8 March 2025 - Saturday Squiz

With all that is unfolding in South East Queensland/Northern NSW - where we know a lot of Squizers live - all we can say is please stay safe. This week, if you have an eighth birthday surprise for us, an answer to a critical potato consumption question, or anything else you’d like to share, hit reply.

⏱️ Reading time: 8 minutes

🎧 Get the Weekly Wrap podcast with Claire Kimball and Kate Watson

🤷‍♀️ IDK: Why did the chicken cross Kings Cross Road?

This week's top stories

1. Thar he blows… - Alfred will cross the Queensland coast between Maroochydore and Bribie Island as a topical low sometime this morning. That means Brisbane has “dodged a bullet,” according to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner - but the region is still in for a tonne of rain… "The rain is still coming through in full force, and we're still seeing widespread flash-flooding, widespread impacts, likely to continue through today and well into tomorrow as well," the BOM’s senior forecaster Miriam Bradbury said this morning.

2. The fallout from a falling out - The consequences of the blow-up between Presidents Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky have been real… This week, the US paused not only the flow of military hardware and financial support to Ukraine but also intelligence gathering that has helped Ukraine’s forces fight Russia. Zelensky now says they "stand ready to work under President Trump's strong leadership to get a peace that lasts."

3. Tariff troubles - US President Donald Trump said on Monday he would impose tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico and hike tariffs on China - and then rolled some back. The uncertainty saw the Australian share market record its worst day of the year so far, and reports say the Albanese Government reckons getting tariff concessions from Trump will be tough.

4. How’s Pope Francis doing? - We’re glad you asked… His condition is said to be stable, but he’s still in hospital and not out of the woods yet. Yesterday, an audio message recorded by the Pope was played at a nightly prayer service at St Peter's Square in Rome - he thanked those who have prayed for him.

5. Are we there yet? - No is the short answer… Last weekend there was lots of speculation PM Anthony Albanese would call an election for 5 April - that didn’t happen. This week, the buzz is about an election being called this weekend for 12 April, but that’s tricky given what’s unfolding in Queensland/NSW. We don’t have to have one until mid-May, but if the Albanese Government wants to avoid delivering the Budget on 25 March, they have to call it by Monday…

S’Quiz me real good…

Reckon you know which big name communications app will be hanging up for good in a few weeks? Have a crack at the Squiz Quiz.

Update of the Week

Queensland’s (newish) Premier David Crisafulli is no stranger to cyclones - in his late 20s/early 30s, he was the deputy mayor of Townsville. Now, as the state’s leader, he captured the moment Cyclone Alfred made it onto the Brisbane radar and continued to track toward the Queensland coast.

In the Kitchen

You know how we like Broadsheet’s cooking newsletter? This week, we were beside ourselves when their newsletter dropped with the subject line ‘You’ve Never Had Roast Potatoes Like This’. Can you imagine… So giving this recipe for Justin Narayan’s masala potatoes is the top priority for us today - the only issue is how early is too early to cook these up?

Wine that you won’t whine about

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What we Shortcut for you this week

What’s next for Gaza’s ceasefire? - The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has ended, and despite agreeing to a blueprint for phase 2 back in January, the 2 sides are now divided over what comes next… You can read up on that here or listen to the podcast here.

Western Australia’s election - In 2021, the Labor government won a historic landslide. Since then, Premier Mark McGowan has stepped down, there’s been a change to the voting system, and a media personality (known locally as a Perthonality…) has entered the political arena. Get up to speed on today’s vote by reading more here or listen to the podcast here.

Squiz the Week

Saturday - It’s our 8th birthday, so have a glass of champs for us. You can listen to Claire, Kate and Andrew mark the occasion with a chat about our future plans on the Squiz Today show feed - and if you want to get us something, tell a friend about us. As mentioned, it’s also Western Australia’s election…

Sunday - Moomba is in full swing (Melbourne’s longest-running and largest community festival), and today is the annual Birdman Rally. And make room on the sofa at 8pm for cricket fans - the ICC Champions Trophy final featuring India v Kiwiland is broadcast from Dubai on Kayo

Monday - It’s a public holiday for Victoria (Labour Day), ACT (Canberra Day), Tasmania (Eight Hours Day) and South Oz (Adelaide Cup Day)

Tuesday - Greenland goes to the polls - the Danish autonomous territory that US President Donald Trump would like to get his hands on… Note: the ruling party has promised a vote on independence from Denmark if reelected

Wednesday - NAPLAN begins for school kids in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. And Simon Holmes a Court - aka the guy behind the Teals - is making words at the National Press Club

Thursday - Also saying stuff at the National Press Club is Clive Palmer… Both fellas are televised on ABC24 from 12.30pm

Friday - It’s Holi, the significant Hindu festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours, Love, and Spring

*All times in AEDT

Double-Tapping

Squiz HQ is about 50m from where this picture was taken… And gripping locals have been the escapades of a rogue chicken (although someone did ask why the authorities were troubling themselves with such poultry matters…). Another question is why there’s an egg machine in one of Australia’s most densely populated areas - that remains an unsolved mystery…