Morning Mail: Coalition’s sceptical climate science briefing, Israel orders Gaza strikes, Melissa hits Jamaica

Morning everyone. Coalition MPs groping for a way forward on net zero policy have been helped on their way by a slide presentation seen by Guardian Australia that argued “heat deaths are not a thing” and that renewables were unlikely to produce low-cost energy. Meanwhile, our monthly poll shows many more voters support a net zero target than not.
Elsewhere, Israel has ordered Gaza strikes after Hamas allegedly violated the ceasefire agreement, Hurricane Melissa has been called the “storm of the century”, the Matildas are in action against England – and the supermarket taste test is chocolate ice-cream.
Australia

Exclusive | Coalition MPs weighing up whether to abandon net zero have been briefed on research that argued “heat deaths aren’t a thing”, played down the prospect of substantial sea level rises and claimed “no one has ever made low-cost energy” from wind and solar. It comes as Australian researchers have found that oceans will enter “uncharted territory” by 2040 due to global heating, even if significant emissions cuts occur.
Essential poll | Liberal voters want more progressive policies and not a rightward lurch, according to a new poll that shows far more Australians (44%) are in favour of a net zero target than they are opposed (27%). But there was also a warning for Anthony Albanese, with most voters yet to be convinced about Aukus and trade deals with the US.
Exclusive | A long-awaited bill to curb the use of non-disclosure agreements in sexual harassment cases will be introduced to Victorian parliament, in an Australian-first move the government says will prevent victim-survivors from being silenced.
Lizard Island | A woman in her 80s was found dead after failing to board a cruise ship anchored off an island in the Great Barrier Reef, about 240km from Cairns. Her death was described as “sudden and non-suspicious”.
Fail Caesar | Year 12 students from at least eight schools in Queensland were taught the wrong topic for their final history exams – Augustus Caesar instead of his uncle Julius – and authorities are now checking with 172 schools to see if any more were affected.

World

Melissa landfall | Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean are facing the “storm of the century” after Hurricane Melissa made landfall several hours ago. Follow developments live – and we also have this visual guide to the storm system.
Gaza strikes | Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military to carry out “powerful strikes” in Gaza after he accused Hamas of breaching the ceasefire and returning body parts of a hostage whose remains Israeli troops had recovered two years before. Meanwhile the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s has accused its owner of being part of a movement of “corporate butt kissing” of Donald Trump and says management blocked the ice-cream brand from producing a flavour in support of peace in Gaza.
Sudan ‘atrocities’ | Reports of ethnically motivated mass killings and other atrocities are emerging from El Fasher after the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces took control of the city in Sudan’s western Darfur region last week.
Drug boats | The US military has killed 14 people in attacks on vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean, defence secretary Pete Hegseth said, as the Trump administration targets alleged drug traffickers.
Comedy queen | Prunella Scales, the actor best known for playing Sybil Fawlty in the classic comedy series Fawlty Towers, has died aged 93. Although her role as the domineering Sybil was lauded as “perfection”, she also dazzled over five decades on stage, in roles from Shakespeare to Alan Bennett.

Full Story
Can Labor finally get a deal for the environment?
Dan Jervis-Bardy tells Nour Haydar why the government is racing to negotiate a deal with either the Coalition or the Greens to fix Australia’s broken nature laws.

In-depth
After the Whyalla steelworks was handed a $2.4bn taxpayer bailout in February, a steady stream of heavy industry operators have asked for handouts, including Rio Tinto and Glencore. Our economics editor, Patrick Commins, asks why taxpayers are on the hook, and whether there could be a more coherent industrial strategy.
Not the news
Once the real ones were separated from the “almost ice-creams”, Nicholas Jordan and friends took on the task of tasting supermarket chocolate ice-creams. Amid a surprising uniformity of standards they nevertheless found a winner that “tastes like childhood Milo drinks made without parental supervision”. Find out what it was here.
Sport

Football | The Matildas are taking on England in a friendly in Derby this morning, with Australia seeking revenge for their 2023 World Cup semi-final defeat. Follow it live.
Rugby union | England have dropped Marcus Smith from their squad to face Australia on Saturday and confirmed George Ford as their starting fly-half.
Football | Martin O’Neill has insisted his return to Celtic will be “short term” as the Ipswich manager, Kieran McKenna, emerged as a candidate to replace Brendan Rodgers.

Media roundup
A Victorian woman’s simple question about her son’s illness prompted a two-year investigation and the uncovering of a rare disease cluster in their town, the Age reports. A more than $830,000 taxpayer payout to an executive at the shelved Whyalla hydrogen plant has prompted anger in South Australia’s parliament, the Advertiser reports. And Blanche d’Alpuget has given an “exclusive” to the Telegraph about her life with Bob Hawke, describing how she was “very nasty” to him when he drank.
What’s happening today

Economy | Latest inflation figures will be released at 11.30am.
Canberra | The Australian federal police commissioner, Krissy Barrett, will address the National Press Club.
Apec summit | Anthony Albanese is attending the meeting of Asia Pacific leaders in South Korea.

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

Quick crossword
Cryptic crossword