10 October 2026 - Saturday Squiz

Final exams for Year 12s are kicking off over the next month, and we’re so grateful that we never have to do those again… This weekend, if you’re feeling like a sleepy badger, re-watching your favourite music videos, or have anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the News Club with Claire Kimball and Anna Pykett

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.

1. Crunching the numbers - The Coalition shared its migration policy on Tuesday, which includes 2 years of bringing down net overseas migration to 100,000. For context, right now it’s about 300,000, and the Albanese Government wants to get it down to 225,000 long-term. Under the Coalition’s plan, bridging visas, student visas, and the humanitarian intake would all be cut, but say skilled migrant visas are still on offer. Some experts say that approach could cause issues down the line…

2. And that’s cock-a-doodle-doo to you - The Sydney Roosters took home both the NRLW and NRL Grand Finals last weekend. The women’s team dominated against the Brisbane Broncos. And the men’s game against the Newcastle Knights was closer; the Roosters won the premiership by one point. If you missed them, you can watch the highlights here.

3. Sam Wood is behind bars - Fitness influencer and former Bachelor was arrested for domestic violence assault and strangulation charges in Noosa last Saturday following an argument with his wife, Snezana. He’s been denied bail and will be in custody until his next court hearing on 23 November. The company he founded and sold in 2022 for $71 million has cut ties with him, and police say the case against him is “relatively strong”. (Links to support services are here).

4. Post-Pre-COP - PM Anthony Albanese was in the Pacific this week hosting a Pre-COP31 leaders event. To rewind a sec, Australia and Türkiye had been in a tussle over who would host the main COP meeting in November and eventually struck a deal with Türkiye as host and Climate Minister Chris Bowen leading negotiations - and we’d hold this event in the Pacific first. But some say it fell short, with only 2 non-Pacific leaders appearing.

5. A fossil fuel shakeup? - In a first-of-its-kind case, the High Court of Australia has sided with a community group to block the expansion of a coal mine in NSW’s Hunter Valley. The court ruled that emissions from exported coal that was burned overseas still had to be considered in the approval process for NSW coal mines, and while this was only for one state, some reckon it could change the game for mining projects across Oz.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know who the Wallabies are playing this weekend? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

The finalists for the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Award were revealed this week, and we reckon this little badger might be all of us heading into the weekend… You can check out more of the cutie-cute finalists here.

Time to get organised

If you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, or Canberra, consider this your reminder to start clearing out your wardrobe because next Saturday, 17 October is the Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive. At no cost to you, you can order a pick-up through the Uber or Uber Eats app and your donation will be collected from your doorstep and delivered directly to an Uber x Australian Red Cross clothing drive donation site. A wardrobe tidy-up and donating to a good cause, all in one. More details here.

In the Kitchen

For the sunny spring days ahead, this asparagus and snap pea salad with pesto, mozzarella and prosciutto is a perfect dinner or lunch. The recipe makes more pesto than you need, so it’s basically meal prepping… And with asparagus coming in around $1.50 a bunch, it’s a good time to embrace the funky-smelling pee producer.

What we Shortcut for you this week

What is El Niño? - You might’ve seen headlines about a super El Niño developing over the past few months. Scientists say it’s going to be a record-breaker in terms of high ocean temperatures in the Pacific, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at what it is, and what we can expect here in Australia. Have a read here or listen up.

Israel’s high-stakes election - Australia and countries around the world have just marked 3 years since the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October in Israel, which comes just weeks before Israel holds its next national election. It’s been described as one of the most consequential votes in its history. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across it works, how the Hamas attacks are shaping the upcoming vote and who the key contenders are. Read it here or listen to the pod.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - At 5.30am, the Matildas are playing Germany in Karlsruhe in a friendly before next year's FIFA Women's World Cup - you can watch that on Paramount+. And the rugby union Bledisloe Cup kicks off in Auckland at 5.10pm between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. That’s on 9Now.

Sunday - The Formula One Singapore Grand Prix is on at 11pm on Kayo. And it’s the International Day of the Girl.

Monday - The Senate and House are sitting until 19 October. And the IMF and World Bank annual meetings kick off in Bangkok until 18 October.

Tuesday - HSC written exams begin in NSW - good luck to all the Year 12 students…

Wednesday - At 6am, the Matildas play Haiti in Chambly, France - watch it on Paramount+. And the Adelaide Film Festival runs until 25 October.

Thursday - The Rugby League Men’s World Cup kicks off (which Oz is co-hosting with New Zealand and Papua New Guinea) with Australia playing New Zealand at 8.05pm in Sydney - watch that on 7Plus. And the latest film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility hits theatres.

Friday - At 8.05pm, the Rugby League Women's World Cup begins with Australia v Samoa in Sydney; watch it on 7Plus. And the Men’s A-League season kicks off.

*Times in AEDT