Morning Mail: UAE quits Opec oil cartel, Pauline Hanson tops political leader approval ratings, King Charles addresses Congress

28 Apr, 21:11. AU edition

Emirates shake global energy market with decision to leave Saudi-led group; Essential poll shows Pauline Hanson has highest leader approval ratings

Morning everyone. The tumult in the global energy market has taken an unexpected turn after the United Arab Emirates quit the Opec oil cartel in a significant blow to its Saudi leadership.

The king of Australia (in his other role as king of the UK) has addressed the US Congress, in a speech that aimed to underline and repair trans-Atlantic bonds.

At home, our exclusive Essential poll shows voters rank Pauline Hanson’s leadership of her party above that of Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor, and we report on how the worst wet season for years has forced hundreds of Indigenous Australians to evacuate their homes. Plus, Deborah Mailman on her new film.

Australia

Territory evacuations | Hundreds of evacuees from remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory have been housed behind temporary fences and denied visitors after being forced to evacuate their homes in the worst wet season on record.
Exclusive | A majority of surveyed Australians approve of Pauline Hanson’s leadership of One Nation, giving her a higher job approval rating than Anthony Albanese and Angus Taylor, as the Guardian Essential poll finds the rightwing populist party is outperforming the Coalition for the first time.
Confidentiality crackdown | The Victorian government will strengthen laws regarding the use of victim-survivors’ confidential communications after a push by advocates including Brittany Higgins, who described her experience of having counselling records subpoenaed as a “violation”.
Visa agony | Lebanese citizens with partners and children in Australia say they are being refused visitor visas despite living under the constant threat of bombardment in the Middle East. Ben Doherty speaks to one of the families affected by “devastating” delays.
Hospital | Sydney’s Northern Beaches hospital is officially entering the public system, ending a troubled eight-year public-private partnership.

World

‘Unbreakable bond’ | King Charles has addressed the US Congress in a speech that acknowledged “disagreements” with the UK but emphasised their “irreplaceable and unbreakable” connection. Donald Trump had praised the “special relationship” between the US and the UK despite the recent tensions with Keir Starmer’s Labour government. Follow developments in Washington live.
Opec rift | The United Arab Emirates has quit the Opec oil cartel in a heavy blow to the group and its de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, amid the global energy shock caused by the Iran war. It will reshape the region and is seen as a win for Donald Trump. Kevin Rudd’s comments about how Trump might struggle to crash the green revolution were well timed, as new figures show that the US generated more electricity from renewables than gas last month. A yacht belonging to Russian oligarch Alexei Mordashov has been allowed through the blockaded strait of Hormuz. Follow developments live.
Prisoner swap | The Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut, the 2025 Sakharov prize winner, has been freed after five years in a Belarusian penal colony as part of a US-brokered multi-country swap deal.
Open accusation | Elon Musk has accused Sam Altman of betrayal as the trial over the founding of OpenAI began in earnest.
Higher calling | Twenty-two Buddhist monks are in Sri Lankan police custody after customs officials found 110kg of high-grade cannabis concealed in their luggage.

Full Story

Decoding America: Is political violence in the US the worst ever?

Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine the stark divide between Democrats and Republicans, Usha Vance’s new podcast, and King Charles’s visit to the White House.

In-depth

As the fuel crisis continues to bite, our data experts have drawn up a series of fascinating interactives to illustrate the so-called Vampire index (vulnerability assessment for mortgage, petroleum, and inflation risks and expenditure).

Not the news

Ahead of the release this week of her new film, 1930s frontier western Wolfram, Deborah Mailman talks about racism, the importance of Country, and why the film’s director, Warwick Thornton, is a “genius”.

Sport

NRL | Wests Tigers star Jarome Luai is expected to become the face of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs after he agreed to join the NRL’s 19th team in 2028.
Tennis | Despite sweeping past Cameron Norrie into the quarter-finals in a rare morning start, Jannik Sinner suggested the Madrid Open organisers should reconsider their tournament scheduling to avoid late-night finishes.
Football | PSG are playing Bayern in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final this morning, while Arsenal gear up for their semi against Atlético tomorrow.

Media roundup

The Trump administration has expressed its frustration at Australia’s refusal to repatriate families with Islamic State links, the Sydney Morning Herald claims. Teachers in Victoria will be offered a 28% pay rise as the Allan government bids to avoid more strikes, the Age reports. The Herald Sun focuses on the “shock sacking” of the Melbourne Demons CEO, Paul Guerra, who is being replaced by a former Carlton chief.

What’s happening today

Economy | Inflation figures for March released today.
Canberra | Hugh de Kretser, president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, speaks at the National Press Club.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.