My 'epiphany moment' on modern slavery
Welcome to the ITV News digest bringing you the best of our original journalism, insight and analysis from across the nation, regions and the world.
Hello, I’m Julie Etchingham, presenter on News at Ten. It’s slightly unsettling when you are the one used to asking the questions on camera, to be on the receiving end of being interviewed.
It happened to me a few weeks ago - but it was more than worth it.
The Anti-Slavery Collective, set up by HRH Princess Eugenie and her friend Julia de Boinville, is launching a special awareness-raising campaign to mark Anti-Slavery Day.
They’ve interviewed a whole variety of people - many experts in the field - about their ‘epiphany’ moment, when they realised they had to act on the scourge of modern slavery.
I’m certainly no expert, but have tried to get survivors’ stories into the news whenever I can. So they asked me to talk about my ‘epiphany’ moment, too.
I recounted a story of nearly 20 years ago, when a neighbour of mine invited me to help raise the profile of the issue of modern slavery. She was setting up a small charity to support victims - and took me to meet a young Nigerian woman being held in Holloway prison on immigration offences.
She’d been trafficked, abused and left infected with HIV. Omosovie’s (not her real name) story was horrifying and has never left me. It’s what I talked about in the interview with the Anti-Slavery Collective, which you can see here.
Her story is one of millions. There is a global epidemic of modern slavery and pernicious exploitation of the destitute and vulnerable - 50 million victims, including an estimated 12 million children.
The clarion call of Anti-Slavery Day 2024 needs to go up louder than ever.
Thanks for reading!
'They just took the baby away'
Further allegations of abuse and neglect at a former church-run mother and baby home in Cumbria have emerged, following an ITV News investigation. Earlier this year we revealed that 45 babies who had died at St Monica’s home - in Kendal were buried in an unmarked grave in the town’s cemetery.
St Monica’s was one of hundreds of homes for unmarried mothers across England.
Since our first report in July, the family of one of those children has come forward and told ITV News that their mother was lied to about the fate of her baby daughter, Faith, and was never told where she was buried.
You can read more of their story on our website and watch Social Affairs Correspondent Sarah Corker’s report on ITVX.
Family of mum who died after BBL back new law to prevent 'awful suffering'
Alice Webb suffered complications following a procedure that involved cosmetic fluid being injected into her buttocks.
The mum of five was taken to hospital where she died on September 24. Now her family is backing a proposed new law in her name.
"Alice’s death has left a huge void in our family, one that can never be filled," they told ITV News exclusively.
We have been at the forefront of exposing the shocking stories of botched cosmetic surgeries - see more of our coverage on our website.
Reeves faces up to the mother of all fiscal crises
In less than two weeks, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver a budget of huge importance.
Political Editor Robert Peston has described the situation she faces as a “nightmare”, writing that the amount she “needs to find, to provide an adequate increase in resources for the cash hungry NHS while providing real increases to other departments, is in the range of £35 billion to £50 billion”.
He has also taken a look at where she may look to raise money - and make cuts.
You can keep across all the latest political comings and goings on our regular Talking Politics podcast here.
Running dry: ITV News reveals the impact of climate change
ITV News correspondents have been reporting from around the world on the impact of climate change on at-risk communities.
We have featured the devastating effect of drought on people in Zambia and Mongolia - and also closer to home in Italy.
Martin Stew travelled to Zambia to meet Nyambe Nyambe, a 21-year-old farmer with a two-year-old daughter to care for. She has lost all her crops.
Meanwhile, Asia correspondent Debi Edward spoke to herders in Mongolia who see their centuries-old traditions threatened.
And, Europe Editor James Mates has visited Sicily where local authorities are scrambling to implement emergency measures as drought bites.
You can catch up with their reports on ITVX here:
How drought is leaving Mongolian farmers fighting for survival
‘Drought is killing us’: Sicilians left without running water
What happens now that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been killed?
Yahya Sinwar was the man Israel said was the “mastermind” behind the October 7 atrocities - the leader of Hamas in Gaza.
Israel confirmed he had been "eliminated" after troops encountered Sinwar during a routine military operation.
So what now, asks Correspondent Peter Smith in Tel Aviv.
Nearly every 12-year-old now owns a smartphone - but how is it affecting their brains?
Children's use of smartphones is a topic that's buzzing from parents at the school gates to the corridors of Westminster.
This week the Safer Phones Bill was introduced in Parliament by Labour MP Josh MacAlister, calling for a law to build on current guidance that bans smartphones in schools.
ITV News Presenter Faye Barker has had her head examined to see what smartphones do to the brain - and her Tonight special on the issue is available on catch-up on ITVX.
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Bombing Thatcher: ‘I heard the blast and saw the clouds of smoke’
Forty years ago, an IRA bomb came within a few feet of ripping the heart out of the-then UK government.
It was planted in a room in Brighton’s Grand Hotel - the hotel used by the Conservative Party, including prime minister Margaret Thatcher, as the town hosted their annual conference.
Former ITV News correspondent Paul Davies reported on the aftermath that day and has revisited how the story unfolded in a new documentary on ITVX.
Reuniting a piece of Vietnam history with US family
When military enthusiast Hugo Booth came across the Vietnam war-era M1 helmet in a Guernsey charity shop, he set about tracing its history.
After some sleuthing, Hugo linked the helmet to Private First Class Jeffrey Rupp of the 101st Airbourne Division in the US Army, who died from a booby trap near the Cambodian border at the age of 20 in 1969.
Now, Hugo has travelled to Wisconsin to hand the helmet over to Rupp’s surviving family in an emotionally-charged meeting - watch the report by ITV Channel’s Lewis Andrews here.
What’s coming up…
Monday October 21: First of 62 Ian Paterson patient inquests due to start hearing evidence. Paterson, 66, is serving a 20-year sentence for wounding patients
Friday October 25: The World of Tim Burton exhibition opens in London exploring the world of the eccentric film-maker
Sunday October 27: Daylight Saving Time ends. Clocks move back one hour
And finally… meet Britain’s ‘hardest’ MP
Will Stone is a former soldier and MMA fighter who recently traded the octagon for the House of Commons when he was elected the Labour MP for Swindon North.
Stone is setting his sights on beating MMA champion Matt Inman in a charity fight at a Polaris Pro Grappling event on November 2.
And to get ready for that, he took time out to practice throwing ITV News reporter Lewis Denison around - see how it went on our YouTube channel.