Arifa

B&W photo of a building facace

Relief sculpture of a lithe figure in a dancing-like pose

I'm just a lowly art historian, but in moments like these I always think back to one early sign of Trump's wanton, pointless destructiveness: his demolition of the priceless & irreplaceable Art Deco relief sculptures on facade of the Bonwit Teller building, which he tore down to build Trump Tower

My son’s killer and me: grief, pain and the power of forgiveness after a one-punch death When Jacob Dunne hit James Hodgkinson, he had no idea the punch would kill him. He recounts how his victim’s mother, Joan, helped him, while she reveals why she confronted him

This crime and its repercussions is the subject of James Graham's drama, Punch, but is expressed by the real people involved here. Such a powerful and moving read about forgiveness, restorative justice and second chances:

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/m...

Israel has violated ceasefire 47 times and killed 38 Palestinians, says Gaza media office Authorities urge UN to intervene ‘to protect unarmed civilian populations’ after attack on bus that killed 11 Gaza’s media office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since the truce came into effect in early October, killing 38 Palestinians and wounding another 143. “These violations have included crimes of direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling and targeting, and the arrest of a number of civilians, reflecting the occupation’s continued policy of aggression despite the declared end of the war,” reads the statement. Continue reading...

Israel has violated ceasefire 47 times and killed 38 Palestinians, says Gaza media office

‘Damning’ review of anti-Black racism within Met police ‘buried’ by force Exclusive: external consultancy report found discrimination ‘baked into HR systems’ at London force A review of anti-Black racism within the Metropolitan police has been “buried” by the force, despite finding discrimination “baked into its HR systems”, the Guardian can reveal. The internal review, commissioned by the Met from the consultancy HR Rewired, concluded that bias, racial stereotyping and inequity were woven through the force’s recruitment, promotion and grievance processes, affecting Black staff specifically. Continue reading...

‘Damning’ review of anti-Black racism within Met police ‘buried’ by force

Black Londoners disproportionately strip searched by Met police

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.

How Genocide Happened

Front page of Scottish newspaper The National today.

💔

😭

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

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...

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?

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

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...

László Krasznahorkai wins the Nobel prize in literature 2025

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

www.thetimes.com/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

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

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

So well deserved!

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

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...

Gaza
West Bank
Lebanon
Yemen
Syria
Iran
Iraq
Tunisia
Qatar

All attacked and bombed by Israel in the past year.

Insane.

Rogue state.

Right?!!

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

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.

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

Thank you and so lovely to meet you 😺

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

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/...

BBC Radio 4 - Artworks, No Criticism, 1. Everyone's a Critic Theatre critic Arifa Akbar explores whether the art of criticism is in crisis.

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...

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

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

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...

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.

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/...

BBC Radio 4 - Artworks, No Criticism, 1. Everyone's a Critic Theatre critic Arifa Akbar explores whether the art of criticism is in crisis.

Here is the @BBCRadio4 doc on the value of arts criticism that I present, free to listen to on Sounds! Part 2 next week Tues 4pm. So many great voices including Meera Syal, Michael Billington, Bernardine Evaristo & more
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...