Daily News Roundup

March 9, 2021

 

TUESDAY, MARCH 9

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has gone to hospital after falling over at his home while getting ready this morning and is now in intensive care.

His office told the ABC that Mr Andrews did not have head injuries, but that the fall was “concerning”.

A spokesperson said he had gone to hospital for x-rays, as a precaution.

Deputy Premier James Merlino is taking over Mr Andrews’ duties today, including at a 9:30am press conference north-east of Melbourne.

During the press conference, Mr Merlino said Mr Andrews was still at the hospital undergoing “precautionary x-rays”.

“He’s fine and will be back on his feet very shortly,” he said, adding that it was a “nasty” fall.

Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien wished the Premier well.

“Hope it’s not serious,” Mr O’Brien said on Twitter.

“Wishing Daniel a speedy recovery.”

Mr Andrews had been on leave since Friday afternoon and was due to return to work today.

He was a mainstay during the state’s coronavirus crisis, fronting more than 100 consecutive daily press conferences during the second wave.

The 47-year-old has been the leader of the Victorian Labor Party since 2010 and Premier since 2014.

###

Prince Charles is reportedly “in a state of despair” after his youngest son Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle gave a bombshell interview to Oprah Winfrey.

Royal author and Vanity Fair correspondent Katie Nicholl made the claim to the outlet on Monday.

“As Vanity Fair reported on Sunday, Harry was emailing his father to justify why he and Meghan had done the interview,” Nicholl wrote. “Charles was said to be ‘in a state of despair’ according to a friend.

“For Prince Harry to say that he felt let down by his father must have been a difficult thing to say and hard for Charles to hear,” royal author Sarah Gristwood also told the outlet.

“Now, just at a time when by and large Charles had started to look more like a popular king than one would have guessed, here’s a major blow to his reputation,” she shared. “That his son felt let down by him.

“It’s hard to know if Harry is aware of the damage this has done. Did he actually intend to cast this damaging light on his father and his family? We don’t know.”

According to Nicholl, the palace will reportedly respond to the televised interview. However, she said they will take their time “and choose their words carefully”.

Sources told Nicholl that Charles, along with Harry’s older brother Prince William, “are very concerned” by the claims that were made in the interview. She also claimed palace aides were also caught off-guard by the allegations that were made by the Sussexes.

“Palace aides had feared the interview would make them look out of touch, but sources say they have been shocked by the severity of the allegations,” Nicholl wrote. “The various households will be locked in crisis meetings for most of Monday as they work out the next steps.”

Nicholl also shared that the Queen has not seen the interview, “but was briefed by aides over breakfast Monday morning”. Her husband Prince Philip remains in hospital.

Charles previously faced backlash for another televised tell-all. Twenty-five years ago, Princess Diana gave a shocking interview to Panorama where she candidly discussed her marriage to the Prince of Wales.

The late royal famously said, “There were three of us in the marriage so it was a bit crowded,” referring to Charles’ relationship with his current wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

A representative for Charles did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

Harry, 36, told Winfrey, the royal family cut him off financially at the start of 2020 after announcing plans to step back from his roles. But he was able to afford security for his family because of the money Diana had left him.

He said his relationship with Charles has been impacted. He even noted that Charles had stopped taking his phone calls.

“There is a lot to work through there,” Harry said about his relationship with his father. “I feel really let down. He’s been through something similar. He knows what pain feels like. And Archie is his grandson. I will always love him, but there is a lot of hurt that has happened.”

Harry also acknowledged that he does not have a close relationship presently with his brother William, 38. He disputed rumours that he intentionally blindsided the Queen with his decision to split. He suspected the rumours came from the institution.

“I’ve never blindsided my grandmother,” Harry said. “I have too much respect for her.”

Harry and Markle, 39, married at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born a year later. She is currently pregnant with their second child.

###

Burger King – known as Hungry Jacks in Australia – his being severely criticised for tweeting that “women belong in the kitchen” on International Women’s Day. 

The tweet was tied to the chain’s launch of an initiative to help increase the number of women in head-chef roles. The message also ran in a full-page advert in the New York Times overnight. 

It’s clear many people aren’t happy with it, thousands of people on social media criticising the burger giant.

Some described the tweet as tone-deaf on a day meant to celebrate women. 

Others said they wouldn’t eat at the restaurant anymore. 

Burger King UK, which was the first to post the message, pulled the tweet down and apologised.

“We hear you,” a spokesperson said. “We got our initial tweet wrong and we’re sorry. 

“Our aim was to draw attention to the fact that only 20 per cent of professional chefs in UK kitchens are women and to help change that by awarding culinary scholarships. We will do better next time.”

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.