US President Donald Trump said on the weekend he has ordered the Defence Department to prepare for possible military action in Nigeria as he continues to accuse the nation of not doing enough to stem violence against Christians – an accusation Nigeria has repeatedly denied.

In a social media post criticising what he called the "mass slaughter" of Christians in the country, Trump wrote the United States would "immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria" and warned the government there to "move fast."

In the lengthy message, Trump said the US "may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

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The US president's online threats come just weeks after he called himself the "president of peace" after he "ended eight wars in just eight months".

Both Christians and Muslims have been victims of attacks by radical Islamists in the country of more than 230 million people. The violence in the country is driven by varying factors: some incidents are religiously motivated and affect both groups, while others arise from disputes between farmers and herders over limited resources, as well as communal and ethnic tensions.

Although Christians are among those targeted, local reports indicate that most victims are Muslims living in Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north.

"I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action," Trump wrote.

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"If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"

"Yes sir," US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth posted on social media with a screenshot of Trump's comments.

"The killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria – and anywhere – must end immediately. The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian Government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities."

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Trump's announcement comes after he accused Nigeria of religious freedom violations on Friday, claiming that "Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria" and designating the nation as a "Country of Particular Concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act. The label is a suggestion that his administration has found that Nigeria has engaged in or tolerated "systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious freedom."

In a social media post after the designation, but before Trump's mention of the military, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu wrote: "The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians."

He added that Nigeria is "working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths."

Tinubu's press secretary, responding to a social media post from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemning the "slaughter of thousands of Christians," called the characterisation "a gross exaggeration of the Nigerian situation," adding that "Christians, Muslims, churches and mosques are attacked randomly."

"What our country requires from America is military support to fight these violent extremists in some states of our country, not designation as a nation of particular concern," said Bayo Onanuga.

Spokespersons for the White House and Tinubu's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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A family of five has been left terrified after a group of machete-wielding teens attempted to break into their Thomastown home in Melbourne's north.

Faisal Nasim, 43, was woken to the sound of banging at his door just before 6am today.

A group of teens had pulled up in a white car and Nasim said they demanded his car keys.

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Nasim refused, and they initially went back to their car, but events then took a horrifying turn.

"They came to their car and one of them said, 'let's get the machetes and come back'," Nasim said.

Nasim was forced to protect his home and his family, including three children, as the teens tried to break into his home.

"[I] went inside, tried to hold the door back," he said.

"They had knives and machetes in their hands. They were like young kids. 

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"They tried to break in again, then they just ran away."

The would-be robbers were scared off by a neighbour who called police as they sped off in their car.

They still have not been found, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

"We urge any residents that have not yet been approached by police to review their CCTV cameras and come forward if they think they have information that can assist the investigation," acting Senior Sergeant Steven Smith said.

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It puts more focus on the Victorian government's attempts to crack down on crime, especially on a machete and knife amnesty that is supposed to keep weapons out of the hands of criminals.

Despite claims from authorities that the measures are having an impact on crime, Nasim is sceptical.

"I feel like it's not working. We have to be more hard on these [people]," he said.

"I want to work and I want to do things, and then these people come and try to ruin your life." 

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More severe weather is on the way after multiple people were hospitalised when destructive hail hammered south-east Queensland during a powerful supercell storm yesterday.

More massive hail – this time up to 8cm – hit parts of the state this afternoon in the rural area of Googa creek, near Toowoomba.

Giant golf-ball-sized hail measuring 5cm in diameter reportedly fell across multiple regions in the state last night, while some residents in the Southern Downs documented up to 8-9cm hailstones.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1984886898058293506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Nine people were treated for injuries at Esk State School's 150th anniversary fair, located about 100km from Brisbane, which descended into chaos as the wild storms brought hail, heavy rain and damaging winds.

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Four people were taken to hospital with minor hail-related injuries at 3.24pm local time.

A woman in her 30s was taken to Ipswich Hospital in a stable condition with head and neck injuries.

A man in his 20s was taken to Gatton Hospital in a stable condition with minor burns.

A woman in her 20s and another in her 30s were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Another five people were treated by paramedics at the scene.

Huge hailstones smashed windows, damaged roofs and pummelled cars.

The largest hailstones, about 9cm in diameter, were reported in Pratton in the state's Southern Downs region.

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The ferocious storm rolled across Brisbane's CBD and the greater suburbs about 3pm.

It left hundreds of residents in south-east Queensland without power.

Residents in the NSW Northern Tablelands and across the North West Slopes and Plains, including Tamworth and Moree were also expected to be hit by the storms.

More storms forecast for today

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning more wild conditions are on the way, with severe storms, damaging winds and giant hail forecast in Queensland for later this afternoon.

Severe thunderstorms are possible across south-east Queensland, rolling as far as north-east NSW.

Damaging winds, heavy rain and large hail are again possible, the BoM said.

Inland regions including Gympie, Kandanga, Kenilworth and Gunalda are expected to be smashed with the worst of the wild weather.

A severe thunderstorm warning was also issued for parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, about and west of Taroom.

"Damaging wind, large hail and heavy rain are all possible with this thunderstorm," the warning said.

The storms aren't expected to ease until Tuesday.

The bureau warned that storms are possible tomorrow "almost anywhere in the state".

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli insisted the state's emergency services were well prepared and ready to help.

"I want Queenslanders to know we're prepared for this," he said.

"I think that's what makes the state so resilient, the ability to be able to deal with what Mother Nature throws at us."

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Armed police arrived at the building on Brooklyn Road around 3.35pm.

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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.

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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 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.

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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.

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"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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Richard Hona has been jailed about 30 times, mostly for masturbating on public buses.

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.

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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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