Squiz Today – Tuesday, 28 November

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"It's been smouldering I think for the last 10 years that I've noticed it, but there's no rhyme or reason as to why. I don't know."

Daryl Braithwaite’s 1991 version of The Horses is a hit with millennials for some reason. One for Harry and Meghan's wedding playlist perhaps?

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ROYAL WEDDING AHOY AS PRINCE HARRY PROPOSES

THE SQUIZ
Prince Harry is engaged to American actress Meghan Markle. Prince Charles’ Clarence House made the announcement bright and early Monday morning (London time) confirming a royal wedding will take place between March and May next year. The happy couple backed it up with a photo call to show off Markle’s Harry Windsor-designed sparkler (note: the Prince, not Harry Winston). And they’ve done an interview with the BBC where Harry said he knew she was the one the first time they met. Aww! That sound you hear? That's a thousand media execs the world over hyperventilating in anticipation.

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
The proposal you mean? It happened one evening earlier this month at Harry's Nottingham Cottage (located on the grounds of Kensington Palace) as the couple were roasting chicken. True story. He got on one knee, and she didn't let him finish before saying yes. The couple said it was very natural and romantic. They met after being introduced by a mutual friend and said it's been refreshing to get to know each other over the last 18 months. Harry sought the blessing of Meghan’s parents before popping the question. Markle, who made her name in the TV series Suits, moved into Harry’s cottage last week. Her beloved pooches Guy and Bogart are currently in quarantine in London.

I’VE BEEN LIVING UNDER A ROCK, WHO’S THIS MEGHAN PERSON?
She's a star. The 36yo was married to US film producer Trevor Engelson for two years and was divorced before she met the fifth in line to the British throne. Harry (33yo) and Markle made their first official public appearance together at the Invictus Games earlier this year, and it's been Royal-wedding-full-steam-ahead ever since. The smart, eloquent daughter of an English mother and African-American father, Markle has proven her philanthropy chops as a UN special ambassador and champion of women. There’s already speculation about what the couple will be called with pundits predicting they will become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Queen, who had to give her royal blessing to the union, is said to be most pleased.

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SQUIZ THE REST

DON BURKE: I WAS MISUNDERSTOOD
TV gardener Don Burke took to the airwaves last night to refute allegations he was a serial predator. Speaking to A Current Affair’s Tracy Grimshaw, Burke admitted he was “robust” as a boss and might occasionally have come across as “a bully”, but he denied the harassment that several former female employees, a raft of male colleagues and two former TV CEOs have accused him of. The interview added to Burke’s strongly worded denial issued earlier yesterday. And there are new allegations in Fairfax Media today, including from Olympic swimmer Susie O’Neill. Reports say Burke has engaged senior defamation lawyers to deal with the claims made in the ABC/Fairfax Media joint investigation and coverage by other media outlets.

BALI AIRPORT CLOSED
After weeks of procrastinating, it looks like Bali's Mt Agung means business. The region is on high alert for an imminent eruption, and Bali's Ngurah Rai airport has been closed due to volcanic ash clouds. About 59,000 passengers were affected on Monday. Authorities will make a call later this morning about reopening the airport and have advised 100,000 locals to evacuate the area.

CRANKY START TO THE WEEK IN POLITICS
Geeze there were a few sore-headed pollies around the place yesterday. In no particular order, there was narkiness over:

• The Queensland election result – no result yet but Labor is on track for a majority. Cue Federal Liberal-National angst about their appeal to voters and PM Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.

• A Royal Commission into the banks – that’s on the agenda for some Nats who are concerned about the above point.

• Legislating for religious freedoms in the wake of legalising same-sex marriage – MP Warren Entsch says those concerned about it should check themselves.

All that and it’s only Tuesday…

MORE NBN DELAYS…
Another day, another bad news item for the National Broadband Network. This time they’re warning that if you’re one of the two-and-a-half million households/businesses that plan on hooking up to the NBN via your pay-TV cable, you'll have a six-to-nine-month wait ahead of you. The fancy term for what they’re talking about is a Hybrid Fibre Coaxial connection but don't worry - you’ll have plenty of time to commit that to memory while you wait for your connection appointment.

COMMUNITY CAUTION OVER PALMER PROMISES
Former pollie/‘colourful’ businessman Clive Palmer says he’s looking into reopening the Queensland Nickel refinery in North Queensland. There’s a whole lot of baggage attached to this one which we won’t cover here. You can thank us later. But long story short: Palmer won a $197 million lawsuit over Chinese company Citic's failure to pay royalties last Friday. Queensland Nickel went into administration in 2016 owing $300 million, putting 800 people out of work. The local mayor and former workers, who have been let down by Palmer in the past, were sceptical.

BIG TOBACCO ACTS ON 11YO LEGAL ORDERS
Our new favourite term – “corrective statements”. That’s what the tobacco companies are running in the US media following an order made by the US Federal Court following a 19-year legal battle. The ads will run on TV for a year and in their Sunday newspapers for a few months. "More people die every year from smoking than from murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes, and alcohol combined," is one of the key points. Critics say the almost 40% of Americans who get their news online will miss out on the seeing the messages.

AUSSIES TAKE ASHES LEAD
The Aussies have won the first game of the Ashes series against the Poms. After a tight few days of play, Oz was dominant in the second innings making the required runs without losing a wicket. Phillip Hughes, the former Aussie batsman who was killed in a tragic accident three years ago, was remembered with the Barmy Army and David Warner paying tribute to him yesterday.

SQUIZ THE DAY

12.30pm (AEDT) - Alan Kohler & Dr Mukesh Haikerwal address the National Press Club on 'Australia’s Health Tracker by Socio-Economic Status' - Canberra

7.30pm (AEDT) - ARIA Awards (featuring Harry Styles...) - Sydney

ABS Data Release - Marriages and Divorces, 2016