Monday, 15 June - Wanna be startin' something

June 15, 2026

Good morning, it’s Monday, 15 June. In your Squiz Today…

  • US says a peace deal with Iran is imminent

  • Pauline Hanson overtakes the PM in a new poll

  • And the Socceroos shine at the World Cup ⚽️

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🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Anna Pykett, Alice Dempster and Sophie Felice

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“The object was ‘potato’ shaped with distinct edges and appeared to look painted in a creamy/whitish opalescent colour."

Said a US army member when describing what he thought was a UFO near a mountain in Colorado. The FBI report says the potato shape could have been a trick of the light, but if it is a spud, consider us friends.

Happy birthday, Mr President

The Squiz

For a guy who seems to like the spotlight, you probably couldn’t give US President Donald Trump a better 80th birthday present as we start the week. Trump will mark the milestone birthday with a UFC fight on the White House lawn this morning before jetting off to the G7 meeting in France - and amongst it all, he says a peace deal with Iran is set to be signed. And you thought your Monday was busy…

That’s a lot… Let’s start with Iran

President Trump says a deal to stop the war with Iran will be signed imminently, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. If this sounds like Groundhog Day to you, you’re right - we’ve been here before, but Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif, who’s been involved in negotiations, says they are “closer to a peace deal than ever before.” But Iran is less confident - overnight US ally Israel has launched strikes at Hezbollah in Beirut and Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf says this shows the US is not fulfilling its commitments, because it wants to see an end to all fighting, including in Lebanon. President Trump has condemned these strikes saying this deal could be the "beginning of a long and beautiful peace - Let’s not blow it!".

And he’s fitting that in with UFC and G7?

Well, let’s start with the world leadership part of his remit and before we switch to vaudeville… The G7 meeting is kicking off later today in France - it’s the first major international gathering since the US and Israel started the Iran war in February, and ending that conflict will be pretty high on the agenda, as well as resolving trade disputes. Reports say Trump’s birthday celebrations prompted organisers to postpone the gathering - which takes us to the UFC event. President Trump is a big fan of mixed martial arts, so later this morning, the White House is hosting a cage fight with 14 elite fighters in a makeshift arena on the south lawn in front of 4,000 spectators. It’s been dubbed the UFC Freedom250 - you can watch it on Foxtel from 10am (AEST)… 

The waiting room is optional

Between petrol prices and packed waiting rooms, getting to a GP can take more out of a day than the appointment itself. Hola Health puts registered Aussie GPs on your phone or laptop, 24/7. Medical certificates, script renewals, video consults - without the drive, the parking, or the wait. You're usually talking to a doctor within 15 minutes, wherever you are.

Squiz the Rest

One Nation leapfrogs Labor

In more evidence that Pauline Hanson is having a moment, a new poll has pushed her ahead of PM Anthony Albanese as the preferred leader of Oz. The Resolve Political Monitor also shows One Nation has moved into first place on the primary vote, climbing 5 points and sitting at 29%, ahead of Labor at 28% and the Coalition at 20% - its lowest ever result. This fresh data shows further splintering away from the major parties, with Resolve pollster Jim Reed saying Senator Hanson now has broad appeal among voters. It also follows several strong polls for Hanson and has led to speculation she could try to ride her surge in support all the way to the Lodge at the next Federal election. We’ll hear more from her on Wednesday, when she speaks at the National Press Club…

What to do about shark attacks

A woman is in a critical condition after being bitten by a large shark whilst swimming at a beach in Sydney’s east. The 35yo was rescued by an off-duty volunteer lifeguard who said she was “really unlucky” given it was the middle of the day and the attack happened between the flags, near the shore. Authorities are now using drones to monitor beaches across the state, with NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty saying “nothing is off the table” when it comes to community safety. This is the latest in a spate of shark-related incidents around the country… In the last month 2 spearfishers have been killed in waters off Western Oz’s coast and another in Far North Queensland.

Switzerland rejects population cap

The country famous for its cheese, choc and Alpine landscape has voted against a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million in a referendum. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party was behind the proposal - it argues “uncontrolled immigration” is having a negative impact on “all areas of life,” but early projections show 55% of voters were against it. Critics worried it could damage the economy and lead to worker shortages. When it comes to the numbers, the population has grown from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million today, with immigration driving roughly 80% of that increase. Referendums are pretty common in Switzerland - it's held around 300 since 1848.

Green and goooooold

It’s been 20 years since our men’s team won their first World Cup group match - but the Aussie boys sailed past Turkey 2-0 in Vancouver. Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored the goals, prompting fans at watch parties around Oz to go wild. Irankunda ditched his usual Michael Jackson celebration to instead pay tribute to Socceroo great Tim Cahill, running to the corner-flag and shadow-boxing. After the game, Metcalfe said the team is used to being underdogs, but with their current mentality, they can “beat anyone.” This bodes well, because the win means we’re now sitting in second place in our group, ahead of game 2 on Saturday morning, don’t forget to set your alarm for 5am (AEST) - when the Socceroos will play host nation USA. You can watch that on SBS.

Trooping the Colour: matching baby blue edition

Kate Middleton has channelled Princess Diana at a parade to mark King Charles’ official birthday in central London - one of the biggest royal and military spectacles of the year. She wore a pastel coat-dress with light blue buttons and white trim by Catherine Walker - one of her late mother-in-law’s favourite designers. The look was strikingly similar to an outfit Diana wore back in 1987, and was accompanied by matching navy suits and baby-blue ties for Princes George and Louis. The youngest Prince, who’s fourth in line for the throne, is known for stealing the limelight (remember these pics at the 2022 event) and this was no exception, with the 8yo throwing his head back, mouth wide open to get the best view of the passing planes. Never change, Louis…

Apropos of Nothing - In other sporting blockbusters… 

After a 53-year NBA championship drought, the New York Knicks won the world’s biggest men’s basketball title yesterday in an exciting final series against the San Antonio Spurs. To say celebrations have been intense in the Big Apple is an understatement… 

Knicks captain Jalen Brunson had one special celebrity in his corner… His ‘relationship’ with Law and Order: SVU lead Mariska Hargitay (aka Olivia Benson) has been in focus during the playoffs - and even Brunson’s wife is entranced by it. Brunson said the actress is “my number one, love her to death, and she knows it”. 

And for elite sports/Heated Rivalry-Off Campus fans, the NHL’s Stanley Cup could come to a conclusion mid-today with the favoured Carolina Hurricanes one win away from claiming ice hockey’s biggest trophy against the Vegas Golden Knights. May the best beards win… 

Squiz the Day

Squiz the Day

10.00am (AEST) - The trial begins for 16yo accused of planning a terror attack against former Coalition leader Peter Dutton - Brisbane Supreme Court

10.00am (AEST) - An inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, a Melbourne nutritionist and influencer who died shortly after giving birth at home in September last year, begins - Melbourne 

10.00am (AEST) - UFC Freedom 250 at the White House - Washington DC, watch on Foxtel 

10.00am (AEST) - NHL Stanley Cup Game 6 - Vegas Golden Knights v Carolina Hurricanes - Las Vegas

2.00pm (ACST) - Directions hearing in the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi White, who died in police custody in May 2025 - Alice Springs 

The Reserve Bank’s monetary policy board meeting begins (until 16 June)

G7 Leaders Summit (until 17 June) - France 

Men's Health Week (until 21 June)

Start of Learning Disability Week (until 21 June) 

Global Wind Day (the meteorological kind…) 

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

Anniversary of:

  • the signing of the Magna Carta (1215)

  • the release of Disney’s The Lion King in cinemas (1994)

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