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)
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)
