Benjamin Sesko: Manchester United complete signing from Leipzig
The Slovenia striker was also a target for Newcastle United, having scored 39 times in two years for RB Leipzig.
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The UK’s Online Safety Act is a licence for censorship – and the rest of the world is following suit | Taylor Lorenz
From the US and Australia to France and Italy, those seeking to obliterate privacy and restrict content are on the move
Over the past two weeks, the UK has reportedly blocked internet users’ access to everything from SpongeBob SquarePants gifs to Spotify playlists. Information about Joe Biden’s police funding plan has been restricted, along with a post about an up-and-coming political party. Gamers say they have been unable to tweak colours in games such as Minecraft. And it’s all because of a new age verification law.
Since the child safety provisions contained within the Online Safety Act came into effect on 25 July, web service providers have been forced to institute “highly effective” age verification measures to prevent children from accessing “harmful” or “adult” content. The penalty for failing to adequately comply with the act includes hefty fines and potential criminal action.
Taylor Lorenz is a technology journalist who writes the newsletter User Mag and is the author of the bestselling book Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet.
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Elvis-inspired teacher fights Roma prejudice with music and heart
As a teacher and performer, Lakatos empowers Roma students, showing them they can aspire beyond societal limitations.
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Before Trump-Putin talks, Ukraine rules out ‘gifting land to occupier’
With US and Russian leaders set to meet, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy warns deals without his country will not bring peace.
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Ballon d’Or holder Rodri suffers latest Man City injury setback
The Spanish midfielder missed the majority of last season due to injury and will miss the start of the new campaign.
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At least one killed as firefighters battle Greece blaze for second day
A wildfire on the outskirts of Athens was contained but not out on Saturday, the fire brigade says.
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Why ‘grifter’ has become the go-to political insult of 2025 | Anoosh Chakelian
These days it’s not enough to disagree with opponents – it seems we have to accuse them of being con artists too
Our world is full of grifters. Or so it seems, considering how often that word is thrown around in public life these days.
This year alone, Zarah Sultana, the former Labour MP and founder of a new left party with Jeremy Corbyn, called the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, a “billionaire-backed grifter” (perhaps borrowing from the language of Coutts staff who referred to him as a “disingenuous grifter” when his bank account was closed two years ago). Sultana, in turn, was accused of being a “grifter” duping “honest socialists” by the journalist Paul Mason.
Anoosh Chakelian is Britain editor of the New Statesman
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Uganda court denies bail to opposition leader Kizza Besigye in treason case
Case has raised concerns among government critics about a crackdown ahead of Uganda’s national election early next year.
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How a drowning victim became a lifesaving icon
If you know CPR, chances are you’ve practised on a dummy with the face of a woman who, legend says, drowned in Paris.
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Targeted by the right, Britain’s asylum hotels are places of fear and disorder. Bad political decisions made it so | Daniel Trilling
In the frenzy of racism and culture warring, the issue of why hotels are used gets overlooked
A broad section of Britain’s right has spent the summer behaving as if it would like a repeat of last year’s racist riots. As politicians and commentators cry “tinderbox Britain” – are they warning us, or willing it on? – far-right extremists have been actively trying to stoke violence. This year, they have pinned their hopes on asylum hotels, an issue where public fears over crime, immigration and the welfare state conveniently converge.
In some places, far-right activists have piggybacked on protests prompted by local grievances. The most significant this year was in Epping, Essex, after an alleged sexual assault by an asylum seeker led to demonstrations that turned violent when they were joined by members of various far-right groups. A similar pattern has unfolded in London’s Canary Wharf, after untrue rumours that some of the Epping hotel residents were being moved there. In other cases, far-right activists have themselves organised the protests. A call has gone out among their online networks for gatherings this weekend in several parts of England.
Daniel Trilling is the author of Lights in the Distance: Exile and Refuge at the Borders of Europe and Bloody Nasty People: The Rise of Britain’s Far Right
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