UK house prices did not grow in June for the second month in a row, mainly because higher interest rates from the Iran conflict made buying homes harder. While prices stayed mostly flat recently, annual growth was still seen across the UK, with some regions showing stronger increases.
Key Facts
The average UK house price fell slightly to £277,484 in June from £278,024 in May.
Rising interest rates caused by the war in Iran have reduced buyer demand.
Mortgage rates are higher than before the Iran conflict; the average two-year fixed rate is 5.53%.
Housebuilders’ shares dropped after the price growth stalled.
On a yearly basis, house prices rose 2.2% in June, up from 1.7% in May.
Northern Ireland had the strongest annual house price growth at 8.6%.
Falling oil prices may reduce the need for the Bank of England to raise interest rates further.
Lower inflation in the UK has helped bring fixed mortgage rates down recently.
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A drug used to treat opioid dependency, called Sublocade, will be removed from the Australian market by the end of 2024. The US company Indivior said this decision is due to business reasons, which has raised concern among doctors and pharmacists about patients losing access to this important medicine.
Key Facts
Sublocade is a long-acting monthly injection that helps people with opioid dependency and was added to Australia’s subsidy program (PBS) in 2020.
Indivior, the US company making Sublocade, will stop selling and marketing it in Australia from December 31, 2024.
Doctors say Sublocade is better for some patients than alternatives because it lasts longer and helps them feel more stable.
Another drug, Zoladex, used for breast cancer and endometriosis, has also been recently removed from the Australian market for similar business reasons.
The Australian government said it cannot force companies to keep selling these medicines but wants to keep medicines safe, effective, and affordable.
Changes in US drug pricing policies are affecting how pharmaceutical companies price and sell medicines worldwide, including in Australia.
President Donald Trump has supported US policies aiming to pay the same or less for drugs than other countries, which some say causes companies to withdraw from smaller markets.
Experts expect more drugs might be pulled from Australia because companies are adjusting their strategies due to global pricing pressures.
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Some government ministers in the UK are unhappy because important road projects in their areas are being delayed or canceled to pay for a bigger defence spending plan. The defence budget will increase to nearly £80 billion by 2030, affecting funding for roads, especially in the East Midlands.
Key Facts
Road improvement projects in some parts of the UK, including the East Midlands, are being delayed or cut.
The money saved from these cuts is used to increase the defence budget by £15 billion.
Defence spending will rise from 2.6% of the UK’s economy in 2027 to 2.7% in 2030.
This planned rise still falls short of NATO’s goal of 3.5% defence spending by 2035.
MPs for Lincoln and Newark have expressed anger at cuts to local road schemes.
Local leaders were not told about the cuts until the defence plan was announced publicly.
The defence plan’s cost will add pressure on the next UK prime minister to find extra funding.
Some politicians promise to restore cut road projects if they win future elections.
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Comedian Romesh Ranganathan is disappointed after Coughlans Bakery, an 89-year-old bakery chain he partly owns, closed down. The bakery stopped trading due to financial pressures including higher employer taxes, business rates, rising fuel costs, and poor sales during recent hot weather.
Key Facts
Coughlans Bakery operated shops in Kent, Surrey, West Sussex, and south London.
The business went into voluntary liquidation and stopped trading on a Tuesday.
The closure was blamed on increased national insurance contributions for employers starting in April last year.
High business rates and a rise in fuel prices, partly due to conflict in the Middle East, added £20,000 in costs per week.
Recent heatwaves in southeast England led to much lower sales, about half of normal weekly income.
Romesh Ranganathan became a co-owner in 2024 and supported the bakery because of its vegan products.
Managing director Sean Coughlan thanked Ranganathan for his support and expressed regret that the business let him down.
The liquidation was chosen to ensure the bakery could still pay employees and suppliers.
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California has banned the use of "sell by" labels on food packaging to reduce confusion and food waste. Starting in July 2026, food sellers in California must use standardized labels "Best if Used By" for quality and "Use By" for safety to help consumers know when food is still good to eat.
Key Facts
California passed a law banning “sell by” food labels starting July 1, 2026.
"Sell by" dates were meant for retailers, not consumers, and caused confusion about food safety.
New labels required are "Best if Used By" for best quality and "Use By" for food safety.
Food manufacturers can choose to use either or both labels.
California is the first U.S. state to standardize food date labels by law.
New York passed a similar law, awaiting the governor’s approval.
Other states like Illinois and Maryland have proposed similar laws but have not passed them.
Confusing date labels contribute significantly to household food waste and food bank acceptance issues.
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Business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers has improved for the fifth quarter in a row, according to the Bank of Japan's latest survey. Despite rising energy prices and a weak yen, many large and mid-sized companies are planning strong investments, although profits may decline.
Key Facts
The Bank of Japan’s quarterly "tankan" survey shows the business sentiment index rose to 22 from 17 among major manufacturers.
The business confidence index for large non-manufacturers, like service companies, increased slightly to 37 from 36.
The survey measures how many companies expect good business conditions minus those that feel pessimistic.
Higher fuel costs due to the Iran war have raised inflation in Japan, but crude oil prices have fallen after a U.S.-Iran interim deal.
Japan imports almost all its oil and gas, so the weak yen, currently about 162 yen per U.S. dollar, makes energy more expensive.
The Bank of Japan raised its main interest rate to 1%, the highest in 30 years, to address the weak yen and rising prices.
Large and mid-sized companies show strong plans for investment, but profits are expected to weaken overall.
Japan faces long-term challenges like a shrinking and aging workforce, which affects its economy.
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Welsh Water, a water company owned by the public and not shareholders, has had mixed results since its change in 2001. While it has good customer trust, it faces high bills and environmental fines. Experts say simply changing ownership won't fix all problems in the water and energy industries, and nationalising companies can be costly and complex.
Key Facts
Welsh Water became a not-for-profit company in 2001, serving 3 million people in Wales.
It has no shareholders and reinvests money to keep bills low and protect the environment.
Welsh Water was fined £44.7 million for poor sewage management that harmed the environment.
Its water bills (£683 a year) are higher than the industry average.
Andy Burnham has called for more public ownership of water and energy but is unclear on how this would happen.
Nationalising water companies could be expensive and complicated, especially for financially healthy firms.
Thames Water’s financial problems have wiped out its shareholders, possibly easing nationalisation there.
Large water and energy companies like United Utilities, Severn Trent, National Grid, and SSE are valued in billions of pounds, making nationalisation a major financial challenge.
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The energy price cap in Great Britain is rising, causing many households to spend more on electricity and gas. This increase will push millions more people into fuel poverty, meaning they will have to spend a large part of their income just to keep their homes heated or cooled.
Key Facts
The energy price cap will increase to about £1,862 per year for the average household.
Around 13.5 million households will spend more than 10% of their income on energy, up from 11.3 million in April.
Nearly 5.5 million homes will spend about 20% of their income on energy, up from 4.3 million in April.
Electricity prices will rise from 24.67p to 26.11p per kilowatt-hour, and gas prices from 5.74p to 7.33p per kilowatt-hour for those paying by direct debit.
Energy bills are expected to stay high during the cooler months because of increased gas use.
Some groups are calling for government action, including protests demanding lower energy costs and public ownership of energy companies.
Labour MP Andy Burnham proposes more local control over energy services to reduce costs.
Officials acknowledge the concerns but have not announced new major interventions yet.
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A woman named Gemma, who worked for Superdry co-founder James Holder, reported that he raped her in 2022 after work. Holder was sentenced to eight years in prison for this crime.
Key Facts
Gemma worked for James Holder at Superdry and later at another company he started.
The rape happened in May 2022 after work drinks in Cheltenham.
Holder entered Gemma's taxi without invitation and went to her home.
He initially fell asleep but then forced Gemma onto the bed and raped her.
Gemma returned to work days later and faced Holder, who acted like nothing happened.
Holder is a multi-millionaire, married, and has two children.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison in May for rape.
Gemma described a controlling work environment under Holder’s leadership.
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Ford is recalling over 741,000 vehicles in the U.S. because a transmission problem may harm the park system. This issue can cause the vehicle to move unintentionally while in park, raising the risk of crashes or injuries.
Key Facts
The recall affects certain Ford F-150, Lincoln Aviator, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Expedition models from 2018 to 2021.
The problem involves the transmission parking pawl, which may engage temporarily while driving, possibly damaging the park system.
Damage to the park system could prevent the vehicle from staying still when in park without the parking brake.
Ford has received 24 reports of property damage and nine reports of injuries linked to this issue.
Vehicle owners will get a letter to bring their car to a dealer for a free update of the Powertrain Control Module software.
Dealers will check the transmission for damage and replace parts if necessary at no cost.
Owners can contact Ford customer service or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for more information.
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Three large egg producers agreed to donate 53 million eggs and pay $3.3 million to settle claims they illegally raised egg prices. The donated eggs will go to food banks and nonprofits in 17 states to help families during a time of high grocery costs. The settlement ends a government investigation into price-fixing practices.
Key Facts
The settlement involves three major egg producers: Cal-Maine, Versova, and Hickman's.
They will donate 53 million eggs and pay a total of $3.3 million.
The donated eggs will be distributed across 17 states through food banks and nonprofits.
Some states’ egg allocations are: California – 8.9 million, Texas – 7 million, New York – 4.9 million, Connecticut – 1.5 million.
The producers were accused of working together to raise wholesale egg prices, making eggs more expensive for consumers.
Prices dropped significantly after the federal investigation began in early 2025.
Cal-Maine reported a $1.22 billion profit in fiscal year 2025 but still agreed to donate 30 million eggs and pay $1.5 million.
The settlement must be approved by a court before it takes effect.
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President Donald Trump earned about $1.2 billion last year from his cryptocurrency businesses, according to a government financial report. These new ventures made more money than much of his real estate portfolio, even as the value of the crypto tokens he sold dropped.
Key Facts
President Trump made nearly $1.2 billion in revenue from crypto businesses in the past year.
His World Liberty Financial business earned over $500 million by selling new crypto products called "governance tokens."
Another company, CIC Digital LLC, made more than $600 million selling "meme" coins featuring Trump's image.
The value of these crypto tokens and coins decreased significantly after the sales.
Trump also earned millions by selling other branded items, including bibles, sneakers, and watches.
The sale of Trump-branded watches alone generated $4.7 million.
The rise in crypto revenue has outpaced his historic property earnings.
The growth of these businesses was helped by wealthy investors and changes in federal crypto regulation.
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President Donald Trump's financial disclosure report shows he earned over one billion dollars in cryptocurrency last year. A large part of this came from selling so-called "Trump meme coins," a type of digital currency linked to his name.
Key Facts
President Trump reported more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency earnings in the past year.
Hundreds of millions of dollars came from selling Trump meme coins.
Meme coins are digital currencies often based on internet jokes or themes.
The information comes from President Trump's annual financial disclosure report.
The report was discussed in a CBS News segment by reporter Weijia Jiang.
Cryptocurrency earnings can include profits from buying, selling, or trading digital coins.
Trump meme coins are tied to President Trump’s name and image.
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Many people in Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, do not believe they will receive a state pension when they retire. This is because the government is raising the age for receiving state pensions and there will be fewer workers paying into the pension system compared to the growing number of retirees.
Key Facts
About half of Generation Z think the state pension will not exist by the time they retire.
The state pension age is currently rising from 66 to 67 by 2028 and is expected to go up to 68 in about 20 years.
By 2050, around a quarter of the UK population will be of state pension age.
There will be more people claiming state pensions but fewer workers paying into the system.
Nearly half of working-age adults do not have a private pension, so many rely only on the state pension.
The state pension amount increases each year using a "triple lock" method to keep up with inflation or wages.
Some experts and think tanks suggest changing or scrapping the triple lock to reduce pension costs.
Concerns exist that distrust in the state pension may cause people to take risky financial decisions or save less.
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Energy prices for many households in England, Scotland, and Wales are rising by 13% due to higher gas costs. People without smart meters are urged to send meter readings to avoid being charged at the new higher rates based on estimated usage.
Key Facts
Household energy prices are increasing by 13%, mainly because gas prices are higher.
The price rise means an average increase of about £18 per month on typical energy bills.
Gas bills are rising by 24%, electricity by 5%, while standing charges remain mostly the same.
Ofgem, the energy regulator, has lowered its estimate of typical energy use due to reduced usage recently and improved energy efficiency.
About 33 million households are affected by the price cap changes, except Northern Ireland where rules differ.
People on fixed energy tariffs will not see price changes until their deals end.
Submitting meter readings is important for those on standard meters to avoid being charged the new higher rate on estimated usage.
The Trades Union Congress wants a social tariff to help reduce bills, possibly funded by taxing bank profits.
Energy debt in England, Scotland, and Wales reached a record £4.79 billion in early 2024.
Energy suppliers offer support programs for customers struggling to pay, but customers need to contact their supplier for help.
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Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, has written a memoir called "Cancel Me If You Can." In a podcast interview with Amna Nawaz, he talks about how he built Barstool Sports and shares his thoughts on politics, culture, and controversies he has encountered.
Key Facts
Dave Portnoy founded Barstool Sports.
Barstool Sports started as a free gambling newsletter.
It has grown into a large multimedia company.
Portnoy has written a memoir titled "Cancel Me If You Can."
He discussed his career and views on politics and culture during a podcast.
The podcast is called "Settle In" and is hosted by Amna Nawaz.
The conversation included topics about controversies surrounding Portnoy.
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Mattel has created a new Barbie doll inspired by singer and actress Miley Cyrus. The doll features Cyrus’s look from her “Golden Burning Sun” music video and includes accessories like sunglasses, a microphone, and a motorbike.
Key Facts
The Barbie doll is part of Mattel’s collectible Barbie Signature series.
It is based on Miley Cyrus’s outfit in the “Golden Burning Sun” music video from “Something Beautiful: The Film.”
The doll comes with accessories including sunglasses and a microphone.
The doll also features a motorbike as part of its design.
Mattel’s Nathan Baynard said the doll honors Miley Cyrus as a trailblazing woman who inspires others.
Miley Cyrus was involved in designing the doll and focused on detailed and authentic representation.
Fans have reacted positively on social media, expressing excitement about the doll’s release.
The doll is now available at major retailers.
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The Australian government is proposing new rules to better control accounting, auditing, and consulting firms after a scandal at KPMG, where partners shared secret client information and mistreated a whistleblower. The plans include stricter ethical duties and possible changes in how these firms operate to restore public trust.
Key Facts
KPMG partners leaked private information from clients like Lendlease and Optus.
This information was used by colleagues bidding for audit contracts at companies such as Westpac, Dexus, and Telstra.
The government released an options paper with ideas to improve regulation of large consulting firms.
Possible actions include enforcing quality management, ethical obligations, and separating different business areas within firms.
They may also limit the number of partners, impose new governance rules, and require regular checks or rotating audit contracts.
The assistant treasurer, Daniel Mulino, emphasized the need to restore trust and ensure firms act fairly and honestly.
Separately, independent MP Nicolette Boele supports creating a national childhood education commission to better manage supply and safety in childcare services.
Boele called for a clear timeline on government decisions about childcare subsidies following a pricing review by Deloitte.
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Opening a $30,000 certificate of deposit (CD) account in July can earn a fixed interest rate, often above 4%, depending on the account term. CDs offer predictable returns, protect the initial money invested, and are insured up to $250,000, but withdrawing money early may cause penalties.
Key Facts
CD interest rates are fixed and typically over 4% in July 2024, varying by term length.
Interest earnings range from about $292 for 3 months to over $15,700 for 10 years on a $30,000 deposit.
CDs protect the principal amount and are insured up to $250,000 by the government.
Early withdrawal from a CD leads to penalties that can reduce or eliminate earned interest.
Traditional savings accounts currently offer very low interest rates (around 0.38%), making them less profitable.
High-yield savings and money market accounts offer competitive rates without locking in money like CDs.
Savers should choose the account that best fits their timeline and financial goals.
Avoid keeping large amounts in traditional savings accounts due to low returns.
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Andy Burnham will need to find an extra £4.7 billion to fund Keir Starmer’s new £298 billion defence investment plan. The plan aims to improve the UK’s military over the next four years but leaves a funding gap and requires budget cuts in other government areas.
Key Facts
The new defence investment plan (DIP) costs £298 billion over four years.
There is a £4.7 billion funding gap that needs to be covered.
Defence spending will slightly increase, reaching nearly £80 billion by 2030.
The plan includes buying 12 F-35A fighter jets and investing £47 billion in new nuclear submarines.
£5 billion will be spent more on drones, including air, land, sea, and underwater types.
Some military equipment, like 34 Wildcat helicopters, will be retired early.
Funding will partly come from efficiency savings and budget cuts, including a 10% cut in Ministry of Defence civil servants.
Cuts to other government projects, like roads and energy, will help cover the costs but have caused some opposition in government.
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