A ‘shiny, dangling carrot’ lured Jesse into gambling. He says Labor’s reform won’t stop others being sucked in 19. August 2026 (17:00) The government says it’s stopping ‘the most toxic’ gambling company strategies. Former addicts say it will do ‘absolutely nothing’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastJesse Murphy wasn’t sure what to wear when his VIP gambling manager texted him: “Looking forward to having a beer with you!”His frequent betting had just earned the then 25-year-old free tickets to a gambling company’s corporate box at the footy with free food and alcohol. His handler was waiting for him. He told Murphy to wear a shirt before joining for drinks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A fifth of older Australians who contested AI-determined home support funding got more after human review 19. August 2026 (17:00) Exclusive: Greens say department of health’s integrated assessment tool is ‘under-assessing’ far more people who may not know how to contestGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlmost one-fifth of older Australians who contested their Support at Home funding allocation determined by an algorithm had a higher level of support or higher priority allocated once a human reviewed the decision.The department of health and ageing would not provide the most current data on how many people have contested their funding allocation under the integrated assessment tool (IAT), introduced in November, which is used across aged care to determine eligibility and classification for services, including Support at Home. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US treasury doubles debt buyback to steady bond market amid inflation fears 19. August 2026 (16:57) Yields, at recent highs this week, dropped after treasury’s vow to ‘provide greater liquidity support’ to bond marketThe US treasury is doubling its buyback of government debt in an effort to balance out the bond market and counterbalance investor concern over high inflation.The yield rate on 10-year, 20-year and 30-year treasury notes all hit 20-year highs this week, with the 30-year treasury yield rising to its highest rate since 2007. The rapid rise was concerning news for borrowers as major loans, including mortgages, are backed by treasuries. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Lewes derailment: images show track defect before incident on hottest day 19. August 2026 (16:45) Network Rail and Southern owner GTR apologise after investigators reveal picture of possible heat-buckled track Rail operators have apologised after a report into last Thursday’s derailment in East Sussex found a track defect on the approach to where the train derailed on the hottest day of the year so far.An interim report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said CCTV images showed the “track geometry irregularity” existed before the incident near Lewes injured 30 people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Andy Burnham calls on wider society to help end homelessness by Christmas 19. August 2026 (16:43) PM says public money alone won’t solve problem but ‘we did it in the pandemic, we can do it again’UK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said government money alone may not be enough to get rough sleepers off the streets by Christmas, as he issued a “rallying call” for councils, charities and communities to help solve the problem.Speaking on a visit to the north-east of England, he said he felt “very passionately” about tackling homelessness and wanted the wider society to play a part in wiping it out. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Spain to allow 500 children in Ceuta to go to mainland in immigration U-turn 19. August 2026 (16:33) Madrid government changes stance after previously saying anyone who entered territory illegally would be sent backEurope live – latest updatesThe Spanish government has U-turned and said it will allow 500 migrant children in Ceuta to relocate to the mainland.The majority of the estimated 70,000 people who crossed into Ceuta – a Spanish territory on the coast of north Africa – on 30 July have returned to Morocco. However, under Spanish law, the state has a duty of care to young, unaccompanied migrants until they reach the age of 18. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Germany’s firewall was meant to hold the far right at bay. It may have done the reverse 19. August 2026 (16:30) An AfD win in next month’s state election in Saxony-Anhalt would shatter a decades-long political consensus and reverberate throughout the EU• Don’t get This Is Europe delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereIn just over two weeks’ time, Saxony-Anhalt – home to historic timber-framed houses, the dramatic Harz mountains and the birthplace of Martin Luther – will hold what could prove one of the most significant state elections in Germany’s postwar history.The vote, on 6 September, could see a far-right party whose local branch is officially classified by the country’s domestic intelligence service as “confirmed rightwing extremist” appoint a state premier and govern a state alone, for the first time. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Ukrainian diver arrested in Croatia over Nord Stream pipeline bombings 19. August 2026 (16:14) Berlin to seek suspect’s extradition for 2022 explosions that damaged gas pipelines to RussiaEurope live – latest updatesA Ukrainian man has been arrested in Croatia as part of an investigation into the 2022 bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines between Germany and Russia.Undersea explosions in September 2022, just months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, damaged three of the four pipelines built to carry Russian fossil gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Adviser to far-right Latin American leaders arrested for allegedly plotting to kill girlfriend 19. August 2026 (15:44) Fernando Cerimedo, 42, arrested on suspicion of ordering shooting of Bolivian lawyer Nadia BellerA senior adviser to many of Latin America’s new wave of far-right leaders has been arrested for allegedly masterminding the attempted murder of his girlfriend.The businessman and political consultant Fernando Cerimedo, 42, had been working as an adviser to the Bolivian president, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, and was one of the main strategists behind Javier Milei’s campaign in Argentina’s 2023 presidential election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Former Fauci adviser pleads guilty to conspiracy to conceal Covid-19 records 19. August 2026 (14:50) David Morens confessed to concealing government documents linked to grant research fundingA former adviser to infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci pleaded guilty on Tuesday to conspiring to evade public records laws and conceal government documents related to grant research funding and the Covid-19 pandemic.David Morens, who had worked under Fauci as a senior official at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases during the pandemic, entered his plea, to a conspiracy charge during a hearing in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
