Good morning. The US president, Donald Trump, has blamed “transition problems” after the White House clarified China faces 145% tariffs rather than the 125% announced yesterday. US stocks fell again, reversing some of the gains in yesterday’s sharp rally.
In election news, the Coalition plans to shrink the size of the public service through natural attrition, and the public sector union in Australia has warned this would have a significant impact on the body that regulates aged care. Plus, the latest in our Last Chance series spotlights a critically endangered freshwater turtle.
Australia
Bureaucracy | Hundreds of jobs could be lost at the government agency responsible for investigating allegations of serious wrongdoing and mistreatment in aged care homes if the Coalition wins the election, the public sector union has warned.
Last chance | A rare “bum-breathing” turtle found in a single river system in Queensland has suffered one of its worst breeding seasons, highlighted in our series about overlooked native species being ignored during this election campaign.
Travel warning | An award-winning Australian comedian has cancelled a planned trip to the US after receiving legal advice that she could be stopped at the border due to her previous jokes about the Trump administration.
Housing | Renters and advocates are worried there could be a surge in no-grounds evictions in New South Wales in the coming month as landlords act before the law changes in mid-May.
Economy | The Reserve Bank of Australia governor says it is “too early” to judge how Donald Trump’s trade war will affect interest rates, while hosing down forecasts the bank will issue a double rate cut in May.
World
Rollercoaster economy | US stocks fell again on Thursday morning after a historic rally after Donald Trump’s shock retreat on Wednesday on the hefty tariffs he had just imposed on dozens of countries. Follow the live blog here.
Hollywood | Hours after Donald Trump imposed record 125% tariffs on Chinese products entering the US, China has announced it will further curb the number of US films allowed to screen in the country.
Middle East | France plans to recognise a Palestinian state within months and could make the move at a UN conference in New York in June on settling the Israel-Palestinian conflict, the president, Emmanuel Macron, said.
Luxury purchase | Prada has agreed to buy the Versace fashion brand for €1.25bn (A$2.25bn) from the fashion conglomerate Capri Holdings, after months of speculation about a potential deal to combine the two Italian fashion houses.
Old world trade | “Hairy” medieval book covers previously thought to be made from deer or boar skin are in fact made of sealskin, researchers have found. The findings in France shed new light on a robust medieval trade network.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: the climate crisis has disappeared from the election agenda
In past elections, debate about climate policy has been front and centre. Labor and independents campaigned hard on the environment back in 2022. But during the current campaign Labor and the Coalition have focused their messaging almost entirely on the cost of living. Nour Haydar talks with the deputy editor Patrick Keneally and the climate and environment editor Adam Morton about the consequences of climate action fading from the campaign.
In-depth
Labor has made great strides towards gender equality among its MPs and senators, but the number of female Coalition members remains stubbornly low. Sarah Basford Canales and Nick Evershed analyse how the two different attitudes might affect how many women are likely to be in the next parliament.
Not the news
Fifty years after it was released, Australian classic Picnic at Hanging Rock is undergoing a 4K restoration for cinema. Elroy Rosenberg speaks to the director and creative team behind the film about the making of a story of a group of schoolgirls and their teacher going missing that has endured the test of time and continues to influence culture internationally.
Sport
Football | It’s the Europa League quarter-finals. Follow the live action as Spurs play Frankfurt and Lyon take on Man United.
Athletics | Gout Gout has become the third Australian to run 100m in less than 10 seconds, and he did it twice within two hours on a dramatic day at the national athletic championships in Perth.
AFL | GWS Giants star Jesse Hogan is “stone-cold addicted” to chess, sometimes staying up until 3am playing an online game.
Tennis | Kazakhstan have placed Australia on the brink of Billie Jean King Cup elimination with a 2-1 victory in their qualifying tie in Brisbane.
Media roundup
In the Financial Review, billionaire Andrew Forrest reckons China will be able to withstand Trump’s tariffs. The Sydney Morning Herald wonders where environment minister Tanya Plibersek has been on the campaign trail. The Argyle in Sydney is set to reopen today as a new dining precinct, per the Daily Telegraph.
What’s happening today
Perth | Peter Dutton will address the Leadership Matters Breakfast.
Statistics | The ABS will release data on Australia’s overseas arrivals and departures.
Sydney | The Royal Easter show begins.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
