Monday, 31 March - Just me, myself and I

March 31, 2025

Good morning, it’s Monday, 31 March. In your Squiz Today…

  • The search for earthquake survivors in Myanmar continues

  • Grocery prices are back in the spotlight

  • And it’s payday for a couple of Aussie NBA stars… ⛹️

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“It has helped me see who is the good guy.”

Was a comment made under the name of Independent MP Andrew Gee on his own Facebook post accusing his opponents of shady tactics. He says a new staff member made an oopsie, and it’s not the first time a pollie has been caught impersonating themselves, is it Angus Taylor? 

The search for survivors in Myanmar continues

The Squiz

The death toll in Myanmar is still rising after Friday’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake, with more than 1,700 people killed and more than 3,600 injured. Those numbers are likely to increase as rescue teams continue to search through rubble, but stories of victims being pulled out alive over the weekend are giving crews some hope. Reports say it’s the most powerful earthquake to strike in the civil war-torn country in over a century, with most of the buildings in the ancient city of Mandalay - home to more than 1.5 million residents - flattened.

What happened?

The quake struck in central Myanmar around midday Friday. You can get into the science here, but to explain, the Southeast Asian country sits between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates (aka the slabs of rock that make up the Earth’s crust). When they rub against each other along the Saigang fault line, which runs through Mandalay, it triggers earthquakes. This one struck at a depth of 10km - and FYI, the closer to the surface, the stronger an earthquake is felt… It brought down buildings, damaged the Mandalay Royal Palace, and destroyed a major bridge. Tremors were felt across Southeast Asia - particularly in Thailand’s capital Bangkok. There, 18 people have died and more than 80 are still unaccounted for after a skyscraper that was under construction collapsed.

Anything else?

Closer to home, another natural disaster is unfolding, with record-breaking rainfall and flooding causing problems through inland Queensland and NSW. The outback Queensland towns of Stonehenge, Jundah and Windorah have been particularly hard hit, with some residents airlifted out in recent days. Premier David Crisafulli yesterday said the worst of the flooding could be yet to come, with more rainfall on the way this week on top of what’s already fallen. It has farmers worried about stock losses, with one saying “it’s going to be a mess” when the water does recede. They’ve warned it could be weeks before the full impact is known.

Squiz the Rest

They’re off and running…

The first weekend of federal election campaigning is done and dusted, with our political leaders focused on the cost of living. PM Anthony Albanese had our 2 major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, in his sights - he’s promised to ban price-gouging (which you can read up on here) if he’s re-elected. A Coles spokesperson pushed back on that yesterday, saying a recent report from our consumer watchdog found no evidence of it taking place. Coalition leader Peter Dutton was out speaking about his plans to bring down power prices - by forcing gas companies to set aside an amount of supply that would “otherwise be exported”. Along with campaigning, polling has also kicked off in earnest - with Labor showing a slight edge in both Newspoll and Resolve results out today. The countdown’s on until 3 May…

Another ceasefire is in the works

After nearly 2 weeks of renewed fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, another ceasefire deal is on the table. Hamas has accepted the terms of a plan drafted by mediators for 5 more Israeli hostages to be released in exchange for a 50-day truce. Israel says it's issued a counteroffer in cooperation with the US. Details are thin on the ground about what's in it, but Israel's initial request before it resumed military action was that all hostages, both living and dead, be released. If the 2 sides agree, reports say the fresh ceasefire could begin on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which starts in full today. Palestinian authorities say the death toll from the war has now surpassed 50,000. 

A “surprising” sentence

Former NSW police officer Kristian White has avoided a jail sentence for the manslaughter of 95yo grandmother Clare Nowland. On Friday, he was given 425 hours of community service, which Nowland's son called "a slap on the wrist". White's trial heard that Nowland was holding a knife at her aged care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma when he used the weapon in May 2023. The shot caused her to fall and hit her head, and she died a week later. Over the weekend, there was some surprise in legal circles about Justice Ian Harrison’s decision, in which he said that while White’s actions were an “error of judgement” that led to “tragic” consequences, sending him to prison would be “disproportionate” because he didn’t pose a risk to the community, and he’d expressed remorse in a letter to Nowland’s family. 

A royal charity split

A royal scandal has broken out over Prince Harry’s sudden resignation from his charity Sentebale, with the organisation’s chair accusing him of being a bully and using the royal PR “machine” against her. Harry founded the charity, which helps kids with HIV and Aids, in honour of his late mother Princess Diana to carry on her work. But last week, he quit as patron, saying he and his co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho had lost confidence in the chair Dr Sophie Chandauka. In TV interviews, she’s since accused the prince of unleashing “the Sussex machine”, saying his announcement was “an example of harassment and bullying at scale.” Haz said he was quitting with a “heavy heart” but that the relationship between the trustees and the chair had “broken down beyond repair.”

Show me the money

Aussies Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels are set to bounce their way into the history books - both players are tipped to land the richest NBA contracts ever signed by Aussies (paywall). That honour is currently held by Ben Simmons, who signed a 5-year $242 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers back in 2019. But pundits are tipping Giddey and Daniels to earn up to $320 million - that’s $64 million smackeroos per season. There’s buzz around both Victorians, but 22yo Giddey is the man of the moment after making this 3-pointer from halfcourt to steal a win for his team the Chicago Bulls over the LA Lakers with just seconds to go on the clock on Friday. Asked if he’d be watching the replay, he said “I’ll be watching that all night”.  

Apropos of Nothing

Australia has won jousting’s answer to the Ashes, beating the Poms at their own medieval game over the weekend at Kryal Castle in the kingdom of Ballarat - yep, Victoria’s very own. We snatched the tournament from the reigning champs by 2 points - and they’ll have to wait another 2 years to try to take it back.

A US teen has a big decision to make after being accepted to more than 60 colleges with a scholarship value of nearly $1.8 million. Mantavius "Lebron" Presley credits his single mum for being his biggest supporter and cheering him on in his goal to study medicine. What a legend.

Also in the US, Snail mail just got better after the postal service decided to honour "First Lady of Television", the late great Betty White with her own stamp. And, in a nod to her advocacy work for animals, she’s wearing earrings in the shape of a paw print - purrfect.

Squiz the Day

9.30am (AEDT) - Reserve Bank Board members will begin their 2-day monetary policy meeting ahead of tomorrow's cash rate announcement (ends 1 April) - Sydney

9.30am (AEDT) - Cast members of The Last of Us and The White Lotus are set to attend the launch of new streaming service Max - Sydney

ABS data release - Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study 2023/24; National Health Measures, 2022-24; Mortality, January-December 2024

🌮 Day of the Taco in Mexico

Birthdays for actor Christopher Walken (1943), former US Veep Al Gore (1948), musician Angus Young (1955), and actor Ewan McGregor (1971)

Anniversary of:

  • the deaths of Isaac Newtown (1727), Charlotte Brontë (1855), JP Morgan (1913) and Jesse Owens (1980)

  • Oliver Cromwell being offered the crown by the English Parliament (he declined) (1657)

  • the Eiffel Tower officially opening in Paris (1889)

  • Harry and Meghan officially stepping down from royal duties (2020)