Tag Archives: oceania

Young woman's dog mauled to death during walk

A young Melbourne woman has been left devastated after she lost her beloved pup when he was attacked by two aggressive dogs last month.

Olivia Castagna and her dog Ollie have been best friends for the past 12 years, exercising every day during lockdown.

However, her Maltese Shih Tzu Ollie was savagely mauled to death by two dogs while walking in Epping on September 20.

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The 23-year-old was walking with her dog along Darebin Creek Trail about 10am when the two dogs, believed to be mixed breed Staffies, appeared out of nowhere and attacked Ollie.

"The poor little guy was struggling and trying to fight him off," she told 9News.

"The first one bit his neck and the other one was pulling. I was screaming, pulling on the harness, like 'Ollie, Ollie, get them off.'"

The animals ripped Ollie out of his harness, running off with him and then dumping him on the side of the track.

The dogs then fled towards McDonalds Road, with no owner in sight.

"He was bleeding on the grass, I thought he was gone then and there," Ms Castagna said.

Ms Castagna called Triple Zero, with police rushing Ollie to the vet hospital, but he lost his fight for life.

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"You would never expect in a million years to be out on your daily walk doing such a mundane thing and for this brutal attack to happen out of nowhere," she said.

Council rangers are now investigating whether the same dogs attacked another man and his Golden Retriever on the same day.

Peter Cocks fought off the dogs as they latched on to his dog Zara's neck.

"I had the lead in my hand, I managed to kick the dog and it let go," he said.

"But I swung the lead and managed to clock them over the head."

Whittlesea Council rangers have conducted more than 600 letterbox drop-offs in search of the two dogs and are doing surveillance patrols in the area.

There are fears the owners may have gone into hiding, but it's hoped the public can provide some fresh leads.

"We want to make sure what happened to Ollie doesn't happen to anyone else … whether it's another dog or person, or young child," Ms Castagna said.

The Queen slams 'irritating' world leaders

Queen Elizabeth II has slammed "irritating" world leaders for failing to commit to attending a major climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland next month.

At the time, Prime Minister Scott Morrison hadn't confirmed his presence at the COP26.

However, he said he would attend in a press conference this afternoon.

READ MORE: Scott Morrison confirms he will attend Glasgow climate summit

The Queen is hoping to return to Buckingham Palace for Trooping The Colour this year.

UK newspapers first reported the audio, recorded as the 95-year-old monarch talked to daughter-in-law the Duchess of Cornwall and Elin Jones, presiding officer of the Welsh Senedd.

"Extraordinary, isn't it?" Queen Elizabeth said.

"I've been hearing all about COP, [we] still don't know who is coming, no idea.

"We only know about people who are not coming and it's really irritating when they talk, but they don't do."

The comments came days after Prince Charles expressed dismay over Mr Morrison's lack of commitment.

Australia has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent by 2030, from 2005 levels, a commitment that sits well below those made by the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, among other developed nations.

Scott Morrison confirms he will attend Glasgow climate summit

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will go to the Glasgow Climate Change Conference later this month.

Mr Morrison told a press conference this afternoon that he had confirmed his attendance at the UN climate summit, which begins on November 1, overnight.

The prime minister had faced criticism for having not confirmed his attendance earlier, previously flagging further COVID-19 quarantine as a roadblock.

READ MORE: Prince Charles' warning to Scott Morrison on climate change

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

"The government will be finalising its position for me to take to the summit, prior to my departure, over the next fortnight," he said.

"Net zero was an outcome that I outlined at the beginning of this year consistent with our Paris commitments."

But hitting net zero was not the government's only goal, he said.

"The global changes that are happening in our economy as a result of the response to climate change have a real impact and they will have a real impact here in Australia," he said.

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"It is not just about hitting net zero.

"That's an important environmental goal but what's important is that Australia's economy goes from strength to strength and the livelihoods and the lives of Australians, particularly in rural and regional areas, are able to go forward with hope and with confidence."

Australia has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent by 2030, from 2005 levels, a commitment that sits well below those made by the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, among other developed nations.

The government in December last year technically "updated" its NDC, as it was obliged to do by the Paris Agreement before a July 31 deadline, but it did not actually increase its target to cut emissions.

The point of the deadline was for countries to raise their climate ambitions.

Australia's current pledges do not even put it on track to meet the requirements to keep global warming within 2 degrees Celsius, let alone 1.5, according to Climate Action Tracker, a group that monitors climate policies around the world.

The watchdog said that if the whole world followed Australia's policies, temperatures would rise by between 2 and 3 degrees.

– with CNN

International flight caps lifted for Aussies returning to NSW

International flight caps on Australian citizens, residents and their families returning to Australia will be lifted for New South Wales, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

Mr Morrison today said he welcomed the NSW Government's decision to scrap mandatory quarantine for vaccinated overseas arrivals from November 1.

The decision to axe quarantine requirements means Australians in NSW will be permitted to leave Australia and return.

LIVE UPDATES: Victoria reacts to NSW international border opening news

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

READ MORE: How NSW's scrapping of quarantine for international arrivals will work

Flight caps will remain in other states where hotel quarantine is still required.

"This is a further sign of the national plan coming into effect and allowing Australians to start reclaiming so many of the things that have been taken from them throughout this pandemic," Mr Morrison said.

The parents of Australian residents and citizens will also be able to come to Australia.

"I know that will be very welcome news to Australians right across the country who were hoping to be reunited with their family members, their parents who are overseas," Mr Morrison said.

"In New South Wales's case, it means those family members will be able to come into Sydney if they are vaccinated and not have to quarantine under the arrangement that the premier has announced today."

The lift of the cap on overseas arrivals will for now be limited to Australian citizens, residents and their families.

Tourists and international students will not be allowed into Australia from November 1 as the NSW Government had hoped.

"It is about Australian residents and citizens first," Mr Morrison said.

"The Commonwealth government has made no decision to allow other visa holders, student visa holders and international visitors."

When asked when tourists and students would be let in, Mr Morrison replied: "Not yet".

"The (NSW) Premier understands that is a decision for the Commonwealth government not for the state government," he said.

"I will progress steadily but at the same time carefully and I welcome this first step."