Australia’s domestic divide, Queensland on edge as Alfred nears, Ukraine cut off from intel

Queensland braced | Public transport and services such as schools are shutting down as south-east Queensland prepares for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which the Bureau of Meteorology expects to make landfall on Friday packing gale-force winds and heavy rain – but later than was forecast yesterday.The Gold Coast hasn’t seen a direct hit from a storm like this since 1954. So most residents have little to no experience of what’s like to be in the eye of the storm, writes Paul Syvret.

Domestic divide | Australian men are not doing any more housework than they were 20 years ago, and women are doing 50% more housework than men, a national study involving interviews with 17,000 has revealed.

Tech tax call | The top 16 tech companies are collectively making $26.7bn in revenue each year from Australians, a study has found, as the Greens call for a 3% tax on the biggest players that would bring in more than $11bn.

Stepping on the gas | Even in the unlikely event that Western Australia’s Labor premier, Roger Cook, is voted out of office this weekend, both parties support the gas industry and represent a bulwark against national progress on emissions, our environment editor writes.

Cut caution | Yesterday’s GDP figures were welcome improvement but they show that the Reserve Bank has been too cautious in its rate-cutting policy, Greg Jericho argues.

Intelligence test | The US has stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv after Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid on Monday but US and Ukrainian officials are meeting soon for talks offering some hope for Kyiv. Emmanuel Macron will make a televised address to France in the next few hours as he tries to calm voters’ concerns over Trump’s remaking of the international order.

‘Trumpcession’ fears | Investor hopes of a “golden age” under Trump are beginning to fade among fears of a “Trumpcession”, although the US president has watered down his tariffs on Canada and Mexico by exempting some car companies.

US | Donald Trump is reportedly inviting guests to meet and dine with him at his Mar-a-Lago estate for a fee of millions of dollars, according to Wired, which claims business chiefs have paid up to $5m for a one-on-one dinner. In Washington, Trump’s officials are preparing to overhaul a $42.5bn Biden-era program designed to connect tens of millions of rural Americans to more reliable internet in a move that is expected to benefit Elon Musk’s Starlink business.

‘Woman’s worst nightmare’ | A PhD student who charmed women so he could drug, video and attack them has been convicted of 11 rapes on 10 women in the UK and China after a trial in London in which he was described as “every woman’s worst nightmare”.

No kant do | Malta’s contestant at this year’s Eurovision song contest will have to change the title and lyrics of its entry due to the phonetic resemblance between the Maltese word for “singing” and the c-word, watchdogs have ruled.

Cricket | Steve Smith has quit one-day international cricket after Australia’s exit from the Champions Trophy. But Smith, who retires from the 50-over format after scoring 5,800 runs at an average of 43.28 in 170 matches, says prolonging his Test career is a priority. New Zealand crushed South Africa to set up a Champions Trophy final with India.

AFL | AFL bosses expect the northern teams to be competitive again with the Gold Coast Suns a finals hope for the first time. But they are also expected to earn their keep with higher crowds.

Football | Liverpool travel to Paris for their last-16 Champions League clash with PSG while there’s also a tasty-looking all-German tie between Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. Follow the matches live. Coldplay’s Chris Martin and the band’s manager, Phil Harvey, will be involved in helping Fifa plan the lineup for the first World Cup final half-time show when it takes place in New Jersey next year.

Sydney | NSW government response due on Rosehill racecourse report.

Economy | Figures on international trade and building approvals released by the ABS.

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