND TRUMP TAKE HANOI

This isn't the latest spinoff of the Kardashian franchise, but it is a bit on the showbiz side as far as major geopolitical summits go. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un arrived in Vietnam's Hanoi yesterday aboard his armoured train and US President Donald Trump flew in last night. They’ll dine tonight and meet on Thursday - here’s hoping neither one of them tartles. Key agenda item: how Kim’s denuclearisation program is going. Who won’t be there: Kim’s Aussie-Chinese doppelgänger…

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INDIA-PAKISTAN TROUBLES TAKE TO THE AIR

There’s been a major escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan after the terror attack against Indian paramilitary forces in Kashmir earlier this month. India has launched air strikes against a training camp of Kashmiri militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (Army of Mohammed), the group responsible for the attack. Indian officials said the strikes were successful in killing a “large number” of the militants, but that was disputed by Pakistan. Prime Ministers Imran Khan (Pakistan) and Narendra Modi (India) had been making noises about giving peace a chance. Seems like that’s off the agenda for now.

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MUSK STICKS TO TWITTER

Tesla boss Elon Musk was already in trouble with the US corporate regulator over a string of tweets last year about matters material to the company’s fortunes. He’d agreed to pull his head in. But the pull of the Twittersphere proved too much last week when Musk published information on the social media platform about the production of Tesla cars for the year. That breached his promise to be a good boy and not do that again without talking to his legal team, the regulator says. Musk said that's wrong because it was information that's already in the hands of investors. The episode will be a test for Tesla's new chairwoman, Aussie Robyn Denholm.

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KEPA PAYS THE PRICE FOR DEFYING THE BOSS

The expensive Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has been docked a week’s pay (so, like, a bazillion dollars...) for refusing to heed coach Maurizio Sarri’s command to come off and be substituted during a big Sunday game against Manchester City. "I will learn from this episode and will accept any punishment or discipline the club decides is appropriate," he said. Chelsea signed the goalie in a record seven-year A$130 million deal last year.

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APROPOS OF NOTHING

• Facial recognition for pigs. Just go with it…

• Kudo to this guy and his commitment to hash browns.

• And Nike’s new ad… Sheesh it’s emotional.

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.30pm (AEDT) - Professor Margaret Gardner, Chair of Universities Australia, to address the National Press Club on 'A higher purpose: universities, civic transformation and the public good' - Canberra

ABS Data Release - Construction Work Done, December

Company Earnings Announcements: Bellamy's; SEEK

Teal Ribbon Day in support of ovarian cancer prevention

World NGO Day