3 May 2025 - Saturday Squiz

Our biggest challenge today - ensuring all devices are charged and ready by the time the AEC’s tallyroom results start rolling in… This weekend, if you have a snake that’s fun, a restorative noodle soup recipe or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 The Weekly Wrap is back with Jodie Speers and Claire Kimball

This week’s top 5 news stories

As we got to the end of the 5 weeks, the federal election campaign finally found its place at the top of the news mentions…

1. The final countdown - We’ve made it to the finish line - give yourself a pat on the back… This week kicked off with the fourth and final leaders’ debate on Seven that generated headlines about the price of eggs, and ended with the Coalition’s release of its election promises costings. Stay safe out there today…

2. A ‘simple’ funeral for 400,000- On Saturday, world leaders and devotees turned out to bid farewell to Pope Francis with a funeral that over 1.4 billion viewers watched worldwide. The conclave, which is set to begin on 7 May, will elect a new pope.

3. Minerals are Ukraine’s best friend - Kyiv and Washington have signed a deal to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction after providing the US with first dibs on the country’s reserves of critical minerals. It’s been a battle to get here - you might remember that infamous Oval Office meeting…

4. Lest we forget - This year’s Anzac Day saw both PM Anthony Albanese and Coalition Leader Peter Dutton pause their campaigns and reflect on the sacrifice of those who served Australia.

5. Mushrooms take Morwell - The trial for Erin Patterson, who’s accused of murdering 3 with a meal of poisonous mushrooms, started up on Wednesday in regional Victoria. Patterson has admitted to foraging the mushrooms but insists the deaths were an accident in a case that’s set to last 5-6 weeks.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know what the process to select a new Pope is called (umm, could that be any easier given we mentioned it above - you’re welcome…)? Test your knowledge at the Squiz Quiz.

Shot of the Week

As world leaders flocked to the Vatican to attend the funeral for Pope Francis last Saturday, this photo of the moment where US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky paused inside St Peter’s Basilica to talk peace will be one of the shots of the year.

Get out and vote why don’t you…

It’s the most wonderful time of the (every 3) year(s)... Election day is here, and it’s the day for a hard-earned Democracy Sausage washed down with a sense of civic duty. There’s a strong chance you’ve voted already, but if you haven’t, today’s the day. Head to the AEC website to find out where and when you can vote at any one of the 7,000 polling stations open today. May your vote be legible and valid…

In the Kitchen

A good bowl of noodle soup can heal just about anything - even your favoured candidate not getting up this weekend - and this turmeric and coconut one does just the trick. Bung in whatever veggies you’ve got, find the biggest spoon in your drawer and tuck in.

What we Shortcut for you this week

Week 5 of the election campaign - We’ve wrapped up the policies and politics of this campaign, and laid out what it will take to lock in our next government. You can read all that here or listen to the podcast here.

What happens in the conclave - Following the death of Pope Francis, the papal conclave - where Catholic cardinals gather to elect a new leader - will soon begin. We look at what happens in this highly secretive ritual, who’s in the running, and why the choice is important for the direction of the Church and its influence throughout the world. You can read more here or listen to the podcast here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s election day 🇦🇺 (for Singapore too) - voting opens at 8am local time at polling booths across the country. Snag a democracy sausage, and when all that’s done, the NRL Magic Round kicks off at 3pm (AEST) at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, which you can watch on 9Now 

Sunday - It’s Star Wars Day - May the Fourth be with you… You could join Anthony Albanese and get stuck into one of the movies, or check out LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition, which opens in Melbourne. And Romania heads to the polls after the results of last year’s presidential election were overturned

Monday - Queensland and the Northern Territory have a public holiday for May Day, and it’s Cinco de Mayo over in Mexico - did someone say margaritas…

Tuesday - This morning, celebs will walk the red carpet to open the 2025 Met Gala with the theme of ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’, hosted by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and, of course, Anna Wintour

Wednesday - The Conclave begins. If you fancy a (fictional) deep dive, the movie Conclave has soared to #1 in Australia…

Thursday - A 3-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will begin to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II

Friday - And to wrap us up, it’s the anniversary of the opening of the first Parliament of Australia (1901). What a week for democracy…