Australia politics live: gambling lobby’s talking points ‘coming out the PM’s mouth’, Chaney says; RBA tipped to hold interest rates

Labor looks to negotiate with the Coalition to get several pieces of legislation through parliament. Follow today’s news live

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‘He did not mean it’ Gallagher dragged into melon-gate

Katy Gallagher has also been asked to weigh in on the PM’s melon comments – you can see a hint of exasperation in her face as she’s asked on channel nine.

I accept that he did not intend those comments to be made the way that some media are reporting them, it’s an important relationship. He has a good relationship with the Japanese.

There are other factors that influence the housing market, including the interest rate increases that we have seen over the last few months … the Treasury advice to us was that house prices would continue to grow slightly slower. Our focus on the housing market is making those tax changes so that first home buyers can get into the housing market, but also focusing on supply to make sure we’re building enough houses for people to buy.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/aug/11/australia-politics-live-rba-interest-rates-question-time-anthony-albanese-angus-taylor-one-nation-pauline-hanson-ndis-gambling-ads-ntwnfb

Burnham to give councils more powers to block vape and betting shops

Vape shops in England and Wales to be subject to planning permission while betting shop law change will also apply in Scotland

Councils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets under new plans announced by Andy Burnham.

Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street says could be in place from the start of next year.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/aug/10/burnham-to-give-councils-more-powers-to-block-vape-and-betting-shops

Boat operator faces federal charges after mother and infant killed in New York capsizing

Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter died after a speedboat capsized in the New York Harbor over the weekend

The driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged on Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/man-charged-new-york-harbor-boat-capsizing

Nearly 30 pine trees intentionally poisoned in Lake Tahoe’s Nevada side

Incidents of damaged trees at Burnt Cedar beach have been reported since 2022 and seem to be linked, officials say

Pine trees near Lake Tahoe are being poisoned in what authorities believe are a series of interconnected incidents in the popular tourist community on border of Nevada and California.

The incidents have damaged nearly 30 trees, some reportedly more than a century old, and caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/pine-trees-poisoned-lake-tahoe-nevada

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announces decision to freeze her eggs

US congresswoman to share journey online as she criticizes Trump administration’s attacks on reproductive care

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has announced she is going to freeze her eggs and will be sharing the process online.

The progressive New York congresswoman, 36, revealed her decision to undergo fertility treatment in a series of Instagram stories this weekend. “This is a choice that I am making to feel more in control of my life,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/09/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-eggs-fertility

Iran War Timeline: Key Moments and Attacks In U.S. and Israel’s Campaign #wanitaxigo

Burnham vows crackdown on ‘rip-off’ business practices to ease cost of living

First of PM’s ‘everyday fixes’ to be banning fake discounts and making it easier to cancel unwanted subscriptions

• Andy Burnham: I’ll end the rip-offs that people hate

Andy Burnham has promised a series of measures to tackle the cost of living, including a ban on fake discounts and making it easier for people to escape unwanted subscriptions.

The crackdown on “rip-off” business practices is expected to benefit consumers to the tune of £400m a year and will be the first in a range of “everyday fixes” to be implemented in the coming months.

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source https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/aug/09/burnham-vows-crackdown-on-rip-off-business-practices-to-ease-cost-of-living