30 August 2025 - Saturday Squiz

It’s less than 48 hours until spring is here - hellooo sunshine (yay) and hayfever (boo)… This weekend, if you have a quiet love story, a wine that pairs well with bacon, 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. More bad news from Gaza - A report from the United Nations confirmed parts of Gaza are experiencing famine, and on Thursday, its Security Council responded by voting to declare a “man-made crisis”. The other big news from the war came late on Monday when 5 journalists were killed when the Israeli military bombed a hospital in the Palestinian territory’s south. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a “tragic mishap”.

2. Australia expels Iranian Ambassador - This came on Tuesday when ASIO and PM Anthony Albanese said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were behind antisemitic attacks in Melbourne and Sydney. Iran says the claims are baseless… That’s been welcomed by many in the Iranian-Australian community - they’ve been calling for action against the ruling regime since 2022.

3. The Porepunkah manhunt continues -  On Tuesday, 3 police officers were shot, 2 of them killed, as they went to 56yo Dezi Freeman rural property to talk to him about historical child sexual abuse allegations. Since then, officers have been combing the Alpine region - and have extended Freeman a surrender plan. A prominent sovereign citizen, experts say that if he has the right skills and equipment, he could be out there for a while…

4. The Fed fights back - We didn’t cover this one, but on Thursday, Lisa Cook, a governor of the US Federal Reserve, sued US President Donald Trump for having her removed from her position - she says unlawfully. Critics say it’s another sign the Trump administration is consolidating power.

5. Home is where the housing scheme is - Thousands of Aussies could soon be jumping into the housing market as the Albanese Government’s home guarantee scheme, which was due for January, has been pulled forward to 1 October. To say that reactions have been mixed is an understatement…

The Big Threat Episode 5 - When terror strikes

In this week’s episode of The Big Threat - our podcast series examining the global information wars - Squiz Kids host extraordinaire Bryce Corbett travels to France. Speaking with media literacy experts, he learns how fake news can be turbocharged in a moment of terror. Read the highlights or tune in to the podcast.

It’s you against the news…

Reckon you know which Australian city is hosting a major marathon this weekend? Test your knowledge with this week’s Squiz Quiz.

Announcement of the Week

Another week, another Taylor-Swift-breaks-the-internet moment - and this one might be the biggest yet. You’d have to be living under a rock under the earth with noise-cancelling headphones on not to know that on Wednesday, Taylor Swift and her NFL superstar boyfriend Travis Kelce announced their engagement. Cue the flood of coverage on everything from the cut of her engagement ring to whether marriage will change her music.

Let your smile shine

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In the Kitchen

Prepping lunch can be a bit of a pain - but we find the best way to beat the Sunday scaries is to get it done fast… This soba noodle salad is as easy as lunch can get and provides a bit of colour to look forward to throughout the week.

What we Shortcut for you this week

What came out of the Economic Reform Roundtable? - Last week, the federal government brought together politicians, business leaders, unions and experts to brainstorm ideas to boost productivity and strengthen the economy. We wrap up what was covered and where things might go from here. Read that here or listen here.

Menopause 101 - We’ve got a new 3-part Shortcuts series dedicated to menopause and perimenopause, and this week we’re tackling the basics. In episode 1, we speak with Dr Sarah White from Jean Hailes for Women’s Health to help make sense of it all. Read that here or listen here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina hitting New Orleans, which caused 1,392 fatalities and US$125 billion in damage. It’s also International Bacon Day and International Cabernet Sauvignon Day - sounds like a dangerous combo…

Sunday - At 4.30am, Australia will play the US in Pool A of the Women's Rugby World Cup in the UK - watch on Stan Sport. The Sydney Marathon is on this morning as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors for the first time. And the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit will take place in Tianjin, China, with Indian PM Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin set to attend.

Monday - Both houses of federal parliament are sitting. And Maria Ressa will address the National Press Club in Canberra. She won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote press freedom in the Philippines through her media outlet, Rappler.

Tuesday - Tony Mokbel's appeal to have his drug trafficking convictions overturned begins as part of the whole Lawyer X scandal - here’s a good explainer on that (paywall).

Wednesday - It’s back to court for the ABC - this is the penalty hearing over the Antionette Lattouf case. And Paul Schroder, CEO of the country’s largest super fund AustralianSuper, will address the National Club Press.

Thursday - Adelaide takes on Collingwood as the AFL finals begin in the lead-up to the Grand Final on 27 September. 

Friday - The state and territory treasurers are meeting to finalise a road user charge as part of last week’s economic roundtable. And the National Portrait Gallery unveils a new portrait of Aussie music icon Tina Arena in Canberra… She’s marking 50 years in the entertainment industry. Now she can dance…