7 h. ago New report shows it’s largely officials and organizations demanding books be banned

Only 16 percent of book challenges came from parents themselves

Politics

21 h. ago Being a librarian was already hard. Then came the Trump administration

Already facing burnout and book bans, librarians face a ‘catastrophe’ for institutions deemed central to democracyFor many librarians, the stakes of the job are high – they’re facing burnout, book bans, legislation pushed by rightwing groups, and providing essential resources in an effort to fill gaps in the US’s social safety net.Now, as Donald Trump’s administration rolls out their agenda, many librarians are describing his policies as “catastrophic” to accessing information and the libraries themselves – institutions considered fundamental to democracy. Continue reading...

Politics

52 h. ago Decline of nightclubs feeding demand for festivals – event organiser

James Ralls, founder of the Victorious Festival, says regional events are booming.

Politics

59 h. ago Thousands in Spain join nationwide march to protest against housing crisis

Organisers say 150,000 joined protest in Madrid urging the government to ‘end the housing racket’ and to demand access to affordable housingTens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Spain in the latest protest against housing speculation and to demand access to affordable homes.Organisers claim that up to 150,000 joined the protest in Madrid while smaller demonstrations were held in about 40 cities across the country. Protesters from Málaga on the Costa del Sol to Vigo in the Atlantic northwest chanted “end the housing racket” and “landlords are guilty, the government is responsible”. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Democrats decry reported dismissal of NSA director Tim Haugh

Dismissing Haugh, who headed the US Cyber Command, puts the country at risk at a time of ‘unprecedented cyber threats’, congressional Democrats sayTop congressional Democrats on Thursday protested against the reported firing of Gen Tim Haugh as director of the National Security Agency (NSA), with one lawmaker saying the decision “makes all of us less safe”.The Washington Post reported late Thursday that Haugh and his civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, had been dismissed from their roles. Haugh also headed US Cyber Command, which coordinates the Pentagon’s cybersecurity operations. The Post report cited two current US officials and one former US official who requested anonymity. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Glastonbury Festival performers Rudimental confirm sweet reason for band name

Rudimental will be one of the acts performing at this year's Glastonbury Festival and the band's booking has confirmed the sweet reason for their unusual name

Culture

5 d. ago Trump is considering sending migrants to RWANDA eight months after Keir Starmer shelved similar Tory deal with the African nation

The East African nation is said to be among several locations being considered by Washington to host migrants, according to anonymous administration officials cited in a Wall Street Journal report

Politics

5 d. ago Oasis: has Noel Gallagher revealed part of the band’s setlist ahead of their first series of reunion shows?

The interview comes from a forthcoming book about the band, Oasis: The Masterplan

Culture

6 d. ago US Olympic and Paralympic officials fire coach and director after AP report on sexual abuse

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee has fired a coach and a director after The Associated Press reported that the coach was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete

Events

6 d. ago National security adviser and staff used personal Gmail accounts for official communications: report

Report on use of Gmail for government communications comes after national security adviser accidentally added journalist to Signal chat on Yemen attack plans

Politics

6 d. ago Rightwing groups across US push new bans to limit ‘obscene’ books in libraries

Critics say bans would hinder rights as proponents would impose their beliefs on others who don’t share their viewsRightwing groups around the US are pushing legislation that would place new limits on what books are allowed in school libraries in a move that critics decry as censorship often focused on LGBTQ+ issues or race or imposing conservative social values.Caught up in the attempts at suppressing books are classics like The Color Purple and Slaughterhouse Five. Continue reading...

Culture

9 d. ago Maybe I’m Amazed by John Harris review – a father and his autistic son bond through music

An honest and intensely moving book about the struggle of parenthood and the power of connectionOne of my favourite books growing up was my dad’s copy of The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics. I spent hours flicking through images of an eyeless, trombone-mouthed golden man swallowing naked bodies, and a full-page, black-and-white comic strip by legendary psychedelic artist Rick Griffin. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t yet listened to most of the songs – the surreal visual riffs felt like dispatches from an undiscovered country. Later, the Beatles became my favourite band. I chain-listened to the albums, read endless books, watched the movies and recited Beatles’ lore to anyone within earshot. “Oh dear,” said my mum one morning, as I reeled off an account of how a 40-piece orchestra improvised the rising crescendo in A Day in the Life, “you’ve become a Beatles bore.”Maybe I’m Amazed opens with John Harris’s 15-year-old son, James, ecstatically absorbed in a...

Politics

1 week ago Iowa law banning books including 1984 and Ulysses blocked by US federal judge

Judge rules that law banning school libraries and classrooms from carrying books depicting sex acts had been applied unconstitutionallyA lawsuit brought by publishers and authors including John Green and Jodi Picoult has led to a portion of a law banning Iowa school libraries and classrooms from carrying books depicting sex acts being halted.On Tuesday, a federal judge temporarily blocked the measure, writing that it had been applied unconstitutionally in many schools and that books of “undeniable political, artistic, literary, and/or scientific value” had been caught up in it, including Ulysses by James Joyce, Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Michael O’Sullivan report attributes primary factor behind jockey’s tragic death

An official report into the incident at Thurles which resulted in the death of the rising star jockey Michael O'Sullivan found no evidence of human error, equipment failure or other factors

Events

1 week ago Iowa law banning school library books that depict sex acts on hold again after a new federal ruling

A federal judge says Iowa for now cannot continue to enforce part of its book ban law

Events

1 week ago Drug dealing in Scotland 'more visible' with poorest communities worst hit

One in six Scots believe drug misuse or dealing is common in their neighbourhood, according to an official report produced by the SNP Government.

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Strike into Belgorod ‘destroys four Russian helicopters’

Russian missile attack injures 88 in Sumy, officials report; Saudi Arabia ceasefire talks to continue with nothing yet agreed. What we know on day 1,126Ukraine’s special forces said on Monday they destroyed four military helicopters in Russia’s Belgorod region with Himars rocket systems. The special operations command published drone footage and announced: “Special operations forces in cooperation with the GUR of the ministry of defence, missile forces and artillery destroyed two enemy Ka-52 and two Mi-8 helicopters in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation.” The strikes occurred at a concealed “jumping-off point” for Russian aircraft used in surprise attacks on Ukrainian forces, the group said. Ukrainian forces have since 18 March been striking across the border into areas of Belgorod oblast including the village of Demidovka, according to Russian and Ukrainian war watchers. Some claimed Ukrainian troops had managed to seize a small amount of territory in Belgorod. Their rep...

Events

2 w. ago Nicola Sturgeon to make 'revelatory' comedy debut after being cleared in Branchform probe

The former first minister will host a show titled Books and Banter at the King's Theatre in Glasgow alongside best friend and crime author Val McDermid.

Politics

2 w. ago Meta exposé tops bestseller chart despite company’s attempt to ban its promotion

Sarah Wynn-Williams’s account of her seven years as a Facebook executive is number one on the New York Times bestseller list and has flown off the shelves in the UKAn exposé by a former employee of Meta has become a bestseller despite the social media company banning the author from promoting the book.Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former director of global public policy at Meta’s precursor, Facebook, topped the New York Times bestseller chart and will be fourth on the Sunday Times nonfiction hardback chart this weekend. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration live updates: Trump pauses $175m in funding to UPenn over transgender swimmer

Paused funds sourced from Defense Department and Department of Health and Human Services, report says, university claims no official notification

Politics