Trump press secretary fired; Chermside man mauled by two dogs

Donald Trump's new White House press secretary has been fired after less than five days in the job, while in Brisbane's north a man is in a stable condition after being attacked by two dogs.

Press secretary out after a week

Katie Zachariah was appointed to the role about a week ago and started work on Monday. Her first briefing, on Tuesday, ran for only 15 minutes and she took questions from just three reporters. Questions were also raised about her credentials after she described herself as a lawyer. It has since been reported that she failed the bar exam in California.

Speaking publicly, the US president said he had told her she did not have to continue if she did not want to. He said she had told him the job was much tougher than she expected, and that he had replied that, if he were her, he would reconsider.

Her tenure is now the shortest on record for a White House press secretary. The previous benchmark was set by Anthony Scaramucci, who served as communications director in Trump's first term and lasted 11 days. Scaramucci responded on social media, saying records are made to be broken but that he took no pleasure in other people's pain.

Man attacked by dogs at Chermside park

Police were called to 7th Brigade Park at Chermside about 6.15pm on Friday after reports a man had been attacked by two dogs. He was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a serious condition and is now reported to be stable.

Police have captured one of the dogs. The second was still at large, and officers and Brisbane City Council staff searched for it overnight without success. A local resident said she heard a police helicopter circle several times on Friday night, with announcements that a dangerous dog was loose and should not be approached.

Residents are being urged to stay vigilant. Anyone who sees the missing dog should call police immediately and avoid approaching it.

Other stories

Elsewhere, police in Sydney's inner west are searching for a man who allegedly pointed a firearm at members of the public at Dulwich Hill after they confronted him over a stolen van, which was later set alight. Two men have also died after an ultralight aircraft crashed into a paddock in the Hunter Valley minutes after taking off from Scone.