Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 2h

This is heartbreaking. The photograph made me cry. I feel for that community. They look stricken.

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 12h

Living in Rome is humbling. Day to day stuff is always different. The light changes. Strangers connect. The smells vibrate. The river feels alive. The moon isn’t hidden.
I have always chosen to live in Nature. In the wild. But in this city nature and human stories entangle ancient living threads.

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Reposted by Kate Nicholls

Erica Wagner @ericawgnr.bsky.social · 2d

One only has to give a cursory glance to the British literary landscape to see what a vital role indie presses play in our ecosystem. As larger publishers try harder and harder to bet on the supposed "sure thing" (hint: you can't), more and more it's the indies which are doing the real work.

Influx Press @influxpress.bsky.social · 2d

www.thebookseller.com/news/indie-p...

Indie presses in ‘existential crisis’ call for trade support

More than 20 independent publishing houses – including Bluemoose Books, Tilted Axis Press and Influx Press – have written an open letter calling for the trade to “work together to ensure the longevity...

www.thebookseller.com

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Reposted by Kate Nicholls

Erica Wagner @ericawgnr.bsky.social · 2d

'“Get rid of creative and arts degrees” does fail as a test of essential understanding of some of the things that make life worth living. But as a piece of hard-headed economic policy-making… it also fails.' Wise words from the great @naomialderman.bsky.social —

Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 2d

I wrote an opinion column for the Observer! I never do opinion columns but I was just really annoyed by cultural vandalism and Kemi Badenoch.

observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

In praise of “rip-off” degrees | The Observer

Kemi Badenoch’s attack on the arts and humanities isn’t just culturally short-sighted, it’s economically illiterate

observer.co.uk

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 22h

This is crazy. The IB is streets ahead of A’ Level curricula.
Only a few state schools offer the IB and instead of INCREASING funds the government is pulling it.
I despair. This government gets more disappointing day by day!

They have lost my vote 10 times over!

observer.co.uk/news/nationa...

Labour cuts funding for state school IB diplomas

The sudden decision may mean the IB program is only available in private schools

observer.co.uk

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

There is no joy in this homecoming. There is nothing to come to. This cease fire is tempered by despair and fear.
The world waited and this is the result.

edition.cnn.com/world/live-n...

Trump confident ceasefire will hold as Palestinians return to northern Gaza - live updates | CNN

US President Donald Trump told reporters yesterday that he thinks the peace ceasefire proposal will hold. Follow for live updates

edition.cnn.com

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

I will for sure be reading this. Thanks for the heads up Big Issue.

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

Ooo I want to read this.
www.amazon.co.uk/Queer-Georgi...

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

I made a basket this year. It’s silly but it gives me deep pleasure. Now filled with loo rolls it reminds me of a very happy day.

In chaos simple things matter. A kind friend bought over hotcross buns from M&S. This morning's coffee with a bun overlooking the Tiber was heaven on a stick!

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Reposted by Kate Nicholls

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

Massive news for Leeds.

Tom Cruise, Taylor Swift, David Beckham, Barack Obama, Kylie Jenner, and Justin Bieber may all not be coming to your city on Monday... but I am .. and I promise not to sing.

So come along if you're free.

trumanbooks.co.uk/event/an-eve...

trumanbooks.co.uk

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

“For years, I’d smiled in pictures with these leaders... – but not one of them picked up the phone, or replied to my messages. To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op.”

Who didn’t take her calls? She mentions Biden. Johnson. Macron. Trudeau.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

‘To the men who ran the world, I was just a photo op’: Malala Yousafzai on growing up, getting cynical – and how getting high nearly broke her

The global icon of women’s education is ready to tell the full story of her turbulent recent life, from arguing with her parents to being ghosted by the statesmen who were once desperate to be seen wi...

www.theguardian.com

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

Crossing points still not open and IDF will remain. What will Palestinians come home to?

The State of Palestine has no autonomy.
Trump, Blair and Netanyahu have no intention that it should.

This cease fire is so fragile a gust of wind could blow it away.

news.sky.com/story/how-wi...

How withdrawal of Israeli troops in Gaza could work - and who could make up peacekeeping force

Sky News' military analyst Professor Michael Clarke said: "We don't want to damn it [ceasefire deal] with expectations to start with, let's hope for the best, but most ceasefires are hardest to mainta...

news.sky.com

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 1d

I’m looking forward to seeing that. I love underground Rome.
edition.cnn.com/2025/10/10/t...

A secret tunnel once used by emperors is opening beneath the Colosseum | CNN

A 2,000-year-old tunnel once used by Roman emperors to slip into the Colosseum unseen will open to the public this month, offering visitors a rare glimpse of the arena’s imperial backstage.

edition.cnn.com

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 2d

The Nobel committee has shown its metal. Trump may have to learn from this!
Machado has "brought the country's opposition together, being steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy".
“ She shown that the tools of democracy are also tools for peace."
www.bbc.com/news/live/c1...

Nobel Peace Prize 2025 live updates: Venezuelan democracy activist María Corina Machado wins

Nominations closed in January but US President Donald Trump had led a public campaign to win the award.

www.bbc.com

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 2d

Isreal celebrates. What is left for the State of Palestinians? No-one can return their children. No-one can return their families. Are the check points dismantled? Who will rebuild the schools and hospitals. Who will replant the olive groves
This deal is cobweb!

news.sky.com/story/gaza-w...

Gaza war latest: Israel approves ceasefire and hostage release deal - with US sending troops to keep peace

Israel's government has ratified a ceasefire with Hamas, clearing the way to stop the war in Gaza within 24 hours and free Israeli hostages within 72 hours after that. Follow live below and catch up w...

news.sky.com

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 2d

Fabulous. Erica is a wonder, and so is this book.

Salt Books @saltpublishing.com · 11d

Cover reveal! 👀

The new novel by Erica Wagner, Wash, forthcoming May 2026.

#Booksky

Reposted by Kate Nicholls

The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 5d

"The exploits of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill became wild west myth, as Peter Cozzens’s history of Deadwood shows. But behind them lay the venal, illegal settlement of Native American land", writes @ericawgnr.bsky.social.

Read more: https://bit.ly/46UxDdV

How America was stolen | The Observer

The exploits of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill became wild west myth, as Peter Cozzens’s history of Deadwood shows. But behind them lay the venal, illegal s...

bit.ly

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 2d

I cancelled my subscription long ago!

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

It’s 2025 and yet this is a topic for conversation.
How medieval!
Biology and politics once again meeting head on!

euobserver — EU news that matters @euobserver.com · 3d

The European Parliament wants to allow pregnant MEPs absent from the chamber to vote in plenary sessions. But it's expected that the European Council’s consent will be difficult.

MEPs discuss proxy voting for pregnant women and new mothers

The European Parliament wants to allow pregnant MEPs absent from the chamber to vote in plenary sessions. But it's expected that the European Council’s consent will be difficult.

euobserver.com

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

Good for him. I’m not a woman of faith but I have the greatest respect for good humans.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 3d

Enough with the clickbait, Pope Leo told news organizations today, urging journalists to fight against “junk” information and help people to distinguish between fact and fiction.

Pope to media: No clickbait, please!

Leo praises the work of journalists reporting from Ukraine and Gaza.

www.politico.eu

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

I haven’t read his work but I will for sure.
How fascinating.
#writing

www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/s...

Nobel Prize in literature goes to Hungarian novelist for work confronting ‘apocalyptic terror’ | CNN

The 2025 Nobel Prize in literature has been awarded to László Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian novelist who said his dark and difficult novels aim to examine reality “to the point of madness.”

www.cnn.com

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

Marvellous! Let’s see if that blood money gets fed back into education and the NHS then. Brexit screwed us into having to make some sickening trade deals.

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

Oh hands up to the power of 10.
And by the way I know many, many, many over 50’s who know it was a mistake to leave.
In the light of FACTS let’s have another referendum pls! It’s bonkers to carry on like this pretending all is well!

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 4d

Lord Heseltine, "The number of people aged below 50 who think it was right for us to leave the European Union, is less than 20%

"The latest polls tells us 56% now believe it was mistake to leave the European Union"

Hands up if you are one of the 56% 🙋‍♂️

Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

Seems baseline stuff to me. I was astonished that my son’s very expensive rental apartment in San Fransisco has no washing machine or dishwasher. Apparently this is normal!
If it were cheap then fine, no prob! But oh boy it’s not.
My MUCH cheaper flat in Rome has everything and overlooks the Tiber!

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Kate Nicholls @katenicholls1.bsky.social · 3d

Researching my book, I read lots of 18th and 19th century science writing.
Oh what joy. Communications of glorious ideas and discoveries, engagingly and beautifully written.
What happened?
Why are modern science papers so arid when under the surface there is so much wonder!

youtu.be/OV5J6BfToSw

Linguistics, Style and Writing in the 21st Century - with Steven Pinker

YouTube video by The Royal Institution

youtu.be