Not so empty nesters: record-high number of US adults under 35 live at home, new data says 18. June 2026 (17:33) Data shows that the increase in at-home living stems from high housing costs rather than labor market conditionsA record number of the US’s young adults were living with their parents last year, according to new data from Realtor.com, as high housing costs pushed the milestone of independent living out of reach.A third of young adults between the ages of 25 and 35 – 25.2 million people – were living with their parents in 2025. Of those, 70% had jobs, and many held college degrees, highlighting that the increase in at-home living stems from high housing costs rather than labor market conditions. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
VAT on private school fees has not caused pupil exodus, says Bridget Phillipson 18. June 2026 (17:30) Education secretary cites admissions data for England since tax imposed showing falling applications to state sectorAdding VAT to private school fees has failed to trigger an exodus of pupils into the state sector despite widespread speculation that it would, the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, has said.The Labour government applied 20% VAT to private school fees from the start of 2025. They had previously been exempt from the tax. Newly published admissions data for England showed there had been no influx towards state schools since then. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Zack Polanski cleared by ethics inquiry over council tax payment complaint 18. June 2026 (17:25) Labour and Tories claimed Green party leader breached London assembly ethics code over non-payment of taxZack Polanski has been cleared by an ethics inquiry looking into complaints that he did not pay council tax while living on a houseboat.A report by the Greater London authority’s monitoring officer found that the circumstances of the Green party leader’s living arrangements were beyond its scope and he had therefore not breached the code of conduct for London assembly members. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Border Force officer and Hong Kong trade official jailed for spying for China 18. June 2026 (17:17) Peter Wai and Bill Yuen sentenced to 10 and eight years at Old Bailey in first convictions under National Security ActA UK Border Force officer and a Hong Kong trade official based in London have been jailed for spying for China in the first such conviction in British criminal history.Peter Wai, who conducted “shadow policing” operations on Chinese dissidents in the UK, was sentenced to 10 years, while his handler, Bill Yuen, received an eight-year term. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bank of England governor warns UK public to expect higher costs this year 18. June 2026 (17:02) Andrew Bailey says ‘still inflationary pressure in pipeline’ despite US and Iran nearing peace deal as interest rates kept on holdBusiness live – latest updatesThe governor of the Bank of England has warned consumers to expect higher costs this year as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, despite falling oil prices as the US and Iran near a peace deal.Speaking after the Bank kept interest rates on hold at 3.75%, Andrew Bailey said there was “still some inflationary pressure in the pipeline” after the conflict pushed up energy prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
The CGT ‘backflip’ is more tweak than transformation. Labor hasn’t changed its mind on housing 18. June 2026 (17:00) Do the concessions undermine the original objective of helping young Australians buy their own home? NoGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe noise, negative headlines and internet memes that have surrounded Labor’s capital gains tax changes since their budget night unveiling made a backdown feel like an inevitability.It wasn’t a question of if concessions would be offered but rather when and, most importantly, how much they might undermine the original purpose. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pauline Hanson says she ‘had to have a conversation’ about immigration and the Aboriginal flag with new Farrer MP 18. June 2026 (17:00) David Farley was told One Nation’s policy was to fly only the Australian flag, party leader tells conferenceFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastOne Nation’s leader, Pauline Hanson, says she “had to have a conversation” with the new Farrer MP, David Farley, after he appeared to defy her policies on immigration and flying Indigenous flags.Shortly before winning Farrer in May’s byelection – the first federal lower house seat One Nation has won outright – Farley said Labor’s current immigration intake of 306,000 was “probably not” too much. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Australian net overseas migration falls to lowest level since 2022 – but the Coalition says that’s still too high 18. June 2026 (17:00) Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show migration growth is above pre-pandemic levels but tracking steadily downGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNet overseas migration added 301,000 people to Australia’s population last year, the lowest increase since mid-2022 but still above the pre-pandemic pace.The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics come amid an increasingly fraught political debate around immigration, following Pauline Hanson’s declaration that our society should be “monocultural”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Cuban economy needs ‘urgent changes’ as US blockade deepens crisis, says president 18. June 2026 (16:46) Miguel Díaz-Canel cites China and Vietnam as possible models for opening up the country’s economyCuba’s economy needs urgent changes to overcome a crisis intensified by a US oil blockade, the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has said in a speech to Communist party leaders.“The situation calls for urgent and necessary changes,” Díaz-Canel told the party’s politburo in his frankest admission yet of the need to overhaul the country’s communist model. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Anger at ‘send them back’ chants by rightwing MEPs after EU migration law vote 18. June 2026 (16:41) Other lawmakers respond with ‘shame on you’ in heated confrontation over passing of plan to increase deportationsRightwing MEPs have come under fire after they celebrated a vote aimed at increasing deportations across the EU with chants of “send them back”, leading other lawmakers to respond with cries of “shame on you”.The heated confrontation in the European parliament came on Wednesday after lawmakers voted 418 to 218 to approve controversial measures aimed at increasing deportations of undocumented people. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
