Squiz Today

Monday, 17 February: Negotiating with Nauru; More Russia-Ukraine talks; A Jay-Z suit is dropped; And the smell of history... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 14 February: A big change to donation laws; A NSW Health probe continues; An influencer makes headlines; And celebrating a comedic icon... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). The list of the 50 best SNL sketches is here. Adam Liaw's Marry Me Chicken recipe is here Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

The new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar has brought the story of Belle Gibson back into the headlines. If you’ve heard about or been watching the show, you might be wondering about the true story of the young Aussie wellness influencer who claimed that she cured herself of brain cancer through natural therapies and a healthy diet - before being revealed as a fraud in 2015. So, in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at why Belle Gibson was so influential, how her lies were uncovered, and why so many people are still talking about her… And to help us out, we’ve got our very own Bryce Corbett who worked on the story at the time. Bryce is the Director of Squiz Kids and someone we’ve been lucky enough to work with since our inception for his deep experience in journalism… Squiz Recommends: Reading: This profile piece from the Australian Women’s Weekly, which Bryce worked on with his colleague at the Weekly, Clair Weaver. Reading: The Woman Who Fooled the World by journalists Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, which the Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar is based on. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday, 13 February: Outrage over antisemitic footage; Modi visits Trump; Rex gets a lifeline; And a top dog is crowned... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can take a look through the best of the best at the Westminster Dog Show here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 12 February: A new ceasefire deadline; Kerr's found not guilty; Disney's streaming play; And a big success story... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

A major humanitarian crisis is happening in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the most populous and mineral-rich nations in Africa. Nearly 3,000 people have died and millions have been forced to leave their homes since fighting between militia and the Congolese military broke out in recent weeks, but it’s part of a conflict that’s been going on for decades. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across the background to the conflict, who’s involved, and what’s at stake… Squiz Recommends: Watching: If you want to get a bit more up to speed on the Rwandan genocide, the movie Hotel Rwanda is an excellent film about that period in history with a wonderful performance from Don Cheadle. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Tuesday, 11 February: Steel tariffs on the cards; Richard White in more hot water; An Aussie's big win; And a fatberg strikes... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can watch Serena Williams at the Super Bowl here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 10 February: A warning sign for Labor; Another ceasefire swap; Queensland's supply issue; And some brew-tiful bags... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Reckon you're full bottle on everything that happened in January, from political slogans to corpse flowers? Well, time to test your mettle on the Squiz Quiz of the month! Quizmaster Andrew Williams is joined by the Weekly Wrap team of Claire Kimball and Kate Watson to take on the challenge. Can you beat our Squiz news experts in the studio? Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home: The quiz has 10 questions. Each question is worth 2 points (for a total of 20). The final round is worth a maximum of 5 points - Andrew will read 5 quotes about a news story - the faster you identify the story, the more points you get! The final score is out of a possible 25 points.

Friday, 7 February: Questions over the caravan plot; A poisoning probe stalls; Putricia's back; And a passionfruit pie... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find the recipe for passionfruit and Anzac crumb crust here. And once you've got a slice of that, you might like to check out the new Disney+ show Paradise. Or if you're into science, you can read up on the research into Putricia's corpse-like smell. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Late last year, thousands of New Zealanders protested against a bill that would see the Treaty of Waitangi - a founding agreement signed by Maori and the British - reinterpreted. Large protests are expected again today on Waitangi Day, so in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll get you across the history of the treaty and why the bill has Kiwis so divided. Squiz Recommends: If you’d like to dive into this a little deeper, the ABC’s Global Roaming podcast did a great episode on this topic with the Māori News Editor at Radio New Zealand. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday 6 February: Pushback over Trump's Gaza plan; A big day across the ditch; Sam Kerr takes the stand; And a kangaroo breakthrough... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Here's the story about the Bennett's tree kangaroo, including pics and videos! Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 5 February: Truce talks continue; Cleaning up FNQ; A Hollywood battle begins; And a passion project for the ages... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). If you're a model train lover, you might enjoy this epic build... Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

We’re just a couple of weeks into the new term of President Trump’s administration in the United States, and he’s moving quickly to implement his agenda. One of his action items is to impose new tariffs on all goods imported from America's 3 largest trading partners - China, Mexico and Canada. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what a tariff is, why Trump is doing it, and what it could mean for Australia. Squiz Recommends: Listening: This ep of the ABC’s If You’re Listening podcast: Will Trump's tariffs make America expensive again? Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Tuesday, 4 February: Parliament's back in session; Queensland flooding continues; A high-profile case; And Beyonce wins big... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find the full list of Grammy winners here. Or check out the red carpet fashions here. And if you're intrigued about the stag call world champs, and why wouldn't you be, we'll point you in this direction... Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 3 February: Flooding in FNQ; Trump's new tariffs; Move over, Concorde; And the Grammys get underway... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can watch the video of Alana King in action at the Women's Ashes here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 31 January: Questions over an antisemitic plot; A deadly crash in the US capital; the Rugby World Cup takes shape; And dumplings for all... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). The article from the conversation on avoiding doomscrolling is here A chicken and corn dumpling recipe is here Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

A new Chinese artificial intelligence app sent the tech world into a spin this week when investors realised a competitor to ChatGPT had been produced at a fraction of the cost… Almost a trillion US dollars was wiped from global markets within days, and a reckoning about the huge sums of money spent on AI by US tech giants is now underway. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what the Chinese model - called DeepSeek R1 - does, who’s behind it, and what it could mean for the AI race between the US and China. Squiz Recommends Listening: This episode of Bloomberg’s Big Take podcast - produced by our former colleague Alex Tighe no less - which gives a quick overview of the disruption DeepSeek’s R1 caused and what it could mean for the sector. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday, 30 January: Inflation drops again; An Oscar Jenkins update; A pharmacy megadeal; And Lunar New Year takes off... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 29 January: A new AI chatbot; Violence in Congo; Virgin drops a domestic route; And a tasty pastry competition... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Tuesday, 28 January: Palestinians head north; Yoon Suk Yeol is indicted; Dingo warnings on K'gari; And the year of the snake... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 24 January: Musk questions a Trump initiative; A new fire in LA; The Aus Open finals shape up; And a cat-astrophe... You can find Claire and Kate's interview with PM Anthony Albanese here. You can find the Recipe Tin Eats recipe for Chilli Con Carne here. The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

A federal election is on the horizon, and with voters heading to the polls, we’re all about keeping you informed. That’s why we were pretty chuffed to have PM Anthony Albanese choose The Squiz for his first podcast interview of the year. It's a big deal for an independent media outfit like us. Listen for a few snippets, and you can catch the full convo on our News Club podcast feed. Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thursday 23 January: More action on antisemitism; Zelensky asks for support; de Minaur's out; And a big year for Austen fans... You can find Claire and Kate's interview with PM Anthony Albanese here. The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 22 January: Another antisemitic attack; A dingo attack on K'gari; Trump swings into action; And a multitasking frontman... You can find Claire and Kate's interview with PM Anthony Albanese here. The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

The 2024 film It Ends With Us was a huge box office hit, raking in over 10 times its budget. But the film’s success has been overshadowed as its 2 stars have launched lawsuits against each other over claims of abuse, smear campaigns and reputational damage. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across how a behind-the-scenes battle hit the headlines, the accusations made by Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, and how Ryan Reynolds, Disney and Taylor Swift are involved. Squiz Recommends Reading: This piece by the New York Times: We Can Bury Anyone: Inside a Hollywood Smear Campaign And if you don’t have a subscription to the NYT, here’s a good piece by The Guardian: It’s a PR battle’: inside the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuits Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Tuesday 21 January: Donald Trump is sworn in; Gaza's ceasefire holds; Star Entertainment trouble; And a smell for the ages... You can find Claire and Kate's interview with PM Anthony Albanese here. The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 20 January: A ceasefire begins; Trump's inauguration preparations; Djokovic isn't happy; And 50 years of triple j... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 17 January: Joe Biden says farewell; Vanuatu heads to the polls; A TikTok countdown; And a Turkish yoghurt cake... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find the recipe for Turkish yoghurt cake here. And if you want to do some planet-gazing, this website and this app are your friends. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

On January 20th, President Joe Biden’s first and only term as President of the United States will come to an end as Donald Trump starts his second term. So with that about to happen, this Squiz Shortcut will get you across what Biden achieved over the last 4 years, where the critics say he fell short, and what steps he’s taken in his last weeks in the White House. Squiz Shortcuts is your backstory to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday, 16 January: A ceasefire is reached; South Korea's President is arrested; Vale Simon Townsend; And a mystery cat... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 15 January: A Gaza ceasefire is on the cards; Questions over an Australian's fate; Millions head to a huge Hindu festival; And reading the play... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Here's a gallery of some images from Maha Kumbh Mela Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Tuesday, 14 January: More cash for the NBN; dangerous winds return to LA; a short-lived comeback for Kyrgios; and a fair go for tea drinkers... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Here's some background on Aussie tennis player Destanee Aiava Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 13 January: Dutton hits the campaign trail; Extra firefighters fly into LA; The Australian Open has a soggy start; And a masked singer farce... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can listen to the Shortcut on Queen Mary here. And you can find out more about the Australian Open - and how to watch - here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 10 January: Wildfires worsen in LA; An inauguration in Venezuela; A rocky start to the AFL year; And a summery salad... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find our shortcut on Daniel Duggan here. You can find the recipe for Chef Marinie Georgallides' salad here. Or take a look at the trailer for Black Snow here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Daniel Duggan is a former US pilot facing extradition to the States from Australia on charges of arms trafficking and money laundering. Duggan became an Aussie citizen in 2012, but his arrest for allegedly training Chinese fighter pilots in South Africa has become an international controversy. In this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll give you the background to who Duggan is, the charges against him, and why it’s such a big issue. Squiz Recommends Reading: The ABC's Background Briefing feature on Duggan, published in June last year Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday 9 January: A happy end to a long search; A wildfire burns in Los Angeles; A mixed bag of inflation stats; And our Cockney origins... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). For our shortcut to underlying inflation, click here You can check out Squiz the break and catch up on the news you might have missed over the past couple of weeks here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 8 January: European leaders swipe back at Musk; A search continues in Kosciuszko; Kygrios gets the call-up; And a cabana conundrum... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can check out Squiz the break and catch up on the news you might have missed over the past couple of weeks here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Tuesday 7 January: Albanese hits the road; Canada faces a political shake-up; Things get frosty in the northern hemisphere; And Aussies miss out at the Globes... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can check out all the Golden Globes looks here and here You can check out Squiz the break and catch up on the news you might have missed over the past couple of weeks here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 6 January: South Korean chaos continues; A search in rugged bushland; The Aussies pull off an epic cricket win; And awards season is incoming... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can check out Squiz the break and catch up on the news you might have missed over the past couple of weeks here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

There’s been a fair bit of concern recently after certain types of chemicals were found in a dam that feeds into the water supply of the NSW Blue Mountains. That’s because, in large enough doses, they can be harmful to humans and even cause cancer. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll explain what forever chemicals are, where they’ve been found, and what health and environmental impacts they can have. Squiz recommends: Listening: This podcast episode from ABC Radio National called: What would it take to ensure Australian drinking water is safe from 'forever chemicals'? It’s a great explainer about the issue of PFAS in our water supply, and it also has responses from WaterNSW and the Australian Government. Watching: This episode of Last Week Tonight with comedian John Oliver delves - somewhat irreverently - into PFAS and the DuPont case, but follows up with the very serious outcomes for America. And if that piques your interest, you could follow up by watching Mark Ruffalo on the case in Dark Waters. Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here.

Prince Harry turned 40yo this year, and he inherited a large sum of money, making him the latest in a long line of super-rich Royals with multiple income streams. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we'll look at the wealth of the British Royal Family, where they get their money from, and how they spend it. Squiz recommends: Reading: This article from The Conversation called Did the King Just Get a Pay Rise? It’s a good explainer about how the Crown Estate and the Sovereign Grant work, and how the funding agreements have been worked out between the Royals and the British government. Watching: The Netflix series The Crown about the Royal Family. It’s a fictional account of their lives portrayed oh-so-realistically. It’s beautifully shot and directed, and full of delicious gossip and interesting details. Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here.

In the first week of June, 2 NASA astronauts were launched into space on Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. It was a test flight to the International Space Station (ISS) that was meant to last 8 days but they’ve been stuck there now for 6 months with no definite date of return. So in this Shortcut, we’ll look at what went wrong, what’s being done to get them home, and how this mission could impact Boeing and the future of commercial space travel. Squiz recommends: Reading: The NASA Space Station blog - it’s a fascinating look into the everyday life of the astronauts on the ISS and the research they’re doing, which covers everything from stem cell studies to trying to grow plants in space. Reading: The BBC article What happens when astronauts get stuck in space gives a good overview of the Starliner’s mission and Boeing’s predicament with getting Wilmore and Williams home. Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here.

It’s a bit of fun, it’s a bit festive, with a lot of laughs. Take a lighter look at the year that was 2024 by joining us for The Great Big Squiz Quiz! Can you beat Claire Kimball, Kate Watson, Alice Dempster, and Andrew Williams? Keen to watch? Catch our episode on YouTube.

Friday, 20 December: Australia's household wealth is on the rise; A verdict in the Gisèle Pelicot trial; A new Hewitt enters the arena; And a Christmas glaze to amaze... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). You can find the recipe for the Christmas ham glaze here. And you can check out our Squiz Shortcut on Cyclone Tracy here. Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

We’re about to hit 50 years since Cyclone Tracy struck Darwin early on Christmas Day in 1974. It was one of Australia’s most devastating natural disasters and it prompted a lot of changes to keep Aussies safe. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across what happened, the response, and its legacy that lives on today. Squiz Recommends Listening: To Bill and Boyd’s song Santa Never Made it to Darwin… Reading: This piece by Australian Geographic on the 50th anniversary - it tells some moving personal stories and has a collection of incredible photos. Thank you for listening, as always… And that’s a wrap on Squiz Shortcuts for the year… We’ll be back with you in January. In the meantime, we’ll be putting a few of our favourite Shortcuts from this year into the feed for you to catch up on, so listen out for those. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday 19 December: A gloomy economic outlook; Searching for survivors in Vanuatu; Alan Jones defends himself; And Tom Cruise gets a military honour... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 18 December: A major earthquake hits Vanuatu; A Russian general is assassinated; Victoria cracks down on protests; And why Popeye's in the headlines... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, stepped away from official duties with the UK’s royal family in 2019, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped causing them headaches. Last week, another of the Prince’s problematic relationships surfaced - this time with a businessman accused of spying for China. So in this Shortcut, we’ll take a look at how this relationship came to light and why it’s caused concern in the UK. Squiz Recommends Watching: The movie Scoop on Netflix, and/or if you’ve got a bit more time to invest, the series A Very Royal Scandal: Season 3 on Prime Video… They’re both absorbing, nail-biting dramatisations of the infamous 2019 Newsnight interview between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew. Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories… Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Tuesday, 17 December: Investigating another alcohol poisoning event; Israel moves on Golan Heights; A new-look Reserve Bank; And Guinness finds some Gen Z fans... The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news). If you'd like to find out more about the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist, click here Other things we do: Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties! Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it. Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers. Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style. Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.