Israel and Syria agree to ceasefire, says U.S. ambassador to Türkiye
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-bor...
Britain recorded 19,125 potential modern slavery victims in 2024, surpassing previous figures. Experts urge policy reforms as stricter immigration laws leave victims afraid to seek help.
The number of suspected modern slavery victims in Britain reached a record high last year, according to official figures released on Thursday, underscoring a growing crime that experts say demands urgent government policy reforms.
Home Office data revealed that 19,125 potential victims were referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) in 2024, surpassing the previous record of approximately 17,000 in 2023. The NRM is Britain’s system for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery.
Modern slavery—encompassing human trafficking, slavery, servitude, and forced labour—is on the rise globally, driven by factors such as poverty, conflict, and migration, affecting millions worldwide.
In Britain, the crime manifests in various forms, with men, women, and children forced into exploitative labour in sectors such as drug and sex trades, car washes, nail salons, private homes, and social care.
According to the human rights organisation Anti-Slavery International, the actual number of people living in modern slavery in Britain is estimated to be around 130,000.
British nationals accounted for approximately 23% of referrals to the NRM, making them the most commonly identified group, followed by Albanians at 13% and Vietnamese nationals at 11%. Children made up around 31% of all referrals, equating to nearly 6,000 cases.
Charities and lawmakers have called for Britain to rethink its approach to tackling modern slavery, advocating for stronger enforcement of labour laws and reforms to immigration policies, which have primarily focused on curbing illegal migration.
Stricter immigration policies are leaving thousands trapped in modern slavery, with many too afraid to seek help due to fears of deportation, Reuters reported last month.
The government has pledged to recruit dozens of additional caseworkers to process claims within the NRM, as more than 17,000 people were still awaiting a second-stage decision on their cases at the end of last year, official data showed.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
Germany's export slump since 2021 is largely driven by deep-rooted competitiveness issues, the Bundesbank warned in its latest report, calling for urgent structural reforms.
Israeli researchers have unveiled an artificial intelligence tool that can determine a person’s true biological age from tiny DNA samples with remarkable precision.
Two Harry Potter actresses, Emma Watson and Zoe Wanamaker, have each received a six-month driving ban after separate speeding offences, both sentenced on the same day at a Buckinghamshire court.
North Korea has stopped foreign tourists from visiting its new Wonsan-Kalma resort just weeks after it welcomed the first Russian visitors.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Coca-Cola has agreed to use real cane sugar in the U.S., though the company has not confirmed the claim.
The U.S. ambassador to Türkiye says Israel and Syria have reached a ceasefire deal supported by Türkiye, Jordan, and regional actors after cross-border strikes this week heightened tensions.
The Trump administration has completed a controversial prisoner swap with Venezuela, returning around 250 deported Venezuelans in exchange for 10 American detainees.
Congo and the M23 rebel group have agreed on a declaration of principles after months of Qatar-mediated talks, aiming to end fighting in the country’s east.
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