It’s been 2 weeks since we last Squized, so this quick recap is as much for us as it is for you…

Bad weather in Queensland turns deadly – Severe storms and heatwaves wreaked havoc across Queensland, NSW, and Victoria during Christmas, resulting in the loss of 10 lives, including a 9yo girl in Brisbane. Southeast Queensland bore the brunt of the Christmas storms, with over 180,000 homes left without power following days of hail, flash flooding, and lightning strikes. The Australian Defence Force has been assisting with clean-up, and the damage bill is expected to be huge. 

Vale Bill Granger – Tributes flowed for Aussie chef and food writer Bill Granger who died aged 54yo from cancer. Known as the ‘King of Breakfast’, Granger was behind the iconic ‘Bills’ restaurants that started in Sydney’s Darlinghurst and spread like avo on toast across the world. 

Vale Melissa Hoskins – Two-time Olympic cyclist Melissa Hoskins died after being hit by a ute driven by her husband outside her home in Adelaide. Gold medalist Rohan Dennis has been charged with a number of dangerous driving offences and is out on bail awaiting trial in March. Her family said Melissa was “a freewheeling spirit, a giver with a big heart, patience and zest for life”. 

Hamas deputy killed – Saleh al-Arouri was killed in an Israeli air strike on Lebanon, leading the terror organisation to say his death will be avenged. It comes amidst growing concerns that the Iran-backed, Lebanese-based militant group Hezbollah could be further drawn into the conflict. Meanwhile, 2 Aussie brothers were also killed during the Israeli airstrikes – the Aussie Government says it’s investigating Hezbollah’s claim that one of the brothers killed was a fighter for the group.

A major earthquake in Japan – A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s west coast, destroying thousands of homes and setting off multiple tsunami warnings. At least 86 people have been confirmed dead and 300+ injured, with the search for bodies continuing. Almost 600 aftershocks have been felt since the quake, with authorities warning another big one could come.  

Tokyo airport crash – A dramatic collision between a Japanese Coast Guard plane and a Japan Airlines flight at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport has left 5 dead. Despite being engulfed with flames, all 379 passengers/crew – including several Aussies – were able to evacuate. The Coast Guard pilot, the sole survivor from that plane, has severe injuries. Authorities say the plane was en route to deliver aid to Japan’s quake victims and had not been cleared for takeoff. 

South Korea’s opposition leader stabbed – Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is recovering in ICU after being stabbed in the neck during a public press conference. The attack occurred 3 months before a crucial parliamentary election, with the attacker apprehended at the scene. Lee, who narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election by less than 1% of the vote, is facing trial on alleged property corruption charges – charges he says are politically motivated.

Queen Margrethe abdicates – Denmark’s Queen Margrethe surprised royal watchers everywhere by announcing her abdication in her annual New Year address. She said it’s the right time to go, following several recent family and health challenges. After 52 years on the throne, she steps down on 14 January as the world’s only reigning queen and Europe’s longest-serving monarch. Crown Prince Frederik is set to become King, making Princess Mary the first Aussie-born Queen.  

LawConnect takes out Sydney to Hobart – In a nail-biting finish, LawConnect snagged line hounors, just 51 seconds ahead of Andoo Comanche. Andoo Comanche led for most of the race, but a close battle on the final sprint – and a wayward spectator – saw LawConnect crossing the line at one day, 19 hours, 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Coming in last (but first in our hearts) was feline sailor Oli and his owner Bob Williams, with a time of 7 days, 19 hours, 26 minutes and 15 seconds.

An unexpected opponent – During a qualifying match at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament, former US Open Champion Dominic Thiem spotted an on-court visitor – a snake. The brown snake halted play for 40 minutes until it was safely removed. Snakes might just be Thiem’s lucky charm – he went on to win the match against Aussie James McCabe.

Beating Tetris – A 13yo from Oklahoma has done the seemingly impossible by conquering the popular game. Wondering what that entails? You have to reach level 157, where the blocks start moving so fast that the game can’t continue and crashes. Previously only bots had reached the elusive ‘kill screen’. The teenager, who only started playing the game 2yrs ago, dedicated the feat to his late father.   

A Swift new record – Picking up in 2024 where she left off in 2023, Taylor Swift has broken Elvis Presley’s record for solo artist with most weeks on the #1 album chart. Her latest album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) claimed the top spot for the fifth time in 2023, bringing her to a total of 68 weeks. She’s still chasing The Beatles, though, who hold the title for all artists with a whopping 132 weeks.