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)
Rising inflation underlines scale of Andy Burnham’s cost of living challenge 19. August 2026 (10:40) PM’s plan to shield households from more pressure risks being overwhelmed by wider price risesUK inflation rises to 2.9%Business live – latest updatesJuly’s increase in inflation, to 2.9%, is likely to be the first of several, underlining the challenge facing Andy Burnham in shielding consumers from a fresh cost of living squeeze this autumn.Rising energy bills, as an increase in Ofgem’s quarterly price cap came into force, were the main driver of the jump in inflation, from 2.6% in June. That was partly offset by cheaper fuel prices – the knock-on effect of hostilities easing in the Middle East, after Donald Trump hailed his “memorandum of understanding” with Iran in June. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Virgin Australia apologises to disability advocate removed from flight over wheelchair motor 19. August 2026 (10:33) Shane Hryhorec’s viral video showing the interaction with flight staff has already garnered 16m viewsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastVirgin Australia has apologised to a disability advocate who said he was “humiliated” by his removal from a flight over his wheelchair motor.The airline called Shane Hryhorec on Wednesday afternoon to offer an apology, two days after the Adelaide-based man published a viral video showing the incident onboard a flight from Sydney. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
David Shrigley London exhibition will find the funny side of old masters 19. August 2026 (10:00) Dulwich Picture Gallery show to feature British artist’s work hung next to paintings by Dutch and Flemish greatsThe contemporary UK artist David Shrigley will apply his trademark arch humour and distinctive artistic practice “in dialogue” with old masters of Dutch and Flemish painting in a major new solo exhibition in London.The celebrated visual artist will explore the 17th-century paintings with his own new works “responding to” and hung alongside original masterpieces by artists including Jan Steen, Adriaen Brouwer, David Teniers the Younger, Adriaen van Ostade, Pieter Brueghel the Younger and Rembrandt van Rijn. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shares in humanoid robot firm Unitree surge 600% on Chinese stock market debut 19. August 2026 (09:49) Company’s robots have gained global fame via videos of them performing martial arts and as dancers for pop starsUnitree, the world’s biggest humanoid robot maker, has made a spectacular entry on to China’s stock market, with its shares surging by more than 600%.The Chinese company’s robots have gained global fame via viral videos of them performing martial arts, running at Olympic speeds and serving as backup dancers for pop stars. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Peta Murphy called for gambling reform three years ago. Her husband says Labor’s changes fall ‘well short’ 19. August 2026 (09:49) The government’s gambling ad changes are expected to pass the Senate on Wednesday night or Thursday morning with the Coalition’s supportFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe husband of the late Labor MP Peta Murphy has said the government’s gambling reform “falls well short” of what she called for in 2023, lamenting that its shortcomings were due to the “considerable lobbying power” of the wagering, sporting and media industries.Rod Glover said he had “mixed emotions” about Labor’s reforms, which are expected to pass parliament by Thursday, praising Anthony Albanese and minister Anika Wells for changes he said would reduce harms. But he said reform had taken too long and could have gone even further in meeting Murphy’s recommendations, which called for a full ban on gambling ads and inducements. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
