US renters call for action to combat surge of ‘take it or leave it’ apartment fees 25. June 2026 (12:00) Tenants push for tougher rules against unfair add-on charges. Industry players argue against policies that they say could limit the ‘effective use of fees’‘Extremely overwhelmed’: apartment renters face rising tide of feesAcross the US, many renters are calling for national action to stem add-on charges that spike their housing costs and increase their risk of eviction.“The rental housing market is one where consumers have little power,” Farah Momin, a renter in Seattle, told the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in April. “Landlords can impose fees through take-it-or-leave-it lease terms, and the cost/disruption of moving means that tenants may absorb unfair charges rather than leave. Federal baseline protections are needed to level this playing field.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Louisiana sheriff retires after pleading guilty to beating podcaster who often criticized him 25. June 2026 (12:00) Randy Smith’s resignation was part of plea deal after attack on podcaster Bobby Couvillion at a Madisonville restaurantA suburban New Orleans sheriff who had held one of his community’s most prominent political offices for a decade has retired shortly after pleading guilty to battering a podcaster who often criticized him.Randy Smith, 61, also agreed to serve more than a year of probation after admitting to a late May beating at a steakhouse where he had bought 18 alcoholic beverages on his tab on a Friday afternoon – which all but halted his four-decade policing career. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bodies in Nottingham NHS trust mortuary in state of ‘advanced deterioration’, inspectors say 25. June 2026 (12:00) Human Tissue Authority says bodies not transferred to freezer in time due to insufficient storage needsBodies in the mortuary at the NHS trust at the centre of the health services biggest ever maternity care scandal were found in a state of “advanced deterioration” due to not being transferred to a freezer in time, inspectors have said.Human Tissue Authority (HTA) inspectors who visited Nottingham university hospitals NHS trust in March discovered eight bodies in a state of advanced decomposition due to not being transferred to a freezer within a sufficient timeframe. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Reeves hints she accepts Burnham will not keep her as chancellor – UK politics live 25. June 2026 (11:58) Reeves refused to say whether she would accept a more junior job in cabinet if Burnham offered her oneIn her Q&A this morning Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, confirmed that she wants the government to approve the licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields in the North Sea.She said:I’ve been very clear that I think that the North Sea is a crucial asset for the UK, and that oil and gas will be an important part of our energy mix for years to come. And I’m very keen to make sure that we use that resource, to ensure our energy security.There are decisions to be made shortly on both Rosebank and Jackdaw. Those are quasi-judicial decisions. But in our manifesto two years ago, we committed to honour existing licences, and I hope that we do. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
UK to halve tariff-free steel imports to counter glut of cheap Chinese metal 25. June 2026 (11:51) Duty on imports outside new quota will double in move echoed by similar changes in EU limitsBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK government will halve the amount of tariff-free steel imports allowed in an attempt to counter a global oversupply of cheap Chinese metal and boost its beleaguered local industry.New “safeguards” will be introduced on 1 July and will coincide with similar new limits being introduced by the EU for the same purposes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Europe braced for another day of extreme heat as warnings issued across UK, France and Italy – live 25. June 2026 (11:48) UK June heat record could be broken for the second consecutive dayFarryn StockOver in the UK, South East Water has announced a temporary hosepipe ban in Kent amid growing strain from the ongoing heatwave (31C today, 33C tomorrow).“To safeguard that shared supply and prevent any homes from facing a sudden loss of water, we sadly need to ask our communities to not use their hosepipes immediately. We are deeply sorry for the disruption this causes, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone helping us protect Kent’s water.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
JD Vance is the face of the beleaguered Iran deal – is he its fall guy? 25. June 2026 (11:46) The vice-president, leading a foundering peace deal to end the kind war he’s opposed in the past, is left holding the bagJD Vance has taken the greatest gamble of his vice-presidency by making himself the face of the Iran ceasefire deal – a shaky agreement that already seems to be unraveling at the seams.But after months spent in limbo due to the war, it may be the best chance for him to find his feet again. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Sydney shark attack survivor awake, alert and ‘remembers the whole event in detail’, brother says 25. June 2026 (11:33) Australian woman Leah Stewart no longer in critical condition but doesn’t yet have use of her handGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA woman who was attacked by a great white shark at Sydney’s Coogee beach is no longer in a critical condition and “remembers the whole event in detail”, her brother has said.Leah Stewart’s brother Joshua provided the update on a fundraising site on Thursday, writing that it was “amazing to hear from her so much sooner than anyone expected” and that his sister had been “overjoyed” to see her daughter for the first time since the incident almost two weeks ago. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Elizabeth Warren says ‘frenzy’ of mergers under Trump could be reversed 25. June 2026 (11:00) Senator warns of ‘tsunami of anger’ against big companies and suggests future administrations may undo key dealsDemocratic senator Elizabeth Warren has warned that corporate mergers approved by the Trump administration – including a pending deal that would put two of America’s largest news outlets under the control of a family sympathetic to the president – could be undone by a future administration.“After 2028, we’ll have new players in Washington, and everyone who’s engaged in this merger frenzy right now is aware of that,” Warren said in an interview. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
EasyJet opens talks with Castlelake after rejecting £4.9bn takeover offer 25. June 2026 (10:55) British carrier says it hopes to receive ‘more attractive proposal that better reflects’ its valueBusiness live – latest updatesEasyJet has opened talks with Castlelake, despite rejecting a fourth takeover offer worth £4.9bn from the US investment firm, with the airline saying it would open its books in the hope of receiving a higher bid.The British budget carrier unanimously rejected the latest proposal, of 650p a share, saying it still “substantially” undervalued the company while flagging “significant questions of deliverability”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
