The Loop: Thousands march to kick off climate summit, Drew ... - ABC News

The Loop: Thousands march to kick off climate summit, Drew Barrymore postpones return of daytime talk show - ABC News

liveThe Loop: Thousands march to kick off climate summit, Drew Barrymore postpones return of daytime talk show
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It's September 18 and this is The Loop. Here is this morning's news, as it happens.

Key events

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Gold Coast man fined for taking pet snake surfing
By Audrey Courty

A man who was filmed surfing with his pet python at a Gold Coast beach has been fined $2,322 for breaching his permit.

Earlier this month, footage was shared online of Surfer Higor Fiuza and his three-year-old bredli carpet python, Shiva, gliding through Rainbow Bay.

Senior Wildlife Officer Jonathan McDonald from the Department of Environment and Science says a fine has since been handed to Fiuza.

"Our investigation found the man had a permit to keep native animals, but he was issued with a penalty infringement notice for the breaching section 88a of the Nature Conservation Act," he says.

"Permit holders are not allowed to take animals from their licenced premises unless taking them to a vet or, selling or giving the animal to another permit holder or taking it to an authorised display."

He says taking native pets out in public could cause them "unecessary stress" or to behave in "an unpredictable way".

"There is also the threat of spreading diseases to native wildlife when people take captive-bred reptiles out in public," he says.

"Snakes are obviously cold-blooded animals, and while they can swim, reptiles generally avoid water.

"The python would have found the water to be extremely cold, and the only snakes that should be in the ocean are sea snakes."

First foal of champion racehorse Winx to be offered for sale

By Audrey Courty

The first foal of champion racehorse Winx is tipped to break sale records as her owners confirm she will be sold at a public auction in Sydney next year.

Winx is the only horse to win 33 consecutive races in the past 50 years, including 25 Group 1 wins, notching up more than $24 million in prize money.

Her highly anticipated filly was born in the Hunter Valley in October last year, after a stillborn delivery in 2020.

Bloodstock auctioneers Inglis will offer the Pierro x Winx filly at its prestigious Easter Yearling Sale in April 2024.

Inglis Bloodstock Sales chief executive Sebastian Hutch wouldn't speculate on a price but anticipated she would attract "an extraordinary amount of attention" from around the globe.

"It's very rare that a filly out of a mare like Winx would get offered for sale anywhere in the world," he said.

"[She's a horse of] definitively unprecedented quality in the context of the Australian market and very, very rare in the context of the global bloodstock market.

"It would be a mistake to think the popularity of this filly would be based exclusively on her parents, she's a very well conformed horse in her own right."

You can read the rest of the story below:

Enrolment for Voice referendum closes 8pm tonight

By Audrey Courty

Australians have until 8pm (local time) tonight to enrol to vote or update their details ahead of the Voice referendum vote.

Just like an election, all Australian citizens aged 18 and over must vote in a referendum.

Since the announcement of the Voice referendum, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) says there have been more than 270,000 enrolment transactions.

The AEC says this referendum "will have the most complete roll of any national election or referendum in history".

"If you’ve turned 18, become an Australian citizen or moved house since the 2022 federal election then don’t forget to take action," the AEC says.

The vote will be held less than a month from now on October 14.

North Korea's leader heads home after week-long visit to Russia

By Audrey Courty

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is headed home after making a final stop in Russia's far eastern city of Vladivostok, state media KCNA reports.

Kim reportedly spent two days in the city, visiting a university, an aquarium and an animal food plant, among other facilities.

It wrapped up his unusually lengthy, week-long trip to Russia, during which he pledged to step up military and economic cooperation with President Vladimir Putin.

The visit will serve as "an opportunity to further solidify the traditional bond of good-neighbourhood cooperation between the two countries, which are rooted in comradely friendship and military unity, and to open a new chapter in the development of relations", KCNA said.

The rare summit between Kim and Putin has prompted the United States and South Korea to warn against any weapons trade.

You can read more about what this meeting could mean for the war in Ukraine here:

Fish kill investigation underway in South Australia's Riverland

By Audrey Courty

South Australia's Environment Minister, Susan Close, says it's still not clear why thousands of fish have died at a popular Riverland lake.

It comes after a video posted to social media appeared to show thousands of dead fish covering the shoreline of Lake Bonney in Barmera.

The state's Department of Primary Industries and Regions says it is investigating, explaining that fish kills can be brought on by a variety of causes.

A spokesperson from South Australia Health says the presence of dead fish does not represent a public health risk.

Wallabies lose to Fiji in 69-year Rugby World Cup first

By Audrey Courty

Australia's Rugby World Cup campaign has been dealt a major blow, with Fiji defeating the Wallabies 22-15 in a tense pool match in Saint-Étienne.

Not since 1954 has Fiji defeated Australia in a Test match and the result leaves the Wallabies with a 1-1 win-loss record in Pool C.

The Wallabies face what looms as a sudden-death clash against Wales in Lyon next Monday (AEST) as they look to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the quarterfinals.

If you missed it this morning, here are the five quick hits from Fiji's momentous victory:

Climate activists spray-paint Berlin's Brandenburg Gate

By Audrey Courty

In more climate action news, Berlin's Brandenburg Gate has been sprayed in orange paint to urge the German government to take more urgent action against climate change.

Members of the Last Generation group used fire extinguishers filled with paint to spray all six columns of the popular landmark.

"The protest makes it clear: It is time for a political change," the group said in a statement.

"Away from fossil fuels — towards fairness."

Police cordoned off the area surrounding the gate, and confirmed they had detained 14 activists affiliated with the Last Generation.

Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner has condemned the group's actions.

"With these actions, this group is not only damaging the historic Brandenburg Gate, but also our free discourse about the important issues of our time and future," he told a German news agency.

The actions came at the same time that thousands marched to kick off New York Climate Week.

Drew Barrymore postpones return of daytime talk show until after Hollywood strikes

By Audrey Courty

Drew Barrymore says she will wait until labour issues in Hollywood are resolved before resuming her talk show.

It came after she drew public criticism for taping new episodes during the ongoing writers and actors strikes.

She has now announced on Instagram she will pause her talk show's premiere:

Thousands march to kick off climate summit, demanding an end to fossil fuels

By Audrey Courty

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of New York to kick off a week in which leaders will try once again to curb climate change.

The March to End Fossil Fuels featured US politicians such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and actors such as Susan Sarandon and Ethan Hawke.

But the real action on Broadway happened when an estimated 75,000 people crowded the street, protesting against energy policies and the use of fossil fuels.

It served as the opening act to New York's Climate Week. It also comes just ahead of Wednesday's United Nations summit on climate change.

Welcome to The Loop for Monday, September 18

By Audrey Courty

Here is some of this morning's latest news:

- Britain's BBC is "urgently looking" into issues raised by sexual assault allegations against UK comedian Russell Brand
- The Wallabies' Rugby World Cup hopes have taken a massive hit after a stunning loss to Fiji
- An estimated 75,000 people have marched in the US to kick-off climate week, calling for an end to fossil fuels
- Drew Barrymore has postponed the return of her daytime talk show until after the Hollywood strike is over