Thursday, 11 July - Should I stay or should I go?

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 11 July. In your Squiz Today…

• Democrats divided over Biden

• Alec Baldwin’s trial kicks off

• And the demon bows out of Wimbledon injured

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Don’t worry, astronomer Tanya Hill is talking about how we could be about to witness the birth of a new star thanks to the stellar explosion of T Coronae Borealis… But before you rush to get your telescope, scientists say when it might go bang is still up in the air…

Biden his time

The Squiz

After weeks of political turmoil, US Democrats had the chance to have their say on President Joe Biden’s future during meetings of their elected congressional representatives yesterday. But reports say rather than bringing them together, they left with no clear plan forward… Biden’s been facing pressure to drop out of the presidential race over concerns about his ability to do the job for 4 more years - and now celebrities are joining in - but he’s vowed to stick with it, and his team has been working overtime to shut down his critics. VP Kamala Harris - who’s been touted as the most likely Democrat to take over from Biden - defended him on the campaign trail yesterday, saying “he is a fighter”. But it’s fair to say that, more broadly, Democrats are split over the issue… 

Why haven’t they moved on this?

It’s tricky because up until Biden’s disastrous performance at the first 2024 presidential debate, Democrats had been backing him with everything they had. But with the November election coming up fast, some senior party officials now say that the logistics of picking a new nominee would be too difficult even though many believe the 81yo can’t lead them to victory… Regardless, it’s nearing crunch time to make a call... Meanwhile, all that infighting has left the door open for Republican candidate Donald Trump to go on the offensive. At a rally in Florida yesterday, he said “it doesn’t matter who they nominate because we are going to beat any one of them”. 

So Biden’s truckin’ on? 

Yep, including as host of the NATO Summit in Washington… It’ll wrap up tomorrow our time and delegates are expected to agree to more humanitarian/military aid for Ukraine for its defence against Russia. Biden and the leaders of several European countries have already pledged new air defence systems to help. The President’s also been working to reassure members that NATO “is stronger than it's ever been” and that he is capable of remaining at the helm there, too. Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles is there and is hedging his political bets as he also meets up with Trump-affiliated Republicans to ensure continuing support for the AUKUS security pact. It’s good to cover your bases…

Squiz the Rest

Show some respect

From next year, ANZAC Day store trading bans will be extended to cover the whole day in NSW. Previously, the big supermarkets/large stores had to stay shut until 1pm but will now have to remain closed until midnight. Small businesses, hotels, pharmacies and corner stores/small IGAs will be exempt. Yesterday, Premier Chris Minns nodded to the “inconvenience" but said it’s a "small price to pay" to recognise our veterans following a review last year with most submissions supporting a full-day closure. The RSL welcomed the move for the “special day", but the Australian Retailers Association disagrees, saying retailers "support" rather than "detract" from commemorations. Elsewhere, restrictions vary… You’ve gotta love our system of state-based trading hours… 

Baldwin on trial

Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin broke “the cardinal rules of firearm safety” on movie sets by pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger, a jury has heard. Baldwin is on trial for the involuntary manslaughter of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust in 2021. Hutchins was killed when a gun held by Baldwin went off while he was practising a scene for the Western - which, in an unfortunate twist, is a story about an accidental shooting. The 66yo star of 30 Rock denies pulling the trigger or knowing it was armed, and he's pleaded not guilty. His lawyers argued the film's armourer loaded the gun with a real bullet and didn't make it safe before handing it to him. "This was an unspeakable tragedy, but Alec Baldwin committed no crime… An actor playing a character can do things that are lethal," Baldwin's lawyer said. "These 'cardinal rules' are not cardinal rules on a movie set".

Better the devil you know

If you’re fed up with your job, the Bureau of Stats won’t give you much solace with new data showing job mobility has dropped to its lowest level since before the pandemic. In the 12 months to February, 8% of workers - which is about 1.1 million people - switched employers, down from 9.5% last year. Sales workers were the most likely to change, while those working in arts/recreation were least likely to move. Experts say rising interest rates/cost of living is having an impact, with Anglicare’s deputy director Maiy Azize saying “if you've got a good job, you're probably less likely to want to move around”. The data also shows unemployed Aussies are finding it harder to get a job because there are "too many applicants for available jobs". Might be time to rethink your quiet quitting strategy… 

Demon down

Alex de Minaur has pulled out of Wimbledon with a "freak" hip injury just hours before he was to play the biggest match of his career in the quarterfinals against world #2 Novak Djokovic. The Aussie tennis star known affectionately as “demon” tore the cartilage connecting to his abdominal muscles in the final points of his last match, and he "was hoping for a miracle". "I'm devastated," he said, adding that if he did play, he could be sidelined for months instead of weeks… And if football's more your jam, excitement is hitting fever pitch at the Euros in Germany this morning, where the Netherlands are playing England to decide who will meet Spain in Monday’s final. That follows a spectacular win by Spain yesterday over France 2-1, thanks to Dani Olmo and 16yo sensation Lamine Yamal who became the youngest ever goalscorer at a major tournament. Perhaps it was his viral baby pic with legend Lionel Messi that gave him the edge…

But I only had an entree…

Nothing ruins a good meal like that awkward moment when the bill arrives and people start quibbling about who had what… Thankfully, some experts have shared solutions to avoid it. They include choosing a "Designated Dave" - aka the person who will pay the bill upfront. Everyone else then transfers their share to 'Dave' after you leave, avoiding messy public scenes and multiple card surcharges. Just ensure you don't leave Dave in the lurch and have a fast/painless way to transfer cash using an app or bank transfer… Also, make it clear upfront if you're off booze - and if you are enjoying a tipple, don't expect others to contribute. Following these steps should help you enjoy the meal and save you a few bucks, which, according to a new study, will improve your sleep. Everyone’s a winner…

Apropos of Nothing

Forget chateau cardboard because Chardonnay has made a comeback… A new report has found our taste for whites is back and more of the much-maligned grapes were crushed last year than any other variety. Just don’t tell Kimmy…

The debate over canine fashion has turned academic, with researchers weighing in on whether Fido needs to wear a snazzy jacket for their daily walkies… If they’re small, maybe - but if they’re big, probably not - no matter how cute it looks…

And 3 Picasso paintings hung in Tassie’s poshest loo have been revealed as fakes by the artist/forger, MONA’s curator Kirsha Kaechele, who painted them 3 years ago to match the curtains in the controversial Ladies’ Lounge. She said she’d always fantasised about “a scandal” developing after her secret was out. Better late than never…

Squiz the Day

8.00am (AEST) - Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni to give a CEDA address on Far North Queensland’s role in the energy transition to renewables - Townsville, Qld

12.00pm (AEST) - Circular Quay’s famous Bastille Festival returns, with over 10 tonnes of cheese and 10,000 litres of wine (on until 14 July) - Sydney

5.00pm (AEST) - Golf: The Scottish Open gets underway with Aussies including Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener in action (until 14 July) - North Berwick, UK, and watch on ESPN

6.00pm (AEST) - Golf: The ladies are also teeing off at the Amundi Evian LPGA Championship in France (until 14 July), and watch on Fox Sports and Kayo

ABS Data Release - Education Statistics for ATSI, 2021

World Population Day 

Birthdays for Giorgio Armani (1934)

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Charlotte’s Web author EB White (1899) and former PM Gough Whitlam (1916)

• the publication of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

• the death of actor Laurence Olivier (1989)

• the escape of Mexican drug lord Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán from a maximum-security prison near Mexico City (2015)