Monday, 16 June - It's murder on the dancefloor

June 16, 2025

Good morning, it’s Monday, 16 June. In your Squiz Today…

  • Tensions have boiled over between Israel and Iran

  • US police are hunting for a political assassin

  • And headbanging a bit too hard in the mosh pit…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“Some people say I’m brave. My sister thinks I’m an idiot.”

Said 84yo Jane Dotchin, who has been making a nearly 1,000km journey from northern England to the Scottish Highlands - and back - every year for over 50 years. She’s on the home stretch of this year’s trek and says it might be her last - our knees are sore just thinking about it…

Israel and Iran trade strikes…

The Squiz

There have been tensions between the 2 countries for years, but they erupted big time when Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion" against Iran on Friday, claiming it was developing nuclear weapons that posed an "existential threat". At least 78 Iranians including 4 high-ranking military leaders and 9 atomic scientists were killed in the strikes, and energy targets were hit in subsequent attacks. Iran called the operation "a declaration of war", and at least 13 Israelis have died from missiles it fired in response. For its part, Iran denies building nuclear weapons and says its nuclear program is solely for clean energy purposes.

How did we get here?

Israel has suspected Iran of developing nuclear weapons for a while now - and a recent report by global nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has done little to allay those fears… The report showed Iran has a stash of uranium enriched to 60% purity - that's just below weapons-grade - which could potentially be used to make multiple bombs within the space of a week, and it's also been stepping up production of ballistic missiles. The US has been trying to get Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions - but so far, no deal. Then, last week IAEA declared Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time in 20 years, and reports say that was enough for Netanyahu to call time on diplomatic efforts to address the threat.   

What does it mean for the world?

Higher petrol prices, for one thing - across the world and here in Oz, prices have already jumped since the fighting broke out. Adding to economic concerns is the possibility of Iran closing shipping channels, or Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifying attacks on ships in the Red Sea, forcing them to skirt the area. The other big worry is that the conflict could expand to involve other nations. Yesterday, US President Donald Trump said America would respond with force if Iran attacked it "in any way, shape or form" - but he added that the US could "easily get a deal done" to restore peace. That's something the United Nations wants, but Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Iranians to stand up “for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime”, and he’s promised the worst of the Israeli strikes is yet to come. 

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Squiz the Rest

A search is on in Minnesota…

…for a man suspected of shooting 2 Democratic politicians and their partners in what Governor Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination". State representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were shot and killed, and state senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot and injured, but are recovering in hospital. The suspect is 57yo Vance Boelter - police have detained his wife and are searching the area where his car was last seen, but he hasn't been caught yet. And though police asked Minnesota protestors to stay home, thousands still went to the weekend’s “No Kings” rallies, which were held throughout the US yesterday to protest President Donald Trump, the same day as Trump held a military parade in Washington DC to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US army. 

Looking for answers in Ahmedabad

The death toll from last week’s Air India plane crash is now over 270 as experts from the US, UK and the plane's manufacturer Boeing have all headed to the crash site in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad to investigate what happened. What we know so far is that at about 1:38 local time on Thursday, flight AI171 crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all but one of the 242 people on board. In recent days, we've learned that the pilot sent a mayday call one minute before the crash, and reports say a black box has been found in the wreckage, which may help shed some light on the situation. The flight was headed to Gatwick Airport in London, and yesterday King Charles paid tribute to the victims by wearing a black armband and stopping for a minute's silence during the Trooping the Colour event in London.  

A billion-dollar investment in Oz

While on his way to the G7 Summit in Canada starting today, PM Anthony Albanese stopped off in the US to announce a billion-dollar investment from the quite large tech company Amazon. Specifically, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has upped its spending on data centres in Australia to $20 billion (from $13 billion) over the next 5 years, so it can support things big business is keen on, like AI and cloud computing. The PM was chuffed about that, and he’s also confirmed he will meet with US President Donald Trump at the G7. That was looking shaky last week, but it’s now locked in for overnight Tuesday our time, and reports say he’ll ask Trump about the tariffs on Aussie goods and talk up the AUKUS submarine deal when the 2 meet face-to-face. To be a fly on the wall…   

Today could be great for Adam Scott… 

…if the Aussie golfer wins the US Open, one of the 4 major tournaments in men’s golf. As we press go on today’s newsletter, he’s in 2nd place on his final round after American Sam Burns. The last time the 44yo Scott took home a major was over a decade ago, when he won The Masters in a thrilling play-off victory back in 2013 - becoming the only Australian to ever do it. (You can rewatch that magic moment here - golf fans probably have “There it is… Adam Scott!” burned into their brains…) And he’s a real chance for a second major win after scoring 3-under par in the third round of the tournament yesterday. The round will continue this morning, so if you spot some of your colleagues huddled around the office TV, that could be why…

Rocking out a bit too hard

UK police have asked metalheads planning to attend a local rock music festival to maybe leave the smartwatches at home - because the devices might think their owners have been in a high-speed collision. During the 2023 Download festival, the police received hundreds of 999 calls (aka our version of a 000 call) while attendees were getting their mosh on, and all because of a "crash detection" feature, where devices call emergency if they detect a severe accident - but it was just some really hardcore headbanging. As for the kind of artists that lead people to party that hard, you'd be looking at band names like Neckbreaker, Smash into Pieces and Bleed From Within…. Okay, starting to make a bit more sense…

Apropos of Nothing

Staying in the UK, we’ve got some new Sirs and Dames on our hands after the UK handed out King’s Birthday Honours over the weekend. Among those with shiny new honorifics are footballer Sir David Beckham, actor Sir Gary Oldman and musical theatre star Elaine Paige, known for her work in shows like Evita. She won’t be crying about that… 

An Italian museum has asked guests to please avoid, uh, sitting on the exhibits, after one couple broke a crystal-covered chair sculpture. The museum says 2 patrons were taking pics of each other sitting on the chair, but one of them slipped, fell and bent it - and the 2 fled the museum. That would have been an expensive case of “you break it, you buy it”... 

Much more careful with high-value items is Bruce the bat dog, who has made a handy career out of retrieving bats at baseball games in the US. Bruce is, as you’d imagine, a Golden Retriever, and he made his debut in the big leagues over the weekend doing his best work for MLB team the Washington Nationals. He’s really making fetch happen….

Squiz the Day

7.00am (AEST) - This year’s nominees for the TV Week Logie Awards are to be announced - Sydney

9.30am (AEST) - Defence Minister Richard Marles, journalist Cheng Lei, and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas are among speakers to address the Defending Australia Summit - Canberra

10.30am (AEST) - Closing arguments are set to begin in the trial of Erin Patterson, accused of the triple-murder of her former in-laws by serving them a lunch laced with death cap mushrooms - Morwell  

Start of Learning Disability Week (until 20 June) 

Anniversary of:

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

  • the opening of the first rollercoaster - 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)