Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Tuesday 26 Jun 2018

1. Electoral body warns UK democracy compromised

The Electoral Commission is warning today that urgent action is required if the British democratic process is to be properly regulated online. The elections watchdog says that democracy “may be under threat” and has asked the Government to change the law to require that all online campaign material must state who has paid for its production.

2. Farage denies ‘shorting’ the pound on Brexit vote

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has denied allegations that he had a financial interest in currency markets on the night of the Brexit vote. Bloomberg claims that Farage knew from an exit poll that Leave had won but publicly stated that he believed Remain would “edge it”, allowing speculators to make huge profits “shorting” the pound.

3. MPs back Heathrow expansion – with Johnson away

The Commons last night voted 415 to 119 in favour of a third runway at Heathrow airport – with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson notable by his absence. Johnson, who had pledged to “lie down in front of the bulldozers” to stop the expansion going ahead, was in Afghanistan on an official visit. His constituency is under the airport’s flightpath.

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4. Heatwave to last until weekend, Met Office says

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for the west and northeast of England amid predictions that temperatures could reach as high as 30C over the next week. The warning means there 80% chance of temperatures that could be a risk to the health of the very young, the elderly or those with chronic disease.

5. Trump attacks Harley-Davidson for tariff plan

Donald Trump has attacked motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson over plans to shift some of its motorcycle production away from the US in order to avoid new tariffs on exporting bikes to the EU. The EU tariffs have been imposed in response to Trump’s own import taxes. The president accused the company of waving the “white flag”.

6. Olympian Pendleton reveals post-Everest depression

Olympic gold-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton has revealed she has been suffering from depression, after pulling out of an attempt to climb Everest with her TV presenter friend Ben Fogle. The 37-year-old was told by doctors that she was suffering from hypoxia oxygen deficiency and should quit. The illness can trigger depression.

7. Buzz Aldrin sues his own children over finances

Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin has filed a lawsuit against two of his children and his former business manager, alleging they have stolen money from him and are spoiling his public image. The action is in response to a legal request by his children to take control of his finances. They say the 88-year-old is in “cognitive decline”.

8. Narcissists are ‘irritating but successful’, research shows

An international team of psychologists has found that narcissists may be irritating but are also irritatingly likely to be successful. The academics say people with a “heightened sense of self-worth” come out on top in education, work and love. The team says narcissists have a “mental toughness” that encourages them not to give up.

9. No more student lie-ins: lectures to start at 8am

Durham University has decided that some law and business lectures will now start at 8am, because it has such a large intake of new students for next year that they have been divided into two groups. A director in the law faculty said he did not want to start the day early but, with so many students to teach, had little choice.

10. Briefing: what is the hottest UK temperature on record?

Temperatures reached 29C in parts of England on Monday as the UK experienced the latest in a series of mini heatwaves.

The mercury is set to continue creeping upwards, and could even break the 30C mark before the weekend, with western and central England expected to swelter in the hottest temperatures.

Will 2020 be the hottest year on record?