Thursday, 3 July - Dressed for success

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 3 July. In your Squiz Today…

• A Gaza ceasefire is in the works

• A verdict is in for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

• And several top seeds tumble at Wimbledon…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

Said 101yo World War II veteran Henry Young, who is still out and about playing tennis 4 times a week. You might remember Young from an Australian Open cameo 2 years ago, and he’s still going strong - he’ll play in a tourney on the Gold Coast this weekend. He’s an ace…

A Gaza ceasefire is in the works

The Squiz

US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that Israel had agreed to the terms of a 60-day ceasefire in the war in Gaza, and he wants Hamas to do the same. It’s now down to mediators from Qatar and Egypt to deliver the final deal to Hamas - the President hopes to have that done next week. It would be the second truce this year, after the previous one ended in March. But Trump says that if the deal goes ahead, during those 60 days the US will “work with all parties to end the war”. 

What might stop that from happening?

Plenty - we don’t know the terms Israel has agreed to yet, and while Hamas confirmed it’s considering the deal, we don’t know if it’s keen on it. You can read a full breakdown of what each side has asked for in the past here, but here are some key parts: Hamas is willing to return all Israeli hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war, whereas Israel wants Hamas to surrender, demilitarise and go into exile. We’ve also been here before - Trump has pressured Hamas to accept a deal in similar fashion in the past. But this time could be different, because it comes after Israel’s recent attack on Iran. Given Iran has been a supporter of Hamas, military analysts say those attacks might have weakened that support - and Hamas’ negotiating power as a result. 

Anything else to know?

It’s worth noting that Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is set to visit Washington DC early next week. Our Foreign Minister Penny Wong has just left there after a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As we mentioned on Tuesday, they had a lot to talk about, and Wong says Rubio “expressed his regret” for Trump cancelling a meeting with PM Anthony Albanese at the G7 Summit (she says she pushed for a reschedule). She said the 2 also chatted about critical minerals and AUKUS - but with no updates on the US’s ongoing review of the defence pact. Also no news on a few other issues - Rubio’s criticism of Australia sanctioning 2 Israeli ministers last month, the US’s call for Oz to lift our defence spending, or its current tariffs on our exports. There’s only so many hours in the day…

There in times of trouble

The Salvation Army is synonymous with helping out when times are tough, and when a natural disaster hits, it’s often the worst day of an impacted person’s life. Woolworths is proud to be their disaster relief partner, building on a relationship that’s been in place for almost all of the retailer’s 100 years. The Salvation Army’s incredible work is the subject of a new podcast episode - you can listen to From Grassroots here.

Squiz the Rest

A verdict for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs

The rapper and music mogul has been found not guilty of the most serious charges he was facing, being sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. That charge essentially accused him of running a criminal organisation for his own sexual gratification, and his acquittal means he avoids a life sentence. But he's not out of the woods - he's been found guilty on 2 charges of transporting women for prostitution, which carry a maximum sentence of 10 years' jail each. On hearing the verdict, the 55yo sank to his knees before telling his family “I’m gonna be home soon”. His lawyers asked that he be released pending sentencing, but lawyers for his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who testified against him, say he’s “likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified”. The judge will make a decision on that later this morning.

An overhaul of the childcare system

…has been ordered in Victoria after a second man, Michael Simon Wilson, from the Melbourne suburb of Wyndham Vale, has been charged with several child sex offences and bestiality. It comes as police step up their investigation into childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown, the 26yo charged with 70 child abuse offences against 8 children while working at a childcare centre in Melbourne’s southwest. Authorities haven’t gone into the link between the men, but Wilson’s charges are not believed to involve any childcare centres. Alongside Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announcing childcare reforms, the NSW Government is also considering changes, and the Coalition wants the Albanese Government to review national child safety protocols - something Education Minister Jason Clare is looking into…

*Need help?

Another month, another cyber attack

This time, about 6 million Qantas customers are the victims… What’s happened is that a third-party platform used by Qantas to hold customers’ records has been targeted by hackers, and a “significant” amount has been stolen. Reports suggest that a hacker impersonating a Qantas employee convinced a staff member working at a Qantas call centre to grant them access… Credit cards, financial details, and passport information weren’t stored in that system, but customers’ names, emails, phone numbers and frequent flyer numbers have been accessed - and Qantas says it will get in touch with those affected. The finger’s been pointed at a foreign cybercriminal gang called ‘Scattered Spider’, which has been targeting airlines globally. That’s prompted our Federal Police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to get involved…

*To learn more about cybersecurity, we recommend our episode of Newsmakers with cybersecurity expert Alastair MacGibbon…  

Bleeding seeds at Wimbledon

It’s been a rough start for the highly ranked in London, with some of the best tennis players in the world crashing out in the opening round. No less than 8 top 10 seeds are gawn already - that’s the most in a grand slam since the sport went professional. On the women’s side of the draw, big names to crash out include #2 seed American Coco Gauff (who’s fresh from a French Open win) and #3 Jessica Pegula, while the men’s comp has seen #3 seed Alexander Zverev, #7 Lorenzo Musetti, and #8 Holger Rune tumble. As for the Aussie contingent, there are 5 of us left, with Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina the ones to watch - you can cheer the demon on against Frenchman Arthur Cazaux tonight at 8pm. And for those more interested in the off-court play, the celebrity spotting/fashion has been faultless… 

Les hommes très chic

As the Paris Fashion Week men’s shows wrap, we thought we’d take a sashay down the catwalk… It was a good week to test the sweat-proofing on luxury labels’ Spring/Summer 2026 collections, given the heatwave moving across Europe. As for the styles on display, experts say a downturn in consumer spending on designer labels was reflected in the more practical (or “wearable, yet elevated”, as one put it…) men’s fashion. To that end, there were lots of toned-down everyday pieces that seemed to focus more on construction/tailoring and block colours - including on some of the celebs watching on. But there were some fun pieces - zoot suits (the ones with long jackets and wide-legged trousers, made popular in the 1930s…) seem destined for a comeback…

Apropos of Nothing

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is in production with the OG cast, but not Nate (Adrian Grenier), boyfriend of Anne Hathaway’s Andie - sad news for fans of his grilled Jarlsberg sandwiches. It’s set to hit screens next April, so some might say it’s moving at a glacial pace…

Also not setting any speed records was an inmate who used a tractor to escape from a prison farm in Far North Queensland… Police caught up with Michael Graeme Rennie 120km away, and while he wasn’t fast, he managed to get quite a distance.

And the Chicago village of Dolton where Pope Leo grew up is set to buy his childhood home, with plans to turn it into a historical landmark. Not all the locals are thrilled though, with some complaining about the unholy amount of traffic it’ll bring.

Squiz the Day

10.15am (AEST) - The National Museum of Australia will launch its exhibit Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington - Canberra

12.00 noon (AEST) - The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) will hear from NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey at its Winter Lunch - Sydney

12.00 noon (AEST) - Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie will address the Queensland Media Club to discuss the 2032 Delivery Plan Update for Brisbane’s Olympic and Paralympic Games - Brisbane

7.30pm (AEST) - NRLW: Round 1 of the 2025 season kicks off with the Sharks v Eels at Sharks Stadium in Woolooware, NSW - watch on 9Now

8.00pm (AEST) - Tennis: Alex de Minaur takes on Frenchman Arthur Cazaux, and later at 12.30am, Daria Kasatkina will play Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu - London, and watch on 9Now

ABS data release: International trade in Goods, May 2025

🦖 Jurassic World: Rebirth is out in cinemas in Australia

Independence Day - Belarus

Plastic Bag Free Day

Birthdays for actor Tom Cruise (1962) and editor Julian Assange (1971)

Anniversary of:

• the Battle of Gettysburg ends, the largest battle ever fought on the American continent (1863)

• Karl Benz driving the first automobile (1886)

• the death of rocker Jim Morrison (1971)

• the premiere of Back to the Future (1985)