Squeeze Kids acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we podcast, the Turrbal and Combermary peoples.
Squeeze Kids! It's your daily news fix. Fun.
Free. Fresh. Hello and welcome to Squiz Kids today, your fresh take on what's happening in the world around you.
I'm Bryce Corbett. It's Wednesday, August 13th.
In Squeeze Kids today, recognising Palestine, what it means.
Santa's cycling helpers, meteorite buzzes Melbourne, and yee-haw, it's rodeo time.
That's what's making news, kid style. The Lowdown.
You've probably heard a lot this week about a place called Palestine. and specifically the decision by our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to recognise it as a state.
And there's a better than average chance you've found yourself wondering, um, what does that mean and why is it important?
Palestine, as we've talked about before on the podcast, is a region in the Middle East made up of two places specifically, called the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
You've probably heard of Gaza in the news a lot lately.
The people who live there are called Palestinians.
But Palestine is not recognized as a country.
You see, 77 years ago in 1948, the country of Israel was created. as a safe homeland for Jewish people after World War II, a war in which they suffered horrifically.
But at the time, The land was also home to Palestinians.
And ever since, there's been tension, violence and wars over who controls what. who owns what, and who can build homes where.
Many world leaders believe the best chance for peace in the region is via what's called a two-state solution. which is to say, one country called Israel sitting next to one country called Palestine, living separately but side by side.
And in the past couple of weeks, countries like France, the United Kingdom and Canada have all indicated they will recognise Palestine as its own country.
And this week, Australia followed suit. The hope is that one day children in both Israel and Palestine can grow up side by side in peace and safety.
Spin the globe. Each day we give the world globe a spin and find a new story from wherever it stops.
And today we've landed in Germany, in a little town called Saint Nikolaus. where Santa's helpers are swapping sleighs for bicycles.
Right now, Three postal workers are on a very special mission.
They're riding their bikes nearly 3,000 kilometers through Germany, Denmark and Sweden, all the way to Santa's official home in Finland.
Why? Well, in some European countries, including Germany, it's Saint Nicholas who delivers presents on December 6, not December 25.
But in the little German town of St. Nikolaus, the post office doesn't just get letters to St.
Nick. It also gets thousands and thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus.
And to make sure Santa gets his mail, these postal elves are making the delivery in person.
It's a magical mix of Christmas spirit, kindness and serious pedal power.
It reminds me, with just 134 days until Christmas, I should maybe get my wish list in soon too.
Spaced out. What is going on in the skies above our heads?
First this week we had the news that folks in Victoria were swooped on Sunday night by a meteorite which lit up the night sky even created a sonic boom as it screeched through the Earth's atmosphere.
Social media lit up with photos and videos of the meteorite, which was spotted everywhere from Ballarat Bendigo and down in Melbourne.
The space rock is believed to have been about the size of a watermelon, and scientists are now scrambling to try to find out where it landed.
Because finding a rock from outer space down here on Earth is really exciting. which explains why scientists in the US are doing cartwheels after a meteorite fell to Earth there a couple of months ago and crashed through a man's roof, if you can believe.
The rock was recovered. The man was not hurt, and yesterday scientists confirmed that the meteorite was older than the Earth itself. a piece of rock, which is more than four and a half billion years old.
That's billion with a B. And that's also the sound of my brain exploding.
Sport time. Can I get a yee-haw and a ride them cowboy?
And that's because right now, in a place called Mount Isa... in the outback of Queensland.
More than 700 cowboys and cowgirls and thousands of enthusiastic spectators have gathered for the Mount Isa Rodeo.
We're talking steer wrestling and bull riding and team roping and something called barrel riding.
And there's even a competition for young rodeo contestants. where teenagers compete to see who can stay on the back of a bucking bull or a bucking horse for the longest.
All with a safety helmet on, of course. Yeah, I dunno.
I think I'll just watch from the comfort of my living room, if you don't mind.
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. In what country is the township of St Nikolaus?
Well done if you said Germany. Question number two.
How many billions of years old was the meteorite that landed on a man's roof in the United States?
Did you say four and a half? You would be correct.
Question number three. In which Queensland outback town is a big rodeo taking place this week?
Well done if you said Mount Isa. Shout out.
It's Wednesday, August 13. Today is International Left Handers Day.
At last, a day just for me and my goofy-handed brothers and sisters.
Lefties of the world, unite! Today is also a special day for these squiz kids celebrating a birthday today.
Laura from Oatley, Frank from Westleigh, Malia from Pimble and Imogen from Old Guildford.
And a belated birthday shout-out goes to Jacob from Kyle Bay.
And today's Classroom Shoutouts go to Class 56E with Miss Lukong at Maitland Lutheran School.
Class 5-6T with Mr Meeson at Belmont Primary School.
Class 5M with Miss Jenkins at MacKillop College.
Catholic College in Mount Peter and Class 4Y with Mr Peng and Class 1 Orange. with Mrs Roberts and Mrs Terracini, both at City Point Christian College in Carindale.
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 thesquiz.com.au or fill out the form on our website.
Well, that's all we have time for. Thanks for listening to Squiz Kids today.
And a reminder that next Tuesday we'll have our very special Squiz Kids Q&A with the one and only Andy Griffiths.
Treehouse author extraordinaire. Can't wait for that one.
In the meantime, get out there and have a most excellent day.
Over and out. Thank you.
