Tuesday, 30 July - Had the guts, got the glory

🙋🏻‍♀️ Scroll on for The Paris Sprint, our short ‘n sweet Olympics update…

Good morning, it’s Tuesday, 30 July. In your Squiz Today…

• It’s gold for Mollie, silver for Arni

• An inquest into the Wieambilla ambush

• And staying clear of sharks using AI

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Squiz Sayings

Said amphibian expert SD Biju after a new study found a species dubbed the ‘Charles Darwin frog’ mate and lay their eggs while upside-down. It’s the only one of the world’s 7,708 frog species known to do it that way, making them un-frog-etable…

Going mad for Mollie

The Squiz

After months of build-up to one of the most anticipated races in the Paris pool, the Olympic women’s 200m freestyle title has gone to Mollie O’Callaghan. She’s beaten reigning champ Ariarne Titmus to take her first individual gold medal, setting a new Olympic record in the process. Billed as a “civil war” because of their close working relationship, it was a race between training partners/world record rivals. Going into it, O’Callaghan said she was feeling the pressure. “I want to do well for Australia, I want to do well for my swim team, I want to do well for everyone” - and now she has. 

Why are you telling me this?

First, it’s going to be all anyone’s talking about today…. And second, golden girl Titmus and teammate/training partner O’Callaghan have a fairly unique relationship. Titmus started her Paris campaign strong by winning the 400m freestyle on Saturday night, becoming the second Australian woman after Dawn Fraser to defend an Olympic title in the pool. O’Callaghan, on the other hand, is known for her speed. Last year, she broke the world record in this event, and beat Titmus at the world championships in Japan, before Titmus snatched it back at the Olympic trials in June when she set the current time to beat, 1:52.23… So this event was a real showdown even before you get to coach Dean Boxall, who has both women under his charge at the same pool in Brisbane. You know him - his poolside theatrics are epic…

What else is happening for Australia in the pool?

There’s plenty - here’s a good summary of what events our Dolphins are hoping to do well in. To summarise, Kaylee McKeown and Iona Anderson have booked places in the 100m backstroke final early tomorrow morning. Kyle Chalmers (aka King Kyle) is hoping to become the fifth man in history to win multiple men’s 100m freestyle titles when he swims in the final early on Thursday morning. Cam McEvoy - who's been "hitting some PBs in the water" in the lead-up to Paris - is aiming to win our first-ever gold in the men's 50m freestyle early on Saturday morning. And although our most decorated Olympian Emma McKeon has said farewell to her individual Olympic career after coming 6th in the women’s 100m butterfly final yesterday morning, it’s not the last we’ll see of her. She’s hoping to add more medals to her impressive tally in several relay events later this week. C’mon Aussie…

Squiz the Rest

Working out Wieambilla

It’s been 18 months since Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and local Alan Dare, were murdered by 3 members of the Train family in Wieambilla in Queensland’s Western Downs, and now an inquest has kicked off in Brisbane. Over the coming month, Coroner Terry Ryan will investigate the shooting, including who fired the fatal shots and the police response. Queensland Police say the 4 officers attending the remote property “did not stand a chance” as Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and his wife Stacey, were extremist Christian conspiracy theorists who’d planned an ambush that turned into a 6-hour siege. They were killed by officers at the scene. The victims’ families are calling for immediate law changes around firearms and police communications, with McCrow's mother Judy saying "we don't want the loss of Rachel and Matthew to be in vain".

Barnaby bites the bullet

Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce isn’t known for being subtle, but his comments to anti-renewables protesters likening ballot papers to bullets have PM Anthony Albanese calling for him to be sacked. Joyce told people at an anti-wind turbine rally south of Sydney on Sunday to use their vote to “load that magazine” and “say goodbye” to Albanese and Energy Minister Chris Bowen. In response, the PM says Coalition leader Peter Dutton should kick the 57yo out because “using analogies of guns” 2 weeks after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump has “no place” in our society. Side note: as leader of the Libs Dutton couldn’t do that, it would be up to the Nationals, but we digress… Joyce initially defended his choice of words but has apologised. 

Bringing in the Rex-perts

Regional travellers alert: Rex Airlines entered a trading halt on Australia’s stock exchange with reports pointing to deepening financial problems. To get things back on track, a "turnaround team” from consulting firm Deloitte has been brought in to address the issues, led by the people who worked on the recovery of Virgin Australia after it entered voluntary administration in 2020. The regional carrier has been experiencing turbulence since executive chair/shareholder Lim Kim Hai departed last month after it emerged corporate watchdog ASIC launched multiple investigations into the company’s governance. Rex has also been struggling to turn a profit since the pandemic when it launched new routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in an effort to compete with Qantas and Virgin. The trading halt is set to continue until at least Wednesday.

SharkEye in the sky

Concerns about the rise of AI - there have been a few… But scientists in California hope the technology will keep people safe from shark attacks. Padaro Beach is well-known as a popular hangout for juvenile great white sharks, but the new SharkEye service uses AI to detect the marine animal’s movements beneath the waves using drones and then sends text alerts to those who’ve signed up, including lifeguards and beach-goers. Researchers running the program at the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory say what they’ve learned about shark behaviour could “be really helpful” - that includes here in Australia where just last week surfer Kai McKenzie lost his leg in an attack. Surgeons were unable to reattach the recovered limb, but he’s in good spirits.

Apropos of Nothing

Those visiting Paris for the Olympics might have been expecting to soak up some French culture over the next couple of weeks, but a lucky few have also been treated to a distinctly Australian-themed show: the Nutbush…

A pet parrot causing a ruckus (and a damage bill) in 62yo Jonny Clothier’s University of Bristol accommodation hasn’t stopped him from graduating - even if it’s 41 years late… Officials waived the outstanding bill, allowing Clothier to claim his degree alongside his youngest son last week.

An iconic Star Wars costume has just gone under the hammer… Princess Leia’s 7-piece gold bikini - worn by Carrie Fisher in 1983’s Return of the Jedi - fetched $266,000 at Heritage Auctions in the US, up from the $146,000 it last sold for in 2015. Inflation, eh…

🏊🏼‍♀️ The Paris Sprint

Each day of the Paris Olympics we’ll bring you 3 of the top stories from the action overnight and 3 events to put on your radar for the coming day. 

Aussie Chris Burton has ridden his way to a silver medal in the equestrian individual eventing. The 42yo and his horse Shadow Man had terrific dressage and cross-country legs over the weekend and delivered a clear showjumping performance overnight. “We're going to sleep well tonight,” he said. 

The Kookaburras - aka our men’s hockey team - remain unflapped after outplaying Ireland 2-1 to clinch their second win on the hop. They’ll take on Belgium next - we have a beef with them because they pipped us to the gold in Tokyo in a penalty shoot-out. Also undefeated are our women’s Hockeyroos, beating Great Britain last night 4-0.

And in tennis, the 60th meeting of legends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the second round gave fans plenty to cheer for. The Spaniard was outgunned by the Serb 6-1 6-4. And it wasn’t a great night for Aussie pair Alex de Minaur (who pulled out of the singles due to a hip injury) and Alexei Popyrin, who were knocked out of the doubles by the USA.

Squiz the Day

9.30am (AEST) - Public hearings are to begin for a proposed Genocide Bill introduced by Senator Lidia Thorpe - Canberra  

8.30am (AEST) - AFR Government Services Summit 2024 - Canberra

Company reporting season begins with Credit Corp Group and Perseus Mining set to release results

ABS Data Release - Retail Trade, June; Building Approvals, June 

Vanuatu’s Independence Day 

International Day of Friendship 

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 

National Cheesecake Day

Birthdays for Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947), Terry Crews (1968), Simon Baker (1969), Christopher Nolan (1970), and Yvonne Strahovski (1982)

Anniversary of:

• the birthdays of Emily Brontë (1818) and Henry Ford (1863)

• the first FIFA World Cup Final which saw Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 (1930)

• the publication of the first Penguin book, starting the paperback revolution (1935)

• the sinking of the USS Indianapolis and the deaths of 880 crew. Many were attacked by sharks, a tale that inspired the famous monologue by actor Robert Shaw in the 1975 movie Jaws (1945)

• Former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning convicted of 17 espionage charges (2013)