Morning Mail: voters back net zero target, Trump lectures ge...

Morning everyone. Today’s Essential poll shows public backing for the government’s net zero targets announced last week – but many doubt that the targets can be reached. The poll also shows a remarkable surge in support for One Nation.

Donald Trump and his defence chief have delivered a pair of incendiary speeches to a rare gathering of the US’s generals and admirals. A senior Australian human rights expert says Israel’s genocidal policy of “mass slaughter” has failed.

Plus: a Melbourne charity reveals how it has been bombarded with abusive messages after the Charlie Kirk shooting, and scientists have created human eggs from skin cells.

Australia

Sunscreen warning | The same base formulation has been identified in 20 sunscreens that the medicines regulator has warned are unlikely to have a sun protection factor of more than 21, with some products as low as SPF 4 – despite claims of a much higher SPF.
Exclusive | Australian voters have backed the Albanese government’s 2035 emissions reduction target, the latest Guardian Essential poll has found, with just 13% wanting Labor to pursue steeper pollution cuts. The poll also found that One Nation’s primary vote has doubled to 13% since May, putting it above the Greens.
Israel ‘failure’ | As the Albanese government throws its support behind the Trump-Netanyahu Gaza peace plan, an Australian human rights expert says that Israel’s strategy of what he calls “mass slaughter” has failed and will not succeed in destroying Hamas.
Housing plan | Sydney’s Inner West council has voted to go ahead with a controversial plan to build thousands of high-rise dwellings during a heated meeting which saw frequent interruptions and threats to clear the public gallery.
Shelf harm | The government’s approval of an extension for Woodside’s North West Shelf project shows environmental protection laws do not work, argues our environment editor, Adam Morton.

World

Trump ultimatum | Donald Trump has given Hamas “three or four days” to respond to his peace plan for Gaza or it will “pay in hell”. Armed militia and gangs supported by Israel are seizing control of parts of Gaza, exacerbating its humanitarian crisis and potentially threatening any efforts to bring order if Trump’s plan for Gaza takes hold.
US shutdown looms | The US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years. Meanwhile, Trump and his defence chief have gathered generals and admirals to tell them they want to use “dangerous” American cities as “training grounds” for the military. We have key takeaways from the Pentagon chief’s speech.
‘Renewal or decline’ | Keir Starmer has tried to bolster his struggling government by telling party conference that Britain faces a “defining choice” between patriotic Labour promising national renewal or “division and decline” under the “snake oil merchant” Nigel Farage.
Project fear | Armando Iannucci, the British comedian and creator of Veep and The Thick Of It, has revealed that he has been having trouble funding a Donald Trump project for fear among investors of retribution.
IVF breakthrough | Researchers have created human eggs from skin cells, potentially transforming IVF treatment for couples who have no other options.

Full Story

Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case reaches the end of the road

After the high court dismissed Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation appeal, Ben Doherty talks to Reged Ahmad about what this means for the disgraced former soldier, who continues to deny the allegations, and the wider ramifications of the long-running case.

In-depth

A small mental health charity in Melbourne has been inundated with abusive messages after United Australia senator Ralph Babet accused a member of staff of celebrating the death of US activist Charlie Kirk. He encouraged his social media followers to demand the person’s sacking, even though the person had left the charity a year before. The charity’s chief executive called the abuse “highly distressing”.

Not the news

While our hunt for Bird of the Year continues, today brings a gallery of winners from this year’s global Bird Photographer of the Year. The winner was a frigate bird photographed in front of a solar eclipse in Mexico, and also features swallows in India, a giant petrel and a western capercaillie.

Sport

NRL | The Broncos front-rower Payne Haas is the NRL’s most compelling character and will give Brisbane the chance to ascend to the summit of the sport in Sunday’s grand final against Melbourne.
Cricket | The Women’s Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka could be the perfect stage for Australia’s new generation of stars such as Phoebe Litchfield and Georgia Voll to make their mark starting in tonight’s opener against New Zealand. Meanwhile, India rallied to beat Sri Lanka in the series’ first match.
Football | A new round of Champions League matches are under way in Europe with this morning’s standout being José Mourinho’s return to Chelsea with Benfica. Follow the action live, along with Galatasaray v Liverpool here.

Media roundup

Sussan Ley has sent off a list of key performance indicators for her fractious frontbench, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Investors are furious that the proposed merger of two of Australia’s biggest media companies, Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media, could go ahead without a shareholder vote, the Fin Review reports. Queensland’s premier has attacked a $400,000 payout for his predecessor’s director general, the Courier Mail reports.

What’s happening today

Canberra | Prof Ben Saul and Chris Sidoti will address the National Press Club on the subject of “Palestine recognition: necessary but insufficient”.
Newcastle | A ceremony in Newcastle will remember 20 years since the 2005 Bali bombings.
Policy | ANU releases its annual energy update at 2pm.

Sign up

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Brain teaser

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