Latest news with #Nine
West Australian
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Carolina Wilga: Celebrity publicist says backpacker could earn ‘serious money' for selling survival story
Celebrity publicist Max Markson says German backpacker Carolina Wilga could earn 'serious money' if she decides to sell her harrowing survival story to a media outlet. Ms Wilga was discharged from Fiona Stanley Hospital on Wednesday, five days after she was miraculously found after spending almost a fortnight lost in WA's Wheatbelt region. The 26-year-old spent 12 days on foot and survived by drinking water from puddles and sleeping in a cave, before she was spotted by a passing local. Mr Markson described Ms Wilga's remarkable feat as an 'incredible story' and said it would likely attract international media attention. 'I think she could definitely sell the story here in Australia, she could definitely sell it in Germany, and she could probably sell it in America, New Zealand and the UK,' he told The West Australian. 'She's definitely worth serious money and she should capitalise it for her sake.' Mr Markson said people were eager to hear Ms Wilga's survival story, but said her first priority was to make a full recovery. 'People want to hear her story, there's no doubt about that . . . she's so young and it will benefit her in the long term,' he said. 'I'm not saying she has to do interviews all the time, but she should capitalise on it — the fact that she's alive (means) she can earn serious money. 'She's got to sort herself out (and feel better) because it's a really hard experience that she's gone through.' Mr Markson has been behind some of the country's biggest TV deals, including Nine's controversial rumoured $2 million payment to Cleo Smith's family for her story about her 18-day kidnapping ordeal. In a statement earlier this week, Ms Wilga thanked the WA community for their dedicated search efforts. 'I am certain that I survived only thanks to this incredible outpouring of support,' she said. 'The thought of all the people who believed in me, searched for me, and kept hoping for me gave me the strength to carry on during my darkest moments. For this, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. 'Especially to the police investigators, searchers, the German Consulate, the medical staff and the wonderful nurses who took care of me with so much compassion. 'My deepest thanks also go to every single person who simply thought of me – and of course, to my rescuer and angel, Tania.' On Monday night, Ms Wilga posted photographs from her hospital bed surrounded by food gifted to her by the German Consulate. 'When you need to gain 12 kilograms back,' the photo caption read.
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Tuivasa-Sheck on verge of joining Saudi-backed rebel rugby comp on $1m deal
'I raised it at a recent CEO's meeting to ensure everyone's aware of the real and genuine Rugby 360 concept,' George said on Wednesday. 'I'm aware of players that have been interviewed and engaged with. I'm aware of the significant financial opportunities that it could bring, particularly around the branding of the players as individuals. 'I needed to alert everyone so that they are across this and what it could bring in the next few years, because it's a real and genuine concept that is growing momentum and could be quite attractive to any number of players. My understanding is that the financial windfalls are real and they're significant. I'm sure that the financial windfalls are far greater than anything we've ever seen before in rugby.' Nine's Danny Weidler reported on Monday that Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen is also on the radar of R360 organisers. Fellow Storm teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona is another name being discussed. The R360 competition has private equity and Saudi Arabian money behind the concept, with organisers moving to reach their desired target of players before September to meet the contractual obligations that will trigger the financial backing it requires to get off the ground. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has bankrolled LIV Golf, the Saudi football league, which has had Cristiano Ronaldo as its marquee player, and won hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Former England rugby international Mike Tindall is the public face of R360. Tindall, who is married to British royal family member Zara Phillips, is in Australia to watch the British and Irish Lions series. The concept will follow a hybrid model of Formula 1 and the Indian Premier League, with private owners to invest in franchises all around the world. Loading The players who agree to sign with R360 aren't signing for specific franchises but rather to the competition itself, with the potential of auctions and drafts being floated. One model being discussed will see a joint Australia and New Zealand-based franchise as well as teams based in the United States, France, England, South America, Asia and South Africa in an eight-team competition that could grow to as large as 12 teams. Competition organisers want to launch a one-off tournament next season, potentially from July to September, before adopting a regular format in 2027. The intended format in 2027 will see the competition split into two blocks, with the first half of the tournament played between March and May and the second stage played between September and December. That window is largely in competition with the NRL, which currently runs from March to October. 'I spoke to Andrew Abdo about it too, because the NRL should be right across it as well,' George said. 'They need to understand whether there's any opportunity with it rather than fight against it. As I understand it, current rugby jurisdictions are against it. 'Maybe it's an opportunity for the NRL to look at having access to a talent pool at a particular time of the year. I'm not sure if those times and opportunities will come to light, but as a game we need to be across it.'
The Age
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Tuivasa-Sheck on verge of joining Saudi-backed rebel rugby comp on $1m deal
'I raised it at a recent CEO's meeting to ensure everyone's aware of the real and genuine Rugby 360 concept,' George said on Wednesday. 'I'm aware of players that have been interviewed and engaged with. I'm aware of the significant financial opportunities that it could bring, particularly around the branding of the players as individuals. 'I needed to alert everyone so that they are across this and what it could bring in the next few years, because it's a real and genuine concept that is growing momentum and could be quite attractive to any number of players. My understanding is that the financial windfalls are real and they're significant. I'm sure that the financial windfalls are far greater than anything we've ever seen before in rugby.' Nine's Danny Weidler reported on Monday that Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen is also on the radar of R360 organisers. Fellow Storm teammate Nelson Asofa-Solomona is another name being discussed. The R360 competition has private equity and Saudi Arabian money behind the concept, with organisers moving to reach their desired target of players before September to meet the contractual obligations that will trigger the financial backing it requires to get off the ground. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has bankrolled LIV Golf, the Saudi football league, which has had Cristiano Ronaldo as its marquee player, and won hosting rights for the 2034 FIFA World Cup. Former England rugby international Mike Tindall is the public face of R360. Tindall, who is married to British royal family member Zara Phillips, is in Australia to watch the British and Irish Lions series. The concept will follow a hybrid model of Formula 1 and the Indian Premier League, with private owners to invest in franchises all around the world. Loading The players who agree to sign with R360 aren't signing for specific franchises but rather to the competition itself, with the potential of auctions and drafts being floated. One model being discussed will see a joint Australia and New Zealand-based franchise as well as teams based in the United States, France, England, South America, Asia and South Africa in an eight-team competition that could grow to as large as 12 teams. Competition organisers want to launch a one-off tournament next season, potentially from July to September, before adopting a regular format in 2027. The intended format in 2027 will see the competition split into two blocks, with the first half of the tournament played between March and May and the second stage played between September and December. That window is largely in competition with the NRL, which currently runs from March to October. 'I spoke to Andrew Abdo about it too, because the NRL should be right across it as well,' George said. 'They need to understand whether there's any opportunity with it rather than fight against it. As I understand it, current rugby jurisdictions are against it. 'Maybe it's an opportunity for the NRL to look at having access to a talent pool at a particular time of the year. I'm not sure if those times and opportunities will come to light, but as a game we need to be across it.'
9 News
a day ago
- Politics
- 9 News
Latham denies shocking allegations of domestic abuse by ex-girlfriend
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Mark Latham has denied allegations of physical and emotional abuse levelled against him by his ex-partner, and defended sending explicit texts while in parliament. Yesterday, it emerged the independent NSW MP's former girlfriend, Nathalie Matthews, had made a private application for an apprehended violence order against Latham. Matthews accused Latham of emotional, psychological and financial manipulation in her filing, as well as pressuring her to participate in depraved acts, and driving his car at her, as first reported by The Australian . Mark Latham has denied allegations of abuse made by ex-partner Nathalie Matthews. (Dean Sewell) In a radio interview this morning on 2SM with Chris Smith, Latham said the allegations were "preposterous" and he would defend himself in court. "Just about all the things she's complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements," he said. He said he has had no contact with Matthews since May 27, when their relationship ended, outside of matters relating to a co-owned harness racing horse and returning belongings to her apartment. He said the published messages were inaccurate, had been taken out of context, were not related to the AVO application against him, and showed he was only "guilty of being a human in that regard and male". Mark Latham and Nathalie Matthews together in 2024. (Mark Latham/Instagram) "If you're sitting there listening to (NSW government upper house leader) Penny Sharpe droning on, then a woman that looks like Nathalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to?" he asked. "I am guilty of that on a regular occasion," Smith responded. "There are inaccuracies, a lack of context - the reference to an 'f-parlour' was an in-joke that I don't think you'd understand unless you'd seen or participated in the full context of the messages," Latham added. He also said "the big news is I have a private life, I had a sex life that I've got to say was fantastic". Once the federal opposition leader in the Labor Party, Latham has long been a controversial figure in Australian politics. He has previously attacked Rosie Batty, the domestic violence campaigner and former Australian of the Year, for "demonising men and making them feel worse about themselves". He resigned from the Australian Financial Review in 2015 over a series of tweets against prominent female journalists, and more recently was ordered to pay $140,000 in damages to independent NSW MP Alex Greenwich for a defamatory tweet that explicitly described a sex act. Latham quit One Nation after Pauline Hanson dumped him as the party's leader in NSW over the tweet. Smith, meanwhile, has also previously faced allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women, having twice been sacked by Nine over misconduct claims. Nine is the publisher of this website. Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) . CONTACT US
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Inside the search for missing backpacker Carolina Wilga
Police found the 1995 Mitsubishi Delica had run into mechanical problems, and believed Wilga had tried to use recovery board and bits of wood to free the car, which had become bogged in a patch of mud. However, like in Podmore's case, there was no sign of the backpacker. Details about the ensuing days remain a mystery, but the hunt for Wilga came to an end on Friday when she was rescued by a station owner returning from Beacon along a remote bush road. Tania Henley told media Wilga stumbled out from the bushes and waved her down. Wilga has offered little insight into her 11 nights in the bush, but said she survived by sleeping in a cave, drinking from puddles and using the sun as her guide. Loading Bush survivalist instructor Mike Cook said it was clear the backpacker had luck on her side. 'It's a harsh environment, and it's quite difficult to navigate without aids … it's difficult to get any sort of sense of where you are, if you're not familiar with solar navigation,' he said. 'It sounds like she had some idea about trying to sort of pick a direction and head west after she decided to leave her car.' Cook said any traveller looking to drive east in WA should be conscious of the lack of water in the region as it borders the desert. 'You have to go with the mindset that if you did break down, you should be right for a solid week, at least with sufficient water and stuff like that,' he said. Wilga's van was stocked with days' worth of food and water. The traveller said she was disorientated when she decided to walk away from the area carrying no supplies. Searchers confirmed the bushland was hard going, with low shrubbery and very little distinct terrain to help someone who was lost. Posting to social media from Fiona Stanley Hospital on Tuesday, Wilga joked she would need to gain '12 kilos back' after her ordeal, but still has not spoken about what she went through. Celebrity agent and public relations expert Max Markson said the backpacker, who spent her fifth night in hospital on Tuesday, would probably be fielding calls from media outlets across the country wanting to share her story, with Nine's 60 Minutes and Seven's Spotlight showing interest. Loading 'They're the ones who would do the story and do it properly – as opposed to 15 minutes, they'd do 30 minutes of television,' he said. Markson said Wilga could ask for between $50,000 and $100,000 to exclusively share her ordeal. 'I think it's really important to have someone who can not just represent her for this deal, but for other deals that will happen – I'm sure there'll be a magazine deal at one stage,' he said.
