21 June 2025 - Saturday Squiz

It’s the shortest day of the year - we’re taking a glass-half-full approach and embracing more sofa snuggle time with the pooch... Today, if you’ve got a ratty woolly jumper, deep sea doco, 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

1. Israel-Iran trade strikes -  No prizes for the top news story this week - after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion with strikes on Iran last Friday and every day since. The catalyst is an assessment of Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities, which the country says isn’t a thing. As for US involvement, President Donald Trump is steering into 2 weeks of diplomacy before deciding whether to launch a strike in Iran.

2. A mixed weekend at the G7 Summit - On Monday, leaders met in Canada - sans Trump - to talk about, well, everything... This was in the news a lot here because of PM Anthony Albanese’s thwarted meeting with the American President. Better luck next time…

3. No Kings, no worries - As President Trump marked his 79th birthday the 250th anniversary of the US Army with a military parade through Washington DC, reports say millions of Americans turned out to protest his presidency. Some of that was related to Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in LA in the previous week…

4. So scarlet it was Maroon - The Queenslanders have squared things up in a cracker of a game in Perth, beating NSW in a tight 26-24 result. The series is now tied, which means it all comes down to Game 3, so scarves and beanies will be at the ready for that one in Sydney on 9 July.

5. Shooting at Auburn - We didn’t cover this story this week, but it was a big one in Sydney on Monday. Three people were shot inside M Brothers in Auburn in what police say was an assassination attempt on Samimjan Azari, a prominent underworld crime figure in Sydney.

A News Club interview with Trent Dalton…

Geez people love Trent Dalton... Bryce Corbett has known him for years, and they sat down for our News Club series The Call Sheet to talk all things journalism to writing novels to seeing it becoming a raging success on Netflix. It’s the kind of honest chat that only happens between 2 mates – about ambition, regrets. It’s a great weekend watch/listen.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which Aussie TV personality is up for their first shot at the Gold Logie? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

Shot of the Week

Over in Spain, water guns are the prop of choice as locals take to the streets to protest over-tourism. It began in Barcelona in 2024 and has since gained momentum as a symbol of anti-tourism across Europe, with marches emerging in Venice and Lisbon. So if you’re escaping Australia for a Euro summer, maybe bring an umbrella just in case…

Sweet dreams are made of this

Sleep is the best, right? If you’re tossing and turning over picking a new mattress, 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

A plate of fried chicken is always a crowd pleaser, so a homemade version that’s slightly healthier (without sacrificing flavour) is a win. This quick 20-minute crispy sesame chicken is great for a busy week/easy-going weekends.

What we Shortcut for you this week

The conflict between Israel and Iran - With tensions between Israel and Iran reaching a boiling point this week, we decided to take a closer look at how this escalation unfolded and the potential global spillover of a regional conflict of this scale. You can read about here or listen to the podcast here.

Tasmania’s AFL Stadium - It’s not often that the fate of a footy team hinges on a state election, but Aussie Rules fans will be paying close attention to the campaign in Tasmania because the future of its new AFL team and stadium largely depends on the outcome. Read here or listen to here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - Term 2 winter school holidays begin in the NT. And leave the togs at home, Dark Mofo’s Nude Solstice swim rounds out Tassie’s annual festival.

Sunday - Find us a bib, it’s the Good Food and Wine Show in Sydney. The Italian Motorcycle Grand Prix race is on at 10pm in Florence, watch it on Kayo.

Monday - Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers will play Game 7 of the NBA final at 10am, watch on Kayo. Note: it’s the first finals series to go the distance since 2016…

Tuesday - NATO nations’ leaders will meet at the Hague in the Netherlands for the 2025 NATO Summit, with a push for countries to increase defence spending. And Julie Inman Grant, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, will speak at the National Press Club. 

Wednesday - Coalition Leader Sussan Ley will address the National Press Club. Glastonbury Music Festival begins in the UK. And the Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist will be announced.

Thursday - The 2 men charged with the murder of 15yo Cassius Turvey will face a sentencing hearing. The Commbank Matildas will play Slovenia for the first of 2 friendlies at 7pm WA time in Bunbury, WA - watch on TenPlay. And The Bear season 4 is out on Disney+. And breathe…

Friday - Kiwi singer Lorde will release her latest album Virgin

*All times in AEST