It’s World DJ Day on Monday, so remember if Paris Hilton can do it, maybe you can too… This weekend, if you’re excited about Australia’s Eurovision entry, have a new favourite podcast, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem. And the week has been dominated by events in the Middle East…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 28 February-6 March

1. Tensions turn to conflict - Last Saturday, the US and Israel struck Iran, killing the Supreme Leader Ayotollah Ali Khamenei. Many nations in the region have been hit by Iran in retaliation, including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. It’s a rapidly evolving story…

2. Keir Starmer calls for de-escalation - The UK PM has said negotiations are the best way forward and has stood by the decision not to be involved in the initial attack, a call criticised by US President Donald Trump. Starmer has described the UK public as “worried sick” over the UK citizens caught up in conflict.

3. Flights back to Oz from the Middle East resume - The first group of Aussies stranded in the Middle East flew home on Thursday. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed that commercial flights are the fastest way for Aussies to get home, as government repatriation flights have not been arranged at this time.

4. Hilary Clinton’s testimony - This is from former First Lady/Secretary of State’s appearance before the Congressional committee looking through the data dump on dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The committee released footage of the Clintons’ testimonies - both have denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.

5. The economic impact at home - Economists have warned that Australian petrol prices could go up by 40c/l in the coming weeks, but some petrol retailers have already been accused of price gouging and using the conflict as an excuse to hike prices. The ACCC’s on it…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know the name of the song Delta Goodrem's taking to Eurovision? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Update of the week

Savannah Guthrie returned to the set of NBC’s Today show to thank her colleagues for their support following the disappearance of her mother Nancy at the end of January. The 84yo has not been found, and police haven’t confirmed if they have a suspect.

Instagram post

Canberra, here they come…

Squiz Kids has launched a competition, ‘PM For A Day’, and we’re asking Aussie kids to send in a video explaining the one thing they would do to make Australia a better place. The winning prize is a trip for 2 to Canberra for a private tour of Parliament House, a meeting with the Governor General Sam Mostyn - and maybe even a meeting with the (actual) PM Anthony Albanese himself…

It’s all part of The Squiz’s commitment to digital literacy and civics engagement among the next generation. To find out more about the competition and how to enter, go to Squiz Kids - but hurry, entries close on 13 March.

In the Kitchen

If you need one less thing to think about in the morning, might we suggest some overnight oats? They’re customisable, easy to make in advance and are perfect to grab as you run out the door so you don’t forget to eat breakfast… again.

What we Shortcut for you this week

Iran after Khamenei - The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marks a major moment with implications for not just the Middle East, but the world at large. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at who he was, his influence over Iran and what his demise might mean for the world more broadly. Read that here or listen up.

Rethinking the Capital Gains Tax - We’re getting closer to the federal budget in May, and there could be some big tax changes in store for investors. One particular tax has been getting a lot of attention: Capital Gains Tax. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what the tax is, why the government might be looking to change it and what the reaction has been. Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - There’s a by-election for the Northern Territory electorate of Nightcliff, and the eighth and final season of Outlander is released on Binge.

Sunday - The F1 Grand Prix is on in Melbourne at 3pm, you can watch that on 9now. And the Matildas are playing South Korea in the Women's Asian Cup in Sydney - watch it on 10play. It’s also International Women’s Day. And The Squiz turns 9. So there’s a bit on…

Monday - It’s a public holiday in a lot of states, Labour Day in Victoria, Canberra Day in the ACT, Eight Hours Day in Tasmania and in South Oz, the Adelaide Cup Day. And Newcastle Surfest begins, streamed live on worldsurfleague.com.  

Tuesday - In the Victorian Supreme Court, a class action begins, brought by thousands of business owners against the Victorian Government over the financial hit they took during the second lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wednesday - NAPLAN begins for school kids in years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Good luck, kiddos…

Thursday - ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr will deliver the 'State of the Territory' speech at noon, and SXSW Texas begins.

Friday - There’s an ABS data release on multiple job-holders for December. Due to cossie livs, there are a few eyes on that one…

*Times in AEDT

There’s just 34 days until the Easter break… This weekend, if you really know irony, know what you’d do if you were PM for a day, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 21-27 February

1. A sad development - The remains of 85 yo Chris Baghsarian (who was abducted from his Sydney home a couple of weeks ago in what police said was a case of mistaken identity) were found this week, and 2 arrests have been made. His family says they “welcome the news of the recent arrests” but are still trying to “come to terms with the incident”.

2. Knocked back by the Supreme Court - Last weekend, US President Donald Trump’s global tariffs, put in place by the use of some emergency powers, were declared illegal by the highest court in the land. He called the decision “very unpatriotic and disloyal to our constitution”, and outlined temporary tariffs of 15% globally, including to Australia.

3. The fall from grace continues - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has returned to Wood Farm following his arrest, but remains under investigation. There are growing calls to remove him from the line of succession to the throne, which requires Commonwealth countries to agree. As it stands, he's eighth in line for the throne.

4. Hearing from the children of the ‘ISIS brides’ - Aussie media outlets have this week carried pieces about their hope to return home. Some of the women in the group say they would support their children being repatriated without them, but Team Albanese isn’t budging.

5. Matt Utai shooters charged - The former Tigers and Bulldogs player was shot in Greenacre on Tuesday and hospitalised with injuries in the leg and shoulder. Police have arrested a 25yo and 15yo. It’s thought the attack is connected to the Alameddine crime family, and police suspect the incident was targeting Utai’s son, Iziah.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which 2 WNBL teams are playing off in the finals? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Aussie photographer Jono Allen has won the 2026 World Nature Photography awards for his pic of a rare albino humpback whale calf and its mother. The experts reckon only one in 40,000 humpbacks is born with this lack of pigmentation, so it’s pretty special to get the pic. In fact, Jono’s whole Instagram mermaid-esque life is pretty amazing…

Canberra, here they come

Squiz Kids has launched a competition, ‘PM For A Day’, and we’re asking Aussie kids to send in a video explaining the one thing they would do to make Australia a better place. The winning prize is a trip for 2 to Canberra for a private tour of Parliament House, a meeting with the Governor General Sam Mostyn - and maybe even a meeting with the (actual) PM Anthony Albanese himself…

It’s all part of The Squiz’s commitment to digital literacy and civics engagement among the next generation. To find out more about the competition and how to enter, go to Squiz Kids - but hurry, entries close on 13 March.

In the Kitchen

This Vietnamese-style chicken salad is a great way to add some excitement to your work lunch. It’s loaded with fresh and bright flavours that might help you forget that summer is almost over…

We suggest measuring the herbs with your heart…

What we Shortcut for you this week

How the antisemitism Royal Commission will work - After calls for a major federal inquiry in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion got underway this week. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll unpack how we got here, how the proceedings will work, and what might come out of it… Read that here or listen up.

All about the Women’s Asian Cup - Tillies fans have been counting down the days until the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, which kicks off tomorrow night. It’s a major football tournament that will see the Matildas on the big stage again after their incredible World Cup run in 2023. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across how the Asian Cup differs from the World Cup, who the Tillies are up against, and what their chances are for taking out the tournament… Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Mardi Gras Parade is on at Oxford Street from 6pm in Sydney, and Bad Bunny’s DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS World Tour kicks off in Australia in Sydney too.

Sunday - The NRL season launches in Las Vegas. At 1.15pm the Knights are playing the Cowboys. And at 3.30pm, the Bulldogs are playing the Dragons - you can watch that one on 9now. And the Women’s Asian Cup begins with the Matildas playing the Philippines at 8pm in Perth, watch it on 10play.

Monday - The Actor Awards (formerly known as the SAG Awards) are on at 12pm, watch that on Netflix. And Paris Fashion Week begins - why not learn more about that in our Shortcut on Fashion Weeks...

Tuesday - It’s day one of the AFR Business Summit - RBA Governor Michele Bullock will give her keynote at 8.10am. Canadian PM Mark Carney lands in Australia (note: he’ll address a joint sitting of federal parliament on Thursday…). And the total lunar eclipse 'Blood Moon' is happening tonight, check out when it will be visible for you here.

Wednesday - US President Donald Trump is bringing together technology executives to sign pledges committing their companies to foot the electricity bill for energy-intensive data centres that are gobbling up power as AI takes off.

Thursday - It's the first round of the AFL season, Sydney Swans are playing Carlton at the SCG at 7.30pm - watch it on 7plus. There's a general election in Nepal - Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah is expected to be the new PM. And the Formula 1 Grand Prix kicks off in Melbourne.

Friday - The Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games begin - watch on 9now. And the Australian Tourism Awards are on in Fremantle.

*Times in AEDT

May you frolic into the weekend like this dog on the Winter Olympics ski track… This weekend, if you’ve got a long-distance best friend you’re missing, feel like some beach time on a cloudy day, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 14-20 February

1. A Taylor-made frontbench - Angus Taylor has announced his shadow cabinet - some names to look out for are Tim Wilson as Treasury spokesman, James Paterson takes Defence, and Andrew Hastie is looking after the Industry and Sovereign Capability. Taylor also reinstated the suspended Nationals to the frontbench and promoted Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

2. The long road home - There’s a group of 34 people - women and children - who are connected to former Islamic State fighters in Syria who attempted to journey home to Australia this week. PM Anthony Albanese said “I have nothing but contempt for these people,” adding his team is “providing no support for the repatriation of these people or any support whatsoever.” TBC…

3. The final week in Milano-Cortina - The 2026 Winter Olympics wrap up Monday morning our time, and it’s been an outstanding outing for summery Australia. We’ve got 6 medals under our belt, with Danielle Scott winning silver in aerial skiing this week. Aussie Aussie Aussie…

4. An 85yo’s kidnapping - Chris Baghsarian was abducted from his northern Sydney home last Friday morning in what police say is a case of mistaken identity - reports say a figure with links to a crime family was the intended target. Hope is fading that he’ll be found alive…

5. A further fall from grace - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested yesterday at the royal family’s Sandringham Estate on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This is related to the latest release from the Epstein files, which included claims Andrew shared confidential reports with Epstein while he was a UK trade envoy in 2010. He’s since been released from custody and hasn’t been charged, but he remains under investigation.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who made an appearance in Role Model's Perth show? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Some are calling it the pic of the year to describe the haunted face of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as he was driven away after his arrest yesterday. You can expect to see it in the ‘news of 2026’ galleries for sure…

Instagram post

A fix for an overstuffed suitcase

If you’re anything like us, packing for the holidays means a bulging suitcase... To help with that, Brisbane brand Simplify Living has created vacuum travel bags that compress with a small handheld pump - squeeze the air out and watch your stack halve in size. Genius... Find out more here.

In the Kitchen

If you’ve been buying a slice of banana bread for $8 at your local cafe, might we suggest making this best-ever Australian banana bread recipe instead? Do yourself a favour and add half a cup of walnuts if that’s your jam. Just in time for Banana Bread Day on Monday…

A coffee/tea and banana bread - dare you to name a better duo…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Who is Angus Taylor? - He’s hit the ground running as the Liberal Party’s new leader, but he’s got a big job ahead of him to resurrect its popularity with voters. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at Taylor’s background and what his plans are to get the Libs (and the Coalition) back on track. Read that here or listen up.

What's up with Wuthering Heights? - Unless you’ve been living under a rock (no judgement…), you’ll know there’s a new rendering of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights that’s out in theatres... The love story between Cathy and Heathcliff has captivated and divided audiences since it was first published in 1847, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we explain the ongoing fascination with the novel and why this latest version has attracted so much controversy… Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Mighty Hoopla music festival is on at Bondi Beach with singer Kesha headlining, and the third Women’s T20 game between Australia and India is on at Adelaide Oval at 7.15pm. You can watch that on 7plus.

Sunday - The Cole Classic Ocean Swim is on in Manly this morning - it’s the world’s biggest ocean swim, don’t you know... And Tropfest, the world's largest short film festival, is on at Centennial Park.

Monday - The closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics is on at 6.30am, you can watch that on 9now. And there’s the second public hearing of the federal parliamentary inquiry into the quality and safety of the childcare system - that happens in Brisbane.

Tuesday - The Royal Commission on Antisemitism will hold its first public hearing at 10.30am. Milan Fashion Week starts (so why not check out our recent Shortcut on Fashion Weeks…). And it’s 4 years today since Russia went to war with Ukraine.

Wednesday - There’s a National Press Club address by AI Professor Toby Walsh on ‘AI, boom or doom’ at 11.30am. And Woolworths, Fortescue and Tabcorp release their half-year financial results today.

Thursday - At 11.00am, it’s the public hearing in the Inquiry into Triple Zero outages. Hillary Clinton is testifying on Jeffrey Epstein before the US Congress, which is currently set to be a closed-door hearing. And Part 2 of Bridgerton season 4 drops on Netflix.

Friday - Former US President Bill Clinton is set to testify to a US Congressional hearing into Jeffrey Epstein (his wife Hillary will testify the following day…). And it’s International Polar Bear Day 🐻‍❄️

*Times in AEDT

Happy Valentine’s Day - we suggest that the gift of premium potato chips (including to yourself) is top tier… This weekend, if you’ve got a new favourite album, are feeling fab about finger food, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 7 - 13 February

1. Cleaning up after a Lib spill - Angus Taylor successfully challenged for leadership of the Liberal Party, beating out Sussan Ley 34-16. Senator Jane Hume has been elected deputy, and Ley resigned from parliament, ending a 25-year career in politics. And breathe…

2. Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit creates a stir - Here to comfort the Jewish community following the Bondi attack, he was warmly welcomed by some, and condemned by others. In Sydney, confrontations between protesters and the police made big headlines.

3. A big storm through Western Australia - Ex-Tropical Cyclone Mitchell, which hit Western Oz’s Gascoyne and Midwest regions earlier in the week, was downgraded to a category 2 storm, but there was heavy rainfall and winds that created havoc for farmers.

4. Bad Bunny bounces at the Super Bowl - On Monday, the New England Patriots lost to the Seattle Seahawks - and all eyes were on the halftime show featuring Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, an actual wedding - and Bad Bunny, one of the biggest artists in the world. The performers dressed as sugar cane bushes were a highlight…

5. And the fallout continues for the ex-Prince - Last week’s Epstein files dump further implicated Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - he’s accused of sharing confidential information and more involvement with Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual offences. The Royals say they’re ready to support any police actions over the claims.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who directed the newly released movie Wuthering Heights? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Australia won its first medal of the Winter Olympics early Friday our time, with Cooper Woods taking the gold in the men’s moguls. Woods has never even won a World Cup, and some say his victory is the biggest upset of the entire Games. In his words, "It's been a crazy journey, and I can't believe we're here.” Well done, mate…

Reclaiming the nightly wind-down

Getting the kids to bed each night can become a real power struggle - but did you know your decor might be hindering you? Research suggests children settle best in spaces that reflect their interests rather than a neutral aesthetic. That’s where Jo’s Dreamland comes in… It pairs themed, sensory-friendly bedding with educational booklets to help you and your family find a bit more evening quiet. Check out the full range here.

In the Kitchen

Love spring rolls but not deep-frying? This deconstructed spring roll bowl recipe turns your favourite finger food into a delicious meal. With a quick prep time and a sauce that does the heavy lifting on flavour, it’s an easy and satisfying weeknight meal…

All of the sizzle and none of the splatter

What we Shortcut for you this week

Who’s who in the Epstein files - The latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice includes an enormous amount of information - and many famous names… It’s been tricky to follow, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at who’s caught up in it, along with the fallout. Read that here or listen up.

The Business of Fashion Week - T’is the season for glamorous Fashion Week events around the world, so in this Squiz Shortcut, our special guest is the AFR’s fashion editor Lauren Sams. She talks us through why Fashion Weeks are such a big deal for brands and trends, and how their impact goes beyond the fashion industry… Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - AFL State of Origin returns tonight with Western Oz playing the Victorians - that’s in Perth, kicking off at 7.40pm, and you can watch that live on 7plus. Melbourne Fashion Festival also starts today, and you can see the program schedule here.

Sunday - It’s the first day of the women’s T20 international series between Australia v India. Note: it’s the first game with Sophie Molineux as captain since Alyssa Healy stepped down. You can watch that on watch on 7plus.

Monday - Former NSW Liberal MP Rory Amon’s trial over alleged child sexual offences begins at 10am. And Lorde kicks off her Ultrasound tour in Oz, starting in Brisbane.

Tuesday - Starting just after midnight is the Men’s T20 World Cup game between Australia and Sri Lanka, in Sri Lanka, and you can watch that on 7plus… It’s also Lunar New Year (giddy up, fire horses…) and the first day of the Islamic holiday of Ramadan.

Wednesday - There’s a National Press Club address from Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on the future of the state’s economy at 11am.

Thursday - Telstra, Qantas, Wesfarmers and Medibank will release their half-year financial results, and Rio Tinto will release its full-year results. And it’s the first day of London Fashion Week.

Friday - It’s the first day of the Adelaide Fringe… And a 60th birthday for supermodel Cindy Crawford.

*Times in AEDT

May you approach the weekend with the confidence of Zara Larsson telling Grammy journos that her fav song of all time is her own… This weekend, if you need another application for cheese, have your own bad bunny, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 31 January - 6 February

1. The fallout continues from the Coalition collapse - On Tuesday, Liberal leader Sussan Ley set what she says are non-negotiable conditions for a Liberal-Nationals coalition to come back together, which include a 6-month ‘exile’ for the Nats frontbenchers who broke ranks on the hate crimes vote a couple of weeks ago. David Littleproud maintains his people did nothing wrong... Ley wants this to be resolved by Monday, so see you back here next week…

2. The Aussie Open comes to a close - Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic, making him the youngest bloke to complete the career Grand Slam at just 22yo. And for the women, Kazakhstani player Elena Rybakina claimed her first AO title, beating world #1 Aryna Sabalenka. See you back here in a year…

3. A big Epstein file dump - The US Justice Department's release of 3 million files, including emails, videos, and photos related to financier Jeffrey Epstein, made international headlines this week. Several high-profile people (hello Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) are implicated in some really awful stuff - many say there’s nothing to see here...

4. A tragic scene in Western Australia - On Friday, 4 members of a family in Perth were found dead in their home in what was quickly determined to be a double murder-suicide. The family had recently been cut off from the NDIS scheme - disability advocates are calling for greater support for families with high needs kids.

5. And an update on Dezi Freeman - Another search for Dezi Freeman in Buffalo National Park was underway this week. Police say the alleged cop killer is probably dead, but no body has been found. To be continued…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who won Song of the Year at the Grammys? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

On Monday, singer and rapper Bad Bunny made history as the first fully Spanish-language album of the year to win a Grammy for his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos. The award is the final presentation of the evening, and upon winning, Bad Bunny sat in his seat and cried in a moment of gratitude… That was, of course, promptly turned into a million memes...

Turning water into shine

If you're hitting reset or doing a new-year refresh, Skipper’s #1 just-add-water home and body care range is for you. Chuck one of their tablets into some water, and you can save some cash and reduce waste. The range includes universal cleaners, body washes, laundry sheets and more, and you can build your own bundle and get up to $120 off. Skip to it...

In the Kitchen

This simple no-cook pasta sauce with brie and tomatoes is perfect for those evenings when it’s too hot to turn on the oven. The prep takes less time than cooking the actual pasta, and the brie softens in the cooked pasta to create a luscious sauce. Tear up some basil and add (big) grating of parmesan to serve, and you’re in for a treat…

A great excuse to eat a whole wheel of brie cheese…

What we Shortcut for you this week

One Nation’s rise in the polls - A recent rise in polling numbers for One Nation and a breakdown of the Coalition are reshaping politics in Australia. In this Squiz Shortcut, we get underneath the surge in support for One Nation, why it’s happening now, and what it could mean for the future. Read that here or listen up.

The Artemis space program - The launch of NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon in 50 years was delayed from last week, but the new date has been locked in for 6 March. It’ll be a momentous occasion, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at why the mission is happening now, why it’s been such a long time between drinks and why some people have raised concerns about the mission’s safety…. Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Winter Olympics opening in Milan Cortina has happened early this morning, and the official day one of the Games will kick off at around 6pm tonight - you can watch that live on Channel 9. Laneway Festival also lands in Australia today, starting with the Gold Coast. Risque dress-wearer Chappell Roan is headlining...

Sunday - Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrives in Australia for 5 days - he was invited by PM Anthony Albanese following the Bondi terrorist attack. And there are 2 pretty significant elections - Thailand and Japan vote today.

Monday - Super Bowl LX kicks off at 10.30am between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks - Bad Bunny will be performing at the half-time show, and you can watch that on 7plus. And protests are expected in the capital cities against President Herzog’s visit (including in Sydney, despite the extended protest ban…).

Tuesday - Two yucky court cases to know about... Melbourne Magistrates Court will host a committal mention for Joshua Brown, who’s been charged with over 70 sexual assaults against children at several childcare centres. And across the country in Fremantle’s Magistrates Court, there’s another hearing for notable author Craig Silvey on child exploitation charges.

Wednesday - Australia is playing Ireland in the men’s T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka at 8.30pm, you can watch that on Kayo. It’s also the first day of New York Fashion Week for the Fall/Winter season.

Thursday - Another election to watch is the Bangladesh general election happening today, which is described as a "make-or-break" test for Bangladesh's democracy. And Wuthering Heights will be released in Australian cinemas today…

Friday - It’s National Apology Day. That’ll mark 18 years since then PM Kevin Rudd formally apologised on behalf of the government to the Stolen Generations. And in Sydney, it’s the first day of Mardi Gras.

*Times in AEDT

Don’t be sad that it’s the end of January, watch this video of baby hyenas instead… This weekend, if you’re afraid of heights, have a new favourite song, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson (yep, the OG Squizers are back together…)

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 24-30 January

1. The Australian Open hits the final stretch - The women’s final is tonight between Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina at 7.30pm - Sabalenka is going for a third straight Australian Open title. A couple of Aussies also make an appearance - how you ask? Wildcards Jason Kubler and Marc Polmans are in the men’s doubles final tonight too… Sunday night is the men's final, it’s Carlos Alcaraz v Novak Djokovic after 2 epic 5-setter semis yesterday...

2. Liberals and Nationals’ leadership in the air - Nationals MP Colin Boyce is challenging David Littleproud’s leadership on Monday, but it’s doubtful he’ll win. It’s more about dissent over the decision to split from the Libs… Meanwhile, Angus Taylor has Sussan Ley in their sights - Andrew Hastie confirmed he won’t challenge for the leadership yesterday.

3. Fresh bushfire warnings in Victoria - There have been multiple blazes across Victoria this week - the ones to watch are the Carlisle River Fire in the Otways and the Walwa and Dargo fires in the state's North East. Emergency warnings were downgraded later in the week, but some residents are still unable to return home.

4. Rising heat Australia’s east and south - Temperature records have been smashed across NSW, Queensland, and parts of Victoria this week, with some areas reaching close to 50C… Renmark in South Australia took the dubious honour of being the hottest place in Australia – indeed, in the world – on Tuesday, recording a top of 49.6C. Yikes…

5. And a second person killed by ICE agents in Minnesota - Alex Pretti - a protester against the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown - was killed in scenes reminiscent of Renée Good’s death a couple of weeks ago. After pressure from Democrats, Republicans and notable Americans, US President Donald Trump has agreed that the situation could not continue…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who was named Australian of the Year last weekend? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Dana Allen’s black and white photo of a bull elephant, shot in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area, won the Travel Image of the Year earlier this week. The award judges said, “Sometimes photography is about the defining moment, and you don’t get much more defining than this.” Wonder how close he got to that elephant…

Add this to the summer checklist

Sunscreen and hats are sorted, but kids' sunnies often fall off the radar. Experts reckon up to 80% of lifetime UV eye damage happens before 18yo, but you can't see or feel those UV rays doing their damage - including on cloudy days. Babiators have 100% UV protection and polarised lenses, plus frames that survive real life - being sat on, dropped, twisted, you name it. Worth a look (see what we did there…).

In the Kitchen

This super simple satay soup with jammy eggs and frozen dumplings is perfect for those nights when cutting up an onion really is too much work. It might sound a bit too cosy for summer, but the fish sauce, lime and coriander cut through the richness for a balanced taste with minimal effort. Frozen dumplings just got a whole lot more sophisticated…

Coriander-haters need not apply…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Ask the Squiz: Ambassadors, NATO and shark culling - Squizers have sent us some excellent questions to tackle in our first edition of Ask the Squiz for 2026… We tackle why we have ambassadors, and which countries are in NATO and why it exists. And in the wake of the recent shark attacks in NSW, we had some questions about shark culling. Read that here or listen up.

What to watch for at the Winter Olympics - The 2026 Winter Games kick off in Italy next week, and we have some definite contenders in the mix… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you up to speed with who the big Aussie chances are, some of the new events, and how to watch. Read here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It's Independence Day in Nauru, celebrating the island nation becoming independent from Australia back in 1968. And we’re at the pointy end of the Australian Open… At 7.30pm, it’s the women’s final with Aryna Sabalenka taking on Elena Rybakina - should be an exciting one given their top form. You can stream that on 9now.

Sunday - There's a community paddle out at North Bondi at 7am to honour the life of 12-year-old Nico Antic, who died last week after being attacked by a shark in Sydney Harbour - he was a North Bondi surf lifesaving nipper, so that will be an emotional one. It's the Midsumma Pride March on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda at 10.30am. Winding up the summer of tennis, tonight is the men's final in the Aussie Open with Djokovic looking for his tenth title against world #1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Monday - The Grammy Awards are on from 11am on Stan. Aussie acts Amyl and the Sniffers, Tame Impala and RÜFÜS DU SOL are all up for awards. Federal pollies return to Canberra ahead of sitting tomorrow. And parents can breathe again, kids are heading back to school in NSW, the ACT and WA for Term 1…

Tuesday - The Reserve Bank announces its latest interest rates decision at 2.30pm, followed by a media conference at 3.30pm. This is one to watch closely because the inflation numbers out this week weren't great…

Wednesday - It's the second anniversary of the disappearance of Samantha Murphy from a Ballarat run - Patrick Orren Stephenson’s trial for Murphy’s murder begins in April, and he has pleaded not guilty. It’s also the birthday of a small social media platform that began in 2004 - Facebook - you might’ve heard of it…

Thursday - The NSW Coroner will hand down findings from the inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing. That attack in April 2024 saw 6 people killed and 10 injured at the Westfield shopping centre. It’s also World Nutella Day.

Friday - There's a court mention in Perth at 12.30pm for 20yo Brodie Jake Dewar over the alleged assault and death of former Labor strategist Tim Picton in December. And the AACTA Awards ceremony is on in the Gold Coast - the red carpet fires up at 7.30pm. Rick Astley also turns 60 today. Never gonna give him up…

*Times in AEDT

May you look at the Beckhams’ family drama and see that your own clan dysfunction is actually manageable… This weekend, if you’re looking for a good laugh, screaming for ice cream, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Larissa Moore

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 17-23 January

1. Tensions rise and then fall again over Greenland deal - US President Donald Trump has said for ages that he wants to get his sticky paws on Greenland, but resistance has seen Trump threaten tariffs on goods coming to the US from 8 European nations. This story has since moved on, though - after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said there’s a "framework of a future deal" on the table, and he dropped his threat of tariffs. TBC…

2. One week into the Australian Open - And things are heating up between with the competition and the weather. Yesterday, world #1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a near-miss match against Anastasia Potapova, and Daniil Medvedev defeated Fabian Marozsan in 5 sets. "I was like, 'Look, you know what? If I lose, I lose, but I'm just going to try, I'm just going to fight'," Medvedev said. Words to live by.

3. Not a great week in the water for humans - Four shark attacks in Sydney and near Port Macquarie in less than 48 hours is a lot give we usually get 20 in a year… Sydney's had a lot of rain recently, which makes the water murky and flushes nutrients into the harbour - that attracts bait fish, which attracts sharks.

4. The Coalition collapses - The week started with hate and gun laws, and ended with the end of the Coalition. It’s a mess… Some of Ley’s colleagues are calling time on her leadership, but others have defended her position as she says that “Every step I've taken has been with the Liberal leadership team"…

5. And a day of reflection and unity… - On Thursday, Australia paid tribute to the victims of December’s antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach during the National Day of Mourning. PM Anthony Albanese praised the Jewish community for its message of unity in the wake of the attack, and said he was “deeply and profoundly sorry that we could not protect your loved ones from this evil”. Light Will Win…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know the juicy details of the Beckham family drama? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

In an iconic meeting of fashion and sport, Naomi Osaka’s Australian Open entrance outfit was one for the books. This jellyfish-inspired look was designed by Nike along with couture designer Robert Wun, and was also a callback to her 2021 AO moment when a butterfly landed on her during a game…

Instagram post

Let your smile shine

Smiling is one of our favourite things to do, but it helps when your teeth are at their best. The Smilie Teeth Whitening Kit offers visible results from the first treatment without the hefty price tag, delivered straight to your door. It'll even lift long-lasting stains without causing your toothy-pegs pain. Find out more here.

In the Kitchen

These quick and easy Bun Cha (lemongrass pork meatballs) are the perfect eat now/put in the fridge or freezer for later kinda meal. These Vietnamese meatballs are perfect with some Nuoc Cham Sauce (recipe included), vermicelli noodles and some fresh accompaniments. Flavour bomb, anyone?

It’s like you’re somewhere fab in Vietnam…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Why hate speech laws are so hard - The Albanese Government has recalled parliament this week to try to push through new laws on hate speech and guns in the wake of the Bondi terror attack. It was a messy lead-up, and a difficult few days in Canberra, and this Shortcut will get you grounded in what the issues are. Read here or listen here.

A shark attack spike - A spate of shark attacks this past week - including four in 48 hours in NSW - has restarted the national conversation around these apex predators. While beach safety is familiar territory, many Australians aren’t aware of how weather can impact shark activity. In this Squiz Shortcut, we look at our history of shark attacks, why they seem more prevalent right now, and how to stay safe. Read that here or listen up. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Triple J’s Hottest 100 countdown kicks off at 12pm today. Over 2 million votes have been counted in the polling for the top songs of 2025. Tune in to the 2025 countdown on Triple J radio. It’s also Global Belly Laugh Day, and it’s tradition for people to laugh out loud at 1.24pm local time

Sunday - The Australian of the Year ceremony begins at 7.30pm in Canberra, where the 2026 Australia Day Honours and Australian of the Year will be announced. You can stream that on ABC iView. If you like channel flicking, the Big Bash League final will be on Channel 7 at 7.30pm. The Perth Scorchers will be playing on their home turf against Friday night’s winner - either Sydney Sixers or Hobart Hurricanes.

Monday - It’s Australia Day today. In Sydney, Yabun Festival is on at Victoria Park - It’s the largest community-led celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in Australia.

Tuesday - It’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is a Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, and marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Army in 1945.

Wednesday - The ABS will release the consumer price index for December, so stand by for some inflation numbers there. And it’s the women’s surf coats classic cycling race in Victoria, which is the first event of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race…

Thursday - Hearings will begin in the NSW Supreme Court for a constitutional challenge to anti-protest laws that were brought in the wake of the Bondi Beach massacre, which could go all the way to the High Court. And if you need an escape from the news, Bridgerton season 4 also drops on Netflix on Thursday…

Friday - And if you’re lucky enough to be in Tassie, they’ve got their Festivale happening in Launceston…

*Times in AEDT

Holiday? What holiday?? We’re well and truly back, baby... This weekend, if you have a handbag essential, a use for your sad fridge herbs, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball, and it’s Jodie Speers’ last episode with us 😢

Got a second for us?

We know that the news can be overwhelming at times and that news fatigue is a real thing. Our approach at The Squiz is to keep you informed about the news, not overwhelmed. We've got a favour to ask... tell your people about us. Whether it's our podcasts or newsletters, let your mates know there's an easy way to stay across the news in 2026. It's as easy as hitting forward on our newsletters, or passing on this link to our Squiz Today podcast. Merci buckets, legend.

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 10-16 January

1. Huge bushfires in Victoria wreak havoc - The stats: more than 400,000 hectares have been burned across the state. Almost 900 buildings have been destroyed, including more than 250 homes, and more than 15,000 livestock have been killed, along with countless wildlife. The Longwood fire also claimed the life of grazier Max Hobson. It’s reignited the conversation about how well-equipped and supported our firefighters are…

2. Will he or won’t he? - By ‘he’ we mean US President Donald Trump - and the question is whether he will order the US military to intervene in what’s happening in Iran… The latest mass protests were started by shopkeepers, angered by the collapse of the nation’s currency. Experts say the state is using new techniques to crush dissent. CNN reports that “low-flying surveillance drones, signal jammers, a rapid-response propaganda apparatus, and the violent deployment of force were unleashed simultaneously by a regime keen to learn from each wave of unrest.” Yikes…

3. Kevin gets an early mark - Former PM Kevin Rudd has had his run-ins with President Trump in his time as our Ambassador to the US, and now he’s heading out a year before his appointment expires. The Sinophile has been appointed global president of the Asia Society think tank, and before you could say ‘see ya’, speculation mounted about who would replace him…

4. A deal to be done? - This story about Venezuelan oil was in the news last weekend after President Trump convened a meeting of the big oil company chiefs, looking for at least US$100 billion in oil industry spending for Venezuela. He received a less than favourable response - one executive warned the South American country is "uninvestable" given the instability that persists there.

5. And they’re back… - PM Anthony Albanese has called out federal pollies back to the nation’s capital to debate - and he hopes to pass - new hate speech and gun laws in the wake of the Bondi terror attack last month. The Coalition and One Nation aren’t onside with what’s been suggested, which means Labor needs the Greens to get the package through the Senate. Get ready for some early week hustle…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know the name of the Aussie cricket legend who retired from the sport this week? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

Go the Aussie… Congrats went to Rose Byrne on Monday for her Golden Globes win for her turn in the small-budget movie If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Her shoutout to her parents in Sydney, who “bought Paramount+ so they can watch” hit a note for anyone who’s taken out a streaming sub just to watch one show…

Sweet dreams are made of this

If sleeping better is a New Year’s resolution, you might be interested to know that Sleep Republic is a top choice for comfort and support. Recommended by CHOICE and backed by the Australian Spinal Research Foundation, their award-winning 'mattress-in-a-box' is all about comfort. Experience the Sleep Republic difference with a 100-night trial, and get ready to dream.

In the Kitchen

Sick of throwing out your sad supermarket herbs that never get used after the one recipe you needed them for? Have we got a solution for you… We freeze ‘em, and when we have critical mass, we put together this salsa verde that’s easy to make and a flavour bomb to use across your meals. You’re welcome…

Fresh and ‘erby…

What we Shortcut for you this week

An uprising in Iran? - As we mentioned in the top stories, massive protests in Iran have been taking place over the last few weeks. They’ve spread to become the largest uprising in the country's recent history, so it’s a good one to get across. Read here or listen here.

The uproar over ICE - A huge news story at the moment is how ICE is being deployed in the US - that's their federal agency that's being deployed in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown - particularly after the shooting of Minnesota woman Renee Good, which has sparked widespread protests. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Australian Open has its first-ever Opening Ceremony at 7pm - it's also a chance for Roger Federer to farewell his Australian fans after he retired in 2022. Across the country, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds kick off their Australian tour in Fremantle. Get on ya bike - stage one of the women's Tour Down Under is on in Adelaide, and here’s cheers for the Geelong Beer Festival.

Sunday - The Australian Open main draw gets underway this morning. And Midsumma kicks off at Alexandra Gardens - it’s Melbourne's LGBTQIA+ arts and culture festival. Portugal heads to the polls in what's shaping up as another test of the far-right's momentum in Europe. And say your prayers for the UN’s World Religion Day, observed annually to promote interfaith understanding and harmony.

Monday - Speaking of religion, it’s Orthodox Epiphany, commemorating Christ's baptism - if you've ever seen footage of Russians diving into frozen lakes to retrieve a cross - that's this. And federal parliament is back to debate those hate speech and gun laws. One more thing - the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos. US President Donald Trump's attending in person, as are most of the G7 leaders.

Tuesday - Speaking of Trump, today marks one year since his inauguration.

Wednesday - The Bureau of Stats releases September's building activity data, and the men's Tour Down Under kicks off…

Thursday - The National Day of Mourning for victims of the Bondi terrorist attack. The theme is ‘Light Will Win’ - chosen by Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, the spiritual leader of the Chabad community in Bondi. His son-in-law Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among those killed. Details are still to come, but there will likely be a nationwide minute of silence, and Australians are encouraged to light a candle at home as a quiet act of remembrance. Flags will be at half-mast on Commonwealth and state government buildings. And there’s a formal gathering of unity being organised. 

Friday - The ABS releases employee earnings and hours data - it only comes out every 2 years. What a gift for employment data nerds… 🤓

*Times in AEDT

If your New Year’s resolution is to eat a lot of lollies, let this be your warning... This weekend, if you’re overly confident in your abilities, you need to cool down with a frozen dessert, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Larissa Moore

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 3-9 January

1. Nicolás Maduro seized and put on trial - Relations between the United States and Venezuela reached a historic turning point following a large-scale US military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the start of legal proceedings against him in New York. Analysts fear it could embolden China on Taiwan, and it hands Russia a ready-made justification for its war in Ukraine.

2. ‘A rolled-gold act of self-induced humiliation’ - Is how Financial Review political editor Phil Coorey described PM Anthony Albanese’s establishment of a Royal Commission on antisemitism and social cohesion. Beyond the politics, it matters because it can compel evidence from Commonwealth agencies like ASIO and the AFP to give evidence.

3. The Ashes are ours - There was a lot of coverage of the Aussies sealing the deal to take the Ashes 4-1 - that’s against England, of course… Next stop: the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in Feb.

4. It’s hot and firey - Not only have we had a massive heatwave that’s particularly affected southeastern Oz, but there have been terrible bushfires which may take weeks to get on top of. Victoria’s particularly a state of concern - locals have been warned they should prepare for "property loss or worse".

5. Meanwhile in Queensland… - The Bureau of Meteorology says there is a high chance the tropical low off the Coral Coast could become a tropical cyclone today. Locally intense rainfall and damaging winds are forecast in that region.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who is leading the new federal Royal Commission into antisemitism? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

It’s not an Aussie summer without bushfires, but some really nasty blazes in NSW, Queensland, South Oz, and particularly Victoria (which declared a state of disaster last night) have been fueled by Australia’s worst heatwave in 6 years. Authorities say that’s led to catastrophic fire conditions mirroring the intensity of the 2019-20 'Black Summer’ fires. Please stay safe…

Instagram post

Lightening the load for 2026

There's a special kind of defeat in watching your suitcase come along the carousel looking like it came off second-best during the transit shuffle.... Samsonite has been at it for over a century, and they've nailed the balance between lightweight and durable - handy when you're pushing weight limits or travelling frequently. Check out their range of travel essentials here.

In the Kitchen

We were really sceptical about this one, but it worked. Blitz frozen raspberries with frozen banana for sweetness, and stir in some fresh berries, and you’ve got yourself a great dessert. No cooking/baking skills required…

Save us a scoop…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Who is Nicolás Maduro? - Last weekend, the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in an overnight military raid, and he's now facing criminal charges in New York. It's a story that's been dominating world news, and it raises a lot of questions - who is this guy? Who's his wife, who was also arrested? And what happens next for Venezuela? Read here or listen here.

What Australian laws have changed after Bondi? - After the antisemitic terror attack in December, the NSW Government recalled parliament to push through new laws on gun ownership, protests and hate speech. The laws were passed, but they are controversial, with some saying they went too far. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s time to get ready for the summer of tennis… The Canberra International Finals are on today, and the Hobart International women’s tournament starts. For the sport inclined, Lorne’s iconic Pier to Pub swim is on. And it’s the 10th anniversary of the death of David Bowie, so let’s dance in his memory…

Sunday - The Brisbane International wraps up, and the United Cup Final at Ken Rosewall Arena in Perth is on at 5:30pm. It’s also time to spray your gratitude on International Thank You Day…

Monday - It’s a big one… Golden Globe Awards begin at midday. We’ll hear about how we spent as 2025 rounded up with the ABS releasing its monthly household spending indicator for November and Westpac’s latest consumer sentiment data dropping. And more tennis… The Australian Open Opening Week begins in Melbourne with qualifying matches, a kids go free day, and open practice. And the Adelaide International starts.

Tuesday - Yet more tennis… The Kooyong Classic begins.

Wednesday - World Logic Day, which is a global event proclaimed by the UN to promote an increase in the public’s understanding of science, technology, and society, and foster peace and rational dialogue. Seems logical…

Thursday - CommBank releases its household spending insights for Dec. We’ll get the draw for the Australian Open that kicks off on Sunday next weekend. And a PSA - voting closes for the Triple J Hottest 100 Countdown…

Friday - Polish off your Golden Guitar for the Tamworth Music Festival that runs until 25 January. And dial up your tastebuds, it’s International Hot and Spicy Food Day 🌶️

*Times in AEDT

A quick shoutout to Nicoletta Hay, who has been coordinating/writing the Saturday Squiz for most of this year - she finished up with us yesterday to start her diplomatic career. Sucks for us, but we’re excited for her… This weekend, if you’ve got an ugly Christmas sweater ready to revive, have had a hairdo that hair-shouldn’t, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Larissa Moore and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 6-12 December

1. All eyes on Oz - Unless you’ve been living under a rock (fair play), you would’ve seen the Albanese Government’s social media ban kicked off this week. It’s a “grand social experiment” that PM Anthony Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells conceded would have “teething issues” as some affected tech companies turn to the courts…

2. Can the English rise from the Ashes? - That’s the question for cricket fans as the tourists took another beating from Australia in the second Test of the series. Another thing Aussies are happy about is that our captain Pat Cummins is set to return for the Adelaide Test that starts on Wednesday. Giddyup…

3. On the road with the Wells family - Communications Minister Anika Wells has had a time of it over her taxpayer-funded travel ministerial and family expenses costing a pretty penny. She’s referred it to an umpire for review. It’s reopened the conversation around parliamentary perks, so watch this space…

4. One dream, one team, One Nation - Former Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has officially joined Pauline Hanson’s party, less than 2 weeks after leaving the Nats. ‘Nuff said…

5. To the victor the spoils… - A ‘tight race’ is an understatement this F1 season, as Lando Norris clinched the championship by 2 points in the final race, beating out Dutchman Max Verstappen and his Aussie McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. Reports say he partied until 6am - and why wouldn’t he…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which iconic Aussie bikkie got a government boost to go big overseas? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

Claire is getting comfy in the hosting chair, as she put her Weekly Wrap co-host Jodie Speers and our outgoing content manager Nicoletta Hay to the test in this week’s quiz.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - listen here and/or watch on our YouTube channel.

‘Do of the Week

From grubby to vintage, there’s a mullet style for everyone. We enjoyed flicking through this post and this gallery for the best pics of last Saturday’s Mulletfest in Kurri Kurri. And don’t be surprised if you feel inspired to get a trim…

Instagram post

Say cheese…

Guilty of hoarding thousands of photos on your phone that you never look at? You can turn them into real pics with the Instax mini Link 2 Print Kit - it connects wirelessly to your phone to print credit-card-sized snaps in the blink of an eye. You can even add a personal touch by using the app to doodle on your images before printing - fancy… The bundle includes a case and film, so you have everything you need to get started.

In the Kitchen

Holiday celebrations call for some festive bikkies, and a go-to recipe is Ottolenghi’s spiced Brunsli chocolate cookies. They make a lovely addition to any Christmas table or for gifting to coworkers/family/teachers. Warning: good luck with the self-restraint…

…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Is my sunscreen safe? - It’s summer, it’s sunburn time. We know we should be ‘slip, slop, slapping’, but with the scrutiny on sunscreens, we thought it was a good time to break down where things are up to, and give you some tips on what a good sunscreen looks like… Read here or listen here.

All about the social media ban - With so many questions about how the ban will work, we’ve got a special series unpacking the nuts and bolts (with one more episode to come next week). Read parts 1 and 2 are here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Cricket fans will be all over the final of the Women’s Big Bash League at 7.15pm in Hobart, with the Hobart Hurricanes up against the Perth Scorchers - watch on 7+. And Chile will vote in the second round of the presidential election, with far-right reformer José Antonio Kast expected to win.

Sunday - Hannukkah begins for 8 days 🕎 - pass the latkes. And warm up those pipes, it’s World Choral Day.

Monday - Treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to release the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook - MYEFO for the cool kids... It’s like a half-year economic report card from the federal government, and it could be out Monday or another day next week, so we’re putting that here. And it’s 10 days ‘til Christmas…

Tuesday - PSA: Australia Post says to get your Christmas cards in the mail by today so they arrive by Christmas Day. And it’s Victory Day in Bangladesh.

Wednesday - It’s Test 3 of the Ashes in Adelaide, with the first ball at 10.30am local time - watch that on 7+. And submissions close for the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties’ inquiry into the new Pukpuk Treaty with PNG.

Thursday - The ABS will release the latest population numbers on a national, state and territory level - that always generates some news chatter. And season 5 of Emily in Paris is out on Netflix - or should we say, Emily in Rome?

Friday - Paul Sultana will be sentenced in the NSW Supreme Court after he was found guilty of the murder of his former partner Dayna Isaac in January 2023. We’ll get ABS data on overseas migration - good timing after the population stats the day before. And it’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.

Never has the seasonal song ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’ been more inappropriate… Take care/stay hydrated if you’re out and about. This weekend, if you’ve been involved in a surprise wedding, want to dance like a maniac, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 28 November-5 December

1. A stalemate in Ukraine-Russia peace prospects - We started the week with hope of an agreement, but talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the US failed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remains hopeful, though, so TBC…

2. The Ashes head to the Gabba - By this stage last time the show was over, so things are a little more competitive as the second Test rolls on in Brisbane. Last night, Australia overtook England’s first-inning score, and will return to the crease later today with 4 wickets up their sleeve. The Poms weren’t great at catching yesterday…

3. Western Sydney shootings - We didn’t cover this, but last Saturday, 2 men were arrested and one charged with murder over the fatal shooting of a 28yo man in Blacktown. Then on Friday morning, police were called when 2 men opened fire in a Gregory Hills car park. No injuries were reported on that one, but reports say it’s gang-related.

4. Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in 75 years - The death toll in the blaze that burned through several high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district last week has risen to 159, as search and rescue efforts continue for the 31 still missing.

5. F1 comes down to the wire - It’s exciting times as the season comes to a head in Abu Dhabi this Sunday/Monday morning. Last weekend saw Dutchman Max Verstappen take out first place in Qatar, with Aussie Oscar Piastri coming in second. It’s going to be a tight finish…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which team became AFLW Premiers last weekend? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

Vying for glory are Larissa Moore and Nicoletta Hay, with Claire Kimball playing host after Andrew Williams went down with a snot-related lurgy. Come join us as the team puts their news knowledge to the test.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - listen here and/or watch on our YouTube channel.

Nuptials of the Week

Anthony Albanese became our first PM to tie the knot while in office when he married Jodie Heydon at the Lodge on Saturday. While some were looking at the guest list for what it says about the PM’s inner circle, others reckon it was the ring-bearing Toto who stole the show…

Instagram post

For the person who's done with doom-scrolling

Some of the best gifts teach you something new and get you off your screen. Cardigang's DIY kits have everything you need to make jumpers and scarves (yes, even if you've never touched yarn before). Forget panic-buying another candle and consider the gift of a new hobby. It’s the ultimate anti-doom-scrolling device that comes with bragging rights. Take a peek at Cardigang's feel-good kits.

In the Kitchen

Mango season is in full swing, so we’re marking the first week of summer with this mango passionfruit sorbet. With only 3 ingredients, the hardest part of the process is waiting for it to freeze…

Save us a scoop…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Why are Japan and China in a row over Taiwan? - We’ve been asking the same question, so we got answers. We break down China's claim over Taiwan, why Japan has weighed in, and how it might affect us here in Australia… Read here or listen here.

How will the social media ban work? - We’re just days away from the ban coming in on 10 December. So in Part 2 of our special series, we unpack how the policy will be enforced, how the tech giants will identify who is underage, and what the implications could be for kids looking for online alternatives…. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Troye Sivan will co-chair the stylish annual NGV Gala. Equally stylish is the 2025 Mulletfest Grand Final in Kurri Kurri...

Sunday - At 4am, we’ll learn the full schedule for the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup matches (here’s hoping the Socceroos don’t end up playing Brazil…) after the groups were announced this morning.

Monday - Carrying over from Sunday night, the final F1 Grand Prix gets underway in Abu Dhabi at midnight - you can watch that on Kayo. And the Reserve Bank board starts their 2-day meeting to review interest rates.

Tuesday - It’s another midnight start with the Golden Globe Awards nominations announcement. We’ll find out about interest rates at 2.30pm. And Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan will make a formal apology to First Peoples on behalf of the state in a special sitting of Victorian parliament.

Wednesday - The Albanese Government’s social media ban for under-16s comes into effect. It’s Human Rights Day. And Kiwi chef Ben Shewry will address the National Press Club in Canberra on leading a creative life.

Thursday - Westpac and Myer have their AGMs. And we’ll get the latest figures on employment from the ABS.

Friday - It’s the last day of school in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Oz. Olympic gold medallists Kaylee McKeown, Cam McEvoy and Mollie O’Callaghan will compete in the Australia v The World swimming meet - it’s a made-for-TV spectacle that will be on 9Now.

Summer is 2 sleeps away, catch you on the flip side... This weekend, if you’ve been scarred by a long-haul flight, caught in an awkward photobomb, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 21-28 November

1. Cyclones and storms across Australia - A week ago, Cyclone Fina became the biggest storm to hit Darwin in 50 years, damaging homes and leaving nearly 20,000 homes without power. Wild weather also lashed southern Queensland and parts of NSW this week. Stay up to date (and dry) with the BOM’s weather warnings.

2. Putting a bow on it - The last week of federal parliament was chockers. The big story was the Labor-Greens deal to pass the Environmental Protection Reform Bill. Another big one (but no surprise…) was Barnaby Joyce quitting the Nationals after 30 years, including stints as party leader. He says he’s “strongly considering” running for One Nation in the Senate next election. And breathe...

3. Aussies 1-0 up in the Ashes - It was a flash finish in Perth on Saturday, as the Aussies scored an 8-wicket win in 2 days. With a record attendance and day 3 almost sold out, the super quick Test resulted in millions in lost revenue. Bring on Thursday’s Test at the Gabba…

4. A new go at a Russia-Ukraine peace plan - Efforts gained momentum this week following a plan put together by the US and Russia officials was revised by the EU and Ukraine. Disagreements remain over territorial concessions, but a Trump-Zelensky meeting looms…

5. The search for Gus Lamont continues - On Wednesday, South Oz police concluded their renewed search for the missing 4yo, who disappeared from his family’s homestead near Yunta on 27 September. Covering 6 mine shifts, the search resumed on Tuesday as police sought to rule out another possible location, but no new evidence was found.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which Netflix series made its long-awaited return this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

This week on the Weekly Squiz Quiz, the team from SBS Podcast Grave Matters Anthony Levin and Nadine J Cohen go for quiz glory - and for a duo that spends a lot of time talking about death, they sure know how to have a laugh.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - listen here and/or watch on our YouTube channel.

Theatrics of the Week

From a power outage to a procession of ejected MPs, there was no shortage of theatrics in federal parliament’s last sitting week of the year. Snapping pics throughout the year, Matt Roberts captures all the ups and downs.

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A fix for an overstuffed suitcase

If you’re anything like us, packing for the holidays means a bulging suitcase... Brisbane brand Simplify Living has created vacuum travel bags that compress without any equipment - just roll the air out and watch your stack halve in size, meaning you can travel without the bulk. Once you see how much space you save, it changes how you think about packing... Find out more here.

In the Kitchen

Last Saturday, the pioneer of the slow food movement/Aussie chef Skye Gyngell died at 62yo from cancer. With a Michelin star under her belt, she shared simple home recipes in her book How I Cook - and it’s our favourite cook book. A go-to recipe for us is her chicken with rice and basil - scroll through the link the find it.

So many gems…

What we Shortcut for you this week

The rise of Nigel Farage - He’s the leader of the UK’s far-right party Reform UK, and polls show support has overtaken the major parties. At the same time, Keir Starmer’s Labour government is in deep trouble, so we dive into what’s behind the shift and what might come of it… Read here or listen here.

Part 1 of our social media ban short series: How did we get here? - Australia’s world-first legislation to ban social media for under-16s will be here in less than 2 weeks… So in the first of this special 3-part series, Squiz Kids’ Bryce Corbett helps unpack the lead-up to this moment. Read here or listen up here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - North Melbourne Kangaroos and Brisbane Lions go head to head in the AFLW Grand Final at 7.45pm at Ikon Park, live on Kayo.

Sunday - Melbourne's new metro tunnel will open, kicking off free public transport on weekends until February. And Pope Leo heads to Lebanon on his first trip overseas.

Monday - Summer is here ☀️ and it’s also Cyber Monday 💸. Plus, at 3am the Qatar Grand Prix begins as the second last F1 of the season - watch on Kayo. And go Oscar…

Tuesday - Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh will address the National Press Club on what’s happened since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide reported 12 months ago. And the world’s longest ever direct flight, at a whopping 29 hours (including a 2-hour fuel stopover in Auckland), launches between Buenos Aires and Shanghai.

Wednesday - Tasmania’s upper house will take a final vote on the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium. Communications Minister Anika Wells will address the National Press Club on the under-16s social media ban. And it’s time for an economic check-up - the ABS will release the National Accounts for the September quarter.

Thursday - Ashes Test 2 bats off at the Gabba with the first ball at 2pm local time - watch that on Channel 7. And Oprah Winfrey’s first Aussie tour in 10 years kicks off in Sydney - “you get a car, you get a car…”

Friday - Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Indian PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi for the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sticking to a theme of tours, Lady Gaga’s MAYHEM Ball Aussie tour leg starts in Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

As the holidays draw close, we’re getting ready to break free like this runaway robot - let’s just hope it has a happier ending... This weekend, if you have a grandma-approved cabbage concoction, a devotion to double denim, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 15-21 November

1. The Epstein files: pending release - With US President Donald Trump’s approval, a 30-day countdown has begun for the release of the Department of Justice’s files on the investigations into child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This has long been a headache for Trump, but pressure from his MAGA base made it hard to ignore.

2. Welcome to killing season - First-term MP Jess Wilson has become the first woman to lead the Victorian Liberals after Brad Battin lost party room support on Monday. Commentators say Wilson is economy-focused, which is important in the Libs’ effort to win back support before next year’s state election, given polls show cost of living is a key issue for voters.

3. No sand, no play, no school today - More than 100 schools were closed across Tasmania, the ACT and NZ on Monday and Tuesday (and other states issued removal instructions) as coloured play sand sold at Target and Kmart was recalled for asbestos contamination. So far, samples have come back negative, but if you have the products at home, advice says to glove/mask up, double wrap the sand/packaging and head to your closest asbestos disposal site.

4. If one leadership change wasn’t enough - Why not make it 3… To start with, the NSW Nats found a new leader in Gurmesh Singh after Dugald Saunders stepped down for family reasons on Monday. Then, after speculation over the state’s Liberal Party leadership, Mark Speakman resigned on Thursday, and Kellie Sloane was locked in on Friday. And breathe…

5. Turkey comes out on COP - As this year’s COP came to a (fiery) close in Brazil, Australia announced our 3-year campaign to host next year’s event was over, leaving Turkey with the win. But as part of the deal, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will lead the conference activities and there will be a pre-COP meeting in the Pacific. With estimated costs of up to $2 billion, some suggest the result might not be such a bad thing…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which band dominated the ARIA Awards this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

On our Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and video this week, comedian/satirist/Andrew’s new BFF, Mark Humphries joins us for all things news nerdiness.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - listen here and/or watch on our YouTube channel.

Munch of the Week

Animals doing weird animal stuff is a reliable place to go for a good laugh. This carousel of the Comedy Wildlife Awards brought us some lols.

Group gifts without the group chat chaos

Organising teacher gifts, office farewells, or team thank yous can turn into an administrative nightmare, only for someone to panic-buy at the last minute... But GroupTogether can do the heavy lifting for you by setting up a collection, everyone chips in online, and it all turns into a digital gift card for 100+ retailers. No awkward cash collections or tracking who hasn't paid. You can even schedule delivery and personalise the card - and the whole thing takes about 2 minutes start to finish. Head here for on GroupTogether.

In the Kitchen

To ring in Kimchi Day today, we’re making our own with this easy recipe, but if you’re feeling committed, give the traditional method a crack like this Korean Grandma. And to make a meal of it, this crispy kimchi fried rice is a big bowl of spicy goodness.

Just watch the chillis…

What we Shortcut for you this week

How the Coalition works - The Liberal and National parties’ relationship has been in the news a lot since the federal election. It’s the longest political partnership in our country’s history, so we dived into the Coalition’s history, how it works, and the challenges ahead… Read here or listen here.

Is the US going to war with Venezuela? - You might’ve seen some photos floating around of US Navy ships off the coast of Venezuela? They’ve been carrying out deadly strikes against what the US says are boats operated by drug cartels, so we unpack what on earth is going on and what could come next…. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The first African-hosted G20 Leaders Summit kicks off for a 2-day event in Johannesburg, South Africa. And Schoolies week begins on the Gold Coast - to the parents, we’re thinking of you… 

Sunday - Bosnia & Herzegovina’s autonomous Serb Republic will vote to replace pro-Russian Serb Nationalist president Milorad Dodik after his removal from office. The Wallabies continue their Northern Spring tour against France in Saint-Denis, ooh la la you can watch that at 7am on 9Now. And go Oscar Piastri in the Las Vegas Grand Prix - watch at 3pm on Kayo.

Monday - Federal Parliament is in session for the last sitting week of the year (and they have a fair bit to get through, so hold onto your hat…). The AFLW will celebrate its best and fairest at the 2025 W Awards night before next Saturday’s Grand Final. And it’s Fairy Bread Day - any excuse for some sprinkles…

Tuesday - It’s the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women - find help here. The ABS will release its plan for the 2026 Census. Star Entertainment will hold its Annual General Meeting at 10am. Oh, and it’s a month until Christmas - yikes…

Wednesday - Deputy leader of the Liberals Ted O’Brien will address the National Press Club in Canberra. And we’ll get monthly Consumer Price Index data from the ABS.

Thursday -  It’s Thanksgiving in the US and (you learn something new every day…) Norfolk Island. Pope Leo XIV kicks off his first international trip - first stop Turkey. The Walkley Awards will be held at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. And Adam Scott returns to the Australian PGA Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, watch that on 9Now.

Friday - At 7.30pm, the Matildas take on NZ’s Football Ferns in a friendly ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup - catch that on Paramount+.

May your escape from the week be as stealthy as a seal getting away from a pod of orcas… This weekend, if you were there for an epic moment in history, need reminding of an ‘80s earworm song that you now won’t be able to shake, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 8-14 November

1. The Coalition’s zero interest in net zero - Following the Nationals’ lead, the Liberals abandoned support for the target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. Leader Sussan Ley was hammered about what it would mean - if she won government - for Australia sticking with the Paris Agreement, but she says it’s about bringing Aussies’ power bills down. "If there are reasons why people in Paris or some United Nations organisation don't like it, I can deal with that," she said.

2. Getting back on track - There are a couple of things to clock there - the federal government shutdown ended after 47 days - the longest in the nation’s history… And 3 emails from a trove provided by Jeffrey Epstein's estate were released by Democrats on a congressional committee looking into his cross-over with US President Trump. The President denies any wrongdoing or knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

3. Vale John Laws - Lots of tributes this week for one of Australia’s best-known talkback radio hosts of recent times. He died at 90yo after a 71-year-long career - he only hung up the headphones last year… As he signed off each show - “now you be kind to each other”…

4. Adult time for adult crime - Victoria’s been in the spotlight this year for carjackings, violent robberies, and gangs of armed teenagers breaking into people’s homes.. It’s put pressure on the Allan Government to do something about it - cue some Queensland-flavoured reforms…

5. A blow-up at the Beeb - BBC boss Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned after an internal memo over a Panorama documentary that had misleadingly edited then-outgoing President Trump's 6 January speech from 2021 was leaked. The program made it look like Trump directly called for violence ahead of his supporters storming the Capitol. The broadcaster apologised for the "error in judgment", and Trump has threatened them with a billion-dollar lawsuit.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which legendary Aussie rock band kicked off the Australian leg of its world tour in Melbourne this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

On our Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and video this week, we’ve got our first dynamic duo in the hot seats - media legend Amanda Keller and forensic psychologist Anita McGregor, co-hosts of the podcast Double A Chattery.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - listen here and/or watch on our YouTube channel.

Anniversary of the Week

With Tuesday marking 50 years since the dismissal of the Whitlam Government, reflections poured in, ranging from those who were there on the day to the leaders who stood in his shoes decades on.

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Add this to the summer checklist

Sunscreen and hats are sorted, but kids' sunnies often fall off the radar. Experts reckon up to 80% of lifetime UV eye damage happens before 18yo, and you can't see or feel those UV rays doing their damage - including on cloudy days. Babiators have 100% UV protection and polarised lenses, plus frames that survive real life - being sat on, dropped, twisted, you name it. Worth a look if you're checking off the summer prep list...

In the Kitchen

Spinach and feta - a winning partnership. This recipe for an easy galette featuring that classic combo with a lemon and pine nut salsa - it’s a perfect way to put that bag of spinach lurking in the back of your fridge to good use…

Ready, set, galette…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Sudan’s brutal civil war - It’s a conflict that’s been raging for more than 2 years, with reports of genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. With a peace deal now on the table, there’s a lot to unpack in how we got here and what could come next. Read here or listen here.

Thriving Kids and the NDIS rest - The reforms proposed by Health Minister Mark Butler to rein in NDIS costs stand to affect thousands of Aussie families. They’ve also caught the states and territories, who’ll be funding it, off guard... We look at what’s changing and where things are up to. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - At 1pm, the Socceroos take on Venezuela in an International Friendly in Texas ahead of next year’s FIFA World Cup - you can watch that on Paramount+.

Sunday - The Wallabies continue their Northern Spring Tour, going up against Ireland at 7.10am in Dublin - watch on Stan Sport. Chile votes for its next president. And the Coalition parties are set to meet to settle their climate policy after weeks of infighting over net-zero.

Monday - Foreign Minister Penny Wong will speak at a dinner hosted by the Australian Institute of International Affairs in Canberra. And the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for the ACT will be announced at the National Gallery of Australia, also in Canberra.

Tuesday - The House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Economics will hold its annual public hearing at Parliament House to review Australia’s 4 major banks. And the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards for Tasmania will be announced.

Wednesday - The 2-day AFL Draft begins. ABC boss Hugh Marks will be at the National Press Club to outline his plan for the ABC. And at 5pm, the red carpet rolls out for the ARIA Awards in Sydney. Catch the show live on Paramount+.

Thursday - Tongans vote in the country’s election. And musical-lovers will be well and truly across this - Wicked: For Good (the sequel to last year’s film) is out in cinemas.

Friday - WiseTech Global are set to hold its AGM at 10am in Sydney - its been in the news over co-founder/executive chairman Richard White’s sexy times and professional conduct. And get ready to say goodbye to the cricket-lover in your life for days on end - it’s Ashes time… The first Test kicks off in Perth at 1.20pm, live on Channel 7.

We never thought we were mug cake people, but needs must… This weekend, if you’ve got a catastrophic negative review, a gloved gift, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Larissa Moore

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 31 October-7 November

1. Half Yours, total winner - Aboard the only Aussie-bred horse in the Melbourne Cup field, South Oz’s Jamie Melhan rode into the history books when she became the second female jockey to win the $10 million race on Tuesday. Over 2.3 million people tuned in to Channel 9 to watch, though an unlucky few mistakenly went to Seven…

2. A political (net)zero-sum game - The Nationals officially dropped their support for net zero emissions, and that’s put Liberal leader Sussan Ley in a tricky spot, with colleagues speculating that she’s losing support. Liberal pollies have been called back to Canberra on Wednesday to talk it out before a full Coalition meeting on Sunday.

3. A hail of a time - As a massive supercell thunderstorm wrought havoc across Southern Queensland last weekend, leaving thousands without power. Up to 8cm of hail was recorded in some parts, damaging homes, cars, and local wildlife. Soz but thunderstorms are expected for parts of NSW and Southern Queensland this weekend, so don’t put away the brolly yet…

4. London-bound train attack - Ten people were hospitalised after a stabbing attack on a train travelling from Doncaster to London last Saturday evening. Police have since arrested 32yo Anthony Williams, saying there’s “nothing to suggest” it was an act of terrorism.

5. Holding steady - After last week’s shock bump in inflation, it was a surprise to no one when the Reserve Bank held interest rates at 3.6%. It also predicted that inflation will be out and about next year, so maybe don’t expect a cut anytime soon…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who won New York City's mayoral election this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

Our Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and video, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams, got fellow podcaster/co-host of Sportish Georgie Trickett in the studio to take on Larissa Moore in the 8-question challenge. If you can beat their scores, we’re all ears (and you can listen with yours here).

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - hit follow on News Club so you don't miss a drop, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Shot of the Week

Getting the call that a humpback whale has been beached at your local swimming spot might not sound like the source of inspiration to capture the beauty of marine life and the people dedicated to their protection, but for Craig Parry, it was. This image won him the Human Connection prize at the 2025 Ocean Photographer of the Year awards.

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For the person who's done with doom-scrolling

Some of the best gifts teach you something new and get you off your phone. Cardigang's DIY kits have everything you need to make jumpers and scarves (yes, even if you've never touched yarn before). Forget panic-buying another candle and consider the gift of a new hobby. It’s the ultimate anti-doom-scrolling device that comes with bragging rights. Take a peek at Cardigang's feel-good kits.

In the Kitchen

All you need is 75g of Nutella, one egg, ¼ teaspoon of baking powder, a mug, mix it together and 1 minute in the microwave for this Nutella pudding cake (paywall, but we’ve just given you the recipe and instructions…). Note: it’s a dangerous one because anytime you have a hankering for an after-dinner chocolatey treat, this is so easy to whip up... We put it to the test on this week’s Weekly Wrap (listen/watch on our News Club channel) and you can see for yourself just how much joy it brings…

Dessert is 60 seconds away…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Why Andrew is an ex-prince - Last Friday, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor had his remaining titles removed by his bro, King Charles. We look at what led up to the King’s decision and what the fallout could be... Read here or listen here.

Ask the Squiz - Andrew and Claire are back to answer Squizers’ questions from October - they cover the new incentives for bulk billing, why there’ve been bulldozers at the White House, and netball’s push to make it into the Brisbane Olympics…. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The 5th and final T20I between Australia and India bats off at 6.15pm at the Gabba in Brisbane, watch on Kayo. And it’s ho ho ho in Adelaide as the city’s Christmas pageant gets underway as the largest public parade in the Southern Hemisphere 🎅

Sunday - It’s a sporty kinda day - the Wallabies take on Italy on their home turf - live on Stan Sport at 4.40am. In rugby league, the Jillaroos play the Kiwi Ferns in the Pacific Cup women’s final at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, watch on 9Now at 1.35pm. And in cricket, the Women’s Big Bash kicks off at 1.40pm with Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Renegades in Melbourne, watch on 7+.

Monday - COP30 kicks off in Belem, Brazil, marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement. Also in Brazil, the Sao Paolo Grand Prix gets underway at 4am our time, watch on Kayo. And over in Washington, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s meeting with US President Donald Trump will be a first for the war-torn nation.

Tuesday - It’s Remembrance Day - that comes with a minute’s silence at 11am. At 11.30am, Global Spokesperson of UNICEF Australia James Elder will address the National Press Club on his insights from his 6th deployment to Gaza. And the 2025 Booker Prize will be announced at 8.30am our time - guest judge Sarah Jessica Parker called the shortlisting process “real agony”…

Wednesday - Calling all bagpipers (you never know…) - the Great Melbourne Bagpipe Bash at Fed Square will attempt to smash the world record for the largest ever bagpipe ensemble. And Japanese Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Kazuhiro Suzuki, will speak about 50 years of Japan-Australia relations at the National Press Club.

Thursday - Superannuation giant Cbus is being sued by corporate regulator ASIC for failing to process over 10,000 death and disability claims in a timely manner - that lands in the Federal Court today.

Friday - The Beach Volleyball World Championships get underway in Adelaide and will run over the next week. And it's Australia v Portugal in the Billie Jean King Cup Play-off in Hobart in the lead-up to 2026’s qualifying matches.

Oh hello there November... This weekend, if you’ve gone on an incredible adventure, down a rogue rabbit hole, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 24-31 October

1. Summit season takes over Asia - Things kicked off on Monday with the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, where US President Donald Trump talked tariffs and truces before jetting off to Japan to meet with newly installed PM Sanae Takaichi. The main event came on Thursday with Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 6 years at the APEC Summit in South Korea where some progress on trade was made. Trump said it was a 12 out of 10 kinda meeting...

2. The ‘storm of the century’ hits the Caribbean - With winds of up to 295km/hr, category 5 Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on Tuesday before tearing through Haiti, Cuba, Bermuda and the Bahamas. As it stands, 44 people have been killed, with aid and rescue efforts trickling in as the storm subsides. But with early estimates of the damage sitting at US$80 billion, there will be a long road to recovery…

3. Strikes to Gaza’s fragile ceasefire - At least 104 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza City after Israel launched “powerful strikes” in response to what it said were Hamas violations of the 3-week-old ceasefire. That ceasefire is not under threat, according to President Trump, but experts worry that a lasting peace will be very difficult to wrangle.

4. Ooh la Louvre - Ten days on from the stunt that put Ocean’s 11 to shame, French police have arrested 5 more people in connection with the heist at the Louvre museum in Paris. They join 2 other suspects who are facing up to 25 years in prison on charges of organised theft and criminal conspiracy. Of the $156.6 million worth of stolen treasures, police say there’s still no trace, despite this dapper gent being on the case… 

5. A woman is arrested - We didn’t cover this one, but it was a big story in NSW. On Tuesday, 42yo Vanessa Moulton was arrested over allegedly cutting the gas supply and water mains at 2 Sydney hospitals. Police have connected the incident to the death of a 72yo man, and a full investigation is underway.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know the nickname of New Zealand’s netball team? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

We’ve got an extra serving of quiz goodness for you in our Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and YouTube vid, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams. This week, Claire Kimball was the only one brave enough goes up against Aussie quizing legend David Poltarak, aka The Professor on The Chase Australia.

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday. Listen in here, or head to our YouTube channel.

Tribute of the Week

With nearly 70 years of acting under her belt, on Monday, Fawlty Towers actor Prunella Scales died at 93yo. Her on-screen husband John Cleese (aka Basil) recalled that “scene after scene she was perfect”. From Sybil Fawlty to Elizabeth II, she’s been remembered as a pillar of British comedy, as this montage demonstrates.

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Keeping little ones cool this summer

Those with little ones (or shopping for them) know the drill - summer heat plus kids equals constant outfit changes and cranky wake-ups. Love to Dream's new bamboo range tackles both. The fabric is clever - the bamboo in it helps with sweaty backs for a better sleep all round. And the range covers everything from bodysuits to PJs, built to survive your washing machine's heavy rotation. They’re worth bookmarking for baby shower gifts too... Check the collection out here.

In the Kitchen

Yeeros, jai-rohs, however you pronounce them, gyros = happiness. This week we were all smiles thanks to this chicken gyros recipe by the hit Melbourne Gyros bar, Kalimera Souvlaki Art, sourced by our trust friend Nagi. Pro tip - don’t skip the foil…

Always worth the mess…

What we Shortcut for you this week

What’s gold got to do with it? - As we’ve mentioned, there are still a bunch of unanswered questions over the Louvre heist, so we look at why the thieves went for the French Crown Jewels instead of the masterpieces like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, and what’s driving a rise in these types of crimes. Read here or listen here.

The fight over our environmental laws - The Albanese Government is pushing for some big changes, but it’s not been without backlash from the Coalition and the Greens. We unpack what the experts say is wrong with the current laws, what the new ones will look like, and why they’re so tricky to fix…. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Welcome to Movember - stand by to see questionably fashionable facial hair grow over the month, all to raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health. And Derby Day marks the start of Cup Week at Flemington Racecourse - giddy-up from 12.20pm.

Sunday - At 1.30am, Australia’s Kangaroos take on England in the second test of the men’s Rugby League Ashes series in Liverpool, UK - watch on 9Now. The Noosa Triathlon is on this weekend, with the elite races kicking off at 6.15am. And the Women’s Cricket ODI World Cup comes to a head with South Africa v India in the final match at 8.30pm, watch free on Prime Video.

Monday - Federal Parliament is back until Thursday. And it’s a big day of awards, as the PM’s Prizes for Science and the Northern Territory’s 2026 Australian of the Year Award will both be announced. 

Tuesday - At 2.30pm, it’s interest rate decision time… Flemington Racecourse will be back in fashion for Melbourne Cup Day, with the feature race at 3pm. And voting for the NYC mayoral election opens at 9pm our time - it’s been a big one in US politics this year, so it’ll be one to watch… 

Wednesday - ASIC Chair Joe Longo will be at the National Press Club in Canberra to speak about the future of Australia’s financial markets. And get in before it’s shredded - a new exhibition from contemporary artist Banksy opens at Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall.

Thursday - The Belém Climate Summit kicks off in the Amazonian city ahead of the upcoming Brazilian COP30 Summit. And Seven West Media has its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Friday - Qantas and Nine keep AGM season rolling... And if you’re planning on having a late one, the nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards will be livestreamed overnight if you fancy tuning in... 🎶

Next Friday is Halloween, which means only 7 sleeps until we start hearing Christmas music. Consider yourself warned… This weekend, if you’re feeling crafty, in the market for a cheesy vessel for veggies, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Larissa Moore and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 18-24 October

1. It’s a nice day for a White House meeting - He came, he saw, he came away with a lot of what he wanted… PM Anthony Albanese’s ‘highly anticipated’ meeting with US President Donald Trump went (largely) to plan. Encouraging noises on AUKUS - tick. A rare earth minerals agreement - tick. A warm reception for Team Australia - tick, except for former PM/current Ambassador Kevin Rudd, who got the tick off…

2. Down and out - Amazon Web Services has an important role in the digital world because it hosts heaps of businesses’ on-demand cloud computing platforms. Think of it this way - instead of a business buying and managing physical servers etc, they can rent virtual versions from Amazon over the internet. So when AWS went down early this week, creating one of the largest internet outages on record, you’d better believe it made news…

3. Ukraine talks grind to a halt - A planned summit in Budapest between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was indefinitely postponed after preparatory talks between officials failed this week. Russia refuses to agree to an immediate ceasefire or abandon its demands for territorial concessions in the Donbas region, so that’s that - for now…

4. Shaking up the peace deal - On Wednesday, the Israeli parliament passed a preliminary, non-binding vote in favour of 2 bills on annexing parts of the occupied West Bank. There’s a long way to go before it means anything in practical terms, and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's office called it a "deliberate political provocation by the opposition" to create friction. Long story short, analysts say it’s about far-right politicians in Israel destabilising the Gaza ceasefire deal.

5. Joyce makes a choice - And former Nationals’ leader Barnaby Joyce’s choice is to vacate his NSW seat of New England at the next election. What that means for his next steps is unclear, but it’s been floated that he could join One Nation and run for a Senate seat. For his part, Joyce says his future could be in morning TV…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which famous art museum was targeted by jewel thieves this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

We’ve got a new/extra serving of quiz goodness for you in our Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and video, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams. This week, it’s mat against mate with Larissa Moore and Nicoletta Hay taking on the 8-question challenge. If you can beat their scores, we’re all ears (and you can listen with yours here).

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - hit follow on News Club so you don't miss a drop, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Shot of the Week

Firecrackers, sparklers and candles were just some of the ways that millions around the world lit up their homes to celebrate the Festival of Light, aka Diwali. The 5 days are observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, marking the triumph of good over evil, and while it sees a huge celebration in India, it’s also found a place here in Australia. Enjoy this carousel for some of that sparkle…

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Your holiday shop just got 10x better

Skincare, perfume, gifts, whatever - Lotte Duty Free has 10x Qantas Points on online orders right now. Which means that the holiday shopping you were lining up is now working a lot harder for your next getaway. You can order from home or swing by any Lotte Duty Free location for the same duty-free prices - either way, the points stack up fast. Find out more here.

In the Kitchen

Eggplant is back in season, and we like ours served with a tomato-based sauce and all of the cheese. Eggplant parmigiana ticks those boxes, and this recipe is certified Italian-approved. Nonna would be proud…

Still counts as veggies…

What we Shortcut for you this week

What is the new R360 rugby comp? - The name has come up a lot in rugby union and rugby league circles lately, and it’s causing quite the stir. With multi-million dollar offers to lure star players to a new venture, we give you the rundown on what the comp involves and how it’s shaking up the rugby world. Read here or listen here.

The Oz-US minerals deal - As we’ve already mentioned, this was the headline item that came out of PM Anthony Albanese’s first face-to-face meeting with US President Donald Trump, and it's a deal that's worth billions. We take a look at what’s in the deal, how it’ll work, and what it means for our relationship with the US and China. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Celebrations will be held across Alice Springs for the 40th anniversary of the handback of Uluṟu to the Aṉangu people. In cricket land, at 2.30pm it's the third and final match in the men’s ODI series between Australia and India on 7+. And at 8.30pm, Australia plays South Africa in the women’s ODI World Cup on Prime Video. 

Sunday - Soccer fans rejoice - Sam Kerr returns to the field for the Matildas’ friendly against Wales in Cardiff at 12am our time, watch on Paramount+. And gert ready for another week of geopolitics - PM Albanese and President Trump will be in Malaysia for the 47th ASEAN Summit.

Monday - Both the Senate and House of Representatives are sitting until Thursday. Oscar Piastri is back in the driver’s seat for the Mexican Grand Prix, with the race at 7am our time, you can watch on Kayo. And Year 12 exams begin for students in Queensland.

Tuesday - …and exams start in Victoria - good luck to them (and their parents…). Tanzania heads to the polls for presidential and legislative elections amidst fears of voter suppression. And former Reserve Bank Governor Bernie Fraser will deliver the inaugural Bernie Fraser Oration, hosted by the Australia Institute.

Wednesday - Bright and early at 6am, the Matildas play England in a second friendly match in Derby, UK. WACE Year 12 exams begin over west. We’ll get data from the ABS on the Consumer Price Index. And the first female commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Krissy Barrett will speak at the National Press Club in Canberra.

Thursday - On with a couple of notable AGMs - Woolies has its annual shareholder meeting in Melbourne, while Wesfarmers’ gets underway in Perth. And for musical fans, it’s International Wicked Day.

Friday - Happy Halloween 🎃.. The APEC Leaders’ Meeting gets underway in Gyeongju, South Korea, with US President Donald Trump set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to talk trade. And the Aussie leg of Oasis’ reunion tour begins in Melbourne. Rock on…

If you’ve crossed off a major achievement this week - like rowing from Peru to Cairns or sorting out a major family problem - we salute you… And this weekend, if you have a favourite 80s track, a kooky case of déjà vu or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 11-17 October

1. Celebrations as the ceasefire kicks in - “The war is over”, according to US President Donald Trump. The return of the 20 surviving Israeli hostages for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners went down on Monday, but the situation remains shaky because Hamas has not returned the bodies of 19 dead hostages taken on 7 October 2023.

2. Reheating the beef - Between China and the US, that is… Things kicked off last Saturday when Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods in response to China’s recent tightening of its export controls. This is about the battle for critical minerals (Squiz Shortcut here…), and it’s either an opportunity for Australia or we’re caught yet again between our major strategic ally and our biggest trade partner, depending on your view…

3. A renewed search for Gus - On Wednesday, local South Australian police and Australian Defence Force personnel launched Taskforce Horizon as part of their expanded search for the 4yo who disappeared from his family’s remote station near Yunta on September 27. It’s said to be one of the biggest search efforts in Australian history, and as it wrapped up yesterday, there’s no news yet…

4. Bathurst 1000 puts on a (slippery) show - We didn’t cover this one, but it was quite something for endurance car racing fans on Sunday. Kiwi Matthew Payne claimed his first Bathurst victory, but the race wasn’t without controversy as a collision with William Golding knocked rookie Cooper Murray off his 18-lap lead.

5. Qantas data goes dark - On Monday, the airline revealed that the data of 5.7 million customers, which was stolen during the June cyber attack on its third-party customer platform Salesforce, had been released onto the dark web. Salesforce defended its security practices, and Qantas now faces scrutiny over how it protects customers’ information. Here’s what you can do if you think you might be affected.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know what big change Google recently rolled out in Australia? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

For an extra serving of quiz goodness, try our new Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and YouTube vid, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams. This week, our very first guest, Cyber CX Chief Strategy Officer Alastair MacGibbon, was up against OG Squizer Claire Kimball in an 8-question challenge - if you can beat their scores, we’re all ears (and you can listen with yours here).

The Weekly Squiz Quiz is out each Wednesday - hit follow on News Club so you don't miss the podcast as it's released, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Shot of the Week

It took South African photographer Wim van den Heever 10 years to snap this shot of a hyena in the ghost town of Kolmanskop, Namibia. And according to him, it’s all worth it because on Thursday, he was crowned as the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year - or as Wim described it, “the Oscars of the wildlife photography world”. Catch the rest of the winners in this gallery from the BBC.

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Your holiday shop just got 10x better

Skincare, perfume, gifts, whatever - Lotte Duty Free has 10x Qantas Points on online orders right now. Which means that the holiday shopping you were lining up is now working a lot harder for your next getaway. You can order from home or swing by any Lotte Duty Free location for the same duty-free prices - either way, the points stack up fast. Find out more here.

In the Kitchen

With some record hot weather hitting Sydney and Brissie, this teriyaki beef salad has been on high rotation in our colleague Emma’s household. Low effort, big flavour, and a great way to get that protein in. Yum…

Nutritious and delicious…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Why French politics is in chaos - You might’ve seen that France has had a major case of déjà vu all over again, with trouble keeping a PM in office. The country’s facing massive national debt and a budget deficit, and this latest mess has added to the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to resign - oh la la… Read here or listen here.

The super tax backtrack - On Monday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced a new approach to the changes proposed by the Albanese Government for taxing superannuation in response to waves of criticism. So we thought it’d be useful to go through those revisions and what it might mean for your retirement nest egg. Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Coolangatta Gold gets underway at 11.30am on the Gold Coast, this year as part of the 2025/26 Iron Series. Day 1 of Radio National’s 2-day Top 100 Books Countdown kicks off at 1pm. And The Everest - the world’s richest race on turf with a $20 million first prize - is on at 4.15pm at Randwick.

Sunday - The Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix race is on at 2pm at Phillip Island, watch on Network 10. Australia’s men’s cricket team play the first of 3 ODIs against India - this one’s at Optus Stadium in Perth from 2.30pm, watch on Kayo. And wash that down on International Gin and Tonic Day…

Monday - 6am our time, the US Grand Prix race is on in Austin, Texas, with Oscar Piastri leading the pack - watch on Kayo. Northern Territory coroner Elisabeth Armitage will revisit an inquest over the death of respected Aboriginal leader Kumarnjayi Rubuntja. And it’s Diwali, the Festival of Lights 🌟

Tuesday - It’s a biggie… Early morning our time, PM Anthony Albanese will attend a long-awaited meeting with US President Trump in Washington. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to begin his 5-year prison sentence. The posthumous memoir of Virginia Giuffre will be released. And it’s International Day of the Nacho - that’s dinner sorted…

Wednesday - At 11.30am, the inventor of the world’s first working artificial heart, Biomedical engineer Dr Daniel Timms, will address the National Press Club in Canberra. At 7.30pm, the Diamonds take on Kiwiland’s Silver Ferns in the second game of the Constellation Cup in Sydney, watch on Kayo. And Australia play England at 8.30pm in the women’s ODI Cricket World Cup - watch free on Prime Video.

Thursday - A stack of big companies have their annual general meetings today, including BHP, the ASX and Super Retail Group. It’s the first-ever AusArt Day. And get your popcorn ready, Season 2 of Nobody Wants This with Kristen Bell and Adam Brody is out on Netflix.

Friday - The Daily Telegraph’s Future Sydney: Bradfield Oration 2025 has Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock delivering the keynote address. And it’s the 80th anniversary of the United Nations.

How good are 4-day weeks… This weekend, if you have a local library legend, a brilliant bargain or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Jodie Speers

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 3-10 October

1. A historic chance at peace - After a tense week/2 years of waiting, on Thursday, Israel and Hamas agreed on the first phase of US President Donald Trump's proposed plan to end the war in Gaza. There are 48 hostages taken from Israel and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners set to be released early next week - after that, there are a lot of moving parts for how the next phases will unfold. But it’s a start…

2. The Broncos bring it home - They took home the trophies in both the NRLW grand final with the Sydney Roosters and in the NRL against Melbourne Storm. It’s a double triumph for Brisbane, and also one for rugby league - it’s topped the AFL to pull the largest grand final audience in a decade. And with the State of Origin and the AFL premiership under their belt, it’s been a great year for BrisVegas. 

3. Taylor puts on a big, big show - Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about Taylor Swift’s new album The Life of a Showgirl, which dropped last Friday. While it’s garnered mixed reviews, one thing is for sure: it’s a success. With nearly half a billion streams in the US alone, she’s broken Adele’s decade-long record for first-week numbers. That’s showbiz…

4. A terror attack at a Manchester Synagogue - This happened last Friday our time, on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, when Jihad Al-Shamie attempted to storm the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation with a knife before he was shot dead by police. The fallout continued this week with pressure mounting on UK PM Keir Starmer as tensions intensified in the lead-up to pro-Palestinian protests on the 7 October anniversary this week.

5. Hanging on the telephone with Optus - With the House of Reps sitting and Estimates hearings where senators could grill the communications regulator and department, more details came to light about the triple-0 outage that left 600 emergency calls unanswered a couple of weeks ago. Communications Minister Anika Wells was in the spotlight as the government introduced new legislation for a custodian to oversee the system - that’s seen as important as we come bushfire season.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which ice cream flavour was the subject of a Choice report this week? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this…

We’ve got a new/extra serving of quiz goodness for you in our new Weekly Squiz Quiz podcast and video, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams. This week, Team Squiz OG Larissa Moore and Nicoletta Hay are taking on the 8-question challenge - if you can beat their scores, we’re all ears (and you can listen with yours here).

The Weekly Squiz Quiz will be out each Wednesday - hit follow on News Club so you don't miss the podcast as it's released, or subscribe to our YouTube channel. There'll be some celebrity guest star appearances in the coming weeks, so stay tuned...

Tribute of the Week

There’s nothing like a massive moon to bring people together to stop and look up. Monday’s Harvest Moon was the first in what’s going to be a season of supermoons, so what better way to welcome that than with this gallery that showcases the big cheese in all its glory.

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Bulk gift cards without the admin headache

If wrangling gift cards for team birthdays or customer thank-yous falls to you, GroupTogether just launched bulk eGift cards. Upload a spreadsheet with the names and amounts, and send up to 1,000 digital gift cards in one go. Recipients get an AnyCard with access to 100+ big-name retailers. Check out GroupTogether's bulk eGift cards solution because, let’s be honest, it’s probably easier than your current process...

In the Kitchen

Fish-in-a-can is having a bit of a moment on socials, so to jump on the trend/clear out the pantry, we tried this tasty recipe for sardines on toast (yep, a recipe for toast…) with chermoula and pickled sumac onions. We might just be converted…

Don’t forget the breath-freshener…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Unpacking the peace plan for Gaza - This Tuesday marked 2 years since the terror group Hamas launched the 7 October attacks on Israel, triggering the war in Gaza that has taken a devastating toll on both Israelis and Palestinians. We look at what’s in the Trump-proposed peace plan and what could be next…. Read here or listen here.

The rare flooding of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre - You might’ve seen it around in the news a bit this week, and that’s because the largest salt lake in the country - which has only reached capacity 3 times in the past 160 years - is full of water and bursting with life. We look at what’s caused this temporary oasis and how climate change might impact its future… Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Sveriges Riksbank Prize for Economic Sciences will be announced at 7.45pm our time at The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden. And if there’s a polar opposite to that, this is it… Wrestling superstars John Cena and Aussie Rhea Ripper will take to the ring at the WWE Crown Jewel event in Perth, live on Netflix from 9.30pm. And the Narromine Dolly Parton Festival gets underway with costume contests galore.

Sunday - From 10.45am, marches for Palestine are planned nationwide. In netball, the third and final match between Australia and South Africa kicks off in Adelaide, free on Kayo Freebies. And Australia play India in the Women's ODI Cricket World Cup at 8.30pm, watch free on Prime Video. 

Monday - Late Monday night, annual meetings for the World Bank and IMF begin in Washington DC. Ebony Bell will be sentenced for an assault on Senator Lidia Thorpe at last year’s AFL Dreamtime game. And SXSW, the festival of creativity and innovation, is back in Sydney. 

Tuesday - The final round of voting for The Guardian’s Australian Bird of the Year starts at midnight and is open til 6am Wednesday. And AGM season begins with Telstra’s meeting at 9.30am in Melbourne…

Wednesday - …and it continues with Origin and CommBank’s AGMs in Brisbane and Sydney, respectively. Sanae Takaich is set to be confirmed as Japan’s first female leader when its parliament meets today. The ABS will release its 2024 report on births in Australia.

Thursday - Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke will be at the National Press Club to outline Labor’s approach to the key portfolio. Australia’s women’s cricket team take on Bangladesh at 8.30pm. And the Bird of the Year will be announced - justice for the tawny frogmouth…

Friday - Jonathan Rinderknecht, the man accused of lighting the devastating Pacific Palisades fire in California at the start of this year, will appear in an Orlando court after his arrest this week. And the A-League season kicks off with Adelaide United v Sydney FC at 7pm in Adelaide, watch on Paramount+.

The best thing we can do with this real estate is put the links to stream Taylor Swift’s new album in case you don’t have it. Here it is on Spotify, and on Apple. You’re welcome… This weekend, if you have a soft spot for smelly cheese, a long weekend non-negotiable, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the Weekly Wrap with Claire Kimball and Larissa Moore

This week’s top 5 news stories

The week’s most mentioned news stories in Australia across TV, radio and print, according to media analytics firm Streem…

Leading News Stories via Streem - 26 September - 3 October

1. Footy finals fever - Last weekend, it was all AFL. The Brisbane Lions took home a back-to-back premiership against the Geelong Cats, but it was a triumph for ratings too, with over 4 million people tuning in. This weekend, it’s the NRL’s turn, as the Brisbane Broncos take on the Sydney Roosters for the women’s premiership and then the Melbourne Storm in the men’s. As Sydneysiders, we’re contractually obligated to say ‘go the chooks’…

2. A Gaza peace deal is proposed - and partially agreed… - On Monday, US President Donald Trump unveiled his 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza with support from Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. And as Trump’s deadline loomed for Hamas to accept the deal or face Israel “finishing the job”, they’ve agreed to "release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump's proposal, provided the field conditions for the exchange are met".

3. James Comey is indicted - He was the FBI Director at the start of the first Trump administration and was sacked for investigating whether Russia was involved in his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump’s now going after him via the Justice Department, and that gasp you could hear when the story broke a week ago was lawmakers who say it’s a “dangerous abuse of power”…

4. The National Guard is sent into Portland - This story has been bubbling away for a while, but it picked up pace on Thursday when President Trump deployed 200 troops to what he’s described as a “war-ravaged” city. It’s part of his response to protests sparked by ICE’s crackdown on immigration, as well as his broader plans to restore law and order to “crime-ridden cities”, though it hasn’t been a popular move with some…

5. The search is scaled back for missing 4yo - Nearly a week after disappearing from his family’s home in remote South Oz, police say they’re in the recovery phase for Gus Lamont after finding no significant evidence pointing to where he might’ve gone. With the release of his photo to the public yesterday, they’re asking for any information while preparing for the worst…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which 2 countries are hosting the Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup this month? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

And if you aced that, try this on for size…

We’ve got a new/extra serving of quiz goodness for you in our new Weekly Squiz Quiz, hosted by the quizalicious Andrew Williams. This week, Squiz OGs Claire Kimball and Larissa Moore are taking on the 8-question challenge - if you can beat their scores, we’re all ears (and you can listen with yours here).

The Weekly Squiz Quiz will be out each Wednesday - hit follow on News Club so you don't miss the podcast as it's released, or subscribe to our YouTube channel. There'll be some celebrity guest star appearances in the coming weeks, so stay tuned...

Tribute of the Week

After a lifetime of groundbreaking work, renowned chimpanzee researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall has died at 91yo. Beginning with her first research trip to Gombe, Tanzania, in 1960, Goodall is credited with showing the world chimpanzees’ ability to use tools and show complex emotions. This tribute is a poignant reflection on her commitment and compassion that underscored her work. 

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Travel smarter, not harder

If you're the kind of person who overpacks and stresses about airport security, new Aussie brand VOYG might be onto something… Their compression packing cubes will maximise space, while their Everyday Anti-Theft crossbody bag will stop anyone from wirelessly scanning your cards. It's designed for people who want gear that works and looks good. Pop over to check them out.

In the Kitchen

A long weekend calls for a good baking project to get stuck into, so we’ve dug up this recipe for cardamom buns to keep us busy for a couple of hours. They’re a bit of a labour of love, but you’ll be thanking us when your kitchen smells like heaven…

Buns for days…

What we Shortcut for you this week

Why Tylenol’s in the headlines - Last week, US President Donald Trump and his Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr issued some health advice to pregnant women to avoid paracetamol due to its supposed connection to autism. With medical experts rushing to clarify the science, we look at the agenda to ‘Make America Healthy Again’, and what it means for the rest of the world. Read here or listen here.

Ask the Squiz - Squizers have some great questions that we don’t always get the chance to tackle in a full Shortcut, so we’re back with another episode to cover your queries on how GDP works, the IVF industry, and what Trump means when he talks about the “radical left”… Read that here or listen up.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s another big weekend of sport - Australia play Sri Lanka in the Women's ODI Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka at 7.30pm - watch on Prime Video. In netball, at 7.30pm the Diamonds take on South Africa’s Proteas at Bendigo Arena ahead of the Constellation Cup, stream on Kayo Freebies. And the Wallabies take on the All Blacks in the second match of the Bledisloe Cup at Optus Stadium in Perth at 7.45pm local time - watch on Channel 9 or Stan Sport. And breathe…

Sunday - At 2am, clocks leap forward to 3am as daylight saving starts in the ACT, NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. At 3.55pm, the NRLW Grand Final kicks off, followed by the NRL premiership game at 7.30pm - both on Channel 9. And go Oscar in the Singapore F1 race at 11.00pm, watch that on Kayo.

Monday - It’s a public holiday in the ACT, NSW, South Australia, and Queensland (and that means a sleep-in for Team Squiz… We’ll be back in your iinbox/ears on Tuesday). School goes back in Victoria and the NT for the start of Term 4. And the AFL trade period begins.

Tuesday - It’s the 2nd anniversary of the 7 October Hamas terror attacks on Israel. And it’s the start of a sitting week for the House of Reps in Canberra - cue leadership tensions for the Coalition with Andrew Hastie resigning from Sussan Ley’s frontbench late yesterday...

Wednesday - News Corp’s Aussie boss Michael Miller will be at the Melbourne Press Club to talk about the impact of big tech on journalism. And the cricket rolls on, as the Australian women play Pakistan at 8.30pm.

Thursday - Closing statements will be delivered in the coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing attack from April 2024. And for lovers of blue cheese, it’s National Mouldy Cheese day - have at it 🧀 …

Friday - And the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in the early evening, our time. Daniel Day-Lewis also returns to the big screen in his new film Anenome, directed by his son Ronan.