Squiz Today

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides affordable access to necessary medicines for all Australians. It’s one of the cornerstones of our health system - but as with so many issues in the news at the moment, all roads lead to US President Donald Trump… So in this Squiz Shortcut, we get you across where the scheme fits, how it works, and the issues bubbling under the surface of the US-Australia alliance. Squiz Recommends: Reading: This article from the Sydney Morning Herald gives a good overview of the push by US big pharma companies for the Trump administration to put pressure on the Aussie government by imposing tariffs on our drug exports.Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…This podcast is brought to you by Visit CanberraWant the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday, 20 March: Stranded astronauts make it back safely; An Aussie JFK connection; the mystery of the missing Netflix show, and an upset winner in fish of the year.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 plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auHere's our shortcut to the stranded astronauts from last yearThis is what a blobfish looks like... 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Wednesday, 19 March: Fighting resumes in Gaza; Trump v the Supreme Court; An ancient fish fossil is found; And a rare move from the Academy...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 plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auYou can check out Hugh Jackman's Oscars opening number here.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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

A powerful pain relief drug called fentanyl has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s frequently mentioned as being one of the reasons for the US imposing steep tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll look at what the drug is, why it’s become a huge issue in the US and around the world, and what it’s got to do with tariffs.Squiz Recommends: Listening/Reading: Our Shortcut to Trump’s tariffs will get you across what the US President is trying to achieve with his ‘America first’ policyReading: This long read from the BBC follows the path of fentanyl from Mexico into the US via cartel smugglersSquiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…This podcast is brought to you by Visit CanberraWant the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Tuesday, 18 March: The CFMEU's in trouble again; A power struggle in Israel; Headed for a deficit; And a good day for spuds...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 plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auOther 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Monday, 17 March: A chance of Aussie peacekeepers in Ukraine; US airstrikes hit Yemen; Piastri spins out of the Formula 1; And surviving 95 days at sea...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: Here is the link for the Hubspot survey. 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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

Reckon you're full bottle on everything that happened in February? Well, time to test your mettle on the Squiz Quiz of the month! Quizmaster Andrew Williams is joined by returning January champ Claire Kimball and new challenger Larissa Huntington to test their memories. Can you beat our Squiz news experts in the studio?Here's a quick scoring guide if you're playing along at home:The quiz has 10 questions.Each question is worth 1 point (for a total of 10). The final round is worth a maximum of 5 points - Andrew will read 5 quotes about a news story - the faster you identify the story, the more points you get!The final score is out of a possible 15 points.

The tariff fallout continues; Russia pushes back on a ceasefire; Pokemon Go is on the move; And a twist on a Greek treat...SPONSORED: Here is the link for the Hubspot survey. SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auYou can find a handy list of sites to help compare power prices in this article.If you plan to whip up some spanakorizo, you'll find the recipe here.And you can check out the 100 best sports moments of the century here.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).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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.

The former president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested this week for crimes against humanity that were allegedly committed during his ‘war on drugs’. The International Criminal Court, which issued the warrant, claims that tens of thousands of people were killed as a result of Duterte’s crackdown when he was leader. So in this Squiz Shortcut, we’ll get you across his time as president, his arrest, and his enduring popularity in the Philippines.Squiz Recommends: Watching/listening: This episode of the ABC’s If You’re Listening podcast on the background to the family feud between Rodrigo ‘Roddy’ Duterte and Bongbong Marcos…Listening/Reading: Our Squiz Shortcut to the ICC. It’ll explain its role in the world, how it works, and whether it's effective. And here’s the link for the newsletter.Squiz Shortcuts is your back story to the big news stories…Want the email version? Sign up for the Shortcuts newsletter here

Thursday, 13 March: No tariff exemption for Australia; A possible ceasefire in Ukraine; A local equipped with a heart, And a test of still...SPONSORED: Here is the link for the Hubspot survey. SPONSORED: To plan your next trip to Canberra, head to visitcanberra.com.auThe 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).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 topicsSupport The Squiz by sharing our newsletters and podcasts with your friends.