Morning, everyone. The gist of Australia’s strategic defence review was pretty much “we’re worried about China” and its publication has brought a swift response from Beijing, which has warned about countries “hyping” its military threat. We examine exactly what the official said and what it means here, while Anzac Day means we’re looking back on past conflicts rather than future ones. And you can read all about Tucker Carlson’s sensational departure from Fox News.
Australia
Frontier victims | With rallies and commemorations taking place across the country, calls are growing for the Indigenous people killed in Australia’s frontier wars to be remembered on Anzac Day. And we’ve got the fascinating story of how an Anzac made what is believed to be the world’s oldest recording of a soldier at war.
China warning | Beijing has urged countries not to “hype up the so-called China threat narrative” after the Australian defence review criticised its activities in the South China Sea. The government’s special envoy for disaster recovery says Australia needs to rethink how it uses its defence force for natural disasters, reserving its troops for conflict and limiting their deployment except for in the greatest emergencies.
Medicine ‘threat’ | The Australian Medical Association has launched a campaign against pharmacists being allowed to prescribe a wider range of medicines, warning it is a threat to patient safety.
Fashion fail | Best&Less has been accused of putting company profit ahead of the safety of Bangladeshi garment workers by declining to sign an international accord on worker safety and labour rights.
Copper crime | Thieves in regional Queensland are stealing copper wiring from farm equipment as part of a rise in rural crime which the agriculture lobby says appears to be the work of organised groups, not just individuals.
World
Carlson exit | The far-right Fox News host Tucker Carlson is leaving the channel, the network abruptly announced overnight, leaving the media world in shock. The axing was reportedly on the orders of Rupert Murdoch himself in response to a discrimination lawsuit filed by a former producer on his show.
Sudan rescue | Thousands more residents of Khartoum are fleeing the Sudanese capital to escape continued street battles and murderous airstrikes that continue to cause significant civilian casualties. The British military is trying to rescue some of the thousands of British nationals stranded in the country as the security situation continues to deteriorate.
Biden run | Joe Biden is expected to announce his 2024 re-election campaign today, possibly setting the stage for an extraordinary rematch with Donald Trump.
‘Forcible evacuation’ | Ukrainian authorities say Russian forces are “forcibly evacuating” civilians in the area of the Kherson region that they still occupy, a day after it was claimed Ukrainian forces had established a bridgehead on the east bank of the Dnipro River.
India rising | India has overtaken China as the world’s most populous country, according to UN population estimates, the most significant shift in global demographics since records began.
In-depth
The working-from-home revolution has been a boon to many but Dieter Steinbusch, who runs the York Lane cafe bar in Sydney’s CBD, is not one of them. He says he has seen a 40% drop in trading from pre-pandemic levels as city workers swap offices for their kitchen table, and he is fighting a war to reverse the trend. Our business reporter, Jonathan Barrett, finds out more.
Not the news
The Smashing Pumpkins were one of the big bands of the 90s but their current tour of Australia is offering something more than their alt-rock sound. The frontman, Billy Corgan, owns a pro-wrestling league, and has invited a few of the performers to Australia to fight local wrestlers between the support acts. Nick Buckley gets to grips with the story.
The world of sport
AFL | Collingwood and Essendon meet at the MCG today with more hanging on this traditional Anzac Day fixture than at any time for 20 years.
Rugby union | Ireland’s talismanic flanker, Josh van der Flier, is targeting World Cup glory for the all-conquering Six Nations champions.
Football | Tottenham have sacked their caretaker manager, Cristian Stellini, in the wake of Sunday’s 6-1 humiliation at Newcastle.
Media roundup
Anzac Day meets will be cancelled in Victoria out of respect for the jockey Dean Holland who died after a heavy fall at Donald in north-west Victoria yesterday, the Herald Sun reports. The RBA should not target debt or house prices according to the experts who headed the review of the bank’s operations, says the Sydney Morning Herald. The NT News says there is good and bad news for the territory after the release of the defence review. And police have cracked down on Noosa’s “secret” nudist beach as “tourists rage about randy beachgoers”, according to the Courier-Mail.
What’s happening today
Anzac Day | Services and ceremonies are under way all over the country.
Sydney | The city’s comedy festival continues.
AFL | A sell-out crowd of 90,000 will pack the MCG for the traditional Anzac Day match between Collingwood and Essendon.
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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.
