6 h. ago Margaret Atwood releases short story critiquing book bans in Canada

Author quipped she wrote ‘suitable’ piece after Alberta school ban included her novel The Handmaid’s TaleMargaret Atwood has released a new short story critiquing elected officials for a wide-ranging book ban in the Canadian province of Alberta. The controversial decision to remove books purportedly containing “explicit sexual content” has seen numerous works of literature swept up in the dragnet, including Atwood’s, dystopian work The Handmaid‘s Tale.In a social media post, Atwood wrote that since her famed work was no longer permissible in Alberta schools, she had written a “suitable” short work for teens, adding the work was necessary because the province’s minister of education thought students were “stupid babies”. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Margaret Atwood hits out at Alberta books ban with satirical short story

Canadian province has banned ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ from some shelves under new rules

Events

5 d. ago US military academies are banning books and eliminating majors to align with Hegseth ‘warrior’ ideology

Trump administration has outlawed ‘gender ideology’ at service academies, and professors say they have faced censorship and political pressure

Events

6 d. ago ‘Parents’ rights’ groups gain ground in Canada amid Alberta book ban

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book banSocially conservative “parents’ rights” groups that have emerged as powerfully political lobbying groups in the US are quickly gaining ground in Canada, academics and free speech advocates say, after two such groups claimed they had persuaded Alberta to institute a sweeping public school book ban.Alberta recently directed schools to purge library books from shelves that fit its definition of “explicit sexual content” by 1 October. If the policy is applied precisely as outlined, a host of books face being purged, including George Orwell’s 1984 due to passages in the text that discuss sexual intercourse and rape. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Rightwing ‘parents’ rights’ groups gain ground in Canada as Alberta book bans target LGBTQ+ titles

Two such groups claim they persuaded Alberta to institute sweeping public school book banSocially conservative “parents’ rights” groups that have emerged as powerfully political lobbying groups in the US are quickly gaining ground in Canada, academics and free speech advocates say, after two such groups claimed they had persuaded Alberta to institute a sweeping public school book ban.Alberta recently directed schools to purge library books from shelves that fit its definition of “explicit sexual content” by 1 October. If the policy is applied precisely as outlined, a host of books face being purged, including George Orwell’s 1984 due to passages in the text that discuss sexual intercourse and rape. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Every UK bank holiday coming in 2026 so you can book your holiday now

Today is the August bank holiday and it marks the last long weekend before Christmas in England and Wales - but what bank holiday dates are coming up in 2026?

Politics

1 week ago Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's new Netflix documentary on African orphans came after they 'watched viral dance videos at home with Prince Archie' during lockdown

One of the upcoming projects part of the Sussexes' 'first look' deal with Netflix is a short documentary about an African orphanage in Uganda, due to be released later this year,

Politics

2 w. ago Period drama fans urged to watch ‘definitive’ and ‘faithful’ adaptation of book banned for 30 years

This period drama was based on a book banned for over 30 years

Events

2 w. ago EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Author bans Andrew's pal Lady V from book launch

With explosive claims about Prince Andrew - his friendship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein - Andrew Lownie's book on the Duke of York has rocked the monarchy.

Culture

2 w. ago Next manuscript by Amitav Ghosh to be kept sealed for 89 years

The Indian author is the next Future Library writer, set to submit a secret work to be locked in a library until 2114The next manuscript by Indian writer Amitav Ghosh will not be read for 89 years, as he becomes the 12th author to contribute to the Future Library project.Ghosh joins Margaret Atwood, Han Kang, Ocean Vuong and other prominent authors who have written secret manuscripts, which are locked away until 2114. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago India bans books and police raid bookstores in crackdown on ‘false narrative’ in Kashmir

Authorities threaten people with prison time for selling or owning works by authors like Booker winner Arundhati Roy and historians Victoria Schofield

Events

3 w. ago Sarah Ferguson sends her critics a message with her footwear after bombshell book that Royals tried to ban accused both her and Andrew of cheating

Sarah, Duchess of York chose to wear the custom blue velvet loafers with 'Never Complain' on one foot and 'Never Explain' on the other for an event in London when she met a group of influencers.

Events