Key witness in Meta trial says terms of settlement insufficient to halt apps’ harms to teenagers 27. August 2026 (02:37) Exclusive: Arturo Béjar, an ex-Facebook employee and whistleblower, said outcome ‘is not an all clear to say the product is safe’Meta agrees to major changes to Facebook and Instagram in settlementThe star witness in the US government’s landmark trial against Meta believes that a multibillion-dollar settlement reached on Wednesday does not go far enough to stop the social media giant’s harms to young users.“The limitations that are in the agreement are the equivalent of saying: ‘Well you can smoke as many cigarettes as you can in two hours a day,’” said whistleblower and ex-Facebook employee Arturo Béjar. “It doesn’t make the cigarettes any safer.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Queensland woman gave birth to twins with different parents after surrogacy coincides with natural pregnancy 27. August 2026 (02:12) Both children were born on same day in November 2025 in situation so rare it had not been contemplated by state surrogacy lawsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Queensland woman gave birth to twin children with separate sets of biological parents last year, in what is believed to be an Australian first situation so rare it had not been contemplated by state surrogacy laws.The woman, anonymised in a court judgment, conceived an unplanned natural pregnancy about the same time as she received an IVF embryo transfer under a surrogacy arrangement with another couple. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
London neurosurgeons perform first successful AI-assisted operation to remove brain tumour 27. August 2026 (01:01) Surgeons aided by real-time analysis of camera footage that identified critical anatomy in brain to be avoidedNeurosurgeons in London have performed the world’s first successful AI-assisted operation to remove a brain tumour, saving the sight of a 48-year-old man, health officials have said.The surgery was performed in May at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), part of University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust, but details were kept secret until Thursday while the patient, Rhys Hibbert, recovered. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Man in prison in New York advances in primary for Alaska’s US House seat 27. August 2026 (00:14) Democrat Eric Hafner, to be released in 2036, also ran for seat in 2024, securing spot on that general election ballotA man who is serving time in a federal prison in New York advanced on Wednesday from the primary for Alaska’s lone US House seat.Eric Hafner, a registered Democrat, also ran for the seat in 2024 and secured a spot on the general election ballot that November despite a challenge brought by the Alaska Democratic party. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejoins DSA after membership lapse of seven years 27. August 2026 (00:11) Then House candidate joined Democratic Socialists of America in 2018 but didn’t renew membership after a yearAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez has rejoined the Democratic Socialists of America after not renewing her membership for seven years, amid speculation that she might run for president in 2028.The 36-year-old New York representative and one of the country’s most prominent democratic socialists renewed her membership in the group’s national organization after reports emerged earlier this month that it had lapsed. Ocasio-Cortez initially joined the group in 2018. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
News live: dozens of Australians believed to be among hundreds of foreign tourists missing in Nepal flash floods 26. August 2026 (23:48) Powerful floods in Himalayan border area sweep away houses, roads and bridges. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAlbanese concerned about Australians in NepalPrime minister Anthony Albanese says DFAT officials are ready to provide consular assistance to Australians in Nepal, after the devastating flooding in the country.Australians in the affected area should follow the advice of local authorities. We are aware of a number of Australians in the area and Australian officials are urgently working to confirm their welfare. We are liaising with local authorities as well as tour operators.We stand ready to provide consular assistance.The images are very disturbing indeed. We do know that there are Australians in the area. We don’t know exactly how many. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Work is good for you’: how UK scheme could help tackle youth mental health crisis 26. August 2026 (23:30) Paid employment can boost confidence and wellbeing, says Pat McFadden as jobs guarantee scheme gets under wayWork must be “part of the answer” to the mental health crisis among young people, the work and pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, has said as he met some of the first beneficiaries of Labour’s youth jobs guarantee scheme.He was speaking on a visit to Boots’s headquarters in Nottingham on Wednesday, where several 18- to 21-year-olds were taken on under the job guarantee – with their wages paid by the taxpayer for six months. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Plug-in balcony solar panels to go on sale in UK for first time 26. August 2026 (23:30) DIY system will be stocked by big retailers, starting with Argos, enabling more homes to lower bills by generating own electricityPlug-in solar panels will go on sale in the UK for the first time from Thursday, allowing households unable to use rooftop panels to also generate their own cheap electricity.Households across the country will be able to join the millions across mainland Europe who generate their own renewable electricity using “balcony solar panels”, which will be stocked by some of the UK’s biggest retailers. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dozens of Australians believed to be among hundreds of foreign tourists missing in Nepal flash floods 26. August 2026 (23:16) Powerful floods in Himalayan border area sweep away houses, roads and bridgesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDozens of Australian tourists are reportedly missing in the deadly flash floods that swept through the Nepal-Tibet border, as the Australian government says it is urgently working to confirm their welfare.According to the Nepal Tourist Board, as reported by Press Association, at least 403 people have been reported missing, with 341 foreign nationals unaccounted for. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham drops support for political funding cap aimed at curbing mega-donors 26. August 2026 (21:08) PM said he would set bar at £500k, but trade unions say funding reforms could undermine their ability to donate to LabourAndy Burnham has dropped his support for capping political donations, causing anger among activists and Labour MPs who have long campaigned for change to the way parties are funded.The prime minister has decided not to back amendments to the elections bill, which would cap the amount a person or an organisation can give in a single donation, according to government sources. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
