Fishermen on Sherbo Island, Sierra Leone, say their fish catches have dropped a lot in recent years. They blame big foreign fishing boats, mostly Chinese, for fishing illegally close to shore and damaging their nets. Officials say they are trying to control illegal fishing with new rules and inspections.
Key Facts
Sherbo Island fishermen say their catches of fish like snapper and mackerel have gone down significantly.
Local fishermen accuse foreign fishing ships, mainly Chinese trawlers, of entering restricted coastal waters illegally.
Some fishermen say these ships cut their fishing nets at night, causing them financial loss.
West Africa is reported to have about 40% of the world’s illegal fishing, costing countries around $10 billion.
The President of Sierra Leone’s Fishermen’s Union says catches have dropped by about 40% due to illegal fishing.
Local fishermen claim government officials do not help because of corruption and bribery by illegal operators.
Sierra Leone’s Fisheries Ministry says they have introduced vessel tracking and inspectors to reduce illegal fishing.
Despite the ministry’s efforts, fishermen continue to report problems with foreign trawlers.
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The European Union has introduced a new border control system called the Entry/Exit System (EES), requiring UK travelers to register their fingerprints and photo at airports. This process has caused delays and long queues, leading some travelers to miss flights and pay extra costs. Experts advise arriving early but not too early, signing up for travel alerts, and reading travel insurance details carefully to avoid unexpected expenses.
Key Facts
The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) requires UK travelers to scan their passports and register fingerprints and a photo at European airports.
The process has caused long delays and technical problems at some airports, leading to missed flights.
Budget airline Wizz Air recommends arriving three hours before flights to allow enough time for EES registration.
Eurostar advises passengers to arrive at the recommended time on their tickets because its timing already includes EES steps.
The Port of Dover is experiencing technical issues with EES and suggests arriving no more than two hours before ferry departures to avoid queues.
Airlines send alerts about delays, so travelers should sign up for notifications and check apps regularly.
Airlines are not required to offer free replacement flights if passengers miss their flights due to EES delays.
Travel insurance usually does not cover extra costs caused by EES-related delays, as these are expected procedures.
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Britain’s Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis, has urged Prime Minister hopeful Andy Burnham to commit to raising UK defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, aligning with NATO targets. This increase would mean spending about £25 billion more annually on the military by the middle of the decade, likely requiring cuts in other areas or new funding.
Key Facts
Dan Jarvis is the new UK Defence Secretary and a former paratrooper.
He wants defence spending to reach 3.5% of GDP by 2035, matching a NATO target.
Achieving this target would add approximately £25 billion more yearly to military budgets.
The current defence investment plan (DIP) totals £298 billion over four years.
The DIP was delayed but published recently, including £1.5 billion extra mainly for drones.
Andy Burnham, the prime minister candidate, has little defence experience but says he will fully fund the defence plan.
The defence budget increase may require cutting other government spending, raising taxes, or borrowing more.
Jarvis will attend the NATO summit in Turkey and reassure allies, including the US, about the UK’s defence commitments.
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A government-backed report finds that police leadership in England and Wales suffers from nepotism, bias, and a loss of focus on fighting crime. The report calls for major reforms, citing misconduct among top officers and inconsistent service across the 43 police forces.
Key Facts
The report covers all 43 police forces in England and Wales.
It finds widespread nepotism and favoritism in police promotions and leadership.
Many senior officers have faced misconduct investigations; 78 since 2018.
Eight chief constables are currently under investigation or facing disciplinary action.
Frontline officers report poor leadership, with only 13% of constables feeling well led.
Police leaders often focus less on cutting crime and more on their own interests.
The report recommends creating a national police leadership academy and improving leadership training.
Annual spending on police leadership training is currently about £4 million out of a £19 billion police budget.
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A report says making UK public transport fully accessible for disabled people could add £176 billion to the economy by helping millions find jobs. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers highlights current transport barriers that prevent many disabled people from working or taking part in daily activities.
Key Facts
Nearly one quarter of working-age people in the UK find the transport system inaccessible.
Problems include lack of lifts, ramps, tactile paving, and sensory-friendly environments at stations.
Almost half of disabled professionals have turned down jobs because of transport issues.
About 2.8 million disabled people are partly excluded from the workforce due to these barriers.
The potential economic benefit of full accessibility is estimated at £176.4 billion annually.
The cost of making the rail network fully accessible is expected to be between £20 billion and £24 billion over several years.
Improving accessibility could also boost sectors like retail, leisure, and tourism by £22.3 billion per year.
There could be an extra £10 billion to £34 billion annually in fare revenue from more passengers using public transport.
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The UK government is introducing new rules to limit large political donations and make funding more transparent. This comes as Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, faces possible investigations into benefits and donations he received from a convicted fraudster before becoming a Member of Parliament.
Key Facts
The government will cap donations at £100,000 for people who have recently moved to the UK to prevent foreign influence in elections.
New checks will be introduced to ensure companies donating to politics are genuine by looking at their profits and revenues.
Political candidates will need to declare donations over £2,230, including those received before officially running for office.
Nigel Farage received various benefits from George Cottrell, a crypto entrepreneur convicted of wire fraud in the US.
Farage declared some donations from Cottrell after becoming an MP but did not disclose earlier gifts like staff support and use of a mansion.
The parliamentary standards commissioner may open a new investigation into gifts Farage received before becoming an MP.
The government plans to add these rules as amendments to the Representation of the People Bill.
Government ministers say the new measures aim to protect UK democracy from "dodgy funding" and foreign interference.
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A study by consumer group Which? found that the UK has worse mobile internet coverage and speeds than any other EU country and every other G7 nation. Despite low costs, many UK users experience slow connections, dropped signals, and poor coverage, especially outside cities and on railways.
Key Facts
UK mobile coverage ranks last among 27 EU countries and G7 members.
UK is 57th worldwide for network performance and 70th for download speeds.
Only 64% of the UK has 5G mobile coverage, with rural areas largely uncovered.
Over one-third of UK mobile users had issues like slow speeds or dropped calls in the last year.
The UK has some of the cheapest mobile internet prices due to competition and network mergers.
Poor mobile signal on Britain’s railways is a major concern compared to Germany’s higher standards.
Barriers to improving UK mobile networks include strict planning rules and landowner disputes.
Which? urges government, regulators, and companies to boost investment and improve coverage targets.
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The NHS in England will start rating hospitals and ambulance services on how they handle racism, violence, and sexual misconduct against staff from July. These ratings will be published, aiming to improve workplace safety and wellbeing for more than 1.5 million NHS employees.
Key Facts
NHS trusts will be rated on six measures: tackling racism, preventing violence, improving sexual safety, promoting flexible working, line management, and health and wellbeing support.
The ratings will use a score from one to four for each measure and affect overall trust ratings.
This is the first time NHS workforce wellbeing will count directly towards performance ratings alongside patient care measures.
Primary care providers like GP practices are not yet included but may be in the future.
The initiative is part of a 10-year government health plan commitment.
Surveys show many NHS workers have experienced violence, harassment, racism, or unwanted sexual behavior in the last year.
Experts say official ratings are a positive step but stress the need for real enforcement and anonymous reporting methods to protect staff.
NHS leaders emphasize that supporting staff is crucial for delivering better patient care.
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Lyra McKee, a journalist, was shot and killed during rioting in Londonderry in April 2019. Three men accused of involvement in her murder were found not guilty, and her former partner expressed hope that the killer feels remorse.
Key Facts
Lyra McKee was shot dead by a masked gunman during riots in the Creggan area of Derry on 18 April 2019.
The New IRA, a dissident republican group, claimed responsibility for the killing.
Three men—Paul McIntyre, Peter Cavanagh, and Jordan Devine—were found not guilty of her murder.
None of the accused were charged with firing the fatal shot; the prosecution argued they helped the gunman.
Lyra’s former partner, Sara Canning, said the killer was "showing off" for cameras and expressed doubt justice will be served.
The trial lasted almost two years and ended more than seven years after Lyra’s death.
The judge said the murder was an act of senseless violence and acknowledged the verdict would bring little comfort to Lyra’s family and friends.
Sara Canning said the trial process was emotionally difficult and that the verdict was heartbreaking.
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The U.S. is working to secure supplies of rare earth elements, which are vital for many modern technologies and defense. Experts suggest recycling rare earths from old electronics and devices could be a better way to get these materials instead of only mining new sources.
Key Facts
Rare earth elements are 17 metals used in things like smartphones, wind turbines, and military jets.
China currently dominates the rare earth market, which is important for U.S. manufacturing and defense.
Less than 1% of rare earths used are recycled; most end up as waste in electronics, airplanes, and ships.
Recycling rare earths is hard because devices contain small amounts scattered in complex ways.
Recycling is seen as better for the environment compared to mining new rare earth deposits.
MP Materials runs the only active U.S. rare earth mine in California and is working on recycling efforts.
Apple has partnered with MP Materials to recycle magnets and has a robot called Daisy to recover materials from iPhones.
The goal is to create a "closed loop" supply chain where materials are reused continuously to reduce the need for new mining.
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The U.S. government is working with an American rare earth mining company to reduce dependence on China, which currently controls most of the world's rare earth elements. These elements are crucial for technology and defense, including smartphones, electric vehicles, and fighter jets.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing to discuss rare earth elements.
China has near-total control over rare earth metals used in important technologies and military equipment.
An American company operates the only active rare earth mine in the U.S., located in Mountain Pass, California.
This company is partly owned by U.S. taxpayers through a special federal government deal.
Rare earth minerals are essential for items like smartphones, laptops, electric cars, and defense systems such as the F-35 fighter jet.
The Trump administration created the National Energy Dominance Council to secure supply chains for critical minerals.
China has sometimes lowered prices to discourage other countries or companies from mining and refining rare earths.
Rare earth elements are not actually rare in nature, but places with enough concentrated resources that can be mined economically are rare.
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London taxi drivers, known for memorizing the city's streets, face new tests as companies plan to introduce self-driving, AI-powered taxis. These autonomous vehicles, called robotaxis, aim to operate on London’s streets without human drivers.
Key Facts
London black cab drivers must memorize thousands of streets to get their license.
New companies are working to bring robotaxis, which drive themselves using AI technology, to London.
Robotaxis do not need human drivers to operate.
The introduction of autonomous taxis challenges the traditional role of London cabbies.
London is testing these new self-driving vehicles on city streets.
The technology aims to change how people get around the city in the future.
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The Trump administration is partnering with a U.S. company to reduce reliance on China for rare earth elements. These metals are important for making devices like smartphones, robots, fighter jets, and drones.
Key Facts
The U.S. government, under President Trump, supports efforts to challenge China's control of rare earth metals.
Rare earth elements are crucial for many modern technologies.
These metals are used in smartphones, robotics, fighter jets, and drones.
China currently dominates the global supply of rare earth elements.
The U.S. company involved aims to produce these rare metals domestically.
This effort is part of a broader strategy to secure supply chains for critical materials.
Reducing dependence on foreign sources can improve national security and technology independence.
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The CBS News report covers three main stories: the only working rare earth mine in the United States, London taxi drivers' doubts about robotaxis, and an inside look at the sport called Banana Ball.
Key Facts
The report features the only active rare earth mine in the U.S.
Rare earth minerals are important for many modern technologies.
London taxi drivers are uncertain about the use of robotaxis (self-driving taxis).
Robotaxis are automated vehicles that do not require a human driver.
The report includes a segment on Banana Ball, a sport or game.
CBS News presented these stories on July 5, 2026.
The report was available on the CBS News app and online platforms.
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Venezuela marked its 215th Independence Day while still recovering from two powerful earthquakes on June 24 that killed over 3,300 people and left many injured and homeless. Interim President Delcy Rodriguez expressed confidence in social unity and rejected claims of social unrest amid criticism over the government's response to the disaster.
Key Facts
Two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela on June 24, causing severe damage.
The disaster resulted in at least 3,342 deaths, thousands injured, and over 17,000 people displaced.
Many buildings were destroyed, especially in northern coastal areas including La Guaira and Caracas.
Critics accuse the ruling United Socialist Party of corruption and poor crisis management.
Government aid was reported slow to reach affected areas, with accusations of blocking foreign help.
Delcy Rodriguez, acting president since January, warned against internal and external conspiracies.
Rodriguez’s government has made reforms to invite more foreign investment and seeks cooperation with the U.S. government.
Venezuela’s opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, currently abroad, is organizing volunteer relief efforts and has been denied U.S. help to return home.
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A strong earthquake hit the coast of Venezuela on June 24, causing a tall apartment building to collapse. Jose Garcia was trapped under the rubble with his two young sons but was rescued by his eldest son.
Key Facts
The earthquake measured 7.2 in magnitude and happened around 6:04 pm local time.
A second, stronger earthquake followed seconds later.
The Ritasol Palace, an 11-story building in Caraballeda near La Guaira, collapsed entirely.
Jose Garcia and his two sons, aged 7 and 12, were buried in the basement after the collapse.
Jose is a 46-year-old car mechanic.
This earthquake is the deadliest in Venezuela in over 100 years.
The rescue was carried out by Jose’s eldest son, who is not named in the article.
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Michigan state Senator Mallory McMorrow has stopped her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat, leaving two main Democratic candidates: Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive, and Haley Stevens, a more traditional Democrat. This race is important because it could affect which party controls the U.S. Senate, and it tests whether progressive candidates can win in a competitive state that President Trump won in 2024.
Key Facts
Mallory McMorrow ended her campaign about one month before the August 4 primary.
The U.S. Senate seat is open because Democratic Senator Gary Peters is retiring.
The remaining Democratic candidates are Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens.
Abdul El-Sayed is supported by progressive leaders like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Haley Stevens is backed by Democratic establishment leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Recent polls showed El-Sayed leading McMorrow and Stevens before McMorrow’s withdrawal.
The race is seen as a test of whether progressive Democrats can win in swing states.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face likely Republican nominee Mike Rogers in the general election.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese apologised for his comments during a comedy podcast where he played a "shag, marry, date" game involving Kylie Minogue. The apology came after criticism from other politicians who said his remarks were inappropriate and disrespectful.
Key Facts
Anthony Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep comedy podcast for a casual interview.
He played a “shag, marry, date” game and chose Kylie Minogue for all three options.
Albanese initially hesitated due to being recently married.
He made a joking comment about his personal life and his wife during the interview.
Albanese issued an official apology the next day for his comments.
Some politicians, including Zali Steggall and Sarah Henderson, criticised his remarks as inappropriate and sexist.
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles defended Albanese’s overall record on gender equality.
The government led by Albanese has a history of gender equality milestones, including a cabinet with equal men and women.
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A recent White House report criticizes the Smithsonian Institution’s leadership, especially at the National Museum of American History, calling them radical activists who cannot be trusted. The report suggests President Donald Trump plans to replace current leaders as part of a wider effort to change cultural institutions he sees as too liberal.
Key Facts
The White House Domestic Policy Council released the report on July 4, focusing on the Smithsonian Institution’s leadership.
President Trump issued an executive order in March targeting Smithsonian programs he views as promoting "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology."
The report claims the museum’s current leadership has shifted from teaching straightforward history to political activism.
Lonnie Bunch is the Smithsonian’s secretary and the first African American to lead it.
Anthea M. Hartig is the first woman director of the National Museum of American History.
President Trump has made efforts to influence other cultural institutions, such as the John F. Kennedy Center and Columbia University, and historical sites like those in Philadelphia.
Critics worry these changes might downplay painful parts of U.S. history, including slavery.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has publicly opposed Trump's attempts to alter historical narratives.
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New York City hosted the Sail4th 250 event, where many tall ships and historic warships gathered to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary. This large parade of ships was part of the nation's milestone celebration.
Key Facts
The event was called Sail4th 250.
It took place in New York City.
The occasion marked the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Many tall ships and historic warships participated in the parade.
The ships formed a large flotilla, which means a group of sailing vessels sailing together.
The event attracted public and media attention in New York.
This celebration was part of the country’s milestone birthday events.
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