England has started a new law that requires schools to keep students' smartphones away during the school day. Schools can decide how to do this, such as using lockers or sealed pouches, but they must prevent phones from being seen or heard to support students’ focus and wellbeing.
Key Facts
The smartphone ban in English schools began on June 29 as part of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Act.
Schools must create a phone-free environment during the whole school day by law.
Students can usually still bring phones, but they must not use or display them openly.
Different schools use different methods, such as lockers, sealed pouches, or "dumb" phones with limited functions.
Students who need phones for medical reasons get special arrangements like Velcro-sealed pouches.
Teachers are also advised not to use their phones for personal matters in front of students.
The government aims to reduce distractions and improve students’ social skills and focus.
Unions have asked for more funding so schools can pay for lockers or secure storage options.
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Samuel Bateman, a leader of a polygamous sect, was convicted on state child abuse charges after authorities found girls aged 11 to 14 locked inside an unventilated trailer in Arizona. Bateman is already serving a 50-year federal sentence for child sex crimes and has been linked to a group practicing polygamy, a system of having multiple wives.
Key Facts
Police found three girls inside a trailer driven by Samuel Bateman in Flagstaff, Arizona, in 2022.
The girls were between 11 and 14 years old and were in a trailer with no proper ventilation.
Bateman was convicted for abusing children and coercing girls as young as nine into sexual acts.
He is also known for attempting to kidnap girls from protective custody.
Bateman claims to have over 20 “spiritual wives,” including girls under 18.
He was a follower of Warren Jeffs, a sect leader serving a life prison term for child sexual assault.
The sect Bateman belongs to practices polygamy, which mainstream Mormonism banned in 1890.
Bateman’s case inspired a Netflix series called Trust Me: The False Prophet.
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A record-breaking heatwave in the UK will end this weekend as cooler air moves in from the Atlantic. Temperatures will drop across most areas by Sunday, but eastern and south-eastern England will stay hot through Saturday with an amber heat warning in place.
Key Facts
A strong heatwave has affected the UK, breaking temperature records.
Cooler air will arrive starting Sunday, ending the heatwave for most regions.
Eastern and south-eastern England will remain hot on Saturday, with temperatures in the high twenties to low thirties Celsius.
An amber warning for extreme heat is active until 9 pm Saturday in south-east England and East Anglia.
Weather fronts from the Atlantic will bring cloud and scattered showers on Sunday.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, and western parts will have cooler conditions and some rain on Saturday.
Two heatwaves have already occurred this summer in the UK, setting new monthly temperature records.
Long-term forecasts predict above-average temperatures and possible more heatwaves before autumn begins on September 1.
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The United States carried out strikes on Iranian missile and drone storage sites. These strikes were in response to what the U.S. says was an Iranian attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz. This exchange has created uncertainty about the stability of the agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
Key Facts
The U.S. attacked Iranian missile and drone storage locations.
The strikes were a response to an alleged Iranian attack on a commercial ship.
The incident took place in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route.
The U.S. calls the attack by Iran a reason for retaliation.
These actions happen amid a ceasefire or agreement between the U.S. and Iran.
The exchanges have caused concerns about whether the U.S.-Iran agreement will hold.
Kimberly Halkett reported on the situation.
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A review found 260 babies died or were seriously injured due to long-standing failures in maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Families affected by the tragedies, including Gary Andrews and Dr. Jack Hawkins, played a key role in exposing the problems and pushing for changes.
Key Facts
The Nottingham maternity review was led by Donna Ockenden and published after serious failings were found at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.
260 babies either died or suffered serious injury due to systemic issues in maternity services.
Jack and Sarah Hawkins lost their daughter Harriet in 2016; an external review later found 13 care failures and said her death could likely have been prevented.
The initial hospital investigation incorrectly blamed an infection and found no fault, but families challenged these findings.
Gary and Sarah Andrews lost their daughter Wynter in 2019 due to missed warning signs and poor staff handovers during a busy hospital shift.
The Care Quality Commission prosecuted the hospital trust over Wynter’s death, resulting in an £800,000 fine after the trust admitted failures.
Staff shortages and unsafe practices had been previously highlighted by midwives before the deaths occurred.
The campaign by affected families was crucial in prompting the wider investigation and report into the maternity services.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a Boeing 777 airplane that flew dangerously close to the ground in Texas. Flight radar data showed the plane was less than 25 feet above the ground during this incident.
Key Facts
The FAA is conducting an investigation into the incident involving the Boeing 777.
The plane flew at an unusually low altitude in Texas.
Flight radar data recorded the plane at under 25 feet off the ground.
Such a low altitude for a large commercial airplane is considered dangerous.
No further details on the cause or consequences of the incident were provided.
The investigation aims to understand why the plane was so low and to prevent similar events.
Boeing 777 is a widely used long-distance commercial aircraft.
Safety concerns are taken seriously by the FAA to protect passengers and people on the ground.
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Apple has raised the prices of its Mac computers and iPads due to a shortage of memory chips caused by high demand from artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. The company said the surge in prices for these parts is an unusual challenge for the tech industry and expects iPhone prices to rise later this year as well.
Key Facts
Apple increased the price of the entry-level MacBook Neo from $599 to $699.
The 512GB MacBook Air price rose from $1,099 to $1,299.
The 1TB MacBook Pro now costs $1,999, up from $1,699.
The 128GB iPad Air price went up from $599 to $749.
The 256GB iPad Pro WiFi version rose from $999 to $1,199.
Apple attributes these price increases to a shortage of memory chips driven by rapid growth in AI data centers.
Analysts expect that iPhone prices will increase later this year, possibly by as much as $200 for Pro models.
Apple has tried to avoid raising prices so far but says it can no longer absorb the higher costs.
Apple’s stock price dropped 4.5% following the announcement.
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Wynola Wayne, a nurse from Columbus, Ohio, retired after 58 years of service. She helped save a young boy named Marco Houpe, who had severe burns, and he credits her care with saving his life.
Key Facts
Wynola Wayne worked as a nurse for 58 years before retiring.
In 1965, Marco Houpe was seriously burned in a fire at 15 months old.
Marco was treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, where Wayne was a nurse in the burn unit.
Wayne provided care and support that helped Marco survive his injuries.
Marco’s family and he believe Wayne saved his life.
Marco is now married with two children and works as a school administrator and coach.
Marco calls Wayne his guardian angel and honored her at her retirement with a standing ovation.
Wayne named her own son after Marco, showing the deep connection they share.
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The UK Home Office will create new legal and limited routes for asylum seekers to enter the UK, allowing groups like universities and businesses to sponsor refugees. The government will also change how human rights and modern slavery laws apply to asylum claims to reduce false applications.
Key Facts
New capped "safe and legal" asylum routes will start later this year in the UK.
Universities, community groups, and businesses can sponsor refugees under these routes.
The model is inspired by Canada’s asylum system.
Changes to human rights and modern slavery law applications aim to prevent false claims.
The refugee work route letting employers sponsor refugees is expected to open next year.
Applications for the university sponsorship route open later this year, with arrivals starting in 2027.
The new system will gradually replace the current UK Resettlement Scheme and support more refugees.
The government will strictly control which organizations can sponsor asylum seekers and conduct thorough checks.
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Most Americans face scam attempts daily, with about 30% saying they have lost money or personal information to scams. Despite this, few victims report scams to the government or police because they doubt it will help them recover their losses.
Key Facts
Around 58% of U.S. adults get daily messages or calls they think are scams.
About 30% of Americans say they have personally lost money or data due to scams.
Older adults (60+) report more frequent scam attempts than younger people.
Common scam topics include fake package deliveries and banking issues.
Many scams come through social media like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
About 10% of U.S. adults or their household members were scammed last year.
Nearly half of those scammed lost more than $500.
Few victims report scams to authorities because they think it won’t make a difference.
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Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News host, made a harsh statement toward Haitians and Syrians who are protected from deportation under a legal program that the Supreme Court recently allowed the Trump administration to end. The program offered temporary protection to these groups due to unsafe conditions in their home countries.
Key Facts
The Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can end a temporary protection program.
This program stops deportation for certain Haitians and Syrians facing dangerous conditions at home.
Megyn Kelly spoke harshly to these protected groups, saying they should "go back" to their countries.
The comment came during a recorded segment, not a live broadcast.
Kelly's message implied she does not want these immigrants in the U.S.
The temporary protection program was created to offer humanitarian relief.
The ruling affects thousands of people who currently rely on this legal protection.
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Andy Burnham, a leading candidate to become the UK Prime Minister, is being urged by senior figures to call an early election to gain a clear mandate for change. Meanwhile, the UK and much of Europe are experiencing record-breaking heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40°C.
Key Facts
Lord Case, former Cabinet Secretary, advises Andy Burnham to be honest with the public and call an early election.
Polls show Burnham’s Labour party slightly ahead of Reform UK but with a very narrow margin.
Former Prime Minister Sir John Major warns Burnham may not be ready to lead and suggests the UK should rejoin the EU's single market within five years.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans to introduce an immigration bill to create faster, safe paths for refugees, despite concerns from Labour MPs.
The UK is facing a record heatwave, with temperatures over 37°C, and Europe is experiencing its fifth day of soaring heat above 40°C.
Prince Harry will visit his mother Princess Diana’s grave with his children during their UK visit next month.
England football striker Harry Kane was reportedly freed from a "curse" ahead of a match against Panama.
Tens of thousands of England football fans have gathered in New York ahead of the World Cup match against Panama.
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A nurse retired after working for 58 years and received a special farewell from her community. The story highlights her long career and the appreciation people showed for her dedication.
Key Facts
The nurse worked for 58 years before retiring.
Her retirement event was unusual and heartfelt.
The community called her an "angel" for her service.
The story was covered by CBS News.
Steve Hartman featured her story in his "On the Road" series.
The farewell celebrated her commitment and care over many decades.
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A Boeing 777 made a very low flight over an airfield in Central Texas during a test flight. The plane was flying about 25 feet above the ground, which caught attention and led to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Key Facts
The low pass happened over Horseshoe Bay Resort Jet Center airport in Central Texas.
The plane was a Boeing 777 owned by Jetran, a Texas-based company.
The flight was a final test before the plane was delivered to Qatar Airways Cargo.
The plane had Qatar Airways colors but was not operated by them nor were the pilots from Qatar Airways.
The pilots notified air traffic control before doing the low pass over runway 17.
The FAA is investigating the low pass flight.
A former safety board chair said the pilots might lose their licenses due to the risky maneuver.
The flight appeared planned with an audience watching and videoing the low pass.
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A giraffe named Gracie escaped from a ranch in Texas and wandered around the Texas Hill Country for two weeks. She was found on Friday, just a few miles away from the ranch where she got loose.
Key Facts
Gracie is a giraffe that escaped from a ranch in Texas.
She was missing and roaming the Texas Hill Country for two weeks.
On Friday, Gracie was spotted near the ranch she escaped from.
The search for Gracie lasted for two weeks.
The location where she was found is only a few miles from the ranch.
The story was reported by CBS News and covered by Mark Strassmann.
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Jacqueline Smith, the ombudsman for the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, is suing the Pentagon. She says her firing in April was punishment for criticizing new Pentagon rules, and that it violated her right to free speech.
Key Facts
Jacqueline Smith worked as an ombudsman for Stars and Stripes.
She was fired in April after criticizing new Pentagon restrictions on the paper.
Smith filed a lawsuit against the Defense Department on Thursday.
The complaint was made in federal court in Washington, D.C.
She claims her firing was retaliation for speaking out.
Smith says her First Amendment rights, which protect free speech, were violated.
The firing happened 10 days after her public criticism of the Pentagon’s policy changes.
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The United States carried out airstrikes on Iran after Iran attacked a cargo ship with a drone in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command said the strikes targeted Iranian sites that store missiles and drones.
Key Facts
Iran launched a drone attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
The U.S. responded with airstrikes on Friday.
The airstrikes targeted Iran’s missile and drone storage facilities.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global shipping.
President Donald Trump called Iran’s attack a "foolish violation" of a ceasefire.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) oversees military operations in the region.
The U.S. strikes were a direct response to Iran’s drone attack.
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North Carolina Governor Josh Stein criticized a display at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C., that showed the North Carolina state flag altered with the Confederate battle emblem. The display was part of the fair's celebration of America's 250th anniversary but was seen as misrepresenting the state and prompting some sponsors to withdraw.
Key Facts
The Great American State Fair included a North Carolina booth displaying altered state flags with the Confederate battle emblem.
Governor Josh Stein's office said the display does not represent North Carolina and asked for it to be removed.
The official North Carolina flag has never included the Confederate battle flag in any version of its design.
North Carolina joined the Confederacy during the American Civil War but its flag design did not incorporate the Confederate symbol.
The controversy led to criticism from historians, political groups, and businesses involved in the exhibit.
Mt. Olive Pickle Company withdrew its sponsorship of the exhibit after learning about the Confederate flag display.
The Great American State Fair is part of America's 250th-anniversary celebrations.
Fair organizers had not responded publicly to the controversy at the time of the report.
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