A powerful 6.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken northern Afghanistan, according to the US Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of major damage, though some photos on social media showed some rubble on roads and streets.

The quake's epicentre was located 22 kilometres west-southwest of Khulm, Afghanistan, and had a depth of 28 kilometres.

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It struck at 12.59 am on Monday local time, the USGS said.

A similar magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck on August 31, 2025 in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border killed more than 2200 people.

On October 7, 2023, a magnitude 6.3 followed by strong aftershocks that left at least 4000 people dead, according to the Taliban government.

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Ahead of tomorrow's interest rates decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia, the impact of the bank of mum and dad on home prices continues to stir debate.

The cash rate is hotly tipped to remain on hold at 3.60 per cent when the RBA hands down its decision at 2.30pm tomorrow, leaving hard-pressed mortgage holders disappointed.

The forecast was supported by a survey of economic experts by comparison site Finder that found 30 from 35 expected no change.

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But economists and analysts showed far less unity when quizzed about the effects of parents giving their children financial support to gain a foothold in the housing market.

New Finder research – based on a survey of 1006 first-home buyers – revealed 17 per cent relied on the financial help of parents or family to save their deposit, up from 11 in 2022.

That's the equivalent of almost 20,000 first home buyers a year who were lucky enough to receive financial help from their parents.

Finder head of consumer research Graham Cooke said without it, property ownership would be out of reach for many young people.

"Those who can lean on mum and dad are typically entering the market not just sooner, but in a much stronger position," he said.

But while it's giving some lucky few a leg up, nearly one in three experts canvassed by Finder believe it is also distorting the housing market.

Among them are Michael Yardney, from Metropole Property Strategists, who thinks a twin-track housing market is evolving.

"This is creating a two-tier market of the haves and have-nots, families with property equity already and others," he said.

On the other hand, Tim Reardon from the Housing Industry Association said family support is a natural part of a well functioning market.

"[Parents] are not a distortion, they are correcting the market distortion created by the severe lending restrictions imposed on first home buyers," he said.

There was also concern about the impact of the government's First Home Guarantee Scheme, which will allow all first home buyers to purchase a home with only a 5 per cent deposit instead of the usual 20 per cent.

From the 26 experts canvassed, 65 per cent think it will encourage first home buyers to take on more debt than they should.

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A senior Justice Department official has told Congress that the Trump administration can continue lethal military strikes on alleged drug traffickers without congressional approval and that the administration is not bound by a decades-old war powers law, two congressional sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

The head of the Department of Justice's powerful Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), T. Elliot Gaiser, told select Senate and House lawmakers on Thursday that the US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean did not trigger the law's requirements because they don't meet the definition of hostilities and did not require a declaration of war from Congress, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Gaiser was drawing on a classified legal opinion produced by his office that justifies the strikes by equating drug cartels with terrorists and focuses on the death caused by the drugs brought to American shores, the sources said.

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Gaiser emphasised the fact that the US military wasn't being attacked in response to the strikes as part his argument that America was not at war, the sources said.

The US military has carried out at least 15 known strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels since early September, killing a total of 64 people, according to a CNN tally. The latest known strike occurred on Saturday in the Caribbean, killing three people.

Some legal experts have said the military strikes could violate US and international law. Democratic lawmakers, and at least one Republican, have criticised the administration for not being more forthcoming with details on the legal justification for the strikes.

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The Trump administration notified Congress in early September that it had struck an alleged drug vessel. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, that notification started a 60-day clock, after which the administration has to either cease the use of military force, get an extension on the clock or a war authorisation from Congress, according to legal scholars.

But Gaiser told lawmakers that the administration does not need to seek an extension of that 60-day clock, which expires on Monday, because the law doesn't apply in this case, the sources said.

CNN first reported on the existence of the OLC opinion, which legal experts said appears to justify an open-ended war against a secret list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers. The opinion appears designed to give the president power to designate drug traffickers as enemy combatants and have them summarily killed without legal review, those experts said.

Historically, those involved in drug trafficking were considered criminals with due process rights, with the Coast Guard interdicting drug-trafficking vessels and arresting smugglers.

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CNN has requested comment from the White House and the Justice Department on the congressional briefings and the administration's legal rationale for striking the alleged drug boats.

The Washington Post first reported on Gaiser's briefing of lawmakers.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on the first day of his second term designating certain drug cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, giving the US military greater leeway to attack them. The administration's strikes on alleged drug boats have coincided with increased pressure on the regime of Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro.

Trump is considering plans to target cocaine facilities and drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela, though he has not yet made a decision on whether to move forward with them, CNN reported last month.

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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.

Research found many over-50s are overpaying for broadband they rarely use.

The app Unchaind has been running the Young NZer of the Year’s videos for two months.

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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