News Brands
Leigh Sales grills former PM on ‘failed’ Afghanistan mission
ABC anchor Leigh Sales has grilled former prime minister John Howard on why locals, who worked with Australian forces in Afghanistan, have not all yet been evacuated, reports News Corp’s Shireen Khalil.
Howard, who first sent Australian forces to the country — was left dumbfounded by the 7:30 host’s question, accusing her of making a “completely unfair generalisation”.
Sales explained Australia is at a last-minute scramble trying to evacuate local citizens, before asking the ex-leader: “Why would anyone ever again put their life at risk to assist Australian forces when they see the low priority they’ve been afforded in return?”
So far hundreds, largely interpreters, have already been brought to Australia, but many more remain in Afghanistan and fear brutal Taliban reprisals.
Token woman or the symbol of a new order for Afghanistan?
At first sight, the Taliban’s first press conference since its takeover of Kabul was a typically Taliban affair – an event led by men for men, reports News Corp’s Anne Barrowclough.
But it was a woman — a young, blonde woman — who has grabbed the world’s attention after asking the first question of the press conference and apparently forcing the organisation’s leaders to confront their attitude to women. Charlotte Bellis, a journalist with Al Jazeera, was one of only three female reporters allowed into the press conference – despite the dozens of women journalists from global media organisations still stationed in Kabul.
Her question – would Afghanistan’s new rulers respect women’s rights – was vital, given the Taliban’s bloody history of atrocities against women under their previous Islamist regime. And she didn’t mince her words, asking if they would once more lock women and female children in their houses and refuse them education or jobs.
ABC apologises over ‘Kabul’ footage
ABC has apologised after footage of wild scenes supposedly at Kabul Airport incorrectly included vision of people running into the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys in 2019, reports TV Tonight.
“Due to the dangerous situation in Afghanistan, the ABC like many other news organisations had to rely on news agency coverage and personal images and videos from people on the ground,” ABC said in a statement.
“There was a high volume of fake videos circulating on social media purporting to be showing scenes in Kabul and at the airport.
“The ABC has a rigorous process for verifying footage and on this occasion that process failed when the ABC used three seconds of vision that purported to show people rushing into Hamid Karzai Airport, when in fact it was from a football stadium in Texas.
ABC remembers John Bean, Paul Lockyer, and Gary Ticehurst on the 10th anniversary of their death
Ten years ago the ABC lost three of its best when the helicopter carrying camera operator John Bean, reporter Paul Lockyer, and pilot Gary Ticehurst crashed on the edge of Lake Eyre.
The three were working on a news documentary, one of a series of expeditions to capture footage of Australia’s inland waterway and tell stories of the outback.
To mark this anniversary, for the next month the ABC has made available on iview the documentary Lake Eyre, which showcases some of their work and includes a tribute to the three men.
John Bean was an award-winning cameraman and master craftsman who worked for the ABC for two decades in Australia and internationally. He attended Griffith Film School and Griffith University awards the ABC John Bean ACS Memorial Scholarship for Cinematography in his honour.
Paul Lockyer was one of the ABC’s most respected journalists with a career spanning more than 40 years, starting as an ABC cadet in Perth. As a foreign correspondent he reported on some of the world’s biggest events, but it was the stories of Australia’s bush and its people for which he will be best remembered.
Gary Ticehurst was the ABC’s lead helicopter pilot. In almost 40 years of flying he logged more than 16,000 hours at the controls and contributed to thousands of stories. He was the embodiment of all the people who work so hard behind the scenes.
“The loss of Paul, John and Gary was absolutely devastating,” said ABC director, news Gaven Morris. “To many of us they were good friends as well as colleagues. It was a terrible blow that will always be deeply felt. The thoughts of everyone at the ABC are with their families and friends.”
Podcasts
Kohler and Kirby show broken up
The Australian has severed yet another tie with veteran business journalist Alan Kohler, ending the co-branded Eureka Report/Australian Money Cafe podcast he and the Oz’s wealth editor James Kirby have recorded together for the past four years, reports AFR‘s Myriam Robin.
“The Australian has decided they need to go their separate ways, so the Kirby and Kohler partnership is over,” the Eureka Report editor-in-chief (and ABC finance presenter) told listeners on the first episode of what is now the Eureka Report Money Cafe.
That’s right: two podcasts, one name. Which at face value is like if John Lennon had after leaving the awesome foursome begun releasing music as “John Lennon’s The Beatles”.
Television
Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson denies flouting Sydney lockdown rules
The Bachelor Jimmy Nicholson has been subjected to vicious trolling online over false claims that he’s been flouting lockdown rules, News Corp’s Mibengé Nsenduluka.
Last month, the 32-year-old pilot was pictured with a group of friends at Bondi Beach amid Sydney’s Covid-19 crisis.
Last week, Nicholson was again pictured at the same beach sunbaking with a male friend but he denied any wrongdoing.
“Living in the Eastern suburbs, I’m always out exercising and stuff. You’ve got to live your life in this lockdown thing,” he told the Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday.
Vale: Sean Lock
British comedian Sean Lock, best known for 8 Out Of 10 Cats, has died aged 58, reports TV Tonight.
“It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Sean Lock,” his agent said in a statement.
“He died at home from cancer, surrounded by his family.
“Sean was one of Britain’s finest comedians, his boundless creativity, lightning wit and the absurdist brilliance of his work, marked him out as a unique voice in British comedy.
“Sean was also a cherished husband and father to three children. Sean will be sorely missed by all that knew him. We kindly request that the privacy of his family and children is respected at this difficult time.”
Known for his deadpan style, Lock was a team captain on UK panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats and spin-off 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown.
He also wrote and starred in the sitcom 15 Storeys High.
ABC defends filming of Barons drama
ABC has defended filming of upcoming surf drama Barons in Sydney, after some locals complained the shoot was not essential work, reports TV Tonight.
The 8 part drama has filmed at Palm Beach, Warriewood and Collaroy and will continue until mid-September, observing strict workplace COVID health rules.
The series produced by 2Jons, Micanical Media and Fremantle, centres around the hedonistic world of surfing and the cutthroat culture of big business with a group of 20-somethings who share a love of the ocean and surfing.
Yet some local residents have complained to Federal Mackellar MP Jason Falinski that production is not essential work.
“This production is allowing a lot of people from out of area into our local government area. I saw road crew working without their masks up at Turimetta and frankly, was disgusted,” one unnamed resident claimed.
ABC said production, with the support of the NSW Government, was complying with Public Health Orders and strict COVID-safe measures.