New laws for combatting mis/disinformation are being considered in our federal parliament and generating quite a bit of chat on talkback radio and elsewhere… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll take a look at what they’re trying to achieve and why the legislation is controversial.

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Listening: This interview Sydney radio host Ben Fordham did with Communications Minister Michelle Rowland about the new laws. 

Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…

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Thursday, 21 November: Russia's war in Ukraine ramps up; Some train troubles in Sydney; The Demon makes a comeback; And a blue blob causes a stir...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 20 November: An Aussie is jailed in Hong Kong; More charges for Alan Jones; Bunnings is in hot water; And a new shearing world record...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

Sponsored: To learn more about how OFX can help your business, visit ofx.com/business.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Tuesday, 19 November: Charges are laid against Alan Jones; World leaders meet for the G20 Summit; Solving a long-standing mystery; And a new age for Miss Universe...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

If you want to read Claire's latest News Club newsletter about Wicked, you can find it here.

Sponsored: To learn more about how OFX can help your business, visit ofx.com/business.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Shortcut to… Alan Jones's arrest

Broadcaster Alan Jones has been arrested and charged after a 9-month police investigation into allegations he indecently assaulted and inappropriately touched a number of young men - the allegations themselves span nearly six decades. So in this Squiz Shortcut we’ll get you across who Alan Jones is and the allegations against him. 

Squiz Recommends: 

Reading: This article by Kate McClymont in the SMH is a good one if you’d like to read more about the allegations against Jones and the subsequent police investigation

Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…

Monday, 18 November: Federal Parliament's back in session; A new defence deal with Japan; The Wallabies have another win; And a cheesy honour...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

Sponsored: To learn more about how OFX can help your business, visit ofx.com/business.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Friday, 15 November: Trump tops the APEC agenda; Samantha Murphy's alleged killer makes a plea; AFLW teams duke it out; And a thriller to end your week...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

You can watch the trailer for The Day of the Jackal here.

And find the recipe for baked cheesecake here.

Sponsored: To learn more about how OFX can help your business, visit ofx.com/business.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Thursday, 14 November: Kevin Rudd's role in the US is questioned; Conflict at COP29; Shining a light on some shonky products; And the Booker Prize winner is named...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

Sponsored: To learn more about how OFX can help your business, visit ofx.com/business.

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

There’s a big UN conference happening this week to discuss climate change - it’s called COP29 and it’s where some important global decisions will be made, but there aren’t many world leaders going… Climate experts say it’s a critical time for the planet, so in this quick Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across COP29, what’s happening with the world’s climate (and ours), and what effect Donald Trump’s reelection could have on efforts to reduce global emissions… 

Squiz Recommends

Scanning: the CSIRO and the BoM’s State of the Climate Report which they produce every 2 years… they’ve just put this one out a couple of weeks ago, and it gives a good insight into Australia’s climate challenges.

Reading: This article in The Conversation explaining why it’d be a huge deal for Australia and the Pacific region to host the COP in 2026…

Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…

Wednesday, 13 November: An early election's on the cards; Trump starts assembling his team; Rex gets a lifeline; And some unreal estate... 

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

You can watch the live stream of the Geelong Botanic Gardens' corpse plant here.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Tuesday, 12 November: Trump focuses on foreign policy; Another schoolyard crash; An Aussie billionaire heads to the US; And Mattel mucks up...

The Squiz is your shortcut to being informed. Get The Squiz Today newsletter in your inbox each weekday morning (links to all today’s stories, plus a dose of quirky news).

You can watch the live stream of the Geelong Botanic Gardens' corpse plant here.

Sponsored: To find out more about Aware Super, visit aware.com.au

Other things we do:

Squiz Kids - a news podcast for curious kids. Age-appropriate news without the nasties!

Newshounds, by Squiz Kids - a free media literacy program designed to teach primary-school students how to recognise misinformation and disinformation when they come across it.

Check out News Club - the place for conversations about the news hosted by Claire Kimball and Kate Watson - including the interview series, Newsmakers.

Sign up for the Saturday Squiz newsletter here - it's the news, weekend style.

Sign up for The Squiz Shortcuts newsletter here - a weekly explainer on big news topics

Support The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.