15 August 2026 - Saturday Squiz

We see Squiz as a friends-building exercise, and about a million people* have sent us this link to the story of this unlikely pair of buddies. May it be the inspiration to strike up a conversation with someone outside your regular circle… This weekend, if you’ve been involved in some melon madness, have a favourite ‘Young Talent Time’ performance to recommend, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.
*Number may be overstated…

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Listen to the News Club with Claire Kimball and Eliza Harvey

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. Are we there yet? - No… Talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain deadlocked as Iran insists the vital waterway will stay closed until the US lifts its naval blockade, removes regional forces, and drops economic sanctions. See you back here again next week? 

2. A melon meltdown - Specifically, crown melons - 2 to be exact - and it was double trouble for the PM when Japan’s former ambassador wrote an op-ed in The Australian this week, pointing to comments/gestures on the Bush Deep podcast episode published a month ago. BTW, Japan’s PM might have given Albanese melons, but he gave her grapes…

3. Pushback on gambling reforms - With federal parliament’s return this week, the government’s gambling ad reforms have been front and centre of the news. The core controversy is criticism that the proposed laws do not go far enough to stop harm from problematic gambling, with critics accusing the government of caving to the wagering and media lobbies. Labor and the Coalition are negotiating…

4. Hold that rate/thought - It wasn’t much of a surprise that interest rates stayed on hold this week as the Reserve Bank board met and considered it, but there were some interesting reflections on property prices, which are heading down nationwide. Whether that’s sustained and what it might mean for the economy more broadly is TBD.

5. Bird flu on the march - The nasty H5N1 bird flu strain has officially spread to every Australian state, prompting the federal government to launch an unprecedented wildlife vaccination rollout. On Thursday, Tasmania became the final state to record the virus, and we’ve now reached over 230 confirmed wild bird cases nationwide.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which Aussie celebrity is hosting the Logies on Sunday? Test your news knowledge from the last week with the Squiz Quiz.

Pic of the week

We missed out on this eclipse as it was a northern hemisphere-specific event (rude…), but that didn’t stop us from enjoying this gallery of stunning pics. Happily, it’s also put the recently departed Bonnie Tyler’s iconic banger back in the charts…

Take a chance on sleep

Picking a new mattress without lying on it first is a bit of a gamble - but thousands of Ergoflex customers are impressed with Australia's original mattress-in-a-box. Its Afterpay Day sale covers the memory foam range, bed frames, pillows and protectors, with a trial period so you can send it back if it's not right for you. The sale won't run forever - find out more about how you can rest easy here.

In the Kitchen

Winter means curry, and at this stage of the game, we value low-effort recipes. Stepping into the fray is this Donna Hay recipe for a baked curry that requires more time than its stovetop counterpart, but delivers crispy chicken worth the wait. Simple and delicious.

What we Shortcut for you this week

Understanding interest rates - They come up a lot in the news, particularly when the Reserve Bank makes decisions on the cash rate. But they’re a topic which can be hard to get your head around. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll decode some of the jargon and explain how interest rates work and the impact they have on our lives… Have a read here or listen up.

What’s the deal with peptides? - They’re being spruiked by fitness influencers online, mainly to young men, but concerns are being raised about their impacts on young bodies. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what peptides are and why they’re at the centre of a health debate… Read it here or listen to the pod.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - A funeral is being held for Kumanjayi Little Baby, and the NAIDOC Awards are on in Alice Springs. National Science Week starts today, and the second rugby Test match between the Wallabies and Japan is on in Townsville at 3.15pm - watch it on 9Now or Stan Sport.

Sunday - Robert Irwin is hosting the Logies from 7pm on Channel 7 - he’s bringing a live animal tribute to his dad... The red carpet starts from 5pm.

Monday - The Senate inquiry into the Albanese Government’s proposed changes to gambling laws is set to hand down its report. And the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion will begin its ninth and final hearing block with a focus on strengthening social cohesion.

Tuesday - Women’s Mental Health Australia to release its annual survey, the biggest of its kind. And if you like your reds, it’s Pinot Noir Day 🍷 

Wednesday - A 2-day appeal hearing is scheduled for mushroom murderer Erin Patterson in the Supreme Court of Victoria. It’s also World Photography Day and International Orangutan Day 🦧.

Thursday - Australia’s biggest outback music festival, the Mundi Mundi bash begins in Broken Hill, NSW. And we reckon a spa weekend might be in order after watching the trailer for Aussie actress Isla Fisher’s next movie. It’s out in theatres today.

Friday - The National Photographic Portrait Prize winner is announced at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. This will be the final prize - they’re retiring it after 19 years and launching a new one next year…

*Times in AEST