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NSW billionaire buys Brisbane’s most famous pub for $50 million
One of Brisbane's most iconic pubs has been bought by a billionaire NRL boss for $50 million.
Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis has officially taken ownership of the famous Caxton Hotel pub after months of secret negotiations with the owners.
It's the first time the pub in Petrie Terrace has been sold for 30 years., having been operated by the Farquhar family for over two decades.
BREAKING NEWS: Nine people left with life-threatening injuries after horror mass stabbing on British train
The Caxton Hotel is one of the most well-known sports pubs in Australia, primarily due to its proximity to Suncorp Stadium or Lang Park, and has been opne for more than 150 years.
Brisbane Broncos fans gather there each week during the NRL season, and the pub becomes a sea of Maroon during State of Origin time when New South Wales and Queensland face off.
An annual tradition for many years during the State of Origin has been the New South Wales Blues team bus driving down Caxton Street.
As the bus passed the Caxton Hotel full of Queensland fans, insults and sometimes beer cans were hurled at it.
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However, this was blocked by Queensland Police last year on the grounds of safety.
It was a controversial decision, as then NSW coach Michael Maguire wanted to keep up with tradition, but it was backed by the ARL Peter Vlandys.
"I agree with Queensland police. The bus would end up with no wheels, windscreen wipers and there would be 14 Queenslanders on the roof," he said at the time.
It is not known if Politis will make any major changes to the pub under his ownership.
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Nine people fighting for life in hospital after mass stabbing on UK train
Nine people have been left with life-threatening injuries after a mass stabbing on a train near Cambridge in the UK.
Ten people have been taken to hospital, with nine believed to be fighting for their lives, after the alleged attack on board a train from Doncaster to Kings Cross in London, British Transport Police said.
Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident, police said.
READ MORE: Man charged with murder after woman found dead in Hunter Valley home
There have been no confirmed fatalities.
Police have now declared a major incident and counter-terrorism officers are now assisting with the investigation, but no motive has yet been confirmed.
"This is a shocking incident and first and foremost my thoughts are with those who have been injured this evening and their families," Chief Superintendent Chris Casey said.
"We're conducting urgent enquiries to establish what has happened, and it could take some time before we are in a position to confirm anything further.
READ MORE: Witnesses recall stabbing victims fleeing through carriages in terror on UK train
"At this early stage it would not be appropriate to speculate on the causes of the incident.
"Our response is ongoing at the station and will be for some time.
"Cordons are in place and trains are not currently running through the area, and there are also some road closures."
"Plato" was declared initially – the UK code word used by and emergency services when responding to a "marauding terror attack" – before it was later rescinded.
British Transport Police previously said on X that officers are “currently responding to an incident on a train to Huntingdon where multiple people have been stabbed”.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary, the local police force, said armed police attended after officers were called to the scene at Huntingdon station at 7.39pm local time on Saturday.
The two people were arrested at the station, which is around 120km north of London.
The train was the 6.25pm service travelling from Doncaster to London King's Cross, British Transport Police confirmed.
"Armed officers attended and the train was stopped at Huntingdon, where two men were arrested. A number of people have been taken to hospital," Cambridge Police said in a statement.
"The incident remains ongoing, and the A1307 has been closed as you approach the town centre."
East of England Ambulance Service confirmed multiple people have been transported to hospital.
Paul Bristow, the mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said in a post on X that he had heard of reports of “horrendous scenes” on the train.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the incident "deeply concerning."
"My thoughts are with all those affected, and my thanks go to the emergency services for their response. Anyone in the area should follow the advice of the police," he said on X.
https://x.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1984743058856869942
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she was "deeply saddened to hear about the stabbings," and that her "thoughts go out to all those affected",
"Two suspects have been immediately arrested and taken into custody," she said in a post on X.
Mahmood said she is receiving regular updates on the investigation and urged people to avoid "speculation at this early stage" as to what was behind the stabbings.
Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch also responded to the incident in a post on X.
"This is an absolutely horrific attack and my thoughts are with all those affected including the emergency responders at the scene," Badenoch wrote.
The East Coast Main Line is one of the UK's busiest and most important railway routes.
It connects major cities, running from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley in Scotland.
David Horne, Managing Director of train firm LNER, said they were "deeply shocked and saddened by the serious incident."
He said passengers should check before travelling.
Earlier the company told train passengers not to travel.
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Once-prolific Auckland bus flasher Richard Hona returns to court after relapse
Richard Hona has been jailed about 30 times, mostly for masturbating on public buses.
‘Better, cheaper, fairer’: Nationals scrap net zero target of 2050
Nationals members have voted to scrap its net zero policy in a move that could ease dissent among party ranks.
Federal MPs officially voted on abandoning the target mandate of 2050 in a party room meeting today, with the Nationals leader David Littleporud announcing the decision this afternoon.
"A little while ago we informed the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, of the National party's decision to scrap net zero by 2050 and to set a policy platform predicated on principles about a better, cheaper, fairer way to reduce our emissions and to have an energy policy that will actually work for Australians," he told media at a press conference.
BREAKING NEWS: Nine people left with life-threatening injuries after horror mass stabbing on British train
He claimed regional Australia was being "torn apart" by the government's quest to reach net zero by 2050, and said the move would bring "common sense back to climate and energy policy".
The decision comes off the back of a report by the Page Research Centre, and research by Senators Matt Canavan and Ross Caddell.
The report claimed Australia's current climate goals "puts achieving an emissions goal ahead of improving the living standards of Australians.
"We should reduce emissions in line with comparable nations, not ahead of them," it said.
Littleproud stressed this was not a sign of climate denial and insisted this would not mean Australia would fall behind in its commitments to reduce emissions.
However, he pointed out: "We're not going to be a laggard, but we're not going to streak ahead."
Nationals leader David Littleproud previously said he was confident the Coalition will agree that net zero is not the only way to reduce emissions.
"It's an expensive way. It's going to cost $9 trillion. It's going to put things like Medicare at risk," Littleproud told Today ahead of the meeting.
"But there are alternative ways to do our bit in a fair and equitable way in terms of global emissions.
"We're not deniers, we believe in climate change. And there's a way through this that Australians can afford at the moment."
A motion at a grassroots meeting for the party to "abandon its support for a net zero mandate" was passed yesterday.
Littleproud said he hoped the Liberals "will come with us" on the decision to scrap the target.
"We want to be constructive, not destructive," he added.
Speaking at the press conference this afternoon, Littleproud said he had informed the Liberal Party and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley of the Nationals' plan days in advance.
Whilst he hopes to reach some sort of consensus with them, he said it is not certain how they will react to the junior partner in the Coalition outright rejecting a policy first implemented by Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
"We've got to our position before the Liberal Party has settled theirs, so we'll respect the Liberal Party and the processes that they're going to undertake," he said.
"When that's determined, then we'll have those discussions after that."
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The Nationals' decision to scrap net zero could create a path of reconciliation between the party and former Leader Barnaby Joyce.
Littleproud confirmed on Today that Joyce had been invited to the meeting despite the Member for New England declaring he would not run for re-election in 2028 and amidst speculation he could join Pauline Hanson's One Nation party.
Joyce was not present at today's meeting.
"I'm not going to attend any party room that believes in net zero," Joyce told reporters in Canberra.
He suggested he may remain with the party if it dumps its net-zero target.
"I'll see what they come up with," Joyce said.
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Meridian starts work on $227m Ruakākā solar farm to power Northland homes
It is expected to produce enough electricity to power about half the homes in Northland.
Waiheke vineyard company Cable Bay Wine Ltd to pay $18,000 to fired worker
The company has previously been fined for breaching noise limits.
Measles outbreak: One new infection in Auckland – linked to overseas travel case
The number of measles cases has risen to 17, health authorities say.
Cruise cancelled after passenger left behind on island died alone
A luxury cruise has been cancelled after an 80-year-old woman who was left behind on a shore excursion died alone.
Suzanne Rees was reported missing to authorities last Saturday night, when a check of the cruise ship the Coral Adventurer revealed she was missing.
She had been part of Coral Expedition's cruise to the exclusive resort destination Lizard Island, off the coast of Cooktown in Far North Queensland, earlier that day.
READ MORE: Witnesses recall stabbing victims fleeing through carriages in terror on UK train
Search and rescue crews, who had been scouring the land and sea for her, found her dead on the island the following day.
Suzanne's daughter said her mother had fallen ill while on a hike and was asked to head back down alone.
The Master of Coral Adventurer has now been banned from embarking any new passengers following a notice issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA).
"AMSA understands the Coral Adventurer is intending to return to Cairns where AMSA will attend it on arrival," the maritime safety body said in a statement.
"Questions about the reason the vessel's destination has changed or the vessel's estimated time of arrival are to be directed to Coral Expeditions."
A balcony room on the Coral Adventurer costs $86,400, according to travel agent Clean Cruising.
It holds just 120 passengers.
Queensland Police is investigating the death, but has ruled it non-suspicious.
READ MORE: Man charged with murder after woman found dead in Hunter Valley home
READ MORE: Nine injured after giant hailstones pummel school fair
Rees' daughter Katherine said the family had been left "shocked and saddened" by her much-loved mother's death.
"From the little we have been told, it seems that there was a failure of care and common sense," she said in a statement.
"We understand from the police that it was a very hot day, and mum felt ill on the hill climb."
"She was asked to head down, unescorted. Then the ship left, apparently without doing a passenger count.
"At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, mum died, alone."
Kathleen described her mother as a "healthy, active 80-year-old".
"I hope that the coronial inquiry will find out what the company should have done that might have saved mum's life," she said.
Coral Expeditions chief executive Mark Fifield offered his apology to the woman's family and said the company was working with authorities in their investigations.
Coral Expeditions can confirm the tragic death of a passenger on the Coral Adventurer during an excursion to Lizard Island in Queensland," he said in a statement.
"While investigations into the incident are continuing, we are deeply sorry that this has occurred and are offering our full support to the woman's family.
"The Coral team have been in contact with the woman's family, and we will continue to offer support to them through this difficult process.
"We are working closely with Queensland Police and other authorities to support their investigation."
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
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Should you fix your mortgage now as rates fall below 5%?
Westpac and BNZ now offer five-year fixes at 4.99%, last seen in 2021.