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A rare western reef heron, usually found in southern Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia, was spotted for the first time in the UK at Y Foryd, Caernarfon, Wales. Hundreds of birdwatchers gathered in the town to see the bird after it was identified by ornithologist Simon Hugheston-Roberts.
Key Facts
The western reef heron was seen at Y Foryd, Caernarfon, Wales.
This bird is normally found in southern Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Ornithologist Simon Hugheston-Roberts first spotted the bird on a walk and confirmed its identity.
About 300 birdwatchers, known as twitchers, came to see the heron.
Nature expert Iolo Williams said this is the first time this heron has been seen in the UK.
The heron may have been blown off course by warm southern winds.
The bird moved around the area, feeding and roosting in different places.
Visitors included birdwatchers and artists who observed and sketched the heron.
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Voters in Aberdeen South will vote in a by-election on June 18 to replace SNP MP Stephen Flynn, who recently became an MSP. The area’s economy depends heavily on the offshore energy industry, especially oil, gas, and developing renewable energy, but job losses have occurred. Local leaders want the new MP to support a strong and complete energy plan to boost jobs and help the region.
Key Facts
Aberdeen South includes parts of Aberdeen’s commuter belt and harbor areas like Torry.
The Port of Aberdeen received a £420 million investment to develop the South Harbour for larger cruise ships.
Oil and gas activity in the region dropped by 15-20% last year, causing job losses.
There is hope for growth in offshore wind energy, but large-scale projects are not expected soon.
The current energy strategy includes a windfall tax on profits introduced in 2022, set to be replaced by 2030.
Local residents in Torry face housing issues due to dangerous building materials found in their homes.
Voters will choose a new MP in Aberdeen South on June 18, along with two other by-elections in the UK.
The outgoing MP Stephen Flynn won the seat in 2019 with 32.8% of the vote.
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Afghanistan says Pakistan’s military carried out air strikes in three provinces, killing at least 13 people, mostly children. The attacks happened soon after suspected Pakistan Taliban fighters attacked a Pakistani security post near the border between the two countries.
Key Facts
Air attacks hit Kunar, Khost, and Paktika provinces in Afghanistan.
At least 13 people died in the strikes, including 11 children, one woman, and one elderly man.
Fourteen other women and children were wounded in the attacks.
The strikes followed a recent attack by suspected Pakistan Taliban fighters on a Pakistani security post.
Pakistan says it targets the Pakistan Taliban (TTP), which operates from Afghanistan.
Afghanistan denies harboring militants and accuses Pakistan of violating its sovereignty.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been tense since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
A ceasefire deal from March collapsed amid accusations of violations by both sides.
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Scientists discovered the longest continuous dinosaur trackway in the world at Dewars Farm Quarry in Oxfordshire, made up of 200 footprints from 166 million years ago. The tracks likely belong to Cetiosaurus, a large plant-eating dinosaur, and show that multiple dinos lived on islands in a shallow sea that once covered the area.
Key Facts
The trackway includes 200 footprints believed to be from Cetiosaurus, a long-necked, four-legged plant-eater about 18 meters (59 feet) long.
The prints date back 166 million years and form the longest continuous sauropod (large herbivorous dinosaur) trackway discovered.
Different sizes of footprints suggest either a family herd or multiple types of sauropods lived in the area.
The site also contains footprints from Megalosaurus, a meat-eating dinosaur about 9 meters (30 feet) long.
Oxfordshire was once covered by a shallow sea with islands where dinosaurs lived, similar to the Bahamas or Florida Keys today.
One unique footprint shows a sauropod pausing, possibly while looking back at a nearby Megalosaurus.
The sauropod was too large for Megalosaurus to hunt, but smaller dinosaurs nearby might have been at risk.
Scientists are working with quarry operators and conservation groups to decide how to protect and preserve the site.
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A model named Jennifer An says that rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) choked her and put his fingers in her mouth during a 2010 music video shoot. Ye’s lawyers say the actions were part of a theatrical performance based on a movie scene.
Key Facts
Jennifer An was a contestant on America's Next Top Model in 2009.
In 2010, she was hired for a music video shoot for the song "In For The Kill" by La Roux.
Ye appeared on set unexpectedly and took over the video shoot.
An alleges Ye choked her with both hands, smeared her makeup, and put his fingers in her mouth during filming.
Ye’s lawyers say the actions were part of acting inspired by the movie American Psycho.
The incident was witnessed by others on set, who did not intervene.
Ye has made controversial statements in recent years and has apologized, citing medical diagnoses to explain his behavior.
The BBC contacted representatives of Ye and the music label for comment.
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Thirty-two charities in England and Wales have given at least £28 million to Israeli settlements considered illegal under international law. UK authorities are investigating these charities to see if they followed rules, especially about taxpayers indirectly funding such settlements through gift aid.
Key Facts
Thirty-two UK charities donated £28 million to Israeli settlements that are illegal under international law.
Taxpayers may have indirectly supported these settlements with £5.6 million through gift aid tax relief.
Labour MP Melanie Ward asked the Charity Commission to investigate and remove these charities from the register if needed.
Some charities, like Kasner Charitable Trust and UK Toremet, gave millions to institutions within these settlements.
UK Toremet has processed donations to groups like Regavim, which supports settlement activity and is sanctioned by the EU.
UK Toremet states it follows legal checks and only supports projects within Israel’s pre-1967 borders.
The UK Charity Commission is reviewing the situation carefully and has confirmed it is looking into the legal and compliance issues.
The funding for settlements contradicts UK and international law and is part of a broader conflict involving accusations of breaches of international law and potential war crimes.
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The UK government is considering major budget cuts to key scientific facilities funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), including the Diamond Light Source and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. These cuts, driven by rising costs, could lead to reduced research funding and threaten the future of important science centers used by thousands of researchers.
Key Facts
The STFC is facing a £162 million funding shortfall by 2029-30 due to higher electricity, staff costs, and currency exchange rates.
National science facilities such as Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in Cheshire may face closure or cutbacks.
Diamond Light Source produces extremely bright light beams used to study materials like viruses and ancient manuscripts.
ISIS uses neutrons and muons (types of tiny particles) to help research in many fields including medicine, batteries, and engineering.
Scientists might need to cut 10% to 20% of their budgets to help meet savings targets.
Research grants are also being reduced, which experts warn could harm the UK's future scientific progress.
Staff reductions have already occurred, with ISIS operating at 80% capacity and losing 10% of its workforce.
Leaders in science call for careful government review and consultation to avoid long-term damage to UK science and its global reputation.
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Most voters in the Makerfield area say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who posted offensive content online, according to a poll. The survey also found strong local support for public ownership of water companies, a new tax on very wealthy people, and limits on political donations.
Key Facts
55% of voters said offensive social media posts by candidates would reduce their chance of voting for them.
31% said offensive posts would not change their vote, and 14% were unsure.
Robert Kenyon, a candidate in the upcoming byelection, faced criticism for previous offensive remarks online.
Nearly 75% of voters want water companies to be publicly owned rather than private.
54% support a new tax on people with assets over £10 million to fund public services like the NHS and schools.
Just over half of the voters want to cap how much money someone can donate to political parties or politicians.
Large majorities back keeping workplace protections like a minimum wage covering living costs and sick pay from day one.
Opinions were more divided on banning “fire-and-rehire” employment practices, with nearly equal support and opposition.
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This article compares the struggles of President Vladimir Putin of Russia and President Donald Trump of the United States in dealing with conflicts they cannot easily win. It highlights differences in the Russia-Ukraine war and U.S. policy on Iran, noting both leaders’ challenges in adapting to realities on the ground.
Key Facts
Putin is involved in a long, costly war in Ukraine that began as a quick operation but has dragged on for years with heavy losses.
Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused significant destruction and economic problems inside Russia, noticeable to ordinary citizens.
Support for Putin has dropped in some polls, suggesting internal disagreements within his government.
Putin views the conflict as a fight for Russian national honor and refuses to treat Ukrainian President Zelenskyy as an equal leader of an independent country.
President Trump saw Ukraine’s situation as hopeless and believed Putin was in a strong position, underestimating Ukraine’s defense.
U.S. experience with Iran shows military actions are unlikely to force regime change, a lesson some experts have shared with the government.
Both leaders hold views that prioritize their nation’s power over the sovereignty of smaller neighboring countries.
The article discusses how modern military tools like drones have changed the balance of power in conflicts, helping smaller forces defend against larger ones.
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Australia’s High Court ruled that the government must pay compensation to more than 350 non-citizens who were held in detention unlawfully for long periods. This decision follows a previous court ruling that stopped the government from using strict restrictions like ankle monitors on released detainees.
Key Facts
The High Court ruled against the Australian government’s attempt to defend a damages claim from an Austrian citizen, Safwat Abdel-Hady.
Abdel-Hady was held in immigration detention for 18 months despite having health conditions that made deportation impossible.
The court rejected the government’s defense based on a 2004 case that allowed indefinite detention of non-citizens without a valid visa.
This ruling follows a 2023 decision that ended indefinite detention for a group called the NZYQ cohort, many of whom were refugees or stateless.
Over 350 people are expected to claim compensation for unlawful detention.
Human rights groups say the ruling supports justice for people harmed by long detention.
The Australian government is reviewing the ruling and its financial implications.
Similar past compensations include $70 million paid in 2017 to detainees on Manus Island.
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The United Nations says Israeli security forces often stay close to settlers and protect them while they attack Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli officials denied these claims, saying the report is based on unproven accusations.
Key Facts
The UN released a report about Israeli forces in the West Bank.
It says Israeli security forces regularly accompany settlers there.
According to the report, these forces act as a shield during settler attacks on Palestinians.
The violence happens in the occupied West Bank region.
Israeli officials rejected the UN report’s findings.
They said the report contains unproven allegations.
The report highlights concerns about the behavior of security forces.
The situation involves ongoing tensions between settlers and Palestinians in the area.
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Jordan's military used air defense systems to shoot down five missiles fired from Iran toward Azraq Air Base. The missiles were intercepted over Jordanian airspace near the city of Zarqa, and no injuries were reported.
Key Facts
Five missiles were fired from Iran toward Azraq Air Base in Jordan.
Jordanian air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed all five missiles.
The interceptions took place over the airspace near Zarqa, a city in Jordan.
There were no casualties or reported damage from the missile attacks.
The news included a video showing the missile interceptors lighting up the sky.
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Residents in Belfast had to leave their homes due to violence on the streets following a knife attack. Buildings and vehicles were set on fire, public transport was stopped, and a man charged with attempted murder is expected in court.
Key Facts
People fled their homes in Belfast after a knife attack caused unrest.
Houses and cars were set on fire during the disorder.
All public transport in Belfast was paused due to the situation.
A 30-year-old Sudanese man faces an attempted murder charge for the attack.
A man in his 40s is hospitalized with serious injuries from the attack.
Police in Northern Ireland have called for calm amid ongoing pockets of violence.
The disturbances spread across Northern Ireland in response to the incident.
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The UK government will introduce new rules allowing illegal mini-marts, barbers, and vape shops to be closed for up to 12 months to fight crimes linked to these businesses. The change comes after BBC News exposed serious problems like drug dealing, child exploitation, and money laundering connected to these shops.
Key Facts
Current law only allows shops to be closed for 3 months, extendable to 6 months; new law will allow closures up to 12 months.
Illegal shops are linked to crimes such as drug gangs, child sexual exploitation, money laundering, and immigration offenses.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the government will not tolerate crime affecting local communities and democracy.
Extended closures help police gather evidence, prosecute offenders, and stop illegal shops from reopening quickly.
Trading Standards officers support the new rules, as they currently lack strong enough powers to deal with these shops.
Police raids in Birmingham found illegal cigarettes, drugs, and dangerous weapons in mini-marts.
Officers describe high crime levels on Soho Road in Birmingham, including drug sales, weapons, prostitution, and violence.
Counterfeit cigarettes are sold at very low prices compared to genuine packs, encouraging illegal business.
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A new report reveals that thousands of protected marine animals, such as whales, dolphins, seals, and seabirds, die each year in British waters because they get caught accidentally by fishing boats. The report says many of these deaths could be prevented if better monitoring and fishing methods were used.
Key Facts
Over 1,000 harbour porpoises and common dolphins, 10,000 seabirds, and 500 seals die every year from accidental capture (bycatch) in UK fishing.
Six humpback whales and 30 minke whales were found dead caught in ropes used by Scottish fishers.
More than 1,000 endangered Atlantic salmon and 120 tonnes of protected sharks, skates, and rays are also caught and killed yearly as bycatch.
Only a tiny fraction of UK fishing boats track bycatch, with just 0.05% of dredging vessels doing so.
Gillnets, which hang in water like curtains, are especially harmful to seabirds like puffins and razorbills because they get trapped and drown.
The report calls on the UK government to introduce stronger rules for monitoring and reducing bycatch, including using electronic monitoring on all fishing boats.
Bycatch causes harm to marine ecosystems and means the UK is not meeting environmental goals for its seas.
Conservation groups say governments have failed to address bycatch effectively and urge support for fishers to use safer, modern fishing methods.
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A recent survey shows that only about 10% of Europeans now see the United States as a reliable ally for their security. Many Europeans doubt the US would help them if attacked and are ready to protect themselves by increasing their own defense efforts and relying more on neighboring countries.
Key Facts
The survey covered 15 European countries and found only 11% see the US as an ally, down from 22% in November 2024.
Majorities in every country doubt the US would come to their aid if attacked.
Europeans are increasingly willing to spend more on their own national defense.
Nearly half (47%) support collective EU borrowing to finance higher defense budgets.
Most Europeans prefer to reduce dependence on US military equipment and buy European-made weapons.
There is low support (29%) for replacing NATO with an EU-only defense force.
Many Europeans expect US-European relations to improve after President Donald Trump leaves office.
Despite energy challenges, many Europeans oppose resuming oil and gas imports from Russia.
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After a US military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, the US launched multiple strikes on targets in Iran. Iran responded by firing missiles toward US forces and allies in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, but most missiles and drones were intercepted with no reported injuries.
Key Facts
A US Apache helicopter crashed after colliding with an Iranian drone near the Strait of Hormuz; both crew members were rescued safely.
Following the helicopter incident, the US launched nearly 20 strikes on military targets in southern Iran.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired missiles at an airbase in Jordan that hosts US F-35 fighter jets, as well as at sites in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Jordan intercepted and shot down five missiles fired from Iran; debris caused no injuries or damage.
Most missiles and drones launched by Iran were intercepted, with no confirmed injuries or damage to US personnel or locations.
The US Central Command stated the strikes were completed and warned it is prepared to defend against further Iranian attacks.
Escalating tensions caused Asian stock markets to fall and oil prices to rise, reflecting fears about the conflict’s impact on the global economy.
Air raid alerts were issued in Kuwait and Bahrain as a precaution against missile attacks.
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A Canadian pilot has been charged with flying over 900 flights without the proper highest-level pilot licence for nearly 17 years. Authorities say he used fake documents to fool his airline and aviation officials but claim passenger safety was not harmed.
Key Facts
Geoffrey Wall, a former Air Canada captain, is accused of flying from 2009 to 2025 without an airline transport pilot licence, which is the top certification for commercial pilots.
He held a valid commercial pilot licence but not the required highest-level licence to captain flights.
Peel Regional Police charged him with fraud, using forged documents, possessing counterfeit trademarks, and public mischief.
Wall allegedly deceived both Air Canada and Canadian aviation authorities before retiring in 2025.
Air Canada said all pilots take regular training and checks, and they found no safety problems or other licence issues after auditing their pilots.
The airline removed Wall from flying duty as soon as the issue was found and reported it to Transport Canada.
Experts say the case is rare and highlights possible gaps in how pilot licences are checked and verified.
Authorities emphasized the importance of public trust and safety in air travel.
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Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has allowed the military to act against protesters who have blocked roads during a severe economic crisis. The protests have caused major disruptions across the country, and at least 10 people have died since the unrest started.
Key Facts
Bolivia is facing its worst economic crisis in 40 years.
Widespread protests have led to roadblocks that stopped normal activities nationwide.
President Rodrigo Paz has authorized the use of military force to manage the protests.
At least 10 people have been killed during the demonstrations so far.
The protests are causing significant disruptions throughout Bolivia.
The government is using military measures to try to restore order.
The unrest is ongoing, with tensions remaining high across the country.
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A 19-year-old was found guilty of murder following a stabbing at a track meet. Meanwhile, the United States carried out new military strikes targeting Iran.
Key Facts
A 19-year-old person was convicted of murder related to a stabbing incident.
The stabbing happened during a track and field event.
The U.S. government launched new military strikes aimed at Iran.
These strikes are part of ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
The events were reported on CBS Evening News on June 9.
The news is available to watch on the CBS News app and website.
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