16 August 2025 - Saturday Squiz

The first news story we saw this morning, as we tuned in to see what’s happening in Alaska, was about a Gold Coast woman who’s “fulfilled her retirement dream” of teaching a duck to surf. We’ll be spending the weekend reassessing our post-work plans… This weekend, if you have a shell to stuff, a countdown clock on Swifty’s new tunes, or anything 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…

1. A step toward Palestinian statehood - On Monday, Australia joined France, Canada, and the UK in recognising the state of Palestine - they’ll do that at the United Nations General Assembly in September. It’s sparked a range of responses both within Australia and internationally. Also making headlines were the deaths of 4 Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza City in an Israeli airstrike, prompting widespread condemnation.

2. Trump and Putin get it on - Diplomatically speaking… For the first time since 2018, the 2 are meeting to discuss the end of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky hasn’t been invited, and with Trump’s talk of “land swaps”, there was worry about what might come of it. So far, the men have shaken hands on the tarmac in Anchorage and are expected to be locked in talks for a few hours yet.

3. The third rate cut this year - On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank cut interest rates by 0.25% to 3.6%. Despite the welcome response from borrowers, Governor Michele Bullock wasn’t popping the champagne - the bank also cut its projection for productivity growth. It’ll be a talking point at next week’s Economic Reform Roundtable.

4. Snoop D-O-G-G at the M-C-G - The AFL has got its Grand Final entertainment lined up and it’s none other than Martha Stewart’s best friend, Snoop Dogg. He’ll take the stage at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 27 September. No doubt he’ll drop it like it’s hot…

5. Productivity is on the (round)table - There’s been a big build-up to Treasurer Jim Chalmers’s summit to tackle some of the issues the nation’s economy is facing. It’s been a talking point since the election, and here we are… Productivity Commission Chair Danielle Wood will start the conversation in an address to the National Press Club on Monday before the roundtable opens on Tuesday. And for some background on the economic climate the Albanese Government is steering into, we’ve got a Shortcut for you.

The Big Threat Episode 3 - Fightback

In this week’s episode of The Big Threat - a new podcast series examining the global information wars - Bryce Corbett wraps up his time in the US with media literacy advocates in New York bunkering down for Trump 2.0 - and spends time with former journalists who have swapped the newsroom for the war room. Read the highlights or tune in to the podcast.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which Aussie library is one of the most beautiful in the world? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

Viral moment of the Week

Taylor Swift has a new album on its way… Appearing on her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast New Heights, the singer announced on Tuesday that her album The Life of a Show Girl will be released on 3 October, to thunderous applause from the Swiftie-verse. And while fans flocked to piece together her hidden ‘Easter eggs’, the announcement’s also sparked a heap of conversations about her marketing strategy and what it will mean for her musical empire…

Turning water into shine

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In the Kitchen

To wrap up another big week, these spinach ricotta stuffed shells are just what the doctor ordered. They’re a bit of a labour of love, but well worth the time, and the leftovers will have dinner sorted for days to come - that is, if there are any leftovers…

What we Shortcut for you this week

What does recognising Palestine mean? - Australia has long supported a 2-state solution in the Middle East where an Israeli state and a Palestinian state coexist peacefully side by side. And this week the government announced that we’ll formally recognise Palestine. We break down what it means and how our global ties are shifting. Read that here or listen to the podcast here.

How Australia helped defeat Japan in WWII - This year marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day, when the Japanese Imperial Army surrendered to the Allied Forces in WWII. Australia played a significant role in the Pacific theatre of the war, so we cover why it’s an important one. Read that here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - The Premier League season begins with Liverpool playing AFC Bournemouth at 5 am on Stan Sport (if you’re a soccer fan, you’ve probably been up and at ‘em for hours already…). And the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2025 will be announced at the Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

Sunday - Bolivia will head to the polls. And the Wallabies play the Springboks in their first Test of The Rugby Championship (formerly the Tri-Nations Series) in Johannesburg, South Africa - watch on Stan Sport.

Monday - Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Minister for Defence Industry and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, and NZ’s Winston Peters will attend the Pacific Infrastructure Conference in Brisbane. And the Federal Court will hand down its decision on what penalty Qantas should pay for illegally outsourcing over 1800 workers during COVID in 2020.

Tuesday - The Economic Reform Roundtable begins in Canberra. And Tasmanian Parliament resumes after its snap election in July, with Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff expected to face another no-confidence motion.

Wednesday - Mark Butler will address the National Press Club in Canberra - he's now Minister for Health AND Ageing AND Disability AND the NDIS after a post-election reshuffle.

Thursday - It’s Daffodil Day to raise funds for the Cancer Council and their research efforts. And the Laussaune Diamond League Athletics meet gets started in Switzerland.

Friday - Governor General Sam Mostyn will reflect on her time in the position at the Diversity Council Australia. And the Royal Flying Doctor Service Outback Air Race takes off at Uluru with over 40 aircraft taking part, including a 14yo navigator flying with his dad.