This is such wonderful news. Alaa not only out of prison at last but able to travel to Britain to be reunited with his son.

Shoutout to the massive, burly bloke with the shaved head & tattoos who stood up to claim “Princess Fluffy Bum-bum Johnson” in a cat basket at the vet surgery one time.

Sundress Publications is open for submissions for microgrant applications from Palestinian writers with a chapbook or full-length book in progress. Projects of all genres are welcome. Visit our website to learn more and apply by December 31, 2025. www.sundresspublications.com/news/2025/09...

We are now accepting entries from African reporters for journalistic work that exemplifies thoughtful reporting and outstanding storytelling. Learn more about the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling and apply now: www.icfj.org/our-work/mic... ONECampaign

I’d watch this. The #SaltPath stuff gets darker and darker.

They’ve got to make a true-crime style film about the Salt Path scam, but also starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

A wonderful extract from Nadia David’s’ new book — a reckoning with family ghosts, Apartheid forced removals & District Six. She writes so beautifully. (Thanks @johnedwinmason.bsky.social for alerting me to this!) lithub.com/on-the-haunt...

📣Calling writers: Gladstone’s Library is offering one funded place on The Six-Month Writing Course with @kitdewaal.com. For writers who would benefit from the course but may otherwise be unable to access it. We especially welcome those who feel marginalised within the industry. 1/3

Some good jobs going with @4refugeewomen.bsky.social 👇

Yes. For the love of god, please mask up this winter. There’s a horrible strain of ‘flu going around. And get a ‘flu jab too. It will protect you and everyone else.

Can’t be accidental that Britain & its allies in the Council of Europe chose today — international human rights day which commemorates the UDHR signed on 10/12/1948 — to announce a planned roll back of rights enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

I’ve been secretly rooting for Nnena Kalu and now she’s only won the Turner Prize! An amazing achievement.

A piece of lovely news 📚 www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...

I live in Wales and today received my Join Us letter from Reform UK, complete with SAE which I posted back to them, immediately, empty. If every other person in Wales did this, Reform would spend over £1.5 million on postage. Not sorry. Join me Cymru.

It’s your very last chance to bid on a range of interesting creative things online, all in support of humanitarian work in #Sudan.

I used to donate blood regularly & it’s truly one of the easiest ways to make a tangible difference in the world. If you can, do it.

So, it’s increasingly evident that #Farage was a nasty racist & antisemitic teenage bully. Seems unlikely he was some sort of outlier tho — can we now also discuss who influenced his thinking & why his posh school or his parents seemingly did nothing to curtail his behaviour?

Z2K are such a great charity who do excellent work supporting individuals struggling with social security AND also advocating for better poverty mitigation policies. Can you donate to help them reach their fundraising target? @z2ktrust.bsky.social

Great job going at The Guardian here 👇

A wonderful interview with the mighty Annie Ernaux, examining her great skill at excavating memory with precision and a beady literary eye. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

“We apologise fully and unreservedly. We take accuracy seriously, and we regret that this point was not established before publication. … in this instance we fell short of the standards we set for ourselves.” The Spectator having to apologise fulsomely to Hope Not Hate. @hopenothate.org.uk

Asking for a country 👇

Streetwise Opera are an amazing creative programme. Do support them with a donation if you can. @streetwiseopera.bsky.social

This #GivingTuesday, help Index support more people to speak freely. Writers like Roma, an Afghan woman whose life was upended when the Taliban returned to power. Last week, we published her powerful letter. Help us amplify more voices like hers: www.peoplesfundraising.com/donation/ind...

If you’re a writer based in London, you can access a whole range of programmes supporting the craft through Spread the Word. Do make a donation if you can and support their work. @spread-the-word.bsky.social

Please support Z2K, a mighty charity that consistently punches above its weight in their work on poverty and social welfare. @z2ktrust.bsky.social

🚨Campaign launch🚨 Today Migrant Voices launched our "Don't knows do care" campaign to counter misinformation around migration. Your support is important. Please donate, if you can., share and take part in helping to combat the hostile rhetoric. Please donate here👇 www.gofundme.com/f/help-comba...

Streets Kitchen do incredible work providing meals to homeless & impoverished people across London. If you can, please donate to keep their work going during this winter. @streetskitchen.bsky.social

The Palestine Action arrests continue and become ever more surreal. First they came for grandmas and vicars; now it’s Santa’s turn to be prosecuted for terrorism. @defendourjuries.bsky.social

Rest in peace Tom Stoppard. A great dramatist and a lifelong friend to the causes of free expression.

Sir, I’ve asked you to return your seat to the upright position and stow your tray.

This grifting family sure have things sewn up. Enraging.

Hi Naomi @naomialderman.bsky.social Connecting you here with Ashleigh who’s interested in writing about gaming. If you have any leads, perhaps you could get in touch? Thank you.

This tower block fire in #HongKong is terrible, with so many painful resonances to the #Grenfell fire. Police have already arrested 3 people involved with the Hong Kong buildings & seized documents & evidence. Grenfell survivors still waiting for justice. www.theguardian.com/news/2025/no...

£15,000 prize launched for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds

This is EXACTLY how I feel too. The two child limit was a terrible, inequitable policy and it’s good it’s gone.

📢📢📢📢📢📢#Book peeps: ONLY 3 weeks remain till submissions close for Jhalak Prize for its landmark 10th anniversary year. What are you waiting for? Send in those amazing books! #publishing #books #representationmatters #jhalakprizeat10 #jhalakprize www.thebookseller.com/news/news/jh...

It’s cold & wet in London, which makes me think about the thousands of displaced Gazans who are being flooded out of their tents, trying to survive both the ongoing Israeli aggression, famine & severe shortages & winter hardships. If you can, please donate to one of the following organisations.

This is the go-to defence of the bully who protests that punching the small kid was only a joke. A joke that only the bully & their acolytes laughed at. The testimonies of the boys who remember Farage at school correspond with the personality of the adult who now struts about our political stage.

📣 Work with Us - #DeptfordLiteratureFestival Are you a London-based writers, poets, artists, arts and community organisations with exciting ideas? Apply to be part of our #DeptfordLiteratureFestival 2026 programme. 🔗 More info : tinyurl.com/4mjm3b67 Deadline: Monday 1 December, 10am

A movie that takes place where you’re from

Here’s a brilliant auction raising funds for #Sudan. There’s a massive range of cool arty things you can bid on!

Wonderful obituary for South African writer Zoë Wicomb here, in good company with the late Geoffrey Bindman. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Our Winter Sale is here! Enjoy 50% off all books from 21 – 30 November. Explore stories that inspire, challenge and delight, with proceeds supporting Taawon and The Trussell Trust. Use code WINTER50 at checkout. Exclusions apply. www.saqibooks.com

Happy brithday Nadine Gordimer! Born on this day, 20th of November, 1923. A powerful voice against the horrors of apartheid in her home country of South Africa, her works include A Guest of Honour (1970) and The Conservationist (1974). She won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1991.

The real BBC bias story, narrated by Anna Ford

This award gives emerging writers a free course, retreat and mentoring. You need to be unpublished but it closes on 30th November so get in quick. Details in link. Please share :)

📣 We're looking for a new Treasurer! If you're passionate about words, human rights, and good governance, we'd love to hear from you. Help guide the future of one of the world's oldest human rights organisations. 📅 Apply by 24 November ⤵️ www.englishpen.org/jobs/vacancy...

Anti-Apartheid Movement humour 🇿🇦