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AU Financial Review
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- AU Financial Review
In Pictures: Best of the 2025 election campaign
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese crosses paths with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton in western Sydney. James Brickwood Peter Dutton visits Ag Fest in Carrick in the division of Lyons in Tasmania. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese is assisted after tumbling off the riser while taking a group photo during the MEU conference, in Lovedale, NSW, in the electorate of Hunter. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton's travelling media bus gets stuck on a cycle lane kerb when leaving the Fullerton Hotel in Sydney. James Brickwood Peter Dutton visits Hunter Trade College in the division of Paterson in NSW. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese playing pool after talking to university students at the pub in a Greens seat of Brisbane. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton and Kooyong Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer at The Tower hotel in Hawthorn East, Melbourne. James Brickwood Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese during the third leaders' debate at Nine's studios in Sydney. Alex Ellinghausen Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, Michaelia Cash and Peter Dutton at the Mount Pleasant Bowling Club, in the Perth suburb of Ardoss. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese goes after the canine vote during a visit to Sunnybank Market Square in Brisbane. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton has a go at wool grading at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. James Brickwood On tools: Labor member for Tangney Sam Lim, Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon run the barbecue at Winthrop Park in Winthrop, WA. Alex Ellinghausen Former prime minister John Howard with Peter Dutton at Liverpool Catholic Club in Sydney. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese and former prime minister Julia Gillard at the Australian Labor Party federal election campaign launch at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton visits Sanctuary Point in NSW to announce an investment pledge towards local football field facilities. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese participates in the Freddy's Pass Off segment on the Sunday Footy Show at the Nine studios in Sydney. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton plays two-up at the Townsville RSL club. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese meets kids at Cabramatta Public School in Sydney. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton has visited more than a dozen petrol stations during the election campaign to focus on the Coalition's plan to cut fuel excise for one year. James Brickwood Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese shake hands at the end of the third leaders' debate at the Nine studios in Sydney. Alex Ellinghausen Peter Dutton attends the Assyrian New Year celebrations at Fairfield Showgrounds in Sydney. James Brickwood Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have lunch with Chinese business leaders in Melbourne. Alex Ellinghausen
ABC News
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
As the federal election campaign unfolded ABC photographers captured Albanese and Dutton's key moments
As Albanese and Dutton crisscrossed the country aiming to win over voters, ABC photographers were there to capture the best images of the campaign. Over 35 days, politicians have donned hi-vis, sizzled sausages, shaken hands, and cuddled babies. All in the name of winning tomorrow's federal election. For the party leaders, their media managers and the journalists accompanying them on the campaign trail, the days are long, the schedule is relentless, and the stakes are high. For the photographers, a large media scrum means muscling into the best position to take the winning image. "[The crowd] makes it very, very difficult to navigate and to look for what we call gold — a gold moment," ABC Chief Photographer Brendan Esposito says. Gold, according to the veteran photographer, is a moment of "authenticity" when "the character of the person" shines through. Election campaign day two: Peter Dutton dances in Fairfield, NSW. ( ABC News: Brendan Esposito ) But authentic moments can be hard to find. "[The leaders] are all smooth, they're really guarded now, and they are polished in their performance, and everything is down to clockwork," Esposito says. Early in the campaign, Peter Dutton visited the Assyrian New Year festivities at Fairfield in Western Sydney. "He started to dance with a guy, and it was just a little jig," Esposito says. "It wasn't anything fancy, but it was something that showed this guy, actually he does have humour. There is a lighter side to Peter." It was a good moment because Peter doesn't give much away, Esposito says. "My observations with him is that I think he's quite a shy man." Labor's Chris Bowen bumped into Peter Dutton unexpectedly at the same campaign event. ( ABC News: Brendan Esposito ) Labor's Chris Bowen was at the same event and he and Dutton met unexpectedly. "Bowen's face said it all. He was visibly uncomfortable," Esposito says. Despite careful choreography from media advisors and advancers, who arrive at a location ahead of time scouting for potential surprises and unwanted signs — the iconic 2015 image of a beaming Tony Abbott snapped in front of giant yellow letters saying "The Reject" springs to mind — on the campaign trail, sometimes the unexpected happens. There was the moment the prime minister fell off a stage in Cessnock, in NSW, which became a Coalition attack point after Anthony Albanese initially said he hadn't fallen. Then there was the stray football Dutton kicked into the head of a camera operator. On day six of the election campaign Anthony Albanese fell of a stage in Cessnock. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore ) Election campaign day five, in Darwin, saw Peter Dutton kick a football into a camera operator's head. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) 'They like to have things heavily stage managed [but] it's exciting, you just never know what's going to happen,' says ABC photographer Adam Kennedy, who is covering his sixth federal election. 'You don't get this access to the PM and the opposition leader out and about doing things throughout the normal political cycle. They'll go do a press conference here and there, but it's nothing like this.' Anthony Albanese officially launched his campaign on day 16 in Perth. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy ) At Peter Dutton's campaign launch former PM John Howard was on hand. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) A photo can be powerful, it 'can turn an election', ABC photographer Ian Cutmore believes. This campaign, there have been a lot of protesters, he says. Early on a Rising Tide climate protester is shown shouting at Albanese, while on Tuesday, Dutton's plans went awry when anti-nuclear union protesters crashed a press conference in the marginal NSW seat of Gilmore – Dutton was whisked away by his minders and did not speak at the event. 'It does give you an idea of how fraught campaigning can be when these unexpected moments happen,' ABC reporter Pablo Viñales said live on air at the time. Nuclear protesters in Nowra, NSW, show no matter how carefully managed a campaign is always full of surprises. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) More protesters, on day 11 in Ashfield: 'It does give you an idea of how fraught campaigning can be,' ABC reporter Pablo Viñales said. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy ) The role of the photographer on the campaign trail is to "capture the event as well as capturing the person and who they are, to try to show the public what they're like," Cutmore says. Finding ways to illustrate what journalists are talking about can mean looking for the little things — a gesture or an expression. "Albo's got more facial expressions, but Dutton, he's got his head, which is a bit of a character you can just have a bit of fun with," Kennedy says. Peter Dutton's head is "a bit of a character" in its own right. ( ABC News: Brendan Esposito ) Capturing the person, such as this image of Michaelia Cash, is just as important as capturing the event. ( ABC News: Brendan Esposito ) Election campaign day 1, Brisbane Qld. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore ) Cutmore agrees. "It's easier with Albanese because he's usually a bit more dynamic and expressive so he's always got interesting facial expressions and body language and hand gestures but Dutton is a lot harder," he says. The PM's facial expressions rarely disappoint, according to photographers. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy ) Photographers' wisdom says Peter Dutton's facial expressions are harder to capture. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore ) The obligatory photo ops of politicians with babies and children have been plentiful. For Kennedy, this image of Albanese meeting three girls in outer Melbourne is his favourite. The girls lived next door to a family Albanese was meeting with, Kennedy says, and they simply ambushed the PM as he was leaving the event. "There's a girl with her fingers intertwined like Monty Burns, watching. And then there's this tiny little girl staring up at the prime minister. She's got no fear…. The middle [girl] who's just sort of happy there in front of all these cameras." A pollie with a baby is an obligatory photo op on the campaign trail. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) The PM and a group of kids is campaign gold. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore ) An unexpected encounter with these girls created a great photographic moment. ( ABC News: Adam Kennedy ) For Cutmore, capturing Dutton having fun playing two-up at an RSL in Townsville on Anzac Day is one of his favourites. "He was talking to all the people in the room. He was just a lot more relaxed and casual." A game of two-up allowed a more relaxed Peter Dutton to emerge. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore ) It can feel ridiculous when 30 members of the media are crowded into a cafe as a politician has a conversation with a family about the cost of living, Matt Roberts says. "You take a step back and realise how silly and set up a lot of these things are but …that's part of Australian political history, we've been doing this [campaign style] a long time and in a weird way it's sort of unique and charming." Election campaign day 31, Newcastle NSW. ( ABC News: Matt Roberts ) Credits Photography by: Ian Cutmore, Brendan Esposito, Adam Kennedy and Matt Roberts Words and production: Rhiannon Stevens
Shafaq News
10-04-2025
- Shafaq News
Syrian suspect confesses to Akitu festival attack
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, the Kurdistan Region Security Council arrested a Syrian national in connection with the April 1 attack on the Akitu festival in Duhok province. The council identified the suspect as 22-year-old Louay Abdulrahim Ramadan, also known as Abu Juhaiman al-Baghuzzi, and confirmed that he has been referred to the judiciary as part of an ongoing formal investigation. No further details were provided regarding additional suspects. Arrested earlier this month in Duhok city, Ramadan admitted to executing the assault using a machete and knives during the annual celebration, driven by extremist ideology. Preliminary findings indicate that the attack was carried out under directives from ISIS, the statement added. The Akitu festival, an ancient Assyrian New Year celebration, draws large crowds annually in northern Iraq.
Roya News
01-04-2025
- Roya News
Knife attack during Assyrian New Year in Iraq leaves two injured
A knife attack during Assyrian New Year celebrations in Duhok, northern Iraq, resulted in injuries to two individuals, including a woman in her 60s, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The assailant, who has been arrested, is reported to be Syrian. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the incident is linked to terrorism. Kurdish internal security forces, known as Asayish, are currently investigating the details surrounding the attack, which is considered rare in the region. According to a police source, the attack occurred in a market and targeted participants of the Akitu spring festival, a celebration that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and is still observed by Assyrian Christians as their New Year. The Duhok Health Directorate released a statement indicating that a 25-year-old man sustained minor injuries to his scalp, while the 65-year-old woman suffered a blow to her head, resulting in some bleeding. Both victims are receiving medical care, and the woman's condition is reported to be stable. Duhok Governor Ali Teter confirmed that security forces apprehended the suspect and stated, 'Investigations are ongoing, and we will announce the results after the investigation is complete.' Once home to over 1.5 million Christians before the US invasion in 2003, Iraq now has an estimated 400,000 Christians out of a total population of approximately 46 million. The Christian community has faced significant challenges, particularly during the rise of Daesh, which controlled vast territories in Iraq from 2014 to 2017.
