Morning everyone. Australia’s 5 million Catholics are in mourning after the death of Pope Francis, who Anthony Albanese called their “devoted champion and loving father”. We have full reports and appreciations, plus analysis of who might succeed him. We examine the spate of drownings over the Easter weekend – eight in all – as well as the latest Signal leak at the Pentagon and stock markets under pressure again.
Australia
‘Devoted champion’ | Anthony Albanese has made an emotional tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a “devoted champion and a loving father” of Australian Catholics as he paid his respects at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. After the death of Francis last night from stroke and heart failure at the age of 88, cardinals from around the world, including Ukrainian-born Melbourne bishop Mykola Bychok, will now gather in Rome to decide his successor. Keep up with the latest here.
‘Absolutely horrific’ | After the weekend drowning toll in New South Wales and Victoria climbed to eight, a surf live saving chief blamed it on a combination of warm weather, thousands visiting the beach and enormous swells.
Mortgage warning | The Coalition’s mortgage deduction scheme could make housing even more unaffordable, according to an expert who has studied a similar policy in the Netherlands.
‘Smear campaign’ | Allegra Spender has denounced “anonymous and misleading” pamphlets distributed in her electorate of Wentworth, with the independent MP calling it the “sort of smear campaign” that “turns people off politics”.
Abattoir oversight | Lawyers and animal welfare advocates have urged the government to protect veterinarian whistleblowers who revealed shocking animal welfare breaches and oversight failures at Australia’s export abattoirs.
World
Pentagon ‘meltdown’ | A former top Pentagon spokesperson has slammed Pete Hegseth’s leadership of the defence department as pressure mounts on the US’s top military official after reports of a second Signal chatroom used to discuss sensitive military operations. Staying inside Washington, we have a profile of Peter Navarro, the tariff-loving economist who has outsmarted Elon Musk to keep the ear of Donald Trump.
Market loser | US stock markets have fallen again overnight as Trump continued attacks against the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, who the US president called “a major loser” for not lowering interest rates.
Berlin attacks | Berlin has reported a marked increase in attacks on asylum seekers and refugee shelters, amid a sharp rise in far-right crime and a hardening of German migration policy.
Dementia clue | People given intensive help to reduce their high blood pressure such as medication and coaching have a lower risk of dementia, researchers have found.
Chimp party | Wild chimpanzees in west Africa have been observed sharing fruit containing alcohol – not in quantities to get roaring drunk but perhaps enough to feel more relaxed and socialable.
Full Story
Live like a Dane: lessons from one of the happiest places on Earth
Denmark is reckoned to be one of the happiest places on Earth. So what’s the secret? Journalist Helen Russell talks to Reged Ahmad about her decade living like a Dane.
In-depth
Catholics around the world have been remembering the “humble” man who was the 266th pope before he passed away yesterday, and we have some of his most heartwarming moments on video here. In a piece looking at the pope’s legacy, Julian Coman examines the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio – the “outsider from Buenos Aires who used his power and charisma effectively, in order to shape a more outwards-facing, generous-spirited and socially engaged church”. Will the next pope be a “continuity candidate”, George Pell’s protege from Hungary, or even the first ever Asian pontiff? Our explainer goes through the possibilities, and we examine the famed conclave system by which the pope will be chosen. We also have obituary of Pope Francis, the first-ever Jesuit pontiff.
Not the news
The Australian-founded fashion brand, White Fox, has become ubiquitous among teenage girls and twentysomethings. Lucianne Tonti admires how viral marketing and the smart use of celebrity influencers created a global powerhouse.
Sport
Athletics | This year’s Stawell Gift attracted huge crowds for the appearance of sprint sensation Gout Gout – and they weren’t disappointed, writes Jack Snape.
AFL | Geelong held their nerve to win a thriller against Hawthorn at the MCG helped by new boy Bailey Smith buying into the Cats-Hawks rivalry.
Football | Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs host Nottingham Forest this morning in the Premier League.
Media roundup
Newspapers and websites all carry news and tributes to Pope Francis, with the Sydney Morning Herald obituary calling him a progressive who shook up the church and provoked the ire of conservatives. The Courier Mail looks at how Australians will mourn his passing. Traditional owners of land 275km south-east of Tennant Creek are celebrating winning a 45-year battle for native title, the NT News reports. A former Victorian netball star is suing the game’s governing body after she fractured her knee following a “forceful, late and deliberate” contact, the Herald Sun reports.
What’s happening today
Federal election | Pre-poll voting opens today while the AEC holds an event to reveal remote voter services operation in Pirlangimpi in the Northern Territory.
Brisbane | Bail application for a woman charged with murdering her partner who was dying of motor neurone disease.
Politics | Third leaders’ debate on Nine at 7.30pm tonight.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
