News Club

Alright Squizers, strap yourselves in because we're going to the Moon… Yep, you read that right - US space agency NASA reckons it's about to take another giant leap for man (and woman) kind and this time it's not just about walking on the moon - but actually setting up camp there. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at what steps are being taken to return to the moon, how NASA is plan...

Victorians head to the ballot box on Saturday and this campaign has been pretty bruising. Premier Daniel Andrews is going for a 3rd term, and while the polls suggest he's on track to stay in power, the state's seemingly endless lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 meant the gloss has well and truly come off. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at the post-COVID vibe in Victoria, why Andrews has...

Next week, billions of eyeballs will be on Qatar for the start of the soccer World Cup. This has been one of the most controversial tournaments in the game's history - and that's before a ball is even kicked. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut we take a look at why Qatar is hosting the tournament, how the world's reacted to the decision and a form guide on who might take home the glory. Squiz recomm...

Next week leaders from around the globe will converge on Bali for a meeting of the G20 - which is the forum that brings together the world's biggest economies. There’s been a lot of focus on a possible showdown between the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia - but there is plenty more to watch out for. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we break down the big issues on the G20's agenda, how the Russia...

Next week in the US voters will cast their votes in the midterms, which will elect a whole bunch of new members to Congress (which is the equivalent of our Federal Parliament.) So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we break down what the midterms are, why you'll be hearing about them and Donald Trump and the big issues for voters in America right now. Squiz recommends: Tracking the states where aborti...

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has just handed down his first Budget, the first for a Labor Government in nearly 10 years. He's called it "solid and sensible" but warned that the world is heading towards tougher economic times. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at the state of the economy, what's in the Budget for you and the big challenges headed our way. Squiz recommends: ABC's overview o...

Mahsa Amini was a 22yo Iranian woman who was arrested by the country’s morality police in mid-September for wearing her hijab too loosely. She died in custody some days later, which led to large-scale protests across Iran and the world. So in this week's Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at what life is like for women in Iran, how these protests have been unfolding, and what might shake out in Iran's...

It was on 12 October 2002 that 202 people including 88 Aussies were killed in a terror attack in Bali. This week marks 20 years since that horrific event, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at what happened on that night in downtown Kuta, who was responsible for the attacks, and how it changed our relationship with Indonesia. Squiz recommends: Life-saving medical innovations and burns treat...

Whether you're an Optus customer or not, you might have heard the news of one of Australia's worst-ever data breaches that left millions of peoples' data exposed. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at how it happened, what the federal government is doing to try to stop history from repeating, and why a lot of Aussie businesses will be stepping up their cyber game. Squiz recommends: The gove...

There have been some big developments in the war in Ukraine, and the world's on edge wondering how it's all going to play out. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we look at Russia's big call-up of troops, its threats to go nuclear, and the way it's using referendums to claim parts of Ukraine. Squiz recommends: Global News Podcast - BBC Two Cities, Two Armies: Pivot Points in the Fight in Ukraine’s East -...

It wasn't that long ago Netflix was that shiny new thing we all went crazy for, but huge competition from other streaming services and a bit of audience fatigue with its shows means the gloss has come off. So in this Squiz Shortcut we take a look at the extraordinary rise of Netflix, who's who in the current world of streaming, and how all this competition might shake out. Squiz recommends: Top 10...

It doesn't matter about your age, where you live, or what you were doing last week - it's very likely you've been swept up in coverage of the Queen's death and the new era of King Charles III. So in this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we cut through the noise and take a look at a brief overview of the Queen’s 70-year reign, the events of the past week and what could happen going forward, and the futu...

It's been a bit of a ride in recent months when it comes to politics in the United Kingdom. The nation's new prime minister - former Foreign Secretary Liz Truss - was sworn in this week, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we get across why there's been a leadership change in the UK, who Liz Truss is, and the biggest challenges she's facing at home and abroad. Squiz recommends: The Liz Truss Foreign Secret...

Everywhere you turn in Australia people are looking for workers. Businesses are calling it a “crisis” and the new Albanese Government is holding a Jobs and Skills Summit this week to try to fix some of the most serious issues. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we look at how it’s come to this, who's responsible for educating and training the workforce of the future, and some of the ideas on the table to...

We're currently going through a pretty extraordinary period in Australian politics, with revelations that former PM Scott Morrison secretly appointed himself as a minister to 5 key portfolios. So in this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we'll answer all the big questions on how and why this happened, how are we governed in Australia, and who calls the shots in our Parliament. Squiz recommends: Plagued...

This week marks one year since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after the United States and its allies left the country. The country's economy is now in a state of collapse, with the United Nations estimating that almost all Afghans are living below the poverty line and human rights abuses are running rampant, particularly for women and girls. So in this episode of Squiz Shortcuts, we take...

Judith Durham and Olivia Newton-John were both giants of Australian music and died within one week of each other. They had very different musical styles, but both left a huge mark, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we get across what was shaping the Australian music scene at the time, the life and times of the 2 women, and the massive legacies they both leave behind. Squiz recommends: The Seekers perform...

▲ The Albanese government said it would deliver the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, and we've now heard of plans to hold a referendum to establish a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous Voice to Parliament within the next couple of years. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at how a referendum works, what a Voice to Parliament is, and the hurdles it's likely to come across in the pr...

Two and a half years of COVID has made us all more virus literate, and now there are concerns about 2 more that are going around - monkeypox and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). So in this Squiz Shortcut, we'll cover off what monkeypox is and what led to it being declared a global health emergency, what FMD is and the threat it poses to our farming industry, and the steps that are being taken to comb...

It's been 2 months since Anthony Albanese and his Labor team beat the Coalition led by Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce to reclaim government at the federal level. With Parliament set to resume on 26 July, we set the scene and take a look at the who's who on the front line, and the government's priorities that will shape the federal political scene in the weeks and months to come. Squiz recommends...

The beautiful and culturally rich nation of Sri Lanka is in economic and political collapse. With its President fleeing the country on a military jet amid mass protests, we take a look at the foundations of Sri Lanka, it's recent political history, and how one powerful family brought the nation to its knees. Our recommendations for further reading/watching/looking: A photo gallery of the President...

Australia and the Pacific Islands used to go together like cossies and sunscreen, but things have become more complicated and the relationship has been strained in recent times. So before PM Anthony Albanese and other Pacific Islands Forum leaders gather in Fiji to talk, we're going to go through our connection to the region, Australia's role in supporting Pacific Island nations, and the challenge...

The US Supreme Court has overturned Roe v Wade, removing American women's constitutional right to have an abortion. It wasn't exactly a surprise - the draft opinion was leaked 2 months ago - but when it was announced it was met with huge disappointment by campaigners for access to the services and celebration by those opposed to abortion. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we take a look at what led to th...

Figuring out how to start and grow a business can be intimidating, so in this 4-part series, we talk to 4 Aussie businesses about what they wished they knew before they started and how they got to where they are today. This is the final episode we are talking to Matt Whiley, founder of RE bar. He has been a business owner for over 20 years, so who better to talk to about the highs and lows of owni...

One of the biggest news stories going around is what's happening with our energy system, with Oz facing a raft of issues that have smashed supply and demand for electricity. It's a discussion that's packed with technical jargon and detail, so in this Squiz Shortcut, we get back to basics and take you through how our power grid works, what's happened to bring it to crisis point, and what can be don...