Good morning, it’s Friday, 6 November. In your Squiz Today…

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🙋🏻‍♀️ This newsletter was written by Anna Pykett, Larissa Huntington, Jonathan Liondis and Sophie Felice

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Said Italian chef Davide Tamburella, who got fired from a Brisbane restaurant after repeatedly refusing to put pineapple on a pizza. He said it was “an insult to his culture” when he gave his boss a pizza his mind…

Australia’s oldest department store, David Jones, is on the hunt for a new owner after going into voluntary administration yesterday. Its stores are still open and trading for now, but retail analysts say some could close, and photos of bare shelves have started appearing online as multiple luxury brands pulled stock in response to the announcement. Thousands of jobs could be at risk, and the timing isn’t great as we head towards the busiest shopping period of the year, with Christmas 7 weeks away.

A company goes into administration when it can't pay its debts - and the sticking point here was rent. The 188yo retailer hadn’t paid its biggest landlord, Westfield owner Scentre Group, since the end of September, and crisis talks broke down this week. DJs then called in administrators, while its lender appointed receivers (aka insolvency experts who’ve taken over the running of the stores and online business). They'll spend the next few weeks running the rule over the books and working out what's next - which could mean finding a new buyer to keep it going in a smaller format, with underperforming stores shutting their doors. For now, its 38 Aussie stores are still open for business, but if you've got a DJs gift card, consumer experts say spend it ASAP - and don't buy any new ones…

Some analysts reckon shopping at DJs has lost its appeal, and it had too many stores with expensive leases in the wrong spots. We already knew it was doing it tough - in the 2024-25 financial year it lost $95 million as cost-of-living pressures squeezed shoppers’ budgets. But the tough economic conditions aren’t its only problems. Macquarie Uni retail historian Professor Matthew Bailey says department stores are no longer the one-stop shops they once were, and are struggling to compete with shopping centres, online shopping and fast fashion. At a time of year when many Aussies look forward to the stores’ famous Christmas window displays, the first creditors' meetings are set to happen next week.

… and 3 counts of sexual assault, with the verdicts coming in overnight. The 51yo British actor and comedian’s trial has been taking place over the last 4 weeks in London, and he faced charges dating from 1999 to 2009 that concerned 6 women. He was found not guilty on 3 counts, including 2 counts of rape. Prosecutors said Brand “used his celebrity status to commit sexual crimes”, and the Metropolitan Police praised the “extraordinary courage, resilience and determination” of the women who came forward, saying the verdict “sends a clear message that no one is above the law”. Shortly after the verdicts came in, police also confirmed he’s being investigated over rape allegations made by 2 more women. He’s now being held in custody, and the judge said he’ll be given a “significant” prison term when he is sentenced on Monday.
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For the second time this week, planes from multiple airlines flying to and from more than a dozen countries, including Italy, the UK and France, have been disrupted after being hit with suspected hoax bomb threats. So far, all incidents have been confirmed as false alarms, and no explosives or anything suspicious have been found by security authorities. In terms of what we know, on Thursday, bomb threats were emailed to multiple airports, impacting around 27 flights. Several planes got diverted, and some were forced to make emergency landings so they could be searched. No country has officially said who’s behind it, but an anti-feminist group has claimed some of the threats. It follows a series of suspected bomb threats on Tuesday when 7 planes were searched, diverted or escorted.

US Vice President JD Vance says the war with Iran is the main reason behind Republicans’ midterm losses this week. Up until this point, Vance has publicly supported the conflict, but reports say behind closed doors he’s not been on board. It’s rare for a sitting VP to question his president’s foreign policy agenda, and now his long post on social media is being seen as him trying to separate himself from US President Donald Trump, possibly with an eye on his own presidential run in 2028. Trump said he didn’t regret the war but agreed it was ‘largely true’ it was to blame. There’s also speculation that US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who’s been a vocal supporter of the conflict, might be on thin ice. We’re still waiting for counts in 2 Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska, which are yet to be called, but are looking close.

… and it’s looking like a tight rematch between 2 blokes called Chris. Current PM of New Zealand Christopher Luxon leads the conservative National Party, and he’s not been having the best time. He’s been described as the least popular first-term prime minister in a fair while, as he deals with economic and cost-of-living pressures. His main competition is the man who replaced Jacinda Ardern as PM and leader of New Zealand’s Labour Party, Chris Hipkins, but he’s not been setting the polls alight either. Even if one of these parties wins a bigger share of the vote, it’ll likely need help from other parties, because small parties often end up as kingmakers over the ditch. Initial results are expected after polls close tomorrow at 5pm AEDT, but we might not know for weeks who’ll be running the country.
* If you want to hear the background to the New Zealand election, we’ve got a Squiz Shortcut for you.

It’s been 30 years since the Spice Girls released their debut album Spice, which became the best-selling album by a girl group ever. Ginger, Sporty, Scary, Baby and Posh were the most successful girl group in history, and didn’t just dominate the charts - they became champions of Girl Power, celebrating self-acceptance, female friendship and self-esteem. Their legacy is Viva Forever - they’ve sold over 100 million records and inspired the likes of Adele, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Charli XCX, plus every Wannabe with a hairbrush microphone. In September, the rumour mill went into overdrive with reunion speculation, but sadly it’s looking more Stop than go… But if a tour was Too Much to ask, Say You’ll Be There for The Singles Collection, which is out today. Hai, sí, ja - hold tight!

On the topic of music for millennials’ ears - today Britney Spears is releasing some never-heard-before tracks as part of the 25th anniversary edition of her self-titled album Britney, which features bangers like Overprotected, I’m a Slave 4 U, and I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman. Consider our nostalgia levels Toxic…

It was just after we published this newsletter last week that we learned of the death of actor Sir Patrick Stewart - and that sent us back to this clip of him delivering his own eulogy back in 2015. As you’d expect from him, it’s beautifully delivered, a little cheeky and very funny.

We’re coming into party season, and these cheesy herb pies by Sophie Hansen (see below…) are a great veggo option for serving to friends or when you’re taking a plate. This post, from her newsletter What Should I Cook This Weekend? has heaps of recipes which will come in handy all summer - or you could sign up to get them year-round.

Every week, we’re going to spend a few minutes with a Squizer who’ll share what’s keeping them busy, what’s on their mind and what they’ve been reading/watching/listening to lately…

Friday
9.30am (AEDT) - Coles Group AGM - Melbourne

10.00am (AEDT) - Nine Entertainment AGM - Sydney 

11.00am (AEDT) - Qantas AGM - Canberra 

10.15am (AEDT) - Penalty hearing in the Fair Work Ombudsman's case against the former Victorian secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka - Melbourne 

5.00pm (AEDT) - Boxing: Doors open for the heavyweight fight between former NRL players Paul Gallen and Nelson Asofa-Solomona - Sydney, watch on Kayo

Motorsport: Supercars Championship Finals Series Sandown 500 (until 8 November) - Springvale

25th anniversary edition of Britney is due to be released, which will include 5 previously unreleased tracks ]

ABS data release: births in Australia, 2025

Birthdays for actors Sally Field (1946) and Emma Stone (1988)

Anniversary of:

Saturday
1.05pm (AEDT) - Aussie rules: AFLW qualifying finals Geelong Cats v Melbourne Demons - Melbourne, watch on 7Plus

11.30am (AWST) - Cricket: One -day game tour England v Western Australia - Perth

4.05pm (AEDT) - Aussie rules: AFLW qualifying finals North Melbourne v Carlton Blues - Melbourne, watch on 7Plus

New Zealand election

AFLW finals begin

Rugby league: Rugby League World Cup semi-finals begin 

Hug a Bear Day 🐻

Birthdays for singer Joni Mitchell (1943), DJ David Guetta (1967), singer Matt Corby (1990), and singer Lorde (1996)

Anniversary of

Sunday
1.05pm (AEDT) - Aussie rules: AFLW elimination final Sydney Swans v Western Bulldogs - Sydney, watch on 7Plus

2.05pm (AEST) - Aussie rules: AFLW elimination final Gold Coast Suns v Hawthorn Hawks - Gold Coast, watch on 7Plus

5.45pm (AEDT) - Rugby league: Rugby League World Cup women's semi-final Australia Jillaroos v Fiji - Sydney, watch on 7Plus

8.05pm (AEDT) - Rugby league: Rugby League World Cup men's semi-final Australia Kangaroos v Samoa - Sydney, watch on 7Plus

International Day of Radiology

Birthdays for author Kazuo Ishiguro (1954) and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay (1966)

Anniversary of:

Monday
2.10am (AEDT) - Rugby union: Nations Championship round 4 England v Australia - London, watch on Stan Sport

4.00am (AEDT) - Motorsports: Formula One São Paulo Grand Prix - São Paulo, watch on Kayo