Good morning. Pacific governments at the Cop29 climate talks have lambasted Australia’s plans for a massive gas industry expansion in Western Australia, saying it could result in 125 times more greenhouse gas emissions than their island nations release in a year. They say the Labor government is “not acting in good faith” when it stands on the global stage and promotes its climate credentials.
Meanwhile, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s power grid in a huge missile strike, and an Israeli airstrike in a busy residential area of central Beirut has killed Hezbollah’s lead spokesperson. Plus: Tom Wright and Matt Faessler each scored hat-tricks as the Wallabies hammered Wales in Cardiff.
Australia
Cash is king? | Businesses selling essential goods and services such as groceries, medicines and fuel will be forced to accept cash from their customers unless granted a special exemption.
Climate crisis | At the Cop29 summit, Vanuatu and Tuvalu have urged Australia to stop approving new fossil fuel developments – including proposals for a major gas industry expansion in WA.
Politics | The Greens have dropped their climate trigger demand in an attempt to restart Nature Positive talks with Labor – its second concession on the stalled legislation in less than a week.
Collarium risk | With services advertised on private social media accounts, Queensland is failing to crack down on “rebranded sunbeds” – collariums that claim to stimulate collagen but accelerate ageing.
Electoral funding | Labor and Liberals will more than double their public funding at the 2028 federal election to reap a combined $140m under proposed changes to electoral laws, Climate 200 says.
World
Middle East crisis | Hezbollah’s chief spokesman Mohammed Afif has been killed by an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, as Israel intensifies its air offensive despite ongoing indirect negotiations for a ceasefire.
US politics | Elon Musk weighs in on Donald Trump’s choice for US treasury secretary, backing Howard Lutnick for the role; Republican senator calls for release of Matt Gaetz ethics report; experts sound the alarm as Trump mulls pardons for January 6 attackers.
Russia-Ukraine war | Moscow targeted Ukraine’s energy grid with waves of missiles and drones in a bid to disrupt power supply as winter looms; Russia’s maximalist war aims remain unchanged, writes Dan Sabbagh.
Cop29 summit | Amid “increasing crisis”, governments meeting to forge a global settlement on climate finance must get over their differences this week and come to a deal, says German minister.
AI divisions | Significant “social ruptures” are looming between people who think AI systems are conscious and those who insist the technology feels nothing, a philosopher has warned.
Full Story
What makes a country happy?
At a moment when the world feels like a particularly unsettling place, the Guardian is asking what it is that makes humans happy – and how can we bring more happiness into our lives? Johannes Eichstaedt, assistant professor of psychology and human-centred AI at Stanford University, speaks to Ian Sample to explain why the Nordic countries often rank highly in the annual World Happiness Report – and what we can learn if we look beyond them.
In-depth
Was that the week that marked the death of X? The platform formerly regarded as a utopian market square for exchanging information has suffered its largest exodus to date. The delicate Musk-Trump relationship and growing rivals such as BlueSky spell trouble for its future. Now, the former Twitter could fade away – or help shape a dark future hosting voices of a new authoritarian world.
Not the news
Royel Otis are making waves worldwide with their sunny indie rock. The duo have gone staggeringly viral twice – for a Sophie Ellis-Bextor cover, then a Cranberries cover. This time last year the Sydney indie band was up for breakthrough artist at the Arias. They didn’t take the gong home, but this year they have eight nominations.
Sport
Rugby union | Despite a second half red card, the Wallabies crushed Wales 20-52 in Cardiff – leaving the home side without a win in 11 games.
Tennis | Australia have exited the Billie Jean King Cup at hands of Slovakia; Jannik Sinner beat Taylor Fritz to claim the ATP Finals title.
Football | England thrash Ireland 5-0 in the Nations League; plus: a Premier League XI of this season’s surprises so far.
Golf | Teary Rory McIlroy claims DP World Championship and sixth Race to Dubai.
Media roundup
Rightwing activist group Advance is preparing to target the Greens in a $1.5m advertising campaign, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Analysis suggests Australians face a half trillion-dollar increase in their personal income tax over the next decade if tax rates and thresholds remain frozen, the Age reports. The lack of clarity over the government’s international student cap proposal has thrown universities into chaos, reports ABC News.
What’s happening today
Climate summit | The Cop29 climate talks continue in Baku, Azerbaijan.
ACT | US ambassador Caroline Kennedy is set to address the National Press Club in Canberra.
NSW | The Local Government NSW annual conference continues in Tamworth.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.
Prefer notifications? If you’re reading this in our app, just click here and tap “Notifications” on the next screen for an instant alert when we publish every morning.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
