Friday, 7 March - I’m a rebel just for kicks

March 07, 2025

Good morning, it’s Friday, 7 March. In your Squiz Today…

  • Cyclone watch continues as Alfred gets closer

  • Farewell to an Aussie tennis legend

  • And a tasty way to pack in your greens… 🥬

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“That’s a lot of lawns you gotta mow there.”

Ben Affleck told his 13yo son Samuel who was eyeing a pair of Dior Air Jordans at a recent sneaker convention. Affleck Snr is no stranger to high-end kicks, having directed and starred in Air but he drew the line at $9,500…

A slow approach

The Squiz

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has slowed right down on its journey towards southeast Queensland and northern NSW, with meteorologists now predicting it will make landfall near Brisbane early tomorrow morning. As of now, it’s been downgraded and tipped to cross as a category 1 cyclone - but it’s an evolving situation, so stay tuned… Regardless, Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior forecaster Matthew Callopy says “the hazards including the wind, rainfall, storm surge and flooding remain, and we expect them to develop through the day”. 

It’s already looking stormy…

Yep. Callopy said it's important not to get "hung up" on its rating or the exact time it hits because it won't be a flash in the pan - the weather system will cause impacts before and after. That was certainly the case in the Gold Coast yesterday, where the biggest-ever wave (a 12.3m whopper…) was recorded. For that reason, authorities have told people to avoid the coast… High swells, torrential rain, strong winds and power outages have also begun to hit towns in northern NSW, where communities are particularly worried about flooding. And it means there are also a lot of warnings from the State Emergency Services for people to be ready to evacuate if needed. You can check if your suburb is affected here. 

So what now?

We’ll point you to the latest BOM updates… The delay means people in affected regions have had more time to prepare, but NSW Premier Chris Minns says it’s little consolation. He says Alfred will “be late but linger even longer” - meaning “the window for destruction … is longer than we would have otherwise”. If you need an idea of how much destruction they’re preparing for, Treasurer Jim Chalmers reckons, with 1.8 million homes in the cyclone’s path, the damage bill could run into the billions. As for what it means more broadly, PM Anthony Albanese hasn’t ruled out calling the federal election in the coming days - despite calls from Coalition leader Peter Dutton to hold off on any big announcements.

Your fresh market update…

The Squiz is all about giving you useful stuff. So, we’ve teamed up with Woolies to share their top weekly fruit and veg picks. Here’s what to grab this week:

🌽 Sweet corn: Is in great supply. Look for bright green husks when choosing…

💜 Black plums: Excellent quality. Slightly soft to the touch means they’re sweet and ready to eat.

🥕 Baby carrots: Take ‘em to the office for a quick and convenient snack or enjoy at home with dip.

Squiz the Rest

Cutting out the middle men

Negotiations are continuing with Hamas over the return of 59 Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza - but rather than using mediators, the US is going direct to the militant group. It's a notable change in approach because US officials haven't spoken to Hamas’ leaders since designating it a terror organisation in 1997. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Israel was consulted about the move, and that the push to “talk to anyone” to get a deal done was coming from US President Donald Trump. He then weighed in on social media with a "last warning" to Hamas to release the hostages… Trump's been making deals on the local front as well, agreeing to postpone tariffs on Mexican goods for another month, while talks are continuing with Canada. 

*If you want to know more about the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, we’ve got a Shortcut for you… 

A major military mishap

The South Korean air force says it will investigate how a military jet accidentally dropped bombs on a civilian area during training exercises. The jet dropped the bombs while doing a live-fire exercise - which is where they use live ammunition - near the city of Pocheon, near the North Korean border. At least 8 people were injured, 2 of those seriously, and as you can see here, severely damaging several homes and a church. Reports say this has been an ongoing problem for the city - residents have been angsty about a nearby US military complex for years now - with issues like local kids being scared by the sound of gunfire. An airforce official has apologised "for the damage caused by the abnormal drop accident".

Wishing upon a financial Star

It’s not been the best of weeks (or months, or years…) for Star Entertainment, the operator of casinos in NSW and Queensland - but things are looking up. Yesterday, the company said it’s made a deal with a group of Hong Kong-based shareholders to sell its Brisbane casino. Reports say the $50 million bailout by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and Far East Consortium is part of a bigger plan to save Star from collapse. FYI - the company is struggling under huge debts, with its shares suspended on the Australian Stock Exchange last week after failing to disclose its half-year financial results - and warnings it could run out of cash by today. So this development might have come in the nick of time…

Vale to an Aussie ace

Fred Stolle, one of the greats from Australia’s “golden age of tennis”, has died aged 86yo. At his peak, the former world #1 had 2 tennis majors, 3 Davis Cups, and 10 grand slam doubles titles to his name. He won his first singles major at the French Open in 1965, and a year later, he clinched the US Open. In both of those matches, he beat a fellow Aussie - Tony Roche and John Newcombe respectively - which gives you an idea of how dominant Australia was in tennis during the 60s. When he hung up his racquet, Stolle became a coach and then a popular commentator. Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley led the tributes yesterday - he said Stolle's "legacy is one of excellence, dedication, and a profound love for tennis".

The winner takes a ball

Thousands of pooches put their best paws forward in the UK overnight on the first day of the annual Crufts dog show. Crufts has a long history - the first show was in 1891 - and it's grown and grown to the point it's now a 4-day event, with 24,000 dogs taking part last year. Over the coming days, dogs will compete in contests like heelwork, obedience and, of course, beauty. The 2024 champ was an Australian shepherd called Viking and you can head to the Crufts YouTube page to follow who might succeed him as top dog. It’s not just for purebreds, either - the annual Scruffts competition celebrates all things crossbreeds as well - and it’s also open to obedience school dropouts. Someone call the pup-arazzi… 

Friday Lites - 3 things we liked this week

It’s been a week of high US-Canadian tensions, and even the birdlife seems to be getting in on it… Photographer Mervyn Sequeira’s photos of an American bald eagle swooping on its prey - a lone Canada goose, which managed to defend itself against all odds - have been doing the rounds. Talk about feathers flying…

The movie A Real Pain hit the streaming service Disney+ recently - it’s a short comedy-drama about 2 Jewish cousins touring Poland after the death of their grandma. A big reason to watch is Kieran Culkin’s performance - he just took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and he is remarkable in it.

If you’re looking for a new dinner recipe to try, this palak paneer might be of interest. If you haven’t tried it before, it’s a spinach curry with cubes of fried cheese - which can be swapped out for tofu, if you're more inclined. Cook up some saffron rice and dig in…

Squiz the Day

Friday
8.00am (AEDT) - It’s Navy Open Day which is timely given rescued Lithuanian rower Aurimas Mockus is set to arrive bright and early aboard the HMAS Choules - Sydney

10.00am (AEDT) - Moomba Festival begins (until 10 March)

6.00pm (AEDT) - NRL Round 1 games continue with Tigers v Knights first up (until 9 March) - watch on Kayo

7.40pm (AEDT) - AFL opening round, Sydney Swans v Hawthorn Hawks - Sydney, and watch on 7Plus

ABS data release - Monthly Household Spending, January; Multiple Job Holders, December

WOMADelaide (until 10 March)

Roarfest 2025, celebrating women in music

National Employee Appreciation Day

Anniversary of:

  • Alexander Graham Bell receiving a patent for the telephone (1876)

  • the invention of Monopoly (1933)

  • Hitler breaking the Treaty of Versailles by sending troops to the Rhineland (1936)

  • the death of director Stanley Kubrick (1999)

Saturday
🥳 The Squiz turns 8

WA heads to the polls

8.00pm (AEDT) - NBL: Grand final series game one, Illawarra Hawks v Melbourne United - Wollongong, and watch on Kayo

Special Olympics World Winter Games - Italy 

MMA: UFC 313 - Las Vegas

International Women's Day 

Birthdays for actors Freddie Prinze Jr (1976) and James Van Der Beek (1977)

Anniversary of:

  • Henry VIII being recognised as supreme head of Church in England (1531)

  • the founding of the New York Stock Exchange (1817)

  • the marriage of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis (1952)

  • the disappearance of flight MH370 with 227 passengers and 12 crew onboard (2014)

Sunday
12.30pm (AEDT) - WNBL grand final series game 2, Townsville Fire v Bendigo Spirit - Townsville, and watch on Kayo

8.00pm (AEDT) - Cricket: ICC Champions Trophy final, India v New Zealand - Dubai, and watch on Prime Video

World DJ Day

Anniversary of:

  • the launch of the Barbie doll at the American Toy Fair in New York (1959)

  • Soviet flight Sputnik 9 returning from orbit with a dog, frogs and a guinea pig (1961)

  • the death of rapper The Notorious BIG (1994)

  • NASA Space Shuttle Discovery making its final landing after 39 flights (2011)