
Good morning. Millions in Queensland are hunkering down and parts of northern New South Wales are facing evacuation orders as Tropical Cyclone Alfred looms just offshore. Authorities are urging people not to be complacent about the significant threats posed by the storm, which at the time of writing is forecast to hit the coast tonight with intense wind and rain.
Ukraine’s opposition leaders have denied plotting to oust Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as European Union leaders discuss dramatically ramping up defence spending to help shore up Ukraine’s precarious position. And Donald Trump has pressed pause on US tariffs for most Mexican (but not Canadian) goods in a reprieve lasting until next month.
Plus: we take a good look at the domestic divide in Australia, where women still do 50% more around the house than their male partners.
Australia
‘Volcanic’ resentment | Australia and New Zealand rank third-highest globally for unpaid domestic work done by women, according to UN data, with one mother telling us she can erupt “into volcanic levels of resentment” over the issue. Lucy Clark writes that with couples splitting up because of housework arguments, wouldn’t it just be easier if men did more?
Cyclone Alfred | Private employment agencies across Queensland have given jobseekers the impression they still need to perform their mutual obligations, despite there being a pause across large swaths of the state while it prepares for Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Political rivalries have been put aside as the storm approaches and volunteers, including federal MPs, pitch in at Brisbane’s sandbag depots. Here’s all you need to know about where and when Alfred is expected to hit.
‘Abuse of power’ | Coles has told suppliers they must sign an agreement to pay for freight costs if they want their products to be stocked in the supermarket’s new range, as it looks to boost profits.
Asbestos advice | A former NSW environment watchdog officer says more needs to be done to stop asbestos from being mixed into waste materials as the state government considers overhauling how to deal with the toxic contaminant.
Exclusive | More than 3,000 critically endangered Baw Baw frogs – the length of a grain of rice – have been released in Victoria’s east as part of a record-breaking conservation breeding program.
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine opposition leaders confirm talks with US but deny reports of a plot to oust Volodymyr Zelenskyy; European leaders are close to agreeing on a massive increase to defence spending; Zelenskyy says he is hoping for a “meaningful meeting” with the US next week as he welcomes Europe’s plan to rearm; the UK will continue to supply intelligence to Ukraine after the US cutoff.
US politics | Donald Trump delays tariffs on many products from Mexico but still attacks Canada; some Democrats have joined Republicans in a vote to censure Al Green for disrupting Trump’s speech to Congress; the Republicans’ budget goals are impossible without slashing health funding, the US budget office says.
Middle East crisis | Hamas says Trump’s threats are encouraging Israel to back out of the Gaza ceasefire; Israel’s military is creating a ChatGPT-like AI surveillance tool using vast amounts of Palestinian data to transform its spying capabilities.
Dominique Pelicot | The daughter of the convicted French rapist has filed a legal complaint accusing him of drugging and sexually abusing her, after he was jailed for drugging and raping her mother.
Stonehenge | A prehistoric burial site in Dorset is now thought to be the earliest known large circular enclosure in Britain, so does the dating of Stonehenge need revising?
Full Story
Newsroom edition: why life for women and men is still not equal
In the past 20 years men have not increased the amount of housework they do, despite women’s workloads increasing. While they’re at work, women are still earning less than men. Bridie Jabour speaks with editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor, head of newsroom Mike Ticher and national news editor Josephine Tovey about the gender pay gap – and why life for women and men is still not equal.
In-depth
Donald Trump’s apparent ignorance of the $368bn Aukus submarine deal coincides with concern that our long-time ally may not be that reliable going forward. The pact had been heralded as ensuring the security of the Indo-Pacific but now there’s a genuine concern it might never happen. Ben Doherty considers where that leaves Australia’s defence future – and that of the whole region.
Not the news
The Broadway hit and Tony-award winning MJ the Musical sanitises Michael Jackson’s life story, clipping out the uncomfortable bits about allegations of child sexual abuse. As it begins a season in Australia, fans are asking: is it OK to buy a ticket?
Sport
Cricket | The former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie labelled his successor Aaqib Javed a “clown” – and accused the former fast bowler of undermining him in order to take charge.
Football | As Ange Postecoglou leads his Spurs team into the Europa League knockout stage against AZ (follow live here), a new book charts how he learned from one of the game’s greatest ever players, Ferenc Puskás, while the Hungarian maestro was coach of South Melbourne.
World Cup format | Fifa will consider expanding the Football World Cup to 64 teams for its 2030 tournament.
Tennis | A “transformational” maternity leave scheme has been unveiled for the world’s top tennis players; Rod Laver has led the tributes to Australian tennis great Fred Stolle, who has died aged 86.
Media roundup
Brisbane has been turned into a “ghost town”, the Courier Mail reports, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred bears down on the city. The Bulletin says a man was rescued from the ocean at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast with authorities pleading for people to stay away from the sea. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Lismore is going to see more rainfall from Alfred than first thought, increasing flood fears. Thirty years on from Adelaide losing the F1 grand prix, the Advertiser says there is still a bitter taste about how it was allowed to happen.
What’s happening today
Sydney | UN Women Australia hosts International Women’s Day event with Sam Mostyn and Mary Robinson speaking.
Victoria | Trial continues in police capsicum-spray class action.
Energy | Everything Electric Australia conference in Sydney, featuring an address by climate change minister Chris Bowen.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.