Another week, another extraordinary turn in the case of the collar-bomb extortion attempt on Mosman school student Madeleine Pulver.
Another week, another extraordinary turn in the case of the collar-bomb extortion attempt on Mosman school student Madeleine Pulver.
Suddenly, the focus switched from Clifton Gardens, via Kincumber, where the alleged extortionist checked his email, to Kentucky, where Sydney police are seeking the extradition of Scots College old boy Paul Peters.
Up, up ? and away to Asia? Qantas promoted a new competitive ''spirit'', announced more redundancies, revealed plans to expand in Asia and promised to still call Australia home.
Its chief executive, Alan Joyce, accused unions, pledged to fight the job losses, of ''trashing'' the Qantas brand. Elsewhere, French actor Gerard Depardieu was escorted from an Air France flight after urinating in an aisle. Westpac withdrew financial support for a 42-room megaplex brothel on Parramatta Road. Orica came under fire after waiting to warn residents of a leakage of hexavalent chromium from its Kooragang Island plant.
As pollies argued over sending asylum seekers to Malaysia, Nauru or Papua New Guinea, and polls showed voters want arrivals processed in Australia, it was revealed 1500 detainees were hospitalised in the first six months of 2011.
Once again, the nation was shocked by footage showing foreign mistreatment of our other live exports. This time it was sheep in Turkey.
Blame it on banana prices, but a ''shopping basket'' survey found Sydney is the seventh most expensive place to live in the world. Its university was placed 96th in the world, and fourth best in Oz, after Melbourne, ANU and Queensland.
Photogenic former premier Kristina Keneally was pictured with Rabbitohs' footballers after joining the board of Souths Cares and preparing a ''Music and Me'' concert. Her successor, Barry O'Farrell, was near invisible, suggesting it might be time for a makeover. Extensions? Mullet? Buzz-cut?
The Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, started firing Scud missiles, in what observers saw as a ''last stand'' in Tripoli. The British leader David Cameron unveiled a sweeping review of government policy to mend ''Broken Britain''.
A letter from a former royal reporter on the defunct News of the World raised fresh concerns over how much Rupert Murdoch and son James knew of hacking by their newspapers.
New Zealand was hit by unseasonable snow storms and a ''No sex please we're Kiwis!'' ad campaign, backed by rugby officials, asking fans to abstain during the World Cup to support the team.
Mark Fowler, a 35-year-old Sydney Muay Thai champion, collapsed and later died after a bout in a ''Taipan Unleashed'' event in Liverpool. Cedarberg, a Melbourne Cup contender, died after trackwork.
It was a big week for revisionist research. Choice warned there could be more calories in breakfast muesli than in one of Macca's Double Quarter Pounders.
California scientists calculated the moon is ''only'' 4.6 billion years old, two billion less than previously thought. A new book shot holes in one of America's most cherished stories, the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.
Myth and movie celebrate a gallant, protracted last stand. Author Phillip Tucker claims Davy Crockett and his mates were cut down as they tried to escape from the besieged garrison after a surprise pre-dawn attack.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What did Qantas announce about expansion in Asia and job cuts, and what should everyday investors consider?
The article says Qantas promoted a new competitive ‘spirit’, revealed plans to expand in Asia and announced more redundancies. For investors, this mix can mean potential growth from Asia exposure but also short-term costs, restructuring risk and possible industrial disputes — all factors shareholders typically watch when assessing airline strategy and near-term profitability.
How might Qantas CEO Alan Joyce’s public criticism of unions affect the Qantas brand and shareholders?
Alan Joyce accused unions of ‘trashing’ the Qantas brand while pledging to fight job losses. Public spats with unions can create reputational risk, fuel media headlines and potentially distract management — issues investors monitor because they can influence customer perception, labour stability and ultimately revenue and costs.
Why did Westpac withdraw financial support for a 42‑room Parramatta Road project and what could that mean for bank investors?
The article reports Westpac withdrew financial support for a 42‑room megaplex brothel on Parramatta Road. For bank investors, the move highlights how lenders manage reputational and sectoral risk; decisions to withdraw funding can reduce regulatory or public-relations exposure but may also signal tighter credit oversight in controversial developments.
What happened with Orica’s Kooragang Island plant and why should investors pay attention to the hexavalent chromium leak?
Orica came under fire after waiting to warn residents about a leakage of hexavalent chromium from its Kooragang Island plant. Environmental incidents like this raise regulatory, cleanup and reputational risks that investors track closely because they can lead to fines, operational disruption and longer-term impacts on a company’s licence to operate.
Do airline PR incidents — like Gerard Depardieu being escorted off an Air France flight — matter to airline investors?
Yes. The article notes French actor Gerard Depardieu was escorted from an Air France flight after urinating in an aisle. High-profile onboard incidents generate negative publicity and can affect customer perception and brand value. Investors follow such events alongside broader operational and strategic news (for example, Qantas’ expansion plans) when evaluating airline stocks.
Could revelations about News of the World hacking and concerns about the Murdochs affect media company investors?
A letter from a former royal reporter raised fresh concerns over how much Rupert and James Murdoch knew about hacking by their newspapers. Such governance and ethical controversies can lead to regulatory scrutiny, legal exposure and reputational damage — all relevant to investors in media companies who monitor corporate governance and litigation risk.
How do cost‑of‑living findings and university rankings in Sydney influence everyday investment decisions?
The article cites a ‘shopping basket’ survey that found Sydney is the seventh most expensive city and notes the city’s university was ranked 96th globally (fourth in Australia). High living costs can affect consumer spending, wage pressures and property markets, while university rankings can influence local talent pools and longer‑term economic competitiveness — factors investors consider for local real‑estate, consumer and education‑related stocks.
What impact can social shocks like live‑export mistreatment footage or the Mosman collar‑bomb case have on markets and companies?
The article describes disturbing footage of foreign mistreatment of live exports (sheep in Turkey) and the collar‑bomb extortion case that moved into international extradition. Such high‑profile social shocks can change public attitudes, trigger regulatory or policy responses and create short‑term market volatility — especially for companies in exposed sectors like agriculture, logistics and any firm with significant reputational sensitivity.
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