Thursday, 8 May - I ran so far away

May 08, 2025

Good morning, it’s Thursday, 8 May. In your Squiz Today…

  • Tensions between India and Pakistan boil over

  • The conclave is underway

  • And a happy homecoming for Valerie the runaway sausage dog…

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Squiz the Weather

Squiz Sayings

“Now we all just have to stay alive until next year." 

Said YouTuber @manlikeisaac after Rockstar Games dropped a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, the next instalment in the billion-dollar gaming franchise. The game was supposed to launch this year, but it's been knocked back until 26 May next year - whatever keeps you staying healthy…

A crisis in Kashmir

The Squiz

Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif says at least 31 people have been killed after India launched missile strikes yesterday morning on sites in both Pakistan and the Pakistan-controlled part of Kashmir, a disputed territory in between the 2 countries. India says the missiles were directed at infrastructure used by terrorists in response to an attack on 22 April by a militant group on Hindu tourists at a mountain resort in Pahalgam, which is in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir. But Sharif said this morning that civilians had been killed in the attack, and Pakistan has responded by shooting down 5 Indian military jets and a drone - India’s yet to confirm if that’s the case.

What’s the situation with Kashmir?

First of all, it’s important to know that Kashmir is split into separate areas - here’s a map. An area to the north and west is administered by Pakistan, and the southern region - known as Jammu & Kashmir, is administered by India - the border between them is known as the ‘Line of Control’. It’s been in dispute since 1947, when both India and Pakistan gained independence from the UK - but at the time, Kashmir declined to become part of either nation. India, which has a majority Hindu population, and Pakistan, which has a mostly Muslim population, have been fighting over it ever since. In 2019, a terrorist attack on Indian paramilitary police threatened to escalate things again, but a US intervention settled things down and they’ve been relatively quiet since - until 22 April.

What happened after that?

India has claimed that some of the militants who carried out the attack on the tourists were Pakistani citizens - in his address this morning, Sharif denied his country had any involvement, and said that India had rejected his call for an investigation. Given that both Pakistan and India possess nuclear weapons - though both countries say they are a deterrent only - political leaders from around the world are asking them to settle things down. As for whether that will happen, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria says diplomacy will be the key to ensure both countries don’t “rapidly climb the ladder of escalation”. The conflict has a long and complex history, so for some helpful background, we found this collection of articles that explain some of the key moments along the way.

Bringing down your energy bills

Episode 6 of Origin Energy’s podcast So Watt? is out now, and steps inside the humble home office - a place many of us spend lots of time these days. With lights, internet and monitors - the set-up can really add up. In the episode, you’ll learn about boosting the energy efficiency of your workspace - and all the other spaces at home - with a few simple tricks and swaps. You can learn more here, or listen to the episode in your favourite podcast player now.

Squiz the Rest

The conclave is underway…

…and the first vote to elect a new Pope has been tallied, but it was black smoke that billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel this morning - a sign that the 133 cardinals locked inside haven’t reached a decision. As they started late, the cardinals will go back to their Vatican quarters overnight and return tomorrow. A maximum of 4 votes per day are carried out, and it’s all very hush-hush - the Vatican has gone to great lengths to prevent the outside world from listening in. So while we don’t know exactly what’s happening inside, we do know a bit about some of the candidates. Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, Peter Turkson from Ghana, Robert Francis Prevost from the US and Pietro Parolin from Italy are considered some of the frontrunners… Stay tuned for the white smoke - that’s when we’ll know a new Pope has been chosen…

If you want to know a bit more about the whole process of the conclave, we’ve got just the Squiz Shortcut for you…

Another party leader bites the dust

Following days of counting, Greens leader Adam Bandt is projected to lose his lower house seat of Melbourne - although he hasn’t conceded yet. Bandt’s primary vote took a hit in last weekend’s election, dropping 4.4% - with the ABC projecting that Labor’s Sarah Witty will win the seat. If that happens, it’ll make Bandt - who was first elected in 2010 and became leader of the Greens in 2020 - the second party leader behind Coalition leader Peter Dutton to be ousted in Labor’s landslide victory. But Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi says it ain’t over ‘til it’s over, and with 15,000 votes still to be counted, she has “everything crossed and hope that Adam gets across the line”. 

A changing of the guard

Speaking of big names on the way out… NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has announced she’ll finish up in the role at the end of September. She’s been in the force for 38 years and was sworn into the top job in February 2022, making history as the first woman in the role. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing - she’s faced criticism over her handling of some high-profile cases, including the murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird (allegedly at the hands of police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon) and the tasering of 95yo Clare Nowland by police officer Kristian White. But yesterday, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley praised Webb’s “extremely distinguished career marked by exemplary service”. Webb said she felt the time was right to step down and “wanted to give the state government time to recruit” her replacement. Let the search begin…

The Bear necessities

West Australians will soon join the legions of NRL fans around the country, with the announcement due today that they’re getting their own team - their first since the mid 90s. And with it, they’ll inherit a slice of history, with the name of the club, the Perth Bears, reviving that of past league legends, the North Sydney Bears. WA Premier Roger Cook, whose government is coughing up $65 million to help fund the code’s western expansion, said it would help deliver jobs and boost tourism “as the WA brand is exposed to millions” across Oz and overseas… It’s a bit of a trek to Perth from the eastern states, but there’s plenty of time to get organised - the new side won’t be up and running until 2027 or possibly 2028.  

A happy homecoming

Valerie the dachshund has finally been reunited with her owners Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock in NSW after her 529-day adventure on South Oz’s Kangaroo Island. You’d have to have been living under a rock (or been AWOL in the wilderness…) to miss this story, but Valerie disappeared while the couple was camping on KI in November 2023, only to resurface on wildlife cameras in March. Her story went global before rescuers caught her last week, and despite Valerie’s long time away, Georgia says it doesn’t look like her “princess” was starving - she’s put on 1.8kg and barely fits in her hot pink harness… KI locals suspect someone was feeding her, and one of the Kangala Wildlife Rescue directors says they believe “possums or cats out there were grooming her”, given how shiny her coat was. Girl had her priorities…

Apropos of Nothing

A new study has found that tyrannosaurids - the ancestors of the Tyrannosaurus Rex - made their way to North America by crossing a land bridge between modern-day Siberia and Alaska. If that journey sounds freezing, 70 million years ago those arctic plains would’ve been temperate rainforests, so not too pterrible …

Things got heated in the kitchen recently between 2 leading cookbook authors after RecipeTin Eats' Nagi Maehashi accused bakery owner Brooke Bellamy of plagiarism. But one score was settled last night - the 2 were up for illustrated book of the year, and Maehashi took home the prize.

And the International Olympic Committee has presented swimming great Gary Hall Jr. with 10 Olympic medals after his were destroyed in the LA wildfires earlier this year. Replacing his 5 golds, 3 silvers, and 2 bronzes, the swimmer said he'd "do a better job taking care of these". Heavy is the neck that wears the medals… 

Squiz the Day

9.00am (AEST) - Launch of the Cafe SHEIN Fashion Week pop-up - Sydney

11.00am (AEST) - RAAF to perform flypast in celebration of Victory in Europe Day, the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe after Nazi Germany formally surrenders - Penrith

12.00pm (AWST) - Woodside will hold its AGM with an environment protest planned by Greenpeace and the Conservation Council of WA - Perth

The NRL is set to announce a new team, the Perth Bears, in Western Australia - Perth

ABS Data Release - Barriers and Incentives to Labour Force Participation, December 2024

A 3-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is set to begin

And Ukraine’s parliament will vote on whether to ratify a minerals deal signed with the US

A birthday for British broadcaster and biologist Sir David Attenborough (1926)

Anniversary of:

  • the first Westminster Dog Show (1877)

  • Coca Cola sold publicly for the first time at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia – cocaine and all… (1886)

  • VE or Victory in Europe Day: World War II ends in Europe after Nazi Germany formally surrenders (1945)

  • The Beatles releasing their final album Let It Be (1970)

  • the World Health Organisation announcing the eradication of smallpox (1980)

  • Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivering the first budget surplus in 15 years (2023)