Thursday, 17 April - Proud Mary keep on burnin'

April 17, 2025

Getting toasty with Origin

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 17 April. In your Squiz Today…

  • The debate continues over Russia’s military plans in Indonesia

  • A landmark ruling over the definition of a woman

  • And a fancy fish pie… 🐟

🎧 Listen to the podcast

🤓 This email will take you 6 minutes to read

Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

"The road ahead will be challenging, but I'm ready to take it on."

Said Matildas star Mary Fowler after scans confirmed she has ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament, which means she will be out for months and is in serious doubt to play the Women’s Asian Cup on home soil in March next year. Get better soon, Mary… 

No love from Russia

The Squiz

The 2 major parties are still exchanging words over the handling of a report that Russia was planning to base some long-range aircraft in an Indonesian military airport 1300km from the Aussie mainland. During last night's leaders’ debate, PM Anthony Albanese criticised Coalition leader Peter Dutton for saying that request had been publicly announced by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto - a little while before the Indonesian government said it wasn't going to happen. Dutton said while that comment “was a mistake”, the government should have known more about the relationship between the 2 countries. 

Fill me in on this… 

So a report from a military news site called Janes said Russia had asked Indonesia to use the airport in Papua for some of its long-range aircraft. On Tuesday, Dutton said it would be a "catastrophic failure" of diplomatic relations if the government hadn't been forewarned. He's since pointed out that Russian ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Tolchenov - who spoke for the first time about the report yesterday and didn’t confirm or deny it - has played up the importance of the military relationship between the 2 countries, and that’s something we should be more across. But Albanese said it was an “extraordinary double down from the alternative Prime Minister of Australia”. 

What else happened in the debate?

The PM came under pressure on the subject of power prices - Labor promised at the last election that they would fall $275 by 2025, but one look at your bills will probably tell you that hasn't happened. So he didn't put any numbers or timing on it this time around - just saying that renewables were the cheapest way to go. Other topics included climate change, Australia's failures in Closing the Gap, and US President Donald Trump. Unlike last week, there was no audience of undecided voters in the studio to pick a winner, but the whole 90-minute extravaganza is online if you'd like to choose your own… And as we head into the long weekend, a reminder that early voting starts on Tuesday - you can find a polling place here if you’ve made up your mind. 

Saying goodbye to laundry mould

Over 10 episodes, the third season of Origin Energy's podcast So Watt? brings on a range of experts to share tips and tricks about improving your home’s energy efficiency and saving money on your power bills. The third episode is out now, and it gets into the benefits of heat pump clothes dryers. They act like a dehumidifier, keeping hot air in the dryer and conserving energy, as well as preventing your laundry from getting damp and mouldy. You can find out more here… or listen to that episode in your favourite podcast player now.

Squiz the Rest

Another leak in the US

There’s been another twist in the case of the US national security team accidentally adding a journalist to a group chat discussing confidential military plans… You can read up on how the scandal played out here, but it's now taken on another angle with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's top advisor Dan Caldwell being investigated for leaks at the US Department of Defense. We don't know what was leaked, but Caldwell's been put on administrative leave for “an unauthorised disclosure”. For context, he’s considered a senior member of Hegseth’s team - being described as the best point of contact for the US National Security Council in the now-infamous Signal group chat. He hasn’t commented, and the investigation is continuing.

A ruling on what it means to be a woman

In a landmark decision that could have big implications for equality laws, the UK’s highest court has ruled that the definition of a woman is someone born biologically female and doesn’t include transgender women. The ruling was made in a case dealing with the issue of whether trans women are protected by anti-discrimination laws. It dates back to a law designed to increase the number of women on public service boards, including trans women. That part was challenged by a group called For Women Scotland - who count Harry Potter author JK Rowling among their supporters. The decision, which could have ramifications from bathrooms to boardrooms, has been criticised by human rights groups, with Amnesty International saying it was in conflict with human rights laws.

Bagging some cash

Hermès - the designer behind the famous Birkin bags - notched a win this week, becoming the world’s most valuable luxury brand. French design house LVMH (which is behind brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior…) previously held the title, but reports say it’s been affected by US tariffs, with sales falling in recent months. On the other stylish hand, reports say Hermès keeps a tight leash on the production of its goods, allowing the company to target wealthier clientele who can afford top dollar. Whether that continues remains to be seen… Chinese manufacturers, hit hardest by tariffs, claim Hermès and other luxury bags are secretly being made in their facilities for a fraction of the cost. That’s unconfirmed, but the videos are gaining steam on social media - so it’s one to watch.

Say it ain’t so, Cate

The Aussie movie megastar says she’s thinking about calling it quits - and has been for some time. Blanchett told the UK media that she's "serious about giving up acting" and "there are a lot of things I want to do with my life". If you're sceptical that Blanchett would really call time on her career, don't worry - she says her family never believes her when she brings it up either. To remind you of what we’d be losing, Blanchett won Oscars for her roles as Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator and the title character in Blue Jasmine. She’s also a familiar face to Lord of the Rings fans as Galadriel and is generally considered one of the best actors in the world. We might be selfishly hoping for a change of heart… 

A pioneer of navigation - and emojis

A stash of letters written by Matthew Flinders, who led the first circumnavigation of mainland Australia, is on display at the State Library of NSW and reveals a thing or two about the woes of 19th-century long-distance relationships. On the 2-year journey from England, the Captain of HMS Investigator got artistic in his letters to his wife, Ann, back home, scribbling smiley faces (paywall) that look pretty similar to what we in the 21st century like to call emojis. And after 10 years of separation from his beloved, things got a little more passionate than wholesome smiley faces - with lines like “feast me with love when I return, to recompense me for all my anxieties”. Well, it beats “U up?”, that’s for sure… 

Easter Lites - 3 things we liked this week

If you’re after a movie featuring a great dog and feel like taking part in some extreme adventure racing from the safety of the couch, Arthur the King is a goodie. It stars Mark Wahlberg and, for extra feel-good value, it’s based on a true story. Find it on Prime or Apple TV.

Continuing with our couch theme, if you’re in the mood to binge a show from start to finish, one of our go-to recommendations is the British cop drama Line of Duty. It’s got nothing to do with Easter at all, but it’s one of those shows that once you’re into it, you just want to watch one more… and one more… and one more… 

And if you do make it off the couch and to the table, this Neil Perry fish pie is a tried and true classic for Good Friday lunch if you’re opting to go the traditional route. The prawns and scallops make it seem fancy but it’s simple to pull together, which is exactly what we want on a long weekend.

Your fresh market update…

At The Squiz, we’re all about giving you the 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:

🍋 Lemons - Seafood, salads, cocktails - they’re all better with a citrusy spritz…

🧅 Onions - Pro tip: look for firm onions with dry, papery skins.

🎃 Kent pumpkins - As the weather starts to cool, roast Kent pumpkin really hits the spot…

Squiz the Day

Thursday
9.00am (AEST) - The NSW Auditor-General is set to release a report into Northern Beaches Hospital assessing how well the public-private partnership between Healthscope and the NSW Government is operating - Sydney

1.00pm (AEST) - Tickets go on sale for Lady Gaga's MAYHEM Ball tour, her first Australian tour in 11 years

4.30pm (AEST) - Rugby Union: The inaugural Women's Super Rugby Champions Final NSW Waratahs Women vs Auckland Blues - Auckland, watch it on Stan

ABS data release - Labour Force, March

Byron Bay Bluesfest kicks off, with headliners Crowded House, Vance Joy, and Hilltop Hoods (until 20 April) - Byron Bay

The Correspondent, a film about Award-winning Australian journalist Peter Greste who was arrested and jailed in Egypt for 400 days whilst reporting on the Arab Spring, is released in cinemas

Syria’s National Day

✋ Up high… It’s National High Five Day

Birthdays for politician Barnaby Joyce (1967), actor Jennifer Garner (1972), and model Victoria Beckham (1974)

Anniversary of:

  • the invention of modern snooker by Sir Neville Chamberlain (aka not the former UK PM...) (1875)

  • the premiere of Game of Thrones on HBO (2011)

  • the deaths of Benjamin Franklin (1790), Linda McCartney (1998), Gabriel García Márquez (2014) and Barbara Bush (2018)

Friday
Good Friday

7.00am (AEST) - WSL: Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach Victoria competition begins (until  28 April), and watch on Kayo

Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in New York, to reappear in court - NY, US

Coachella weekend 2 (until 20 April)

Independence Day - Zimbabwe

World Heritage Day

Birthdays for James Woods (1947), Conan O'Brien (1963), David Tennant (1971), Kourtney Kardashian (1979)

Anniversary of:

  • the publication of the world's first crossword puzzle book, by Simon & Schuster (1924)

  • the death of Albert Einstein (1955)

  • the marriage of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1956)

Saturday
Easter Saturday

10.00am (AEST) - Athletics: The Powercor Stawell Gift begins (until 21 April). Here’s the schedule - Stawell, Victoria

Basketball: NBA playoffs begin in the US

World Circus Day

National Garlic Day

Birthdays for Tim Curry (1946), Kate Hudson (1979), and Maria Sharapova (1987)

Anniversary of:

  • the deaths of Lord Byron (1824) and Charles Darwin (1882)

  • Charles Manson being sentenced to life in prison for the murder of actress Sharon Tate (1971)

  • Advance Australia Fair being proclaimed as Australia's national anthem, and green and gold becoming the national colours (1984)

Sunday
Passover ends

Easter Sunday for both the Catholic and Orthodox tradition

Birthdays for Jessica Lange (1949), Carmen Electra (1972), and Miranda Kerr (1983)

Anniversary of:

  • Marie and Pierre Curie isolating the radioactive compound radium chloride (1902)

  • the Columbine High School massacre (1999)

  • the death of Avicii (2018)

  • Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin being sentenced to 22.5 years' prison for the murder of George Floyd (2021)

Easter arrangements…

We’re off for Easter - yipee… That means the Squiz Today will be back on Tuesday morning. Saturday Squiz will be in your inbox as normal with an extra special Big Election Squiz Quiz. Take care over Easter and make sure you do have that extra bit of chocky…