Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Arifa

The Times & Sunday Times @thetimes.com · 1d

The Metropolitan Police have been accused of over-policing black Londoners after figures revealed they were nearly three times more likely to be strip searched than white people.

Black Londoners disproportionately strip searched by Met police

www.thetimes.com

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Nathan Kalman-Lamb @nkalamb.bsky.social · 2d

Front page of Scottish newspaper The National today.

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 3d

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Zamira Rahim @zamirarahim.bsky.social · 3d

"It’s all interesting. It’s never dull, ever, life.” www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

Diane Keaton, Oscar-winning star of Annie Hall and The Godfather, dies aged 79

The legendary actor best known for her many collaborations with Woody Allen, as well as films including Reds, The First Wives Club and Book Club, has died

www.theguardian.com

Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 3d

😭

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 4d

Honestly, I don't know where to begin with this one. Let's just say I couldn't look away:
www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/o...

Small Hotel review – Ralph Fiennes’ fever dream leaves you with major reservations

This bizarre drama, with the star playing twins amid plenty of tap dancing, is a warp of hallucinations and reality

www.theguardian.com

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 4d

What does the Union Jack mean to you? @neilarmstrong.bsky.social put that question to me, among others, and wrote this thoughtful piece about its history and symbolism. Well worth a read: www.bbc.com/culture/arti... via @BBC_Culture

The turbulent history of the union jack

For centuries the ultimate emblem of Britishness has meant different things to different people, and now it is back in the news. What does its history tell us?

www.bbc.com

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 6d

László Krasznahorkai wins the Nobel prize in literature 2025

The author was announced as winner at a ceremony in Stockholm • Nobel prize in literature 2025 live: László Krasznahorkai wins ‘for his compelling and visionary oeuvre’ The Nobel prize in literature for 2025 has been awarded to Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai, the Swedish Academy has announced. The Academy cited the 71-year-old’s “compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art”. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 12d

So looking forward to chairing this @climate-fiction.bsky.social‬
A great prize recognising the increasing wealth of climate fiction being published

climate-fiction.bsky.social @climate-fiction.bsky.social · 12d

2026 Climate Fiction Prize Announce Stellar Judging Panel as Submissions Open!

📚 @arifa.bsky.social
📚 Jessie Greengrass
📚 @kitdewaal.com
📚 @frediotto.bsky.social
📚 @savidgereads.bsky.social

Publishers have until 13th November to submit novels published between 1 Sept 2024 – 31 Aug 2025.

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 12d

I'm chairing the Climate Fiction Prize next year with these fab judges! Such a purposeful prize. I can't wait to begin reading submissions

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 26d

And another glowing review of last night's Gaza concert from my former paper, The Indy:

www.independent.co.uk/arts-enterta...

Benedict Cumberbatch leads a sorrowful, bittersweet fundraiser for Gaza – review

Louis Theroux, Florence Pugh, Riz Ahmed and a number of Palestinian musicians lead an evening that discusses the ongoing atrocities in Gaza plainly and firmly – and it’s still jolting to witness, writ...

www.independent.co.uk

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 26d

Wonderful Times review too of Together or Palestine.... 5 stars wholly deserved in my view!

www.thetimes.com/culture/musi...

Together for Palestine review — Gere and Eno give Gaza its Live Aid moment

An emotionally charged fundraiser at Wembley Arena featured music and speeches from Paul Weller, Annie Lennox, Louis Theroux and a host of Palestinian artists

www.thetimes.com

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 26d

Great review of Together for Palestine, and it was fantastic to be there last night:

www.standard.co.uk/culture/musi...

Together for Palestine concert review: 'an incredible feat'

This concert at the OVO Arena brought together an array of A-Lists and activists in a moving and ultimately hopeful evening

www.standard.co.uk

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · 26d

So well deserved!

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Adil Ray @adilray.bsky.social · Sep 11

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signs an agreement to push ahead with the controversial E1 settlement expansion.

“We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state, this place belongs to us,”

www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_ent...

‘There will be no Palestinian state’: PM signs agreement pushing ahead with E1 settlement plan

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www.timesofisrael.com

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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · Sep 9

Gaza
West Bank
Lebanon
Yemen
Syria
Iran
Iraq
Tunisia
Qatar

All attacked and bombed by Israel in the past year.

Insane.

Rogue state.

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Sep 6

Right?!!

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Sep 6

The march today with @aysharafaele.bsky.social Geneva Abdul, Hannah & thousands of others. It's still 'no' to genocide. Come on Keir Starmer, you can do so much better than this
#FreePalestine #Genocide #NotInOurName

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Reposted by Arifa

Channel 4 News @channel4news.bsky.social · Sep 5

Israel destroys tower block sheltering displaced families
www.channel4.com/news/israel-...

Israel destroys tower block sheltering displaced families

Israel's Defence Minister today warned the Gates of Hell were opening in Gaza as the IDF intensified its strikes on Gaza City.

www.channel4.com

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Sep 3

Thank you and so lovely to meet you 😺

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Sep 1

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Aug 20

If you happen to be in Bath on 2 Sept, please come along to this Q&A about my book, Wolf Moon!
@toppingsbath.bsky.social h
@sceptrebooks.bsky.social
www.toppingbooks.co.uk/events/bath/...

Arifa Akbar for Wolf Moon: A Woman's Journey into the Night at Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath

www.toppingbooks.co.uk

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Aug 19

The second part of the doc I am presenting is due to start on @BBCRadio4 at 4pm today, featuring Bernardine Evaristo, Jack Edwards, AO Scott, Anita Singh, James Marriott, Barry Pierce & more. It's a good one! Listen here:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Radio 4 - Artworks, No Criticism, 1. Everyone's a Critic

Theatre critic Arifa Akbar explores whether the art of criticism is in crisis.

www.bbc.co.uk

Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Aug 19

If you are in Edinburgh this summer, the Andy Goldsworthy show about nature, and our relationship to it, is just wondrous - beautiful, epic and full of humour. Thanks @tds153.bsky.social for recommending

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Aug 18

I spoke to critic Wiebke Huester about being assaulted by an male artist - and reflected on some of the perils of being a female critic. Thanks Katherine Butler for commissioning this piece:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The curious incident of the dog, the Hanover ballet and the everyday sexism we face as female arts critics | Arifa Akbar

There are more women in cultural criticism now in Germany and Britain, but we also face more aggression. Is this progress?, says Guardian theatre critic Arifa Akbar

www.theguardian.com

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Arifa @arifa.bsky.social · Aug 16

For anyone who missed Front Row earlier this week, you can listen back here as Robbie Collin & I speak to Tom Sutcliffe about Brigadoon, the Oslo Stories trilogy and - my favourite - Giulia Caminito's arresting coming of age novel:
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Front Row - Review show: Brigadoon at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre - BBC Sounds

Brigadoon in Regent's Park, The Bitter Water of the Lake by Giulia Caminito.

www.bbc.co.uk