Monday, 28 April - It's the final countdown

Good morning, it’s Monday, 28 April. In your Squiz Today…

• Trump and Zelensky talk peace inside the Vatican

• We’re into the homestretch of the election campaign

• And Valerie the runaway dachshund is back with her owners… 🐾

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said pest controller Nathaly Haeran, who's been extra busy in Sydney of late dealing with an “explosion” of rats following some councils’ decisions to collect bins fortnightly instead of weekly. It’s been driving residents ratty…

A symbolic meeting

The Squiz

On the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took the opportunity to hold a quick face-to-face talk about a potential ceasefire. It took place inside St Peter's Basilica, where the late pontiff had often encouraged leaders to work towards peace in Ukraine, calling on them to "build bridges, not walls". And although it lasted only 15 minutes, the White House described the talk as "very productive" and Zelensky said it "had the potential to become historic". Afterwards, Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of prolonging the war, saying "It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along”.

What’s the latest with peace talks?

Things were looking up at the end of last week after a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow went so well that Trump said a deal between Russia and Ukraine was “very close”. And there’s no denying the chat between Trump and Zelensky went a lot smoother than the last time they met in person… But on Saturday, Russia fired a barrage of missiles and drones into Kyiv, killing 12 civilians and injuring at least 90 others. It’s also blamed a car bomb attack that killed a general last Friday on Ukraine's special forces - so long story short, a potential peace deal is looking shaky… Trump is pressuring both sides to strike an agreement (these are the latest terms offered…) and reportedly wants it done by his 100th day in office. That’s tomorrow, by the way - so it might be a tall ask…

And how did the funeral go? 

Well, Pope Francis wasn’t big on pomp and ceremony, but around 250,000 people crowded into Saint Peter’s Square inside the Vatican to pay their respects in a service that was rich in tradition and attended by heads of state and royalty. Widely referred to as the "People's Pope," he was remembered for his humility, charisma, and his work with victims of war and refugees. These photographs capture the extraordinary turnout as ‘Papa Francesco’ took his last ride in the popemobile to his final resting place in the St Mary Major Basilica. As for what comes next, cardinals from around the world will now assemble to elect the next pontiff - a process that usually begins between 15 and 20 days after the Pope’s death.

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Squiz the Rest

A deadly crash in Canada

At least 11 people have died after a 30yo man drove an SUV into pedestrians at a crowded Vancouver street festival in what police are calling the city’s “darkest day”. Police arrested the man after the crash at the annual Lapu Lapu festival, which celebrates Filipino culture, in the south of the city at around 8.14pm local time on Saturday. Investigations are continuing, and police say they’re “confident” it wasn’t an act of terrorism. Witnesses say the scene was confronting, with one local journalist describing it as “like a war zone…” It comes as the country is about to begin its federal elections later today - PM Mark Carney thanked emergency services for their quick response and offered his condolences to the victims' families, saying “we are all mourning with you”. 

Dutton poached/fried/boiled in the latest debate

PM Anthony Albanese and Coalition leader Peter Dutton faced off in the final leaders’ debate last night on the Seven Network - and the price of eggs was a big talking point… In a nice/unusual/different segment, the leaders were asked to give their ‘hot takes’ - one was to nominate the price of eggs, with Albanese getting closest. Dutton’s guess was about halfway there, with one audience member remarking that “it was really shocking to see how somebody can be so out of touch with a carton of eggs”... That saw Albanese’s cost-of-living creds soar, and he was named the overall winner of the night, fittingly receiving 50% more support than Dutton. To back that up, this morning’s Newspoll points to Labor winning a second term. With 5 more sleeps ‘til polling day, it’s a scramble to the finish line… 

Vale Virginia Giuffre

The 41yo, who was the most prominent accuser of disgraced American financier Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has died at her farm in Western Australia. Her family released a statement on Saturday saying Giuffre “lost her life to suicide after being a lifelong victim of sexual abuse and trafficking”. You might remember she accused Epstein of trafficking her for sex to Prince Andrew on 3 occasions when she was a teenager in the early 2000s. The Royal denies that, but a settlement was reached in the civil case Giuffre brought against him in February 2022. Sigrid McCawley - a lawyer for several Epstein abuse survivors - has remembered Giuffre as “an incredible champion for other victims”, while her family says she’ll be “missed beyond measure”.

*If this raises concerns for you, help is available through the services listed here. 

Winning with Wrexham

The Wrexham Association Football Club (which non-football fans might be familiar with as the one owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney…) has continued its winning ways, being promoted to the second-tier Championship league over the weekend. The Welsh club did that with a 3-0 win over Charlton Athletic - and it means it’s only one promotion away from the Premier League… If you’ve been following Wrexham’s story, you’ll know it’s been a fairytale few years for the club, which was struggling on the field and financially before it was bought by Reynolds and McElhenney. With its weekend win, it's now had a record 3 consecutive promotions… Also cheering this morning are Liverpool fans after their team took out the Premier League overnight, beating Tottenham Hotspur. Talk about kicking goals…

A wanderer no more

After 529 days on the lam, Valerie the miniature dachshund might have some tails to tell - but she'll have to wait a few more days before being reunited with her owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock. Valerie - who escaped from the couple's Kangaroo Island campsite in 2023, only to resurface on wildlife cameras last month, capturing international attention - was finally caught on Friday. Rescuers lured her into a trap with her toys and one of Gardner’s t-shirts, ending “weeks of tireless efforts”. Much has been said about her survival skills, given the island’s deadly native (and not-so-native…) predators, but Valerie is reportedly “fit and well”. Gardner and Fishlock will travel to South Oz to collect her this week, with Gardner telling “anyone who's ever lost a pet” to “never give up hope”.

Apropos of Nothing

In a tradition that’s a far cry from chocolate and bunnies, contestants in Yorkshire competed in the World Coal Carrying Championships on Easter Monday. Women carried 20kg sacks, while the blokes hauled 50kg ones, racing along a 1.1km course - that’s one way to work off the Easter indulgence…

A letter written by a survivor of the Titanic has achieved $622,000 at auction - the highest price ever for one penned on board the ill-fated ship. It’s written by Col Archibald Gracie, a first-class passenger, who wrote “It is a fine ship, but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her” - which he did, in his book The Truth About the Titanic, published in 1913.

And while Law & Order isn’t your usual party theme for a one-year-old, there’s no denying the thought that Dara’s Natale’s parents (who’re big fans of the show) put into her milestone event. From serving iced tea with Ice-T's face on the cups, to an evidence board with photos of the tot saying “These are her stories” - we’ve got to admit, it’s cool. Dun dun…

Squiz the Day

Canadians go to the polls for their federal election

10.00am (AEST) - The coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack is due to begin - Sydney 

It’s back to school for kids in ACT, SA, Tassie and WA

Pay It Forward Day

World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Birthdays for singer Jimmy Barnes (1956) and actors Penelope Cruz (1974) and Jessica Alba (1981)

Anniversary of:

• The Port Arthur Massacre (1996)

• Captain James Cook landing at Botany Bay (1770)

• the mutiny on HMS Bounty against William Bligh (1789)