A mural in Pontyates, a small Welsh village, shows characters linked to the village’s history, including Dot Cotton from the TV show Eastenders. The actress who played Dot, June Brown, was sent to Pontyates as a child during World War Two for safety, a fact that inspired her inclusion on the mural.
Key Facts
The mural features Dot Cotton, a character from the BBC show Eastenders, alongside a dragon, a miner, and a rugby player.
June Brown, the actress who played Dot, was sent to Pontyates at age 12 during World War Two.
Brown described Pontyates as a "safe haven" during the war.
The mural aims to brighten the village of about 1,500 people.
Local schoolchildren suggested including Dot Cotton when designing the mural.
The mural was funded by local fundraising efforts.
Some local older residents knew about Brown’s connection to the village, but younger people were less aware.
The mural has started conversations among locals about the village’s history and Brown’s time there.
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Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui was sentenced to 30 years in a U.S. prison for financial fraud that hurt over 1,000 people worldwide. A Manhattan jury found him guilty of fraud, money laundering, and other crimes, and he must also pay $889 million in restitution.
Key Facts
Guo Wengui, a Chinese billionaire who fled to the U.S. in 2015, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for fraud.
The fraud scheme took place between 2018 and 2023 and involved financial losses of hundreds of millions of dollars.
More than 1,000 victims worldwide were affected by Guo’s actions.
A Manhattan jury found Guo guilty of fraud, securities offenses, wire fraud, and money laundering in 2024.
Guo was ordered to pay $889 million to victims as restitution.
He had positioned himself in the U.S. as a critic of the Chinese Communist Party and worked with Steve Bannon in an anti-CCP group.
Judge Analisa Torres stated that Guo preyed on people seeking democracy in China and failed to take responsibility for his crimes.
Guo’s lawyers argued that his imprisonment was influenced by Chinese government pressure and labeled him a victim of political persecution.
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A man named Asad Hussain created a fake Tinder profile using his ex-girlfriend’s photos to lure men to her home in Cheshire, England. He was caught after police reviewed doorbell camera footage and was jailed for stalking, assault, and refusing to share device passcodes.
Key Facts
Asad Hussain made a fake Tinder profile pretending to be his ex-girlfriend.
He invited random men to the woman’s home, causing safety concerns for her and her family.
Some men arrived late at night, with one breaking a glass panel and another entering the home alone while the woman’s teenage daughter was upstairs.
Police started investigating after neighbors called them when Hussain rang the doorbell for two hours straight.
Hussain used the alias "Mick Renney" and tried to control the woman’s phone during their relationship.
Police identified Hussain by matching doorbell camera footage and car registration details.
He was sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of stalking, assault, and not giving police his device passcodes.
At least 18 men came to the woman’s home due to the fake profile, though police believe the total is higher.
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A four-year-old boy named Dáibhin had both his legs amputated after a serious bacterial infection called meningococcal disease caused sepsis. Now using prosthetic legs, he enjoys nursery school and was celebrated by his classmates and teachers for his courage and positive attitude.
Key Facts
Dáibhin got very sick with sepsis caused by meningococcal disease, a serious bacterial infection common in young children.
He was treated in a hospital in Belfast and put on life support.
In June 2025, he had both legs amputated to save his life.
After recovering, Dáibhin started nursery school in September 2025 and uses prosthetic legs.
His school held a “superhero day” where classmates dressed up to celebrate him.
Dáibhin feels happy and confident with his prosthetic legs, calling them his “superhero legs.”
School staff created special activities to help him participate fully.
Dáibhin will start Primary One in September 2026 and is excited about it.
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A 91-year-old man named Alan Still completed a skydive to raise £5,000 for a local community support group called Rowleys Centre in Cranleigh, Surrey. He described the experience as exciting and plans to take on more adventurous activities, such as a fast zipwire in Wales.
Key Facts
Alan Still is 91 years old.
He completed a skydive to support the Rowleys Centre for the Community.
He raised £5,000 through this skydive.
Alan said the skydive was an exciting and unforgettable experience.
The staff at Rowleys presented Alan with a special thank you gift, a mug with his skydive photo.
Alan plans to try a 100 mph (160.9 km/h) zipwire in Wales next.
Rowleys Centre helps local residents by providing support and services.
Alan enjoys trying new adventures for excitement and to stay active.
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The British folding bike maker Brompton has sold shares to French sports retailer Decathlon and Chinese investment group BA Capital. These investments, worth about £18 million, will help Brompton's staff and long-term investors access some cash and bring new expertise to the company.
Key Facts
Decathlon bought a 10% stake in Brompton.
BA Capital, an early investor in Labubu soft toys, bought 5%.
The deal is estimated to be worth around £18 million in total.
Brompton’s CEO, Will Butler-Adams, and other shareholders will be able to sell some shares for cash.
Decathlon’s investment arm aims to help Brompton expand, including placing "Brompton corners" in some Decathlon stores.
China is Brompton’s biggest market, and BA Capital will provide expertise there.
Brompton’s bike prices range from about £999 to nearly £6,000 for a top titanium electric bike.
Brompton’s sales declined after a pandemic boom but are now recovering as cycling grows in popularity worldwide.
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A new law in England requires schools to ban smartphones during the school day. A University College London study found that most students see these bans as unfair and unhelpful, while most teachers and parents support them. The study suggests that outright bans might not work well and could cause problems for students.
Key Facts
England introduced a legal ban on smartphones in schools during the day.
The study surveyed 732 students aged 11-18, 27 teachers, and 41 parents.
75% of students disagreed with the phone bans, while about 87-88% of teachers and parents supported them.
Students said smartphones help them with daily tasks like checking bus times, weather, and schoolwork apps.
Phones also help students stay safe, especially girls who travel alone.
Students worry that banning phones might hide issues like cyberbullying and stop them from reporting problems.
Schools have different phone rules, ranging from locking phones away to banning them completely.
Researchers recommend teaching students about the digital world’s challenges instead of just banning phones.
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A pupil at Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield was placed in an isolation booth for more than half of a school year as a method to manage behavior. The school uses isolation rooms, called reflection rooms, as part of a strict discipline policy aimed at improving student conduct after multiple warnings.
Key Facts
A student was isolated 58 times in one school year, each time usually lasting a full day.
At least 23 students at Outwood Grange Academy spent over 20% of their school days in isolation in recent years.
Isolation involves sitting alone in a booth separated by plastic dividers and monitored by cameras.
Students in isolation were often given very little work, such as word searches or no meaningful tasks for long periods.
The school trust changed rules in 2019 to provide more meaningful work during isolation after legal challenges.
Students could be placed in isolation for minor behavior issues like untucked shirts, talking in class, or asking to use the toilet.
The school claims reflection rooms have reduced the time students spend in isolation by half and help improve behavior.
Government guidance says isolation should be a last resort, but many schools in England use it regularly to control behavior.
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Shops and some public transport started working again in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after weeks of protests and violent clashes. The protests were about the need for better economic conditions and government changes.
Key Facts
Protests occurred in Pakistan-administered Kashmir for several weeks.
Demonstrators wanted economic reforms and better governance.
There were violent clashes between police and protesters, causing deaths.
After the unrest, shops reopened in the area.
Some public transport services also began operating again.
The region is controlled by Pakistan but is part of the larger Kashmir territory.
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President Donald Trump has tried many ways to change U.S. election rules, such as signing orders and pushing laws, but courts have stopped many of his efforts. While some state-level changes happened, the Constitution gives most election control to states and Congress, limiting the president’s power.
Key Facts
President Trump has signed executive orders and supported legislation to tighten election rules.
The Supreme Court recently allowed states to accept late-arriving mail ballots.
Courts blocked two of Trump’s executive orders aimed at changing national election rules.
The Department of Justice, under Trump, is investigating election operations, which Democrats fear may influence the midterms.
Trump supports the SAVE Act, which would reduce absentee voting and add stricter ID requirements, but it has not passed the Senate.
Some Republican-led states have redrawn congressional districts, partly due to a Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
Experts say the president’s power over elections is legally limited because the Constitution gives authority mostly to states and Congress.
Trump claims his efforts are to prevent election fraud, but research shows noncitizen voting fraud is very rare.
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A US court sentenced Chinese businessman Guo Wengui to 30 years in prison for defrauding people of over $1 billion. Guo was found guilty of fraud, money laundering, and other charges after convincing investors to fund his projects while living a lavish lifestyle.
Key Facts
Guo Wengui was convicted on nine charges including securities offenses, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The jury reached a unanimous guilty verdict in July 2024.
Guo was arrested by the FBI in March 2023 at his Manhattan apartment.
The judge ordered Guo to forfeit $889 million.
Guo claimed political persecution in China and sought asylum in the US in 2017.
He became a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party and allied with US political figure Steve Bannon.
Prosecutors said Guo misled investors by using their money for personal gain, not for democratic causes.
A former associate involved in the same fraud scheme was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
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An explosion injured three people at a residential building in Monaco, and the attacker fled to France. The victims include a Ukrainian businessman and his family, and authorities are searching for the suspect while investigating the motive.
Key Facts
The blast happened around 9 p.m. near the French border in Monaco.
Three people were seriously injured: two adults and one child.
The injured were taken to hospitals in France.
The suspect escaped on foot to the neighboring French town of Beausoleil.
Surveillance video helped identify the suspect.
The injured include Vadym Iermolaiev, a Ukrainian construction tycoon.
Iermolaiev was sanctioned by Ukraine in 2023 for his connections to Russia.
Monaco’s Prince Albert II called the attack an “odious act” and mobilized security services.
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Six truck drivers survived with only minor injuries after a crash involving semi-trailers carrying flammable goods on the Hume Highway in New South Wales. The crash caused multiple small explosions and a large fire, destroying all six trucks.
Key Facts
The crash happened around 5 a.m. near Breadalbane on the Hume Highway.
Two trucks collided while entering a roadside rest stop, causing a chain reaction with four other trucks.
One truck carried eight tonnes of butane cans, which led to multiple small explosions.
Other trucks carried alcohol, resin, and memory foam, which fueled the fire.
All six trucks were destroyed in the blaze.
All six male drivers were found and only suffered minor injuries; two were taken to a hospital for testing.
Fire and Rescue NSW used seven fire trucks and about 40 firefighters to put out the fire.
The highway stayed closed in both directions due to debris and hazardous materials cleanup.
Police set up a crime scene and the crash investigation unit is working on the case.
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President Donald Trump told petrol retailers in the U.S. to lower their prices immediately and warned of serious consequences if they do not. He also called on California to reduce its petrol taxes and ordered an investigation into oil companies over high fuel prices.
Key Facts
President Trump posted on Truth Social demanding petrol prices drop to around $2.50 per gallon.
He warned there would be "big problems" if retailers do not lower prices.
Trump criticized California’s high petrol taxes and said they may soon cost more than the fuel itself.
The Trump administration is pushing for more domestic fuel production and reopened a previously closed pipeline in California.
Last week, Trump asked the Department of Justice to investigate major oil companies for not lowering prices at the pump despite lower oil costs.
Petrol prices have increased partly due to tensions related to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.
California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, opposes Trump’s fossil fuel policies and supports renewable energy efforts.
Trump faces criticism for his handling of the Iran conflict and its effect on fuel prices ahead of November’s mid-term elections.
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A large wildfire in Utah is growing because of strong winds and high temperatures. A JetBlue airplane reported hitting a drone while it was landing at New York’s JFK Airport.
Key Facts
Strong winds and hot weather are making a wildfire in Utah worse.
The wildfire is described as major, meaning it is large and likely causing damage.
A JetBlue flight said it collided with a drone during its landing at JFK Airport in New York.
The drone strike happened while the plane was coming in to land.
There are no details about injuries or damages from the drone collision.
The reports came from CBS Evening News on June 29.
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The United States and Iran have sent delegations to Qatar for technical talks related to ongoing peace efforts and Iran’s nuclear program. No direct meeting between the US and Iranian representatives has been confirmed yet, but both sides plan to engage in discussions through mediators like Pakistan and Qatar.
Key Facts
Iran is sending an expert delegation to Qatar for technical meetings this week.
The US is sending envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Qatar for high-level talks.
No direct face-to-face negotiations between the US and Iran have been scheduled so far.
The talks aim to work towards a permanent peace deal by mid-August, focusing on Iran’s nuclear program.
Pakistan and Qatar are mediating the talks between the two countries.
Issues on the agenda include the Strait of Hormuz security, sanctions waivers on Iran, and Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister stated that Iran will be solely responsible for removing mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
The situation remains tense, with recent conflicts involving Israel and Lebanon occurring despite peace frameworks.
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Iason Gabriel, a political philosopher, joined Google’s AI research lab DeepMind in 2017 to help address the ethical challenges of advanced artificial intelligence (AI). DeepMind aims to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), which means AI that can think and learn like a human, and Gabriel’s role is to consider the moral and societal impacts of this technology.
Key Facts
Iason Gabriel was a political philosopher and Oxford academic before joining DeepMind in 2017.
DeepMind is a London-based AI research lab owned by Google since 2014.
DeepMind became famous when its AI program AlphaGo defeated a top human player in the complex game Go in 2016.
The founders of DeepMind believe it is possible to create artificial general intelligence (AGI) that can match or surpass human intelligence.
Shane Legg, one of DeepMind’s founders, predicted AGI could arrive between 2025 and 2028.
DeepMind hires experts like Gabriel to think about the ethical and moral issues related to creating powerful AI.
Gabriel’s work has involved studying the ethical challenges raised by the rise of advanced AI systems, such as large language models.
Philosophers like Gabriel provide perspectives that differ from those of engineers, helping guide the responsible development of AI.
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More than 100 Venezuelans who were recently deported from the United States were staying at a hotel that collapsed during powerful earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24. At least one person from the group reportedly died, while several others were injured or trapped as rescue efforts continue.
Key Facts
Two strong earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24.
The earthquakes caused many buildings to collapse, including a hotel housing over 100 deported Venezuelans.
The Venezuelans had been deported from the U.S. on a repatriation flight that arrived the same day.
One man, Richard Pereira, died in the hotel collapse; his wife and son survived with minor injuries.
The deported group included families that had been living in Tennessee and seeking asylum.
At least 1,719 people died and more than 5,000 were injured in the earthquakes across Venezuela.
Rescue teams are still searching for survivors under the rubble.
The Venezuelan government posted videos showing some of the deported people after arrival.
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Twin earthquakes struck Venezuela last week, killing at least 1,700 people and causing many buildings to collapse. Rescue efforts have been slow and limited, with families accusing the government of neglect and slow response while they try to find their missing loved ones.
Key Facts
Two strong earthquakes hit Venezuela, causing widespread damage and deaths.
At least 1,700 people have died as a result of the earthquakes.
A 12-storey building in La Guaira collapsed and search teams are trying to rescue people trapped under the rubble.
Families say the rescue work started late and was initially done mostly by local volunteers, with little help from police or government.
The government described this earthquake as the worst natural disaster in Venezuela’s history.
Some areas have not yet received rescue teams or aid.
People affected feel abandoned by the authorities and are trying to find their missing family members on their own.
Rescue teams from Venezuela and Colombia are now involved, using machines like diggers and cranes.
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Andre Perry from Brookings says going to college in the US is still a good investment. However, students from low-income families take on most of the student debt.
Key Facts
Andre Perry is the Director of Brookings’ Center for Community Uplift.
He spoke on Al Jazeera’s program called This is America.
Perry says college still pays off overall in the United States.
Low-wealth, or low-income, students carry the majority of college-related debt.
Student debt is a bigger burden for those with less financial resources.
The issue highlights challenges facing low-income students in higher education.
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