Morning Mail: Albanese plea amid El Niño threat, a week in the life of Gaza, Sylvia Plath ‘stole my boyfriend’

Morning everyone. Anthony Albanese has called on world leaders at the United Nations to meet the problem of climate change “head on” as new figures revealed the “jaw-dropping” intensity of the El Niño building in the Pacific.

In the first part of a special series this week, the Guardian follows five ordinary Palestinians as they go about their lives – starting with a pregnant woman, Alaa. Two large stick insects have been discovered in Queensland, Nick Daicos has won his first Brownlow, and the 95-year-old making her debut as a playwright at the Melbourne fringe.

Australia

• Stick discovery | Two new large stick insect species have been discovered in far north Queensland by Australian researchers, who say it shows how much we have to learn about insect diversity.

• ‘Jaw-dropping’ | Australia understands the dangers of global warming and the urgency of climate action as much as any other country, Anthony Albanese has said in a keynote speech before the United Nations general assembly. The urgency of his messages was underlined by figures that showed the “jaw-dropping” El Niño currently heating up the planet has burst through the highest temperature ever recorded for the phenomenon several months before its expected peak. California, for example, is bracing for a record-breaking El Niño that is expected to bring severe storms and flooding.

• Sydney shooting | A man has been charged and an 11-year-old boy has been taken to hospital in a serious condition after being shot in the face and neck at a unit in Sydney’s north-west.

• Datacentre ban | Datacentres in Victoria will be banned in residential areas and required to use renewable energy and contribute to the community.

• Seal blast | More than 150,000 underwater explosives have been used to deter seals at Tasmanian salmon farms since 2016, according to new government data.

World

• ‘I’m afraid of losing my baby again’ | We start our special series on Gaza with the story of Alaa Hessi, who lost three children when Israeli bombs destroyed her house. She is pregnant again and her life is a daily battle to survive – and to keep her unborn baby nourished.

• Trump press | Donald Trump is expected to press the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to stop attacking Russian energy targets during a face-to-face meeting this week at the United Nations as world diesel prices have soared due to the war in Iran, as well as Russia’s war in Ukraine. Houthi fighters are moving to seize strategic heights in Yemen that would cut the Red Sea coast off from areas held ​by Saudi-backed forces after Trump called off US strikes on the group. With the conflict continuing to push up fuel prices, a key Trump ally has called for more support for US farmers.

• Merz pressure | Germany’s beleaguered leader, Friedrich Merz, has sought to shore up support for his flagging chancellorship among senior members of his conservative party after its drubbing at the polls in two state elections.

• ‘Utterly false’ | Lauren Boebert, the firebrand Republican subject of a House ethics complaint that alleged she had sex with three staff members and paid one to keep quiet, has said the allegations are “utterly false”.

• Delivery driver | A woman stuck in heavy traffic in San Francisco went into labour and gave birth to a healthy baby girl helped by medical professionals sitting in the same holdup.

Full Story

What an AI deal could mean for Australian culture

Reged Ahmad speaks to musician and communications strategist Holly Rankin on what an AI deal could mean for creators, artists and everyday Australians.

In-depth

The latest intergenerational report has given a snapshot of what life will be like in the 2060s. Krishani Dhanji drills down into the findings to explore our future health, housing, population, economy and climate.

Not the news

At 95, Liz Hicklin jokes that she should probably be at home “knitting”. But instead she is about to see her first play, Sylvia Plath Stole My Boyfriend, debut at Melbourne fringe festival next month. She tells Jenny Valentish her remarkable story of being jilted by the British poet laureate Ted Hughes.

Sport

• Brownlow | Collingwood star Nick Daicos has finally claimed his first Brownlow medal in a runaway victory with a record-breaking 47 votes. Here’s your guide to Saturday’s grand final between Fremantle and the Lions.

• Cricket | Harry Brook is hopeful that Brydon Carse will break back into the England team once the fast bowler is clear of his ongoing disciplinary proceedings, describing him as a “very good mate” who is “working on a few things behind the scenes”.

• Athletics | Jakob Ingebrigtsen, one of the world’s most beguiling athletes, tells Sean Ingle the 10 things he implements to be the world’s best.

The separatist Exclusive Brethren has swung behind One Nation after its leader praised the “red-haired lady” at a recent religious meeting, the Sydney Morning Herald says. A Newspoll in the Australian shows that two-thirds of Australians think fewer immigrants should be admitted to Australia. The outgoing WA Liberal president tells WAtoday that the party’s factionalism is a thing of the past after four years of her leadership.

What’s happening today

• Canberra | Former ADF chief Adm Chris Barrie and Ian Dunlop, former chair of the Australian Coal Association, hold a media conference to discuss climate security after Anthony Albanese’s UN address.

• Population | Australian Bureau of Statistics releases figures on migrant settlement outcomes.

• Economy | RBA governor Michelle Bullock speaks at a Ceda event in Sydney.

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