Morning everyone. Alarm is spreading among western governments about a prolonged energy crisis after Iran launched strikes on its Gulf neighbours’ production facilities amid mixed messaging from the Trump administration – including a “joke” about Pearl Harbor at a meeting with the Japanese prime minister. We have our usual array of reports, analysis and comment.
As Tropical Cyclone Narelle barrels into Cape York packing winds above 250km/h, we examine the link to global heating. Plus, the competition watchdog is on the warpath about petrol gouging, and a teenager is stranded by Britain’s new dual passport rule.
Australia
Gouge guide | The competition watchdog has received more than 500 reports of possible price-gouging at petrol stations since the breakout of war in Iran, with retailers on notice over cost increases for motorists within hours of the first US and Israeli-led strikes.
Calm before the storm | Amid an “eerie silence”, residents of Coen and surrounding towns in far north Queensland have been battening down their homes, stockpiling food and preparing for power outages with Tropical Cyclone Narelle expected to hit this morning. We have a tracker map to follow the storm and we examine how global heating has helped build its power.
Paying up | Cory Bernardi says he will pay for multiple flights with Pauline Hanson in a plane registered to Gina Rinehart’s company amid confusion about whether the trips may contravene new laws banning political donations.
Hate campaign | Police in Western Australia are investigating flyers distributed to homes across Perth targeting members of the state’s LGBTIQ+ community.
Hard sell | As Australia prepare to take on Japan in the final tomorrow, organisers of the Women’s Asian Cup insist the tournament has been a success despite empty seats at the Matildas’ semi-final in Perth.
World
‘Zero restraint’ | Iran has warned it will show “zero restraint” if the US and Israel target its energy infrastructure again, and the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern about the escalating conflict”. Donald Trump and Israel are at odds over his claims that he knew nothing about the latter’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gasfield and Pete Hegseth said there is no “timeframe” for ending the US war. Europe’s biggest airlines have said the spike in fuel prices caused by the war in the Middle East will drive up fares. Analysis from the West Point military academy warns that strait of Hormuz blockade will end up strangling the US defence industry. We also have a visual guide to the attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Gulf, find out what Trump said about Pearl Harbor to his Japanese guest, and you can follow developments live.
AI threat | An extended period of high oil prices as a result of war in the Middle East could “crimp” the AI boom, the World Trade Organization’s chief economist has warned.
Parade anger | Rape crisis charities in Ireland have condemned a St Patrick’s Day float that mimicked a sexual assault and featured signs saying “Epstein files”.
Double trouble | A 16-year-old British schoolgirl has been left stranded in Denmark after she was refused boarding on a flight to London because of new UK border rules introduced on British dual nationals.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: how Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is changing politics
Josephine Tovey speaks to Mike Ticher and Sarah Martin about why the electorate is flocking to the rightwing political movement, and what major parties could do to win voters back.
In-depth
The remote Queensland outback towns of Birdsville and Bedourie have been cut off for five weeks after flooding closed the surrounding roads. However, despite the real danger of running out of TimTams, the locals are finding plenty of ways to get by, such as themed pub nights and the beauty of a desert landscape “completely transformed”.
Not the news
The Minstrels, Eva Hornung’s new novel, is the South Australian author at her most ambitious, writes Nigel Featherstone, spanning the lifetime of its protagonist and reckoning with personal tragedies and family drama, and the larger wounds of First Nations’ dispossession and the climate crisis.
Sport
Tennis | Wimbledon has received a major boost to its expansion plans to almost triple the size of the current site after a high court judge in London set aside land use restrictions.
Football | After a chastening night for English teams in the Champions League, Forest must beat Midtjylland to reach the last eight of the Europa League this morning.
Football | Senegal fans have lashed out at the “unjust” decision to strip them of their African Nations title and award it to runners-up Morocco instead.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald reports 80 petrol stations in NSW are without diesel and prices are hitting $3 at others. A woman in Perth has reported her local station to the consumer watchdog after the advertised cost of petrol went up 30c in 20 minutes, WAtoday reports. The Age goes out on patrol with police to offer a “front row” seat on youth crime. A “horror poll” in the Advertiser shows how far the South Australian Liberals have fallen as they go into tomorrow’s state election.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Public hearing into modern slavery risks in rural and regional areas of New South Wales at Parliament House.
Perth | Friends of Australian Rock Art v Western Australia government and Woodside at supreme court.
Media | Quills dinner and winner announcements in Melbourne.
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Brain teaser
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