19 July 2025 - Saturday Squiz

Didn’t have time to scratch ourselves this week, and can’t wait to eat something other than honey crumpets washed down with tea. This weekend, if you have a spectacular whale sighting, questions on making major life changes, or anything you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

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

We’ve got a favour to ask…

Perimenopause/menopause. We’re confused, and reckon you might be too. So we’re pulling together a short Shortcuts series to clarify and inform. Whether you’re in it, past it, heading towards it, or have people around you dealing with it, we want to know what you want to know. Clear as mud? Just do the short/quick survey for us, won’t you?

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. What happens in China hopefully spreads across the economy - PM Anthony Albanese’s Beijing blitz has been described as everything from a diplomatic triumph to a bit of a nothing burger. The headline is that he met with the big 3 of Chinese leadership: President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Communist Party Chairman Zhao Leji for a combined 8 hours, and the hope is that those talks lead to more trade. Taiwan was a tricky topic though, thanks Team Trump…

2. From tariffs to Epstein - US politics is never far away from our news. And this week new data showed inflation is on the rise in the US as a result of President Donald Trump’s taxes cracking down on imports. And if you’re wondering why you’ve seen Jeffrey Epstein in the news, here’s a good recce on that.

4. Winners are grinners - Congrats to Iga Świątek and Jannick Sinner for their first Wimbledon crowns. There was some chatter about both returning positive drug tests last year, but most have moved on… FYI: Squizers really enjoyed a gander at Princess Kate’s outfit for the women’s final - it was described as military/safari inspired…

3. Death of a killer - One of Australia’s most infamous crimes shot back into the headlines, with the death of the outback killer Bradley Murdoch. He has taken his secrets to the grave, and Northern Territory Police say Peter Falconio’s family may never find out where his remains are.

5. Lost and found - German tourist Carolina Wilga got a lot more from her outback adventure than she was counting on... Lost in remote Western Oz for 12 days after crashing her van and wandering away in confusion from hitting her head, she was found by a local farmer last Friday. Premier Roger Cook weighed in on her challenge to regain the weight she lost: “The opportunity to be able to put on 12kg is one that a lot of us would look forward to.” Hear hear…

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which federal department had an oops by releasing confidential information to the ABC? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

Shot of the Week

Pandas are just the best… This week, PM Anthony Albanese got to check in with Fu Ni, one of Australia’s returned pandas. As he should.

The skincare ingredient that sounds weird but works wonders

Winter does a number on the skin, and for many of us, regular moisturisers just don't cut it. Enter Bescher Beauty's Sea Cucumber Collagen Glow Toner: it's packed with marine collagen, native botanicals, and hyaluronic acid that work together to deliver results. The proof? It sold out in 6 days after building a 35,000-person waitlist. Now it's back in stock, and if winter skin is the bane of your existence, it might be worth trying something that thousands of people couldn't wait to get their hands on. You can check it out here. 

In the Kitchen

We’re huge cheesy cauliflower fans - usually the traditional gratin type. Drool… But this recipe published on the ABC’s website caught our eye - it’s baked whole with a yummy spiced oil, and after an hour, you sprinkle the cheese on. It’s nice, unusual, different - in a good way.

What we Shortcut for you this week

Australia’s relationship with China - It’s our biggest trading partner, but our relationship with China can be tricky to manage given its ambitions in the Indo-Pacific and our ties with its major rival, America. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across the recent history between our countries and the issues at play… Read that here or listen to the podcast here.

The Sycamore Gap tree - There’s been grief and anger in Britain over the illegal felling of an old Sycamore tree that grew between 2 hills beside Hadrian’s Wall. The perpetrators have been jailed - and while gone, the tree may live on through lasting changes in the UK. So in this Shortcut, we’ll tell you about the tree’s history and why its demise provoked such a strong response… Read here or listen to it here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - If you’re in Tasmania, it’s time to get your vote on. We’re not jealous at all… And at 8pm, the Wallabies take on the British & Irish Lions at Suncorp Stadium in Brissie

Sunday - National Farm Safety Week begins (until July 26). We have a lot of Squizers outside the capitals, and lots working in agribusiness, so we wanted to shout out that there is a disproportionately high rate of workplace fatalities and injuries on farms compared to other industries. It’s a good thing to raise awareness of…

Monday - The World Heritage Committee meeting begins in India - it’s the meeting where the Murujuga Aboriginal lands in the Pilbara region of Western Oz will be inscribed. That means they’re being designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. And it’s National Lamington Day 🤤

Tuesday - Both Senate & House of Representatives are sitting until Thursday for the first time since the federal election. Before they get down to business, there’s a bit of pomp and ceremony, including the Opening Speech from GG Sam (as she asked Squiz Kids to call her…). And Prince George of Cambridge turns 12yo

Wednesday - There’s an ABS data drop for those in a relationship and those who aspire to be - the latest numbers on marriages and divorces in Australia are out… And top-hatted guitarist Slash turns 60yo

Thursday - Look after yourself on International Self-Care Day and Lifeline's Stress Down Day

Friday - Darwin takes a day off for Show Day. Get tucked into some plum pudding on Christmas in July. And it’s the 15th anniversary of WikiLeaks publishing classified Afghanistan war documents, marking one of the largest US military leaks in history (2010)

*All times in AEST