Morning everyone. Energy is one of the big issues this election and we have the story of a Coalition MP who reckons there is a “big political opportunity” to be made from power outages. We’re also reporting from South Australia on the state’s record-breaking drought; Barack Obama joins Harvard in its fight against the Trump administration; and how Jacob Elordi needed a boot camp to portray Richard Flanagan’s brooding hero Dorrigo Evans.
Australia
‘I’m giving up”’ | Cate Blanchett, the double Oscar-winning star, says she is retiring from acting because she has “other things” to do with her life.
‘Do nothing’ | Coalition MP Colin Boyce told a group of climate science deniers that blackouts were “a big political opportunity” and that he had urged fellow MPs to adopt a “do-nothing strategy” under which voters would “start to realise” the alleged problem. Separately, international analysts say today that Peter Dutton’s plan to build less renewable energy and keep Australia’s coal plants running longer could lead to electricity shortages. Anthony Albanese will face off tonight against Dutton in the second leaders debate – but will it have any impact on voters?
Diet plan | Simple dietary changes such as swapping out red meat for chicken or plant-based alternatives and cutting creamy pasta sauces could substantially cut greenhouse gas emissions, Australian research has found.
Exclusive | The Greens MP Stephen Bates has joined OnlyFans – a first for an Australian politician – as the party pushes to make two HIV prevention drugs, PrEP and PEP, free.
Muslim preference | A Muslim advocacy group is planning to tell voters to preference the Greens above Labor on how-to-vote cards in several key seats, despite objecting to the minor party’s position on religious freedom in schools.
World
Harvard exam | Barack Obama, Yale and other academic institutions have come out in support of Harvard after the Trump administration elected to cut $2bn of its federal grants over alleged antisemitism. Could the university’s pushback lead to more resistance against the White House? Meanwhile, Trump is said to be “looking into” the legality of deporting US citizens who commit violent crimes to El Salvador.
China tactic | In another of Trump’s fights, China has reportedly ordered its airlines not to take any further deliveries of Boeing jets, the latest move in its tit-for-tat trade war with the US. And it emerged that Apple shipped nearly $2bn worth of iPhones from India to the US last month to get round Trump’s impending tariffs, customs data shows.
Cryotherapy death | Police in Paris have launched an investigation after a woman suffocated while undergoing a cryotherapy session at a city gym and a second is in intensive care.
Sudan hope | A conference has been called by the UK government on the second anniversary of Sudan’s civil war to try to find a way to end “the appalling disregard for human life” in the country amid a mounting humanitarian crisis.
Cub club | A video taken during an earthquake at San Diego Zoo Safari Park shows how elephants sprang into action and formed a circle to protect their young as the ground shook.
Full Story
Rebecca Huntley on the threat to democracy of isolation and distrust
In a wide-ranging conversation, social researcher Rebecca Huntley speaks to Nour Haydar about how decreasing participation in society and declining interest in the news are changing the country – and reshaping our politics.
In-depth
Large parts of South Australia have seen the lowest rainfall on record in the 14 months since last February 2024, plunging the natural world into a severe crisis. One expert tells our reporters that the situation is “unprecedented with a mortal threat to plant, animal and insect life. Another says bluntly: “It’s getting hotter and drier … We are going to lose species.”
Not the news
Having already tackled the Snowtown murders and the Port Arthur massacre, filmmakers Justin Kurzel and Shaun Grant have turned to the experience of PoWs in the second world war with their TV adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s haunting novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North. Kelly Burke speaks to them and to the show’s star, Jacob Elordi, about why they made it and the gruelling physical and mental challenge of the cast going to a boot camp to lose weight to convincingly play maltreated soldiers.
Sport
Champions League | Aston Villa are attempting to claw back a two-goal deficit against Paris St Germain in their quarter-final second leg, while Dortmund take on Barcelona.
Rugby union | South Africa’s decision to rule out making a bid to host either of the next two World Cups shows how the tournament is beginning to make less sense for governing bodies.
Football | With Ange Postecoglou’s job in the balance, Bournemouth are trying to lock in their coach Andoni Iraola to ward off an approach from Tottenham.
Media roundup
A long-established Queensland builder is in liquidation with debts topping $20m, leaving some big projects in limbo, the Courier Mail reports. Business owners tell the Adelaide Advertiser that “crippling public holiday wage costs” are preventing them opening over Easter. Cyclists have been testing out Melbourne’s new Footscray bridge and they tell the Age it’s like riding through a disco.
What’s happening today
Politics | The second leaders’ debate is on the ABC tonight, hosted by David Speers at 8pm.
Arts | The Gallipoli art prize winner will be announced.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
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