54 h. ago ‘My legal work sows the seeds of my stories’: International Booker prize winner Banu Mushtaq

The author and activist, who was subject to a fatwa in 2000, has won the prestigious prize for translated fiction for her short stories about the lives of Muslim women. She and her translator Deepa Bhasthi explain how Heart Lamp’s themes ‘are universal’• ‘Radical translation’ of Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq wins International Booker prize‘Human beings and their basic nature are the same everywhere,” Banu Mushtaq says. “That is the intention of my writing. The theme is woman, the theme is marginalised people, the theme is to be a voice to the voiceless community.”Mushtaq, from the Karnataka region of southern India, has been “awake all night”, she says, as we speak on the morning after she won the International Booker prize in London for her book Heart Lamp. The prize is shared between Mushtaq and her translator Deepa Bhasthi, who is also present – and also had no sleep. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Sadiq Khan distances himself from Starmer with vow to ‘stand up for trans Londoners’ after Supreme Court ruling

Sadiq Khan’s response to the ruling was a stark contrast with his party leader Sir Keir Starmer

Events

3 d. ago Scissor killer seeks ban on biological males in women's jails

Jayney Sutherley was acquitted of transphobic abuse of trans murderer Alex Baker - who is still being held in women's jail despite being biologically male

Events

4 d. ago Trade union bosses hit by furious backlash from activists after telling transgender women they must use men's toilets at annual conference

Leaders of the Public and Commercial Services union have warned delegates at their annual conference in Brighton they risk breaking the law if they do not use the correct lavatories.

Events

4 d. ago Labour STILL cannot decide what a woman is: Weeks after trans ruling, party axes women's conference to avoid protests

Labour last night scrapped its annual women's conference rather than face legal challenges and protests if it continued to admit transgender women.

Events

4 d. ago International Booker Prize 2025: Banu Mushtaq wins for book ‘challenging Western stereotypes about Muslim life’

The 12 short stories, translated by Deepa Bhasthi, follow the lives of ordinary women living in southern India

Politics

5 d. ago Labour postpones women’s conference over Supreme Court transgender ruling

A Labour Party spokesperson said the party must make sure all its procedures ‘comply with the Supreme Court’s clear ruling’.

Events

5 d. ago Labour set to cancel women’s conference over Supreme Court transgender ruling

The party fears the risk of legal challenge if it goes ahead in its current form, on the basis of self-identification.

Events

6 d. ago Survey reveals what most people think about Supreme Court gender ruling

Polling also suggests almost three quarters of those asked felt the right decision had been made by some sporting bodies in banning transgender women from its female competitions.

Events

7 d. ago How asylum seeker fisherman became virtual captain of £12million migrant smuggling ring from taxpayer funded flat

Ahmed Ebid, 42, masterminded a £12 million operation, in which around 3,800 migrants, including women and children, were transported to Europe from Libya on overcrowded fishing boats.

Economics

1 week ago Car use and meat consumption drive emissions gender gap, research suggests

The French study of 15,000 people shows men emit 26% more pollution due to eating red meat and driving moreCars and meat are major factors driving a gender gap in greenhouse gas emissions, new research suggests.Men emit 26% more planet-heating pollution than women from transport and food, according to a preprint study of 15,000 people in France. The gap shrinks to 18% after controlling for socioeconomic factors such as income and education. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Equalities watchdog threatened with legal action after saying trans women must use men’s toilets

Exclusive: A leading UK trans rights group says guidance ‘incorrectly states the legal position’ following last month’s landmark Supreme Court ruling on gender

Events

1 week ago Kick It Out urges support for trans players after exclusion from women’s game

The governing bodies updated their policies in light of a ruling from the UK Supreme Court last month.

Sport

1 week ago Barclays' latest on potential closures after shutting 1,236 branches

Barclays has confirmed it won't announce any further bank branch closures in 2025 or 2026. However, there's no guarantee that branches won't be shut beyond 2026.

Politics

2 w. ago Britain's largest teaching union says trans women MUST be allowed to use ladies' toilets in schools

The Left-wing National Education Union (NEU) resolved on Saturday to campaign for trans teachers to continue to choose toilets according to 'gender identity'.

Events

2 w. ago Footballer who was banned after questioning transgender player’s inclusion wants apology from FA

Cerys Vaughan says she was sanctioned by the Football Association after questioning a transgender player’s inclusion in women’s team

Sport

2 w. ago Women are turning to hair extensions for this unlikely reason

Hair extensions are no longer just about dramatic transformations; they're quietly becoming a go-to solution for women experiencing hormonal hair thinning

Events

2 w. ago Trans women banned from female toilets in Scottish Parliament after Supreme Court ruling

Alison Johnstone, the presiding officer, said access to Holyrood's toilets would now be based on "biological sex".

Events

2 w. ago Trans women to be banned from Scottish Parliament's female toilets after Supreme Court ruling

The presiding officer has written to all parliamentary staff to say toilets will be based on biological sex only.

Events

2 w. ago Nicola Sturgeon says she 'won't apologise' to women after Supreme Court gender ruling and claims it could make trans people's lives 'unliveable'

Nicola Sturgeon has warned that trans lives could become 'unliveable' following the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of a woman.

Events