Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Thursday, November 9. Be prepared for a mostly sunny day, with tops of 23 degrees in the city and 26 in the west. Enjoy your day!
Telstra offering refunds to thousands after NBN fails to deliver
Another day, another NBN saga.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says Telstra is offering 42,000 customers refunds, free exit from contracts, or new plans after it admitted its promised maximum NBN speeds could not be delivered.
Telstra told the consumer watchdog 9000 of its customers on its 100/40 Mbps deal - or 100 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload - and 50/20 plan could not receive those speeds. Read more.
Sydney jobs boom puts pressure on transport and house prices
Sydney has added nearly half a million jobs in the past decade but patterns of employment growth are putting the city's transport system under pressure and helping to drive up property prices.
A yawning employment gap between city and country has also been revealed by analysis of the latest census data by the consultancy SGS Economics and Planning.
This urban-rural jobs divide looms as a lasting economic challenge for the state. Read more.
Mother charged over school crash deaths 'deeply sorry'
The driver of a car that crashed into a classroom at Greenacre in western Sydney, killing two eight-year-old boys, is "deeply sorry", her lawyer, Nick Hanna, has said.
Maha Al-Shennag, 52, was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving after her Toyota Kluger crashed into a classroom at Banksia Road Public School where 24 students were starting their morning class on Tuesday.
She was "deeply sorry for the loss and hurt suffered by the children, the school, the families and the community", Mr Hanna posted on his firm's Facebook page. Read more.
Airds pub “destroyed beyond repair” by blaze
A blaze in the early hours of Wednesday morning has destroyed the Riverside Inn in Airds “beyond repair”.
A resident at the pub was awoken by a fire alarm at about 2am and called Fire and Rescue NSW.
Campbelltown Crime Manager Detective Inspector Greg Inger said Wednesday’s fire was being treated as “suspicious”. Read more.
2018 Australian Weather Calendar released | Photos
It’s something we are all familiar with and enjoy talking about - the weather.
So it’s no surprise that The Bureau of Meteorology is on a winner with its Australian Weather Calendar.
The BOM has assembled a stunning collection of images to feature in next year’s calendar which has been released just in time for Christmas. Read more.
Westpac vows to keep fighting bank tax as CEO pockets $6.7m
Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer's pay was $6.7 million this year, the lender said in an annual report that also signalled it would continue to fight the federal government's major bank tax.
In his second full year running the banking giant, Mr Hartzer's statutory remuneration was unchanged compared with last year, as top executives missed out on long-term bonuses. Read more.
Tim Cahill remains in doubt after failing to train with Socceroos
The man the locals desperately wanted to see made his first appearance in a Socceroos' kit on Honduran soil, but Tim Cahill's first training session was little more than a brief cameo.
The veteran striker remains an outside chance to play against Honduras in Australia's World Cup qualifying play-off on Saturday morning (AEDT) as he is yet to resume light training.
An ankle injury meant the Melbourne City star only went through his stretches before spending most of the session with the Socceroos' physio staff. Read more.
Russell Packer emerges as shock captaincy candidate at Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary has revealed Russell Packer is a shock captaincy candidate as the joint-venture outfit prepares to officially welcome some of its high-profile recruits.
Marquee signings Josh Reynolds, Ben Matulino and Chris McQueen will report to Concord Oval for the first time on Thursday for their opening day of pre-season.
The trio are among the captaincy candidates to replace Belmore-bound Aaron Woods alongside a host of senior players including Elijah Taylor and Chris Lawrence. Read more.
Josh Mansour enjoying his honeymoon period with Kangaroos
Josh Mansour wasn't going to line up in the World Cup. That is, until his wife intervened.
Mansour didn't expect to get picked for Australia and, while he is extremely proud of his Lebanese heritage, wasn't going to make himself available for the Cedars.
The Penrith winger felt he had put his long-suffering partner, Daniella, through enough. Read more.
Debutant leg-spinner Daniel Fallins wreaks havoc against England
It was almost like the old days.
But it is far too soon to label Daniel Fallins "the next Shane Warne". Read more.
Jockey suspended for punching horse
South Australian jockey Dylan Caboche has been suspended for two weeks for punching his mount She's Reneldasgirl in South Australia on Wednesday.
Caboche, who appeared to have difficulty getting the horse to settle, dismounted and punched the horse in the stomach before the field went into the gates at Port Lincoln. Read more.