Good morning. Malcolm Turnbull says it is “ludicrous” for world leaders to “become just a conga line of sycophants” in the hope that Donald Trump would not place tariffs on their economies. It comes as Trump’s policies cause further jitters on financial markets.
At home, a former US government expert warns that nuclear energy is the most expensive option Australia could take. We bring news from the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred, including a baby born in the storm. And we lay out what we know from yesterday’s revelation that a string of apparently antisemitic attacks in Sydney was actually an orchestrated criminal plot.
Australia
‘Nuclear ‘expensive’ | A longtime senior US climate official has weighed in on Australia’s energy debate, saying “very, very few people” internationally are building new nuclear power plants and, in most cases, the combination of solar and batteries delivers “higher reliability than gas”.
Turnbull v Trump | Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has said leaders should “not give in to bullies” after he was lashed by Donald Trump in a late-night social media post. The US president was responding after Turnbull said his “chaotic” policies played into the hands of China.
Kremlin warning | Russia has warned the Australian government that deploying troops to Ukraine as part of an international peace keeping operation would lead to “grave consequences”.
Dinner dearth | Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton have both cancelled fundraising events with donors amid heightened sensitivity about political campaigning in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Our political correspondent notes that while the storm may have blown Albanese’s election plans off course, his high-profile response could help him win back voters.
Dutton ‘conned’ | Tony Burke has claimed the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, was “conned” into making claims about alleged rising antisemitism by a Sydney caravan plot that police have declared fake and he should “apologise” to the public. Here’s what we know about the police investigation.
World
Activist arrested | Donald Trump said the arrest of a prominent Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University’s pro-Palestinian protests last year, is the “first arrest of many to come”. Critics said it “reeks of McCarthyism” after Trump described Khalil and others as “anti-American”.
The economy, stupid | The risk that the US economy will enter recession this year is rising, according to economists, as Donald Trump’s chaotic approach to tariffs caused more losses on Wall Street overnight – and promising a selloff on the ASX today. In Washington, Marco Rubio announced the scrapping of 85% of US aid programs, Follow events live. And we also have a special report on how Elon Musk was shaped by his South African upbringing.
Zelenskyy mission | Volodymyr Zelenskyy is flying to Saudi Arabia for high-stakes talks with the crown prince as his country continues to be squeezed on and off the battlefield, in particular in Kursk. JD Vance’s first cousin, who has fought in Ukraine to defend it from Russia’s invasion, has called the vice-president and Donald Trump “useful idiots” to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Tanker collision | A cargo ship in the North Sea carrying jet fuel has exploded after it collided with a cargo ship.
Stealing a look | A woman in the UK is refusing to hand over a 16th-century Italian painting– Madonna and Child by Antonio Solario – identified as stolen from an Italian museum more than 50 years ago.
Full Story
Could Trump sink our subs deal?
Ben Doherty tells Reged Ahmad how, with America an increasingly unreliable ally, doubts are rising about the Aukus defence deal.
In-depth
Our team of reporters are out finding stories in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred. After some of the wettest weather the city has ever seen, Brisbanites are feeling Covid flashbacks and cabin fever as they cope with being cooped up and unable to go outside. There was a different sort of problem for Amber Butler whose partner had to drive her to hospital through the height of the storm to give birth. And when the storm forced a wildlife hospital to close, a koala recovering from abdominal surgery bunked up with a possum in Mallory Wilson’s house in Nerang.
Not the news
So many couples came to see sex and relationship practitioner Georgia Grace with problems relating to “desire discrepancy” that she decided it justified a whole chapter of her book The Modern Guide to Sex.
Sport
Athletics | The emergence of Gout Gout has electrified the athletics calendar which launches into the Queensland Championships this weekend, before it builds towards a showdown at the Stawell Gift next month.
Rugby union | An achilles injury to England’s Ollie Lawrence in their win over Italy threatens his hopes of touring Australia with the British & Irish Lions.
Football | West Ham host Newcastle this morning in the last of the weekend’s Premier League matches. Follow the action live.
Media roundup
Hovercrafts are being used to ferry vital supplies to some Gold Coast communities cut off by flooding in the wake of Cyclone Alfred, the Bulletin reports. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Scott Morrison’s former spin doctor has warned Peter Dutton that Anthony Albanese is winning back lost voters. Time is ticking for Western Australia’s Liberals after their election defeat showed they have learned nothing, WAtoday analysis argues. The NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans have been lined up to play two matches against local opposition in Melbourne, the Herald Sun reports.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Australian Institute of Criminology conference on reducing online harm.
Economy | ABS releases total value of dwellings.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
