Australia’s falling house prices are actually a good thing for mortgage holders. Here’s why 10. August 2026 (17:00) The RBA’s governor, Michele Bullock, has made it clear that the ‘easing’ property market is on her mindGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt’s the silver lining that’s not making headlines: falling home prices means another Reserve Bank rate hike is less likely.RBA board members will not be sitting on Monday and Tuesday discussing ways to prop up Sydney house values. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Dogs can distinguish between fearful and angry or sad human faces, brain scans suggest 10. August 2026 (17:00) Researchers analysed activity in regions of brain when dogs were shown images of different facial expressionsWhile dogs are known to turn the puppy eyes on their owners, it seems our pets are keeping a close eye on us too: research has revealed dog brains can distinguish different types of unhappy human faces.Dr Laura Cuaya, a co-author of the study from the University of Vienna, said previous behavioural studies had shown dogs could tell apart some human facial expressions, but such studies tended to only test two at a time, one positive and one negative. As a result, it was not clear if dogs could distinguish different types of happy or unhappy faces. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Car owners should challenge insurers on steep price hikes and ‘call their bluff’, Asic says 10. August 2026 (16:01) Regulator finds many insurers raising premiums faster than inflation and advises customers to ask for better dealsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCar owners should challenge motor insurers over steep premium hikes, the corporate regulator advises, after finding many companies were raising prices faster than inflation.In a report released on Tuesday, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) found that none of the eight insurers it reviewed adequately explained the reasons behind premium calculations to customers or why prices had changed in quote or renewal documents. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
SpaceX plan for vast rocket launch site on Louisiana coast sparks backlash 10. August 2026 (16:00) Opponents fear Elon Musk firm’s plan to develop 18-mile strip of Pecan Island will badly damage fragile ecosystemPlans by Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build a vast rocket launch site on a stretch of Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coastline have stirred a backlash among some local opponents who fear it will badly damage the area’s fragile ecosystem.A deal for SpaceX to take control of 130,000 acres of coastal Vermilion parish is reported to be close to being finalized, allowing the company to escalate its number of launches, including of its new Starship mega rocket. SpaceX also has ambitions to deploy artificial intelligence datacenters in space, and while some experts have doubts about this, it has submitted regulatory filings to build a constellation of up to a million of them. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
From Dubai luxury to an Irish jail cell: Daniel Kinahan’s drastic lifestyle shift 10. August 2026 (15:54) Only spending outlet for man accused of helping to control a third of Europe’s cocaine supply will be prison tuck shopIt sounds like the penal equivalent of five stars: a private gym and library, daily outings to the exercise yard and a landing cleared of other prisoners.Daniel Kinahan’s first full day inside the walls of Portlaoise prison on Monday, however, marked a drastic change from his luxury lifestyle in the United Arab Emirates. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
People flocking to Spain to view solar eclipse could spark more ‘devastating’ wildfires 10. August 2026 (15:21) Northern Spain will be one of the best places in world to view phenomenon with 460,000 extra visitors expectedAuthorities in Spain have warned of an increased risk of fires when hundreds of thousands of people head to the hills and beaches to get a better view of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse.“The vegetation is extraordinarily dry and the smallest spark or carelessness could lead to devastating forest fires,” the environment minister, Sara Aagesen, said on a visit to Niebla in the south of the country, the site of Spain’s latest fire. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Louisiana warns beachgoers amid surge in flesh-eating bacteria infections 10. August 2026 (14:58) State confirms nine cases, including five deaths, from Vibrio vulnificus organism, which thrives in seawaterHealth officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacterium found in coastal waters.Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state’s health department said last week in a news release. All were hospitalized, and five died. During the same period over the previous decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Farage welcomes revived police investigation into alleged arson attack at his home after Widdecombe killing – UK politics live 10. August 2026 (14:52) Counter-terrorism police looking into the death of Ann Widdecombe have reopened an inquiry into an incident last yearFarage and Yusuf are now taking questions.Q: [From Jack Fenwick from the BBC] Are there other countries where you might send foreign offenders? And how much would this cost?We have to admit that there might not be too many colour TVs.It’s not going to be a summer camp. It’s not going to be particularly fun. But it won’t be cruel and it won’t be unreasonable.We will rapidly build capacity. We will take advantage of new prefabricated modular technology and build 12,000 prison places in the form of Nightingale prisons on Ministry of Defence land. And the army will be called in to assist.Together, these measures will create an additional 22,000 prison places compared to Andy Burnham’s plans. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Crew of Zuckerberg yacht did not hear radio call to assist boat, Meta says 10. August 2026 (14:42) Small skiff ran out of fuel off Alaska and was helped by cruise ship even though Meta CEO’s vessel was closerZuckerberg faces questions over why superyacht reportedly declined to help stranded boatThe crew of a yacht owned by Mark Zuckerberg did not hear a radio call for a maritime assist from a small skiff that ran out of fuel off the coast of Alaska, and by the time it did, another nearby ship had already rendered assistance, a spokesperson for the Meta CEO said.The Alaska Beacon news outlet reported that the skiff had issued a call for assistance through the US Coast Guard last week and a nearby small cruise ship, the Wilderness Legacy, towed it into nearby Farragut Bay in south-east Alaska and refueled it. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Max Miller to stay on Ohio ballots despite pressure to drop out of race after domestic abuse allegations – live 10. August 2026 (14:40) The House Republican has been disavowed by his own party amid allegations that he has been abusive toward his ex-wife and daughterSign up for the Breaking News US emailTrump will be in Washington today, mostly in private meetings. As of now Todd Blanche’s swearing-in ceremony and an executive order signing at 2.45pm ET are both closed to the press, but we’ll let you know if that changes and bring you the latest lines. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
