Prime Minister Keir Starmer formally apologised for the British state’s role in forced adoptions that separated an estimated 185,000 babies from unmarried mothers. The government announced £4 million for record access, reunion services, support groups and research, but no compensation scheme.
Posts tagged as “the United Kingdom”
England recorded its warmest June since records began, with a provisional peak of 37.7C in Norfolk and rare extreme heat warnings across parts of the country. The heatwave also affected much of Europe, where authorities reported more than 1,000 heat-related excess deaths in both France and Spain.
European Union monitors said global sea surface temperatures reached their highest June levels ever observed. Scientists warned that El Niño and climate change could drive more records in the months ahead.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she is considering intervention in Paramount Skydance’s $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery over media plurality concerns. Paramount says the deal does not pose UK plurality issues and remains on schedule.
Rescuers in Venezuela pulled a mother, her baby and two 11-year-old boys from earthquake rubble as the confirmed death toll reached at least 1,430. Tens of thousands remain missing while international teams race to find survivors.
Australia plans to double the maximum fine for social media platforms that fail to keep under-16s off their services, raising penalties to A$99 million. The government says children are still bypassing the ban and regulators are investigating Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.
Record heat swept across Europe, with Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic setting all-time highs as transportation systems, hospitals and public events came under strain. France reported heavy pressure on hospitals, while Italy issued red alerts in 18 cities.
At least 920 people have died and more than 3,300 have been injured after two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela. Rescue teams and international aid are arriving as families search for missing relatives and hospitals struggle to cope.