Forecast energy price cap rise in Britain could push UK fuel bills up 4% this winter 19. August 2026 (14:11) Expected quarterly rise highest in three years and likely to wipe out Burnham’s VAT cut on electricity billsHousehold energy bills across Great Britain are expected to climb to a three-year high this winter as the impact of the Middle East war wipes out Andy Burnham’s tax cut on electricity bills.The government’s cap on energy prices is on track to rise by 4% from this October to the equivalent of £1,729 a year through the last three months of 2026, which could hit struggling households especially hard this winter, according to analysis by the energy consultancy Cornwall Insight. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Republican senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola advance in Alaska Senate primary 19. August 2026 (13:22) Result tees up marquee race in US midterm elections, which could decide if Republicans or Democrats control SenateIncumbent Dan S Sullivan, the US senator, advanced in Alaska’s nonpartisan primary race for his seat on Tuesday alongside Mary Peltola, a former Democratic congresswoman.With the top four candidates moving forward from Alaska’s open primaries to the general election, the Associated Press reported that Sullivan and Peltola, had qualified for the November’s general election. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
France’s ‘aid in dying’ law comes into effect after constitutional approval 19. August 2026 (13:14) Right to assisted dying established for patients with conditions assessed as incurable and causing unbearable pain Legislation granting incurably ill adults the right to assisted dying has been formally adopted in France after the text was approved by the country’s highest constitutional authority and published in the official journal.The law, known as a law on “end of life” or “aid in dying” rather than “assisted dying” or “euthanasia”, means France joins the small group of countries including the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada to have legalised the practice. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Is Bulgarian prime minister Rumen Radev sizing up the EU’s Orbán-shaped hole? 19. August 2026 (12:47) Rightwing populist’s inconsistent positions on Europe and Russia suggest he is testing how far he can push partners and electorateOne evening nine years ago in the Bulgarian town of Balgari, a Brazilian tourist approached the casually dressed, middle-aged man surrounded by bodyguards, bystanders and photographers. “Why are you important?” she asked. “I’m not so important,” he replied. She repeated the question and he admitted: “I’m the president.”Now, in 2026, the rightwing populist Rumen Radev is no longer the president, but the prime minister – the more powerful of the two positions – after his Progressive Bulgaria party secured an overwhelming majority in April’s election. While many in Europe breathed a sigh of relief that month at the demise of Viktor Orbán in Hungary, others wondered if Radev would become the EU’s next disruptor-in-chief. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Fresh Ukraine corruption probe adds to pressure on Zelenskyy ahead of key vote – Europe live 19. August 2026 (11:55) Investigation into unnamed lawmakers comes hours before parliament is due to to vote on successor to Mykhailo Fedorov as he calls for electionsMeanwhile, Estonia is investigating whether Russia was involved in an arson attack on a building housing a defence contractor, said the prime minister, Kristen Michal.The building used by Milrem Robotics, a maker of unmanned military weapons systems deployed in Ukraine and elsewhere, was targeted late on Friday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Burnham pledges to get thousands of rough sleepers off streets for Christmas – UK politics live 19. August 2026 (11:49) PM promises to mount ‘Covid-style campaign’ to get homeless people off streets in winter Angela Rayner accused Tory frontbencher James Cleverly of “scaremongering” over rules for illegal traveller sites.Rayner said the government is making the rules “stronger and clearer” around unauthorised developments.He’s building a straw man, because what we’ve actually done is made things stronger and clearer throughout the rules around unauthorised development, making it harder, making it really clear that people who try and do this unauthorised development are stopped from doing it.We explicitly tackle any potential environmental damage and transport impacts, and we’re making it harder for people to get retrospective permission for development which was built intentionally without approval, which the previous government did nothing about. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Labour ‘could lose up to 50 seats’ to Greens if new drilling in North Sea approved 19. August 2026 (11:28) Greens say analysis shows government failure to take bold climate action could lead to big gains for party at electionUK politics live – latest updatesLabour could lose dozens of seats to the Green party if the government allows new drilling in the North Sea, according to internal research shared with the Guardian.Green party analysis suggests up to 50 Labour MPs – including key Andy Burnham ally Louise Haigh – could lose their seats at the next election if the government fails to make urgent climate action a priority or allows new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan lead in Alaska primary for US Senate – US politics live 19. August 2026 (11:24) Incumbent Sullivan is running for third term while Peltola is fighting to flip seat and aid Democrats retake control of CongressDemocratic socialist Angie Nixon clinches surprise win in Florida Sign up for the US Breaking News emailWearing shoulder-length blonde hair, gold earrings and a red dress, cancer survivor Natalie Harp introduced herself to the 2020 Republican national convention as “a formerly forgotten American from California” and compared Donald Trump with George Bailey, the everyman hero played by James Stewart in the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life.“George Bailey’s father was right,” smiled Harp, her voice echoing in the Andrew W Mellon auditorium in pandemic-hit Washington. “All you can take with you is that which you’ve given away. Mr President, that makes you the richest man in the world.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Activist forced out of US after criticising Trump-aligned Colombian politician 19. August 2026 (11:00) Beto Coral held up banners in Florida warning fellow Colombians to not vote for Abelardo de la EspriellaIn the week before Colombia’s presidential election, Beto Coral, a well-known activist living in the United States, travelled to Florida to persuade fellow Colombians not to vote for the far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella.Coral held banners outside polling stations in Miami warning that the millionaire lawyer, whose candidacy was endorsed by Donald Trump, would “help deport all of you”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School investigated over hidden ticket fees 19. August 2026 (10:50) UK competition watchdog investigation is part of broader clampdown on illegal ‘drip pricing’ Business live – latest updatesThe UK’s competition watchdog has launched investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic and Red Driving School over concerns that all three companies displayed misleadingly low prices to their customers.The Competition and Markets Authority’s investigations are part of a broader clampdown on “drip pricing”, an illegal practice that makes a product appear cheaper by not including all mandatory fees. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
