Latest news with #10NewsFirst
7NEWS
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
It's official - The Project has been axed
THE AXE SWINGS ON THE PROJECT Channel 10 has made it official. Staff at The Project have been told the show is coming to an end on June 27. Until today, staff had been kept in the dark, left to read headlines and stories from outsiders who knew more about the future of the show than they did. Despite staff on the show being kept in the dark until now, TV Blackbox released details over the weekend about its replacement show, including the show name. The new program will be called: Behind the Lines – A 10 News First Investigation. Wow, that's a mouthful. The outlet (of which I am a co-founder) has already revealed the show will air four nights per week at 6.30pm with a 'best of' or repeat episode on the typically low-rating Friday nights. This backs up everything I reported in my column last week when many still believed 10's new 'Investigations Unit' would only be making specials or a once-a-week show along the lines of 7NEWS Spotlight and 60 Minutes. Author Kyle Laidlaw reports that he has seen the logo and included these marketing materials in his report: 'Go behind the headlines with 10 News First as our reporters dig deep to uncover the facts, follow every lead, and expose stories that others try to keep hidden.' 'Hosted by Denham Hitchcock, this investigation series shines a light on issues that matter to Australians – holding the powerful to account with fearless journalism.' 'Real stories. Real impact. The truth, told straight.' Today The Australian is reporting the launch date for the new show will be Monday July 14. DINKLAGE BACKLASH The fallout from Disney's failed 'woke' version of Snow White isn't just being felt by lead actress Rachel Zegler, who will be lucky to secure any future roles in Hollywood. Zegler was an outspoken critic of the 1937 animated film, particularly its depiction of women and the 'stalkerish' nature of Snow White's relationship with the Prince. The backlash against her has been well documented. Now, actor Peter Dinklage is facing a backlash from his own community as little people take issue with his demand little people not depict the dwarfs. 'I was a little taken aback when they were very proud to cast a Latina actress as Snow White — but you're still telling the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ' he told Marc Maron on the WTF podcast. 'Take a step back and look at what you're doing there. It makes no sense to me. You're progressive in one way, but then you're still making that f**king backward story about seven dwarfs living in a cave together? What the f**k are you doing, man? Have I done nothing to advance the cause from my soapbox? I guess I'm not loud enough.' His comments in January 2022 made headlines around the world and Disney ended up using CGI characters to depict the dwarfs. So, at the end of the day, he was loud enough. But that's the problem. His 'privileged activism' had more power than those who would have been given jobs and made an income from the production if it had used little people to play the dwarfs. It's money Peter Dinklage doesn't need, but other working little people do. In fact, many in the community were angry at Disney for using CGI characters and angry at Dinklage for pushing his agenda. Former WWE Superstar Hornswoggle, and little person, summed it up best this past fortnight during an interview with Chris Van Vliet. 'F**k you Peter Dinklage piece of sh*t' he told Van Vilet. 'It still makes me mad. Like, he costed so many people jobs, so many people'. 'I think he wanted to make a statement and he thought he was making some cool hip thing, but it wasn't, when he did Elf that cheque cashed just fine. Tyrion Lannister was a role for a little person. He cashed that cheque for all those years. Like, I am okay, not going out for Brad Pitts roll, give me grumpy or happy or sleepy and major Disney remake'. But then Hornswoggle made his most important point. 'And then you're gonna have seven dwarves. Then there's extras, then there's stunt doubles that are all gonna get paid'. And when CGI was used, no-one in the little people community were paid. So, a win for Dinklage but a big loss for workers in the little people community who would have been happy for the work. Peter Dinklage can take the moral high ground because it doesn't affect him. He's not going to accept a role as Happy or Grumpy because he doesn't need that kind of money. He can be an artist. He can do the roles that he wants to do. That is what I'm calling 'privileged activism'. It's when someone can demand changes that won't affect them. Dinklage is not living week-to-week like many working actors in the little people community. Dinklage has his choice of roles and the financial clout to be able to turn roles down. Others aren't so lucky. It's one thing for Dinklage to demand change, it's another when he's taking money out of other people's pockets. THE BEST SHOW TO WATCH THIS WEEK The most compelling drama series this week isn't on television or a streaming service, it's happening inside Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts – and it's all being beamed live. I'm talking about the trial of Karen Read – a woman accused of fatally striking Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe and leaving him to die in the snow outside another officer's home after a night of drinking in January 2022. This trial has so many twists and turns it makes any fictional court drama seem tame. Watching the clips come into my feed though, I wonder if I am getting a one-sided view of the case or whether I'm seeing a true representation of what is happening. From what I'm seeing the prosecution is struggling, witnesses have changed their testimony and it certainly seems like a cover-up. But is that because it is people who believe Karen Read is innocent who are posting the majority of videos? While I'm loving the influx of moments from the trial, it reminds me of the importance of credible news – news that I can rely on to give me a complete overview of what is happening in a story, not just a one-sided view. We are lucky in this country to have news services on every channel that deliver a quality bulletin every night. No matter which one you watch, you can have faith you are getting all the facts. And that's important.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Neighbours actor Ian Smith ‘defying the odds' after terminal cancer diagnosis
Neighbours star Ian Smith has said he is 'defying the odds' after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The 86-year-old actor and writer, known for playing former cafe owner Harold Bishop in the Australian soap, previously revealed that he has a rare form of lung cancer, called pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. Smith told BBC Radio 5 Live's Adrian Chiles programme: 'I've got cancer, yes, I'm going to die soon but I seem to be defying the odds, which is good. 'I'm not unhappy about that at all. I have got this very rare cancer. The knowledge (brain) is saying: 'Ian you are going to die in March'.' He added that he 'almost gave in' but on Friday December 13 he got 'good news'. Smith said: 'I'm an atheist. I couldn't say, 'Thank you God'. I just had to say, 'Thank you someone' for giving me a second chance. 'And I took the second chance and I had to say to myself, what are you going to do with it? 'I'm still not sure I've worked out the answer to that but I'm certainly not going to mope around.' He said that he is 'determined to have an electric car before I die', adding: 'And I was speaking to a salesman. I said, 'Now, what about the delivery? Can you get to me before I'm dead?' And he was so shocked. I said, 'Come on, let's have a giggle'.' In December, Smith stepped away from playing beloved blunderer Harold, a character he has portrayed on and off since 1987. At the same time, he revealed his condition was 'a very aggressive non-fixable cancer' and doctors 'expect me to die', in an interview with Australia's 10 News First. He also said he had gone through chemotherapy, and tried the new treatment immunotherapy, which uses the body's immune system to attack the cancer cells. Smith said: 'I've really put my hand up, I think, just to be a guinea pig, plus the fact I don't want to die, I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can, and if they can do that I'm very happy. 'But I wake up every morning hoping there's no pain because I know that's the beginning of the bad part.' He revealed previously he had originally been asked to be a writer on Neighbours, but his practice turn as Harold – the tuba-playing, vegetarian Samaritan, and old flame of Madge (Anne Charleston) – earned him praise from production. Smith was only supposed to be in a few episodes but ended up staying until 1991, when Harold was washed out to sea while on holiday, before returning from 1996 to 2009. The character made brief guest appearances in the soap over the years, and it was announced in April 2024 that Harold would be returning to Ramsay Street 15 years after his departure as a regular character. Earlier this year, Neighbours was cancelled for a second time after being revived by Amazon Prime Video since its initial axing by Channel 5 in 2022. Executive producer Jason Herbison said he believes 'there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future', as the soap is set to air until December 2025. Outside Neighbours, Smith concentrated on writing and producing, scripting numerous episodes of Australian prison drama Prisoner: Cell Block H.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Influencer Who Stole Baby Wombat Criticizes Australian Government amid Ongoing Backlash
The American influencer who faced backlash after taking a baby wombat from its mother in Australia sent a message to news viewers after failing to appear for a scheduled on-air interview. Sam Jones — who has over 96,000 followers on Instagram — was reportedly scheduled to appear on Australia's Channel 10 talk series The Project on Sunday, March 16, but she canceled at the last minute. The show's host, Hamish Macdonald, explained that she backed out of their interview while discussing Jones' recent Instagram statement apologizing for the controversy. In Jones' original, since-deleted video, she was seen picking up a baby wombat on the side of a dark road at night and running away with it as it dangles from her grasp. Local news outlet 10 News First captured footage of her wildlife interference that sparked international outrage. Related: Influencer Faces Backlash for Stealing a Screaming Baby Wombat from Its Mom in Controversial Video Instead of taking the scheduled call, Macdonald said the influencer — who previously referred to herself as a "wildlife biologist and environmental scientist" on Instagram — sent a video statement. In the video, Jones began by "taking responsibility" for her actions, once again admitting she made "an incredible mistake" which she's regretted since. "However, there's something much bigger at play here, and it would be a disservice to ignore it. If this situation has proven anything, it's proven that Australians care deeply about their wildlife, and that is something I intensely admire," Jones said. She continued to allege that every year, "the Australian government issues permits for the killing of thousands and thousands of wombats across Australia, along with millions of Kangaroos." She directed viewers to her X account @AustraliaCulls, which is currently restricted on the social media platform. Jones said that she had shared "never-before-seen photos" of the country's mass "culling operations." "The same government that is calling for my head is that one that spends millions of your tax dollars to mass slaughter native Australian animals, as well as the Snowy River and Kosciuszko brumbies, wild pigs and numerous deer species," she concluded. Related: Influencer Who Stole Baby Wombat from Its Mom Releases Apology Statement: 'Truly Sorry for the Distress I Have Caused' Jones previously called out the government in her Instagram statement shared on Friday, March 14. After apologizing and attempting to explain her actions seen in the video, she similarly alleged that Australian authorities were "permit[ting] the slaughter of wombats." She singled out Australia's prime minister Anthony Albanese for his response to her over the incident. 'While the prime minister wishes harm on me for picking up a wombat, I implore you to take a good, hard, look at what is currently being done in Australia surrounding the real issues it faces, the lack of power for tens of thousands of Aussies, and the treatment of its native wildlife,' wrote Jones, who has since fled Australia. To justify her own encounter with the wombat, the first half of her statement claimed that she picked up the wombat so that the animal 'didn't get hit' on the side of the road. Related: Influencer Who Stole a Screaming Baby Wombat from Its Mom Leaves Australia After Facing Backlash 'When we found the mother and joey on a road, not moving, I was extremely concerned. As wombats are so often hit on Australian roads, I stopped to ensure they got off the road safely and didn't get hit,' Jones' Instagram post reads. '...When I walked up to them, the joey did not move or run off. I was concerned it may have been sick or injured, and made a snap judgement to pick up the joey and see if this was the case,' she continued. 'I ran, not to rip the joey away from its mother, but from fear she might attack me.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Influencer's theft of baby wombat from mother sparks fury
A U.S. influencer has drawn criticism in Australia, including from the country's prime minister, for filming herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, a self-described 'outdoor enthusiast' from the U.S. with more than 91,000 followers on Instagram, posted a now-deleted video in which she can be seen taking a baby wombat from the side of an unidentified road and running toward a car as its mother chases after her. A man be heard laughing as the scene unfolds. Jones eventually released the distressed baby wombat, which hissed and screeched while in her arms, back onto the road, the video shows. But it was unclear whether the animal reunited with its mother. Jones' action sparked outrage across Australia, especially among conservationists, with some calling for her deportation over her treatment of the wombat, an animal native to Australia that is legally protected in the country. 'They are gentle, lovely creatures,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. 'To take a baby wombat from its mother and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage.' 'I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals,' he continued. 'Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.' More than 18,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that Jones be immediately deported and barred from returning to Australia. 'Messing with Australia's beloved wildlife is not a joke,' it says. Wombats, which have large, blunt heads with small eyes and muscular necks, can grow to about 50 inches in length and weigh up to nearly 80 pounds, eating grass and roots of shrubs and trees. It is an offense to harm a wombat without a license from the authorities, according to the Australian government. The Wombat Protection Society of Australia expressed 'shock and concern' over the incident, stressing that the way Jones released the baby wombat put it at risk of becoming roadkill. 'A baby of this size is highly dependent on its mother, and prolonged separation could have fatal consequences,' it said in a Facebook post. Suzanne Milthorpe, head of campaigns at World Animal Protection Australia, said Jones' 'appalling' behavior might be illegal and called for maximum penalties if she is found to have broken the law. 'This is quite simply cruelty for the sake of cheap content,' Milthorpe told the Australian program '10 News First.' Jones said she 'carefully' held the wombat for a minute in total before releasing it back to its mother, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. 'They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed,' she wrote in a comment under her now-deleted Instagram post. 'I don't ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so,' said Jones, who made her Instagram account private after the backlash. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said authorities were reviewing Jones' visa and determining whether she breached immigration law. 'Either way, given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I'll be surprised if she even bothers,' he said in a statement. 'I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual,' he added. 'I don't expect she will return.' This article was originally published on
NBC News
13-03-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
U.S. influencer criticized in Australia for taking baby wombat from its mother
A U.S. influencer has drawn criticism in Australia, including from the country's prime minister, for filming herself snatching a baby wombat from its mother. Sam Jones, a self-described 'outdoor enthusiast' from the U.S. with over 91,000 followers on Instagram, posted a now-deleted video in which she can be seen taking a baby wombat from the side of an unidentified road and running toward a car as its mother chases after her. A maan be heard laughing as the scene unfolds. Jones eventually released the distressed baby wombat, which hissed and screeched while in her arms, back onto the road, the video shows. But it was unclear whether the animal reunited with its mother. Jones' action sparked outrage across Australia, especially among conservationists, with some calling for her deportation over her treatment of the wombat, an animal native to Australia that is legally protected in the country. 'They are gentle, lovely creatures,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters. 'To take a baby wombat from its mother and clearly causing distress from the mother, is just an outrage.' 'I suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals,' he continued. 'Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there.' More than 18,000 people have signed an online petition demanding that Jones be immediately deported and barred from returning to Australia. 'Messing with Australia's beloved wildlife is not a joke,' it says. Wombats, which have large, blunt heads with small eyes and muscular necks, can grow to about 50 inches in length and weigh up to nearly 80 pounds, eating grass and roots of shrubs and trees. It is an offense to harm a wombat without a license from the authorities, according to the Australian government. The Wombat Protection Society of Australia expressed 'shock and concern' over the incident, stressing that the way Jones released the baby wombat put it at risk of becoming roadkill. 'A baby of this size is highly dependent on its mother, and prolonged separation could have fatal consequences,' it said in a Facebook post. Suzanne Milthorpe, head of campaigns at World Animal Protection Australia, said Jones' 'appalling' behavior might be illegal and called for maximum penalties if she is found to have broken the law. 'This is quite simply cruelty for the sake of cheap content,' Milthorpe told the Australian program '10 News First.' Jones said she 'carefully' held the wombat for a minute in total before releasing it back to its mother, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. 'They wandered back off into the bush together completely unharmed,' she wrote in a comment under her now-deleted Instagram post. 'I don't ever capture wildlife that will be harmed by my doing so,' said Jones, who made her Instagram account private after the backlash. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said authorities were reviewing Jones' visa and determining whether she breached immigration law. 'Either way, given the level of scrutiny that will happen if she ever applies for a visa again, I'll be surprised if she even bothers,' he said in a statement. 'I can't wait for Australia to see the back of this individual,' he added. 'I don't expect she will return.'
