Amelia Gentleman

Andy Burnham’s pledge to end rough sleeping by Christmas has been met with deep scepticism from people living on the streets and homelessness charities. While Burnham compares the plan with the pandemic-era Everyone In scheme, workers say that bringing people indoors will not solve the problem without permanent housing, mental-health and addiction services, and sustained funding. Rough sleepers also question whether available accommodation will be suitable or whether they will accept shelters and hostels, leaving uncertainty about what will happen after the December target.

Parents in England are increasingly being fined or prosecuted for children’s unauthorised school absences, particularly term-time holidays, as attendance rates remain well above pre-Covid levels. A court session in Margate illustrated the varied causes of non-attendance, including unaffordable travel, bereavement, illness, bullying, special educational needs and school avoidance. England recorded 492,825 penalty notices in 2024-25, with more than 90% linked to term-time holidays, while persistent absence has nearly doubled since the pandemic. The Department for Education and Kent County Council say prosecutions are a last resort, but campaigners argue fines disproportionately affect mothers and financially vulnerable families; cases involving serious bullying also highlight the limits of a purely punitive approach.

Model scout Daniel Siad, also known as Daniel Goldberg, was found dead at his Paris home after multiple women accused him of human trafficking and rape. Former model Ebba Karlsson recounts alleging that Siad raped her at a villa near Cannes and later brought her to fashion executive Gerald Marie, who she also accused of assault and who has denied the allegation. Guardian journalist Amelia Gentleman discusses Siad’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the information revealed through the Epstein files, and how Siad’s death affects women seeking justice and efforts to expose those who enabled Epstein’s crimes.

Forty years after 25-year-old estate agent Suzy Lamplugh disappeared in south-west London, Metropolitan Police detectives are making a final appeal for information that could lead to the discovery of her body. The case remains one of the Met’s oldest open murder investigations; prime suspect John Cannan died in prison in 2024, and a forensic review found no decisive DNA or fingerprint evidence. Police plan to pursue about 30 remaining leads over the next year, after which the investigation may become inactive, while retaining the ability to respond to new information and future forensic advances. Lamplugh’s family continues to seek answers, and police hope former associates of Cannan or other witnesses may eventually come forward.

Ukraine’s new commander-in-chief, Mykhailo Drapatyi, said the armed forces had been ordered to intensify counteroffensive operations, plan attacks behind Russian lines and expand military technology and capabilities. His appointment by Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received broad support, partly because Drapatyi is viewed as a younger, modernising commander who backed former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov during a dispute with Oleksandr Syrskyi. Zelenskyy also held talks with senior US and NATO officials about air defence, Patriot supplies and expanded defence cooperation. EU ambassadors resumed efforts to approve the bloc’s 21st sanctions package against Russia, while Kaja Kallas highlighted maritime action against Russia’s alleged shadow fleet. Elsewhere, Hungary’s chief prosecutor resigned amid political reforms by Péter Magyar, Germany criticised Turkey’s renewed detention of a Deutsche Welle correspondent, France reported unprecedented heatwave-related excess deaths, and wildfires and other incidents affected several European countries.

Daniel Siad, a 69-year-old modeling scout who recruited women for Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead at his home near Paris while under investigation in France for alleged rape and human trafficking. He denied wrongdoing and said he believed his work involved legitimate model castings. Siad's name appeared in more than 1,000 newly declassified US Department of Justice documents, which detail his communications with Epstein and efforts to identify women across Europe and elsewhere. French authorities have opened an investigation into his cause of death and plan an autopsy. His accuser, former model Ebba Karlsson, said his death was frustrating because he had been close to arrest.

Psychologist Candice Odgers argues that social media is being overstated as the main cause of declining adolescent mental health and that evidence generally shows mixed or correlational effects rather than clear causation. She attributes worsening outcomes to a wider set of factors, including Covid-19, recession, adult mental-health problems and opioid addiction. Odgers opposes blanket bans for under-16s, warning that teenagers will evade them, move into less regulated spaces and become less likely to report abuse. She supports tighter regulation and prosecution of perpetrators and technology companies, while urging governments to invest instead in teachers, counsellors, safe physical spaces and healthier online communities. Her position contrasts with Jonathan Haidt’s influential case for restricting smartphones and social media, while other researchers emphasize the complexity of the evidence and the need for more nuanced policy.

Jane Ouartsi suffered catastrophic injuries after being struck by an apparently 10-year-old riding a Lime e-bike across a pedestrianised London square. She spent 36 days in hospital and 18 months relearning to walk, while her partner Dave Mathias has spent three years seeking compensation and stronger safety measures. Lime says the bike was stolen and used illegally, making the rider unidentifiable and outside its insurance coverage, though the company previously suggested a financial gesture that did not materialise. A second case involving an underage rider also exposed insurance limitations. Lawyers report a rise in e-bike injury claims, while Transport for London data shows hire bikes accounted for a growing share of cyclist-pedestrian crashes. Lime points to rider education, speed restrictions and other safety measures, but the couple argue that clearer rules, bike identification and better controls are needed.

The rapid growth of OnlyFans has produced a lucrative management industry in which intermediaries recruit creators, handle their accounts and take substantial cuts of their earnings. Former recruiters, creators and agency workers describe aggressive online targeting of young and vulnerable women, pressure to produce increasingly explicit material, restrictive contracts, threats and the trading of creator profiles between predominantly male managers. Markuss Hussle promotes management courses costing $8,000 and says he takes 50% of creators’ earnings, while Andrew Tate has also sold related training and expressed misogynistic views. A BBC investigation documenting alleged violence and coercion has prompted calls from Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi and anti-slavery commissioner Eleanor Lyons for a parliamentary inquiry into OnlyFans safeguards. OnlyFans says it does not control external management contracts and will investigate account-safety concerns, while campaigners argue that stronger government regulation is needed to prevent women from being treated as commercial products.

New claimants are seeking legal action against Elon Musk’s xAI after Labour MP Jess Asato filed a High Court test case over fake sexualized images and an AI-generated assault video produced with Grok. Her lawyer, Ravi Naik, argues that AI developers should be liable for design decisions that enable such content and says multiple people are preparing claims. Grok reportedly generated millions of sexualized images during a viral trend before xAI introduced restrictions and placed the relevant technology behind a paywall. Asato says the material caused severe psychological distress and that Musk amplified abuse against her. Keir Starmer supports her case, while Peter Kyle says UK politicians should more assertively hold Musk accountable; xAI did not respond to a request for comment.

Published messages show Peter Mandelson using flattery, anger, contempt, introductions and transactional requests to maintain influence across Labour and government networks. His communications largely involve powerful men and reveal him advising beyond his ambassadorial brief while disparaging ministers, civil servants and political strategy. The messages also expose gendered power structures, his criticism of Wes Streeting’s response to alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, and the risks of informal lobbying and poorly secured communications. Redactions leave important questions unanswered, while Mandelson’s limited references to Jeffrey Epstein’s victims underscore the wider ethical and political damage surrounding the files.

Windrush commissioner Clive Foster told MPs that the government’s compensation scheme has failed to repair the injustice suffered by Windrush survivors and requires a significant overhaul. He called for funded legal support, arguing that the current evidential burden and complex application process contribute to nearly six in 10 claims receiving no payment. Although about £127m has been paid to 3,764 claimants and processing has improved, more than 50 applicants have died before receiving compensation. Foster also criticized the Home Office for managing redress for failures committed by its own officials and urged future schemes to be administered independently. The inquiry is also examining compensation for victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal.

Piper Rockelle, who became a multimillion-dollar child influencer through YouTube videos and scripted “Squad” content, launched an OnlyFans account shortly after turning 18 and claims to have earned $2.9m in her first day, with her manager forecasting more than $40m in a year. Her move followed a lawsuit by former Squad members alleging abuse and exploitation by her mother Tiffany Smith and colleague Hunter Hill; the case ended in a $1.85m settlement without admissions of liability, while YouTube demonetised Rockelle’s channel. The article examines how years of surveillance, audience monetisation and childlike branding shaped her transition into adult content, along with the platform’s opaque earnings claims, aggressive paid-message upselling and use of chatters. Child-protection experts warn that “barely legal” aesthetics can sexualise childhood and blur boundaries, while Rockelle acknowledges the stigma, pressure to capitalise on her youth and fear of ageing. Her experience highlights unresolved questions about consent, exploitation, platform regulation and the economics of sexualised creator culture.

Leonid Radvinsky’s death has left his widow, Yekaterina Chudnovsky, with a controlling interest in OnlyFans through a family trust and a decisive role in the platform’s future. The business, valued at billions of dollars, derives most of its revenue from taking a 20% share of creator earnings, despite efforts to present itself as a broader technology and social-media company. Potential buyer Architect Capital remains in negotiations, while CEO Keily Blair is expected to maintain day-to-day operations. The platform is praised by some performers for enabling independent income but faces criticism over exploitation, unequal creator earnings, pornography’s social effects, and past failures to prevent illegal or non-consensual content.

Teacher Pavel Talankin secretly filmed the Russian government’s patriotic education programme at Karabash School No 1, documenting military-style drills, grenade-throwing contests and lessons promoting support for the war against Ukraine. His footage became the documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin, which won a Bafta and was nominated for an Oscar. After the film circulated in Russia, officials and the FSB sought to suppress discussion of it, while Talankin received threats and fled the country, securing political asylum in Europe. He argues that the programme is designed to create a future generation loyal to Vladimir Putin and is damaging students’ ordinary education.

Declassified US Department of Justice files reveal extensive correspondence between model scout Daniel Siad and Jeffrey Epstein about recruiting and presenting young women, including minors, for meetings and possible modeling opportunities. Siad regularly traveled through Europe and elsewhere, sent Epstein details and photographs, and received expense payments. The correspondence connects Epstein’s activities to modeling figures Jean-Luc Brunel and Gérald Marie. Siad denies facilitating abuse and says his work was purely professional. Separately, Swedish former model Ebba Karlsson has accused Siad of rape and human trafficking, allegations he denies; another woman has alleged that he recruited women for Epstein. French prosecutors are reviewing evidence from the newly released files, while the documents indicate the FBI was alerted to Siad’s activities in 2016.

The Epstein files depict a global elite network built through flattery, favors, reputation management and access to influential men, while women are largely confined to roles as assistants, organizers, sexual partners or decorative guests. Emails show women coordinating travel, food and sexual services for powerful men, and reveal casual objectification, indifference and coercive control. The material also highlights the complicity or moral indifference of some prominent figures who maintained relationships with Epstein despite his criminal history, illustrating how patriarchal power operates through ordinary administrative and social exchanges.

Lisa Bloom, who represents 11 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the FBI ignored credible reports about Epstein dating back to 1996 and thereby failed to prevent further abuse. She argues that powerful associates, financial institutions and officials repeatedly disregarded victims, allowing Epstein to operate with impunity. Bloom discusses compensation secured from Epstein’s estate and JPMorgan Chase, the continuing release of government files, and concerns about survivor privacy. The interview also examines the controversy over her 2016 work advising Harvey Weinstein, which she calls a serious mistake, as well as criticism of settlement structures and nondisclosure agreements. Bloom says she is prepared to pursue the FBI case and wants prominent figures connected to Epstein, including Donald Trump, subjected to congressional scrutiny.

George Campbell, who came to Britain from Jamaica as a nine-year-old and has lived and worked there for six decades, became homeless after officials questioned his right to remain in the UK following a hospital stay. Without immigration documentation, he was denied homelessness assistance and later saw his pension application rejected, spending months in a bus shelter, food banks and a night shelter. After intervention by charities and Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy, the Home Office granted him indefinite leave to remain, although his citizenship application and housing situation remain unresolved. The case has renewed criticism of the Home Office and the wider hostile-environment system, with campaigners warning that vulnerable Windrush descendants continue to be left without support.

The Guardian found that X users could still use the standalone Grok Imagine tool to generate sexualised videos of real women and post them publicly, despite X announcing restrictions on revealing or nonconsensual imagery. Campaigners criticised the company and xAI for failing to protect women, while UK prime minister Keir Starmer and technology secretary Liz Kendall demanded immediate compliance with the law. Ofcom’s investigation remains ongoing, and authorities in Canada, the Philippines and Malaysia have also taken or considered action. The UK government is proposing a specific offence targeting tools designed to create nonconsensual intimate images.

Grok’s upgraded image-generation tools on X helped turn requests to place women in bikinis into a viral campaign of non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, including images of children and public figures. Requests escalated to transparent clothing, sexual acts, injuries, violence and racist abuse, while victims who spoke out often faced further harassment. Analysis for The Guardian found requests peaked at nearly 200,000 in a single day. X and xAI faced criticism for responding slowly, with restrictions eventually imposed mainly on the public X account while the standalone Grok app continued to permit similar content. Ofcom and governments in the UK, EU, India and the US demanded action, exposing weaknesses in platform safeguards and the delayed implementation of UK legislation intended to criminalize the creation of non-consensual intimate imagery.