Monday, 13 July - Give me everything tonight

Good morning, it’s Monday, 13 July. In your Squiz Today…

• Iran says the Strait of Hormuz is shut, but the US disagrees

• Cruz Hewitt goes close at Wimbledon

• And Pitbull’s fans get sweaty to set a new World Record… 🧑🏼‍🦲

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🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Andrew Williams, Anna Pykett and Sophie Felice

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said former England Test cricket coach Brendon McCullum, who was sacked from the role overnight following a series loss to his home country of New Zealand, and an Ashes disaster earlier this year. RIP Bazball - it’s been emotional…

A flare-up in Iran

The Squiz

Another Monday, another escalation in the war between the US/Israel and Iran… Over the last 24 hours, the US has hit over 100 military targets across Iran, while Iran says it has struck US military sites in Oman and Jordan. As for why things have flared up again following a short and shaky ceasefire, the US is blaming an Iranian attack on commercial ships crossing through the Strait of Hormuz last week. It says that was a “clear violation” of the ceasefire agreement, which is now done and dusted…

And what’s the Strait’s status?

That’s a point of contention - Iran has declared it closed, but the US military says it’s open, and it’ll stand ready to protect any tankers that try to pass through. As we’ve talked about, the closure of the Strait has been a major factor in volatile oil prices around the world. As you can see from this chart, when the ceasefire was agreed in June, those prices dipped back down to almost where they were before the war began in late February - but they’re starting to tick back up again. For us here in Oz, it could mean that petrol prices - which have also mostly recovered to where they were before the war started - will rise over the next few weeks if a solution isn’t found. 

Where’s the new Supreme Leader?

As this war has gone on, we’ve mentioned a few times that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, hasn’t been seen in public since his father was killed when the war began in February. Mojtaba was reportedly injured in the same attack, and over the weekend, he released a statement promising to avenge his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was mourned with a series of events in Iran over the last week. Exactly what form that revenge would take is unclear, and the written statement didn’t shed any light on the new Supreme Leader’s health, either. He still hasn’t shown his face, even for his father’s funeral…

Squiz the Rest

A tragic discovery

After a 4-day search, the body of missing Toowoomba woman Jana Armstrong was found in bushland on Saturday night. Her 48yo former partner Dharminder Singh has been charged with murder. Armstrong was the mother of a 4-month old baby, and she was last seen alive on Tuesday. Her sister, Faith Isaacs, told the ABC that she was “the most caring, calm and loving person. She just put everyone first.” While Singh’s case is now before the courts (with a first appearance today), some campaigners against domestic violence have pointed out that over 30 women have been killed by violence in Oz so far this year - and something needs to be done about the crisis.
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Some high-profile deaths in politics

We’ll start with Conservative UK politician Ann Widdecombe, who was murdered in her home last week at 78yo. The 78yo Widdecombe was a particularly notable politician in the UK - she spent 23 years as a Conservative MP and later defected to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party. After her stint as an MP ended, she had a crack at Strictly Come Dancing (the UK’s Dancing With the Stars) and remained an active political commentator. Police have arrested a 28yo man in connection with her murder - they say there’s no evidence of terrorism or a political motivation at this stage. Over in the US, longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham - and close ally of US President Donald Trump - has died  from a “brief and sudden illness.” Here’s more about him…

And Vale Derryn Hinch

The longtime broadcaster and former senator died on Friday aged 82. Known as the ‘Human Headline’, Hinch was born in New Zealand, and started his journalism career there before moving to Oz a few years later. As his career progressed, he became known for his strong opinions as well as his talent - his former colleague Ray Martin said he “pulled off more front-page scoops than any other compatriot”. He also had a real way with a catchphrase - some of the big ones included “That’s life” and “shame, shame, shame.” His life and career were eventful, to say the least - he went to prison for a bit over contempt of court, started his own political party and was married 5 times, including to Oz actor Jacki Weaver. She told the Sydney Morning Herald that “we shall not see his like again.”

A chip shot off the old block

Lleyton Hewitt’s son Cruz has gone close to taking out the Boys’ Singles title at Wimbledon overnight, losing a 3-setter to American Jordan Lee. The 17yo was the first Aussie to make the boys final in 10 years, and we saw a very familiar “Come on!” when he won the first set… During his run, he’s been supported by a few friends who know a bit about being part of a famous family - Roger Federer’s twins Myla and Charlene, who are about his age. Tennis games at those family catchups must be next-level… In the women’s singles final, (a Czech v Czech affair), ninth seed Linda Nosková defeated tenth seed Karolína Muchová to win her first Grand Slam singles title - and Italian Jannik Sinner defended his Wimbledon crown, beating Alexander Zverev in 4 sets.

Live your life and stay bald on the floor

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery - and that seems to be true for US rapper Pitbull. That’s because 22,141 of his fans have set a world record for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps at his show in London - a trend that started a few years ago so they could pay homage to his signature look. They’re a committed bunch - it was 32C when Mr Worldwide took to the stage, with fans saying they felt "sweaty and bald" but "amazing", while Pitbull says he was speechless but thankful for his ‘bald-es.’ He banged out some of his classics with support acts rapper Lil Jon and pop star Kesha (who also donned a bald cap). He even gave football fans a treat with his rendition of Wonderwall, which has become an unofficial anthem for England during the World Cup. Dale!

Apropos of Nothing

We have our final 4 for the 2026 World Cup - on Wednesday, France and Spain will play off in the first semi-final, before England and Argentina lock horns on Thursday morning. Of those 4, England has the longest drought since they last won it - but maybe it’s coming home…  

A Dutch museum has paid tribute to a late artist in smooth (or possibly crunchy) fashion - by spreading peanut butter on the floor. It’s a tribute to Wim T. Schippers 1969 artwork Pindakaasvloer, which means - you guessed it - ‘peanut butter floor’. We love learning a new word…

And about a week after getting married at Madison Square Garden, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attended the wedding of one of Kelce’s teammates in California. We’re sure it was lovely, but it would have been tough to top having Paul McCartney as one of your wedding singers…

Squiz the Day

10.00am (AEST) - Return of the Coroner's Court Inquest over Sea World helicopter collision deaths in January 2023 - delayed from February following new findings of illicit substance abuse from one of the pilots (until 24 July) - Brisbane

11.00am (AEST) - State Memorial Service for Richard Scolyer at the Sydney Opera House - watch via ABC or Channel 9

EU Foreign Affairs Council to meet - Brussels

International Town Criers Day

Birthdays for Patrick Stewart (1940) and Harrison Ford (1942)

Anniversary of:

• French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat is killed (1793)

• the establishment of the famous Hollywood sign, which originally read "Hollywoodland" but dropped the last four letters after a renovation in 1949 (1923)

• Frank Sinatra making his recording debut (1939)

• the death of artist Frida Kahlo (1954) and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner (immortalised in the sitcom "Seinfeld") (2010)

• the Live Aid charity concert, which raised money for African famine relief (1985)

• Kylie Minogue releasing her debut single Locomotion (1987)

• the founding of #BlackLivesMatter in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman on trial for the murder of Trayvon Martin (2013)

• the election of former British PM Theresa May (2016)

- an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania (2024)