Morning, everyone. There has been broad political consensus for a major review of the Reserve Bank for a while. Finally we have the results of a government review and one of the main results is that the power of the bank’s board to set rates will be handed instead to a panel of experts. We’re looking at that review, plus Asio’s warning about “aggressive” foreign spying – and all you need to know about today’s solar eclipse.
Australia
Spy trap | Foreign spies are “aggressively seeking secrets across all parts of Australian society”, including trying to recruit “disloyal” government insiders to access classified information, Asio has warned. Security experts also say today China could use a research station in Antarctica for spying.
‘Strong and effective’ | Australia’s Reserve Bank board will be split between a special panel to handle interest rates and one dealing with currency issuance and other tasks, as recommended by the first formal review of the central bank since the 1990s. But the RBA will retain its strict target of keeping inflation between 2% and 3%.
Electric charge | The shadow infrastructure minister, Bridget McKenzie, has described Labor’s electric vehicle policy launch as a “missed opportunity” to achieve national consistency, while our climate and environment editor, Adam Morton, says it’s good news but doesn’t go far enough.
Thorpe hits back | The independent senator Lidia Thorpe has hit back at Anthony Albanese’s suggestions that health issues could be behind her early-morning altercation outside a Melbourne strip club, claiming the prime minister and her detractors are “taking their info from rightwing media”.
‘Despairing’ | A major survey on the mental health of young people finds that more than a quarter were “very concerned” about the climate crisis, and 38% said they experienced high psychological distress as a result.
World
Witness protection | Rupert Murdoch would have been Dominion’s second witness in its defamation case against Fox News if the mogul had not settled the case. Fox may have admitted defeat and paid up the case but viewers would not have been able to tell by watching the channel.
Carbon capture | A microbe discovered in a volcanic hot spring gobbles up carbon dioxide “astonishingly quickly”, according to researchers who hope to use microbes that have naturally evolved to absorb CO2 as an efficient way of removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
Asian heatwave | Temperatures in parts of Asia could reach 45C this week as the continent suffers under what one scientist called its worstApril heatwave, causing deaths and the closure of schools.
Sudan ‘genocidaires’ | Activists in Sudan are warning that the warlords fighting for control of the country are “both genocidaires” who are tainted by attacks on civilians in Darfur in the 2000s, while thousands of residents have fled Khartoum after a US-brokered ceasefire failed to hold.
People power | India’s population is expected to rise to 1.4286 billion by the end of June, taking it past China’s 1.4257 billion and making it the most populous country, according to the UN.
Full Story
‘Grey corruption’ in the Andrews government
Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog Ibac has cleared the premier, Dan Andrews, and his ministers of corrupt conduct, but warns of “grey corruption” in his government. Our state correspondent, Benita Kolovos, explains what happened and what it means for the Labor leader’s legacy.
In-depth
Astronomy enthusiasts from all over the world have descended on the remote Western Australia town of Exmouth where a total solar eclipse will take place at 11.29 AWST this morning. They include the Solar Wind Sherpas, an international group who have tracked eclipses in the Sahara, Mongolia and Antarctica. It’s only a partial eclipse in other parts of the country but you can find out how to follow it here.
Not the news
The death of the much-loved Catholic priest Father Bob Maguire represents the end of cultural Catholicism and the final severance of the community from public view, according to Van Badham in a moving tribute to the legendary patron of “the unloved and unlovely”.
The world of sport
Golf | The malign influence of sportswashing was on display when the LIV golf bandwagon arrived in Adelaide.
Champions League | Inter faced a semi-final derby with Milan this morning, while Manchester City took on Bayern Munich.
Running | Sottish ultra-marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski has been disqualified from a race – because she was found to have used a car for 2.5 miles.
Media roundup
The Age has extensive coverage of yesterday’s Ibac verdict and says Victorians should be “alarmed” about the findings. The Canberra Times reports on the sentencing remarks in the Witness J case, with the judge saying the former intelligence officer could have placed people in “quite grave” danger. And the Financial Review says Star Entertainment is considering selling its flagship Sydney casino as it buckles under competition and the burden of oversight.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | Woodside Energy is in court attempting to strike out the conservation case against its Scarborough gas project in the Burrup Peninsula.
Population | ABS will release data about population, births, deaths and migration for capital cities and regions in the 2021-22 financial year.
Security | There will be a public hearing into foreign interference through social media.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
