Good morning. With the US election just two days away, Donald Trump’s staff are said to be feeling confident about his chances, even though the polls show him and Kamala Harris are essentially tied – and after a shock survey this weekend placed Harris ahead in Iowa.
Meanwhile, there has been an extraordinary surge in donations to political parties from gambling companies linked to horse racing. And we look at whether the Australian dream of owning a house is being replaced by the convenience of well-designed apartments – or if we’re getting high-density living all wrong.
Australia
Insomnia | A push in the care sector to count sleepovers as breaks could result in “nightmare” 28-hour shifts without penalty rates, unions have warned.
Moving on | Anthony Albanese has all but declared victory over the inflation crisis in an upbeat campaign rally speech promising more free Tafe places and cost-of-living support.
Fleeing the scene | Family and friends are grieving the loss of a “talented and sociable” young rapper who died after he was allegedly shot by a man who remains on the run
Downsizing dream | A growing number of people are prioritising location over size. Do the pros of apartment living outweigh the cons?
Bad reviews | Meta and Google could face new defamation risks by using user comments or reviews as part of generative AI responses to queries on restaurants or to summarise sentiment, Australian experts have warned.
World
Trump ‘confident’ | Donald Trump’s aides are bullish about the former president’s chances on Tuesday, with their internal polls showing him ahead of Kamala Harris. Read our election update for all the latest on the US election.
Bibi in trouble | The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is at the centre of a new political storm over a hostage deal after several people were arrested in connection with an alleged leak of classified documents from his office.
After the deluge | Hundreds of people have heckled Spain’s king and queen as they attempted an official visit to an area hit by deadly floods, with crowds throwing mud and shouting “murderers”.
Morality police | Amnesty International has called on authorities in Iran to release a student who was arrested after stripping to her underwear in what the organisation described as a protest against harassment relating to the country’s strict dress code.
Kremlin meddling | Moldovans are going to the polls for a second-round vote to choose between the incumbent pro-EU president, Maia Sandu, and a Russia-friendly challenger, amid claims of vote-buying and misinformation.
Full Story
Will young voters in swing states decide the US election?
On the eve of election day, Kamala Harris’s campaign is making a special effort to reach out to young voters. So how important will they be?
In this episode of Full Story, the Guardian’s democracy reporter, Alice Herman, travels to rallies, campuses and college bars in the critically important swing state of Wisconsin. There she gets a sense of whether young voters can choose their country’s next president.
In-depth
Political donations made to Australia’s major parties by gambling lobby groups linked to horse racing have surged more than 600% in the past decade, new analysis shows, as the debate over whether to implement a total ban on gambling advertising rages on in Canberra.
The figures, reported to the Australian Electoral Commission and analysed by the parliamentary library, show donations from the biggest gambling companies involved in horse betting to the major parties have increased from $66,650 in 2013-14 to $488,000 in 2022-23.
Not the news
Are dating apps safe? We’re all familiar with stories of cyberflashing and dates gone wrong, but there’s another risk as well: addiction to the apps themselves.
An Observer investigation has found that UK dating apps are increasingly pushing users to buy extras that have been likened to “gambling products” and can cost hundreds of pounds a year. As a former employee of Match Group, which owns Tinder and Hinge, told the paper: “All they care about is revenue, finding as many ways as possible to lure people to a paid feature.”
The world of sport
Surface intact | India’s A team have been cleared of ball-tampering and will escape any sanction, after initially appearing to be accused of causing scratches in a match against Australia A.
Blanked at home | New Zealand completed an unprecedented 3-0 series sweep in India as the Black Caps dismissed the hosts for 121 on a tricky wicket to secure a 25-run win on day three of the third and final Test in Mumbai on Sunday.
F1 | Max Verstappen came back from 17th on the grid to take victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix, leaving Lando Norris’s championship hopes all but over.
Blazing a trail | Gout Gout’s star continues to rise after the exciting young sprint prospect ran the fastest 200m by an Australian since 1993 at the Queensland All Schools Track and Field Championships.
Media roundup
The Age has the Victorian health minister warning doctors to brace themselves for the results of Australia’s first inquiry into women’s pain. The ABC looks into the failure to plan for Australia’s future of population growth, and The Australian says Labor is axing a $7bn military-grade satellite communications system because of budget constraints.
What’s happening today
Dug up | MinRes is set to release the results of an internal investigation into mining mogul Chris Ellison.
Double assault | A first hearing is due for two demonstrators accused of assaulting security personnel during a pro-Palestine protest at Western Sydney University.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
