Squeeze Kids acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we podcast the Turrbal and Combermeri people.
Squeeze Kids!
It's your daily news fix.
Fun, free, fresh.
Hello and welcome to Squeeze Kids Today, your fresh take on what's happening in the world around you.
I'm Bryce Corbett.
It's Monday, March 23.
In Squeeze Kids Today...
Cyclone Narelle packs a punch.
Historic win in South Australia.
Tillies take a tumble.
And Punch has a brand new friend.
That's what's making news, kids style.
You would think, with a name like Narelle, the tropical cyclone that swept across the top of Australia at the weekend would be gentle and lovely.
A little bit like a great aunt who brings a tea cake when she visits.
But oh no, Norell packed a punch as she slammed into the Queensland and Northern Territory coasts this weekend, leaving thousands without power in Cape York and sending hundreds to the sandbagging stations in regional communities like Catherine, a place that was already sodden after weeks of rain.
Sodden is a fancy word for soaked.
Norell left a path of destruction in her wake as she passed over Cape York.
That's the pointy bit of Australia, at the top of Queensland, knocking down trees and downing power lines.
Then she swung over the Gulf of Carpentaria before smashing into the Northern Territory, bringing heavy rains to a part of the country which, only two weeks ago, was recovering from floods.
Weather experts were yesterday watching nervously to see if Norell gathered strength again as it crossed into Western Australia, making that three states or territories visited by Norell in as many days.
And not even a tea cake in sight.
How rude.
The only thing that was raining down on South Australia at the weekend was the sweet sound of victory for Labor Premier Peter Malinowskis, who led his party to an historic election win.
It's four more years in power for Malley, as he's known to his friends, after folk in South Australia voted overwhelmingly to give his government another stint running the state.
Speaking after his big win, Malinowskis read out a poem by Henry Lawson and said Our differences and our tolerance of those differences is what makes Australia great.
Hear, hear.
Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a new story from wherever it stops.
And today we've landed in Seoul in South Korea, where the city was brought to a standstill at the weekend following the reappearance of the world's biggest boy band.
I'm talking, of course, about BTS, the boy band that was forced to take a little break when each member had to do mandatory military service.
Because in some countries, all young people are required to do a year's worth of army training.
It's the law.
There were no signs of army uniforms or marching in formation however, at the BTS comeback concert on the weekend.
Only high-powered choreography, full-throated singing and thousands and thousands of screaming fans.
The concert marks the release of a new album for the boys, which reports say sold 4 million copies on its first day of release.
And it also marks the beginning of a 79-date world tour which will see the lads perform in Sydney and Melbourne next February.
Sport time!
There were tears of joy and plenty of tears of sadness too, as the Women's Asian Cup came to a close on Saturday night, with the Matildas narrowly losing to Japan by one goal to nil.
The Tillys went into the final in Perth as underdogs ranked 15th in the world, compared to Japan's 8th world ranking.
And it was always going to be a steep hill to climb to beat Japan, who had cruised through the competition relatively untroubled.
But nevertheless, hopes were high and the crowd was kept on the edge of their seats as the Matildas attacked the Japanese goal again and again, but they just could not convert their chances into points.
Finally, the difference was Japan's remarkable goal, kicked in the 16th minute of play a belter of a ball from outside the box which sailed past goalie Mackenzie Arnold's fingertips to just catch the corner of the net.
Chin up, Tillies.
You did the country proud.
I'm a big believer that being the kind kid in the playground is just about the most important and impressive thing you can be.
Which is why I felt a surge of love this weekend upon hearing the news that Punch, the world's loneliest monkey, has a brand new friend.
You remember Punch, right?
The baby monkey in a Japanese zoo, who went viral a month ago when he was bullied and forced to play alone by nasty older members of his monkey troop.
He took to hanging out with a plush toy orangutan that zookeepers had given him.
Well, good news, because new video from the zoo shows that Punch has a friend.
His name is Mo and he and Punch are besties, spending their days rolling and wrestling and cuddling one another.
Punch, we couldn't be more happy for you.
And yes, of course, I've stuck a link to video of Punch and his new bestie in today's episode notes.
The South Australian election wasn't the only voting process that took part over the weekend.
Voting also took place for Squiz Kids' PM for a Day competition.
Judges, including House Speaker Milton Dick, kids author Annabel Crabb and the Communications Minister, Annika Wells, were busy going over a bunch of finalists' videos in preparation to name a winner at a special ceremony at Parliament House on Tuesday, March 31.
Who will it be?
Which one of you clever kids will be named Prime Minister for the day and get a personalised tour of Parliament House, attend Question Time and even meet the actual Prime Minister.
A huge thank you to all of the kids who sent in videos explaining what one thing they would do to make Australia a better place if they were PM for a day.
There were just under 500 videos sent in from all corners of our beautiful country And yes, I watched every single one of them.
You are all winners in my eyes.
So give yourselves a pat on the back and stay tuned for the big announcement.
Time for the quiz.
This is the part of the podcast where you get to test how well you've been listening.
Question number one.
Name the city, the capital of South Korea, where BTS performed a comeback concert this weekend.
Yeah, that's right.
It's Seoul.
Well done if you got that one.
Question number two.
Which political party won the South Australian election this weekend?
Was it the Labor Party or the Liberal Party?
Yeah, that's right.
It was the Labor Party.
Question number three.
What's the name of Punch the Monkey's new best friend?
Well done.
If you remembered that his new best friend's name is Moe.
Shout out.
It's Monday, March 23.
Cuteness overload alert, because today is National Puppy Day in the United States.
Shut the front door.
It's also a special day today for these Squiz Kids celebrating a birthday today and also kids celebrating a birthday tomorrow.
Claudia from Bold Blair, Elsie from Canberra, Asha from Gladstone, Mia from Goonoolaba, Vivian from Suffolk Park, Aidan from Kirrup, Hana from Forest Lake, Isaac and Lucas from Mansfield, Spencer from Wagga Wagga, Indy and Ollie from Glenbrook, Layla from Kalgoorlie and Willis from Ocean Grove.
And belated birthday shoutouts go to Miles from Mount Riverview, Sky from Hampton and Will from Lancefield.
And today's classroom shoutouts go to Year 5 class with Ms Mongan at Glasshouse Mountain State School.
Class 5 blue with Ms Murphy at Macaulay Catholic Primary School in Bondi.
Class 5-6B with Miss Brain at Griffith Public School.
Class 6-Alpine with Mr Atkinson at Loora Public School.
And Class 2-3MK with Mrs Moore and Mrs Kavanagh at Hamilton North Public School in Newcastle.
Don't forget if you've got a birthday coming up and you want a shout-out, or if you're after a classroom shout-out, drop us a line at squizkids at thesquizcomau, or fill out the form on our website.
Well, that's all we have time for.
Thanks for listening to Squiz Kids today.
We'll be back again tomorrow with a brand new Squiz Kids shortcut to propaganda.
Proper what?
Propaganda.
This is a really important one.
Throughout history, the way people think and act has been shaped by propaganda, which is usually untrue information that is spread to influence behaviours.
It's especially common in times of war, for example.
And with the advent of artificial intelligence, it's never been more dangerous or hard to spot.
Vital listening for all of you, my friends.
In the meantime, get out there and have a most excellent day.
Over and out.
Thank you.
