Friday, 14 June - Can you handle this?

Good morning, it’s Friday, 14 June. In your Squiz Today…

• World leaders gather for the G7 Summit

• Chris Dawson loses his appeal

• And ramen that’s too hot to handle… 🌶️

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Were the unnerving words heard by those watching a livestream from the International Space Station without realising it was part of a training exercise - causing an intergalactic panic. The ISS crew were asleep at the time, unaware of the grave concern for them back on Earth…

Summit Paradiso

The Squiz

The 3-day G7 Summit featuring leaders from the world’s most advanced economies - the US, UK, Japan, Germany, France, Italy and Canada - known as the G7, began in Italy overnight at the celeb-favourite Borgo Egnazia resort. It's a big event in the international political calendar as one of few occasions where so many leaders meet in person, and this year, the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine are at the top of the agenda. Unlike previous years, Australia hasn’t been invited, but for the first time, the Pope will attend to talk about global regulation of artificial intelligence, warning of its danger to ethics and human rights.

What does the G7 do?

The annual event sees members discuss major global economic and international security issues. The host nation can also invite other world leaders, which this year includes Ukraine, India, and the European Council. The packed agenda also includes climate change, energy and economic security. One of the first big developments from the conference has been a 10-year security pact between the US and Ukraine. And plans are being hatched for a US$50 billion loan for Ukraine using the interest generated from frozen Russian assets. The group is also expected to back the United Nations’ Gaza ceasefire proposal and talk about how China’s flooding the market with certain products and its support for Russia. Host PM Georgia Meloni will also spruik Italy’s investment projects in Africa, which it hopes will encourage youngsters to stay put rather than (often illegally) migrate to Europe.

So what are we up to?

We’ve got enough going on this weekend at home with Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit. It’s a really big deal for us as it’s the first time a Chinese Premier has visited in 7 years. China is our largest trading partner, so despite a recent troubled past, efforts are being made on both sides to rebuild a working relationship. Qiang is currently across the ditch in New Zealand but will arrive in Adelaide tomorrow night. And on Sunday, he might announce a new pair of diplomacy pandas for the city's zoo if Fu Ni hasn’t got her “panda twerk” on by then…

Squiz the Rest

Zelensky calls for peace

Given a bunch of global bigwigs are tied up in Italy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might have some difficulty getting a lot of eyes on his Global Peace Summit event in Switzerland this weekend… Leaders from 90 countries out of the 160 invited have RSVP’d - but US President Joe Biden (the main one Zelensky wanted to see) will send Veep Kamala Harris in his place. NDIS Minister Bill Shorten will also be there repping Oz… As for what’s on the agenda, Zelensky will lay out his plan to end the war in Ukraine - which involves the full withdrawal of Russian troops and accountability for any war crimes Russia’s accused of. Just on that, prosecutors this week accused Russia of using deliberate starvation tactics during its 85-day siege of Mariupol, in Ukraine’s south-east, in the early days of the war. Those accusations have gone to the International Criminal Court for review.

Speaking of - if you want to get up to speed with what the International Criminal Court is and what it’s responsible for, we’ve got the perfect Squiz Shortcut for you…

Down with Dawson

Chris Dawson - who was found guilty of the historical murder of his wife Lynette Simms - has lost his appeal to overturn the conviction, leaving him behind bars… Dawson’s lawyers argued the guilty verdict handed down in August 2022 was unreasonable, but a panel of judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday found there was no reasonable doubt about the 75yo’s guilt. There’s been huge public interest in the case due to the much-listened-to podcast The Teacher’s Pet. Lynette was 33yo when she disappeared from the couple’s home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches in January 1982. Dawson - a former rugby league player/teacher - was accused of murdering her so he could pursue a relationship with a teenage student. Last year, he was also convicted of a historical charge of having carnal knowledge of a girl aged between 10-17yo - reports say he’ll also appeal that.

Working 9 to 5

The latest numbers from the Bureau of Stats show our unemployment rate dropped slightly to 4% in May, with 40,000 people finding jobs - many of which were full-time… The ABS said the drop could, in part, be down to the fact that there was an unusually high number of unemployed people in April, and some of them have now found work. But analysts reckon we’re likely to see the unemployment rate inching higher again in the coming months with economic growth sluggish… The Reserve Bank is watching closely because our national jobs data is a key economic indicator, as the experts like to say…. The central bank’s board meets next week to decide whether to shift or hold interest rates at 4.35% - we’ll find out what they decide at 2.30pm on Tuesday.

Storm Boy it ain’t…

It turns out a newly-discovered species of pterosaur - aka ancient flying reptiles best described as “demonic pelicans” - once called Australia home. Scientists at Curtin University said they identified the new species after finding 100-million-year-old fossilised remains in outback western Queensland. And if you’re not up to date with your dinosaur variants, they’ve given a rundown of the “intense looking” creature’s appearance… PhD candidate Adele Pentland, who led the researchers, says they had a 60-centimetre jaw full of spike-shaped teeth (all the better to hunt for oceanic prey), a huge tongue, and a 4.6 metre wingspan - “bigger than the largest bird we have around today”. Doesn’t sound terrifying at all… They’ve called it ‘Haliskia peterseni’ (translating to ‘Petersen’s phantom of the sea’) after the man who found the fossils - Kevin Petersen. Now there’s a legacy… 

Spice level: extreme

If you’re someone who can’t handle the heat when it comes to chilli-topped meals, the Danes are with you… Denmark’s food agency has just recalled a South Korean spicy instant ramen because of fears that it’s so spicy it might cause “acute poisoning”. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (an interesting combination…) said all the variants of Samyang’s hot chicken noodles had dangerous levels of capsaicin (the hot part of chilli peppers) and children in particular should avoid them. The brand said it’ll tone down the spice for its international exports, but it’s a bit of a turnaround from its recent string of positive PR… US rapper Cardi B gave it a revenue boost when she filmed herself trying the noodles on social media after seeing them going viral on TikTok. She didn't rate them all that highly - so she might be more of a mild spice girl…

Wanna be in the Saturday Squiz?

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

There’s nothing like a good murder-mystery and the new Netflix series Bodkin is no exception. Not only does it have some very funny commentary about its small-town Ireland setting, but we’re also fans of the fact that it doesn’t feature the grisly violence of so many other shows.

You might have felt like you've been in Ireland recently with all the grey weather and rain, so what better time to splash out on a snazzy new pair of gumboots. Merry People has plenty of colours/designs to choose from, and they make us feel better when we have to brace the elements…

And for when you get back in and are looking for something warm and tasty to whip up this easy tinned tuna pasta recipe is a great shout. It’s hearty and cozzie livs friendly, so perfect for when you have to check your Champagne tastes...

Squiz the Day

Friday
11.30am (ACST) - The Aussie beach volleyball team for the Paris Olympics will be named - Adelaide

This year’s Hajj (the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca) begins (until 19 June) - Saudi Arabia

ABS Data Release - Australian Agriculture Livestock, Broadacre Crops and Horticulture, 2022-23

World Blood Donor Day 

International Bath Day

Birthdays for Donald Trump (1946) and Boy George (1961)

Anniversary of:

• the founding of the US Army (1775)

• Captain William Bligh and his men reaching Timor after sailing 5,800 km in a 6m boat following the mutiny on the HMS Bounty (1789)

• the recording of the first country music hit Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane (1923)

• Nelson Mandela stepping down as President of South Africa (1999)

• the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in London that killed 80 people and injured 74 (2017)

Saturday
4.45pm (AEST) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Adelaide

8.00pm (AEST) - Annual Trooping the Colour ceremony - London

Australia’s grand champion Clydesdale will be announced from a field of 100+ at the Clydesdale Spectacular (until 16 June) - Boonah, Qld

Late evening - The Global Peace Summit organised by Ukraine PM Volodymyr Zelensky will begin - Switzerland 

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 

Global Wind Day (of the meteorological kind…) 

International Surfing Day 

International Working Animal Day

World Juggling Day

World Martini Day

World Tapas Day

Birthdays for Xi Jinping (1953) and Neil Patrick Harris (1973)

Anniversary of:

• the signing of the Magna Carta (1215)

• France surrendering to Nazi Germany, which occupied Paris (1940)

• the premiere of Disney’s The Lion King (1994)

• Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes being charged with fraud (2018)

Sunday
10.30am (AEST) - Mens Cricket: ICC T20 World Cup - Australia v Scotland - St Lucia, and watch on Prime

Evening - Eid al-Adha begins (until 19 June)

Refugee Week begins (until 22 June)

International Day of the African Child

National Vegemite Day 

International Day of Family Remittances 

Anniversary of:

• the formation of the Salvation Army in London (1880)

• the opening of the first roller coaster - Coney Island, New York (1884)

• the marriage of poets Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath (1956)

• the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960)

• Russia’s Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman in space (1963)

• the release of David Bowie's breakthrough album The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)