Israel to ban dozens of aid agencies from Gaza as 10 nations warn about suffering Failure of groups including MSF and ActionAid to hand over staff details means they will not be able to operate in Gaza, say Israeli officials * During a fierce storm I could hear the panicked screams of children in tents outside. This is Christmas in Gaza Israel has announced it will stop dozens of aid organisations working in Gaza within 36 hours for failing to meet stringent new requirements to hand over personal details of Palestinian and international staff deployed in the devastated territory. The list of groups hit by the ban include some of the world’s best known humanitarian organisations such as ActionAid, International Rescue Committee and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Continue reading...

Israel to ban dozens of aid agencies from Gaza as 10 nations warn about suffering

A Battle with My Blood When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.

Tatiana Schlossberg, daughter of Caroline Kennedy, has died at 35. In November, she wrote about receiving a terminal diagnosis following the birth of her daughter.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me/hsZC7S

"Apples are health, vitality, fertility, life. So, when offered, the gift of life. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. The most innocent of bribes for a teacher. But if apples are life, then the negative space their absence creates is the opposite. Apples are also a typical gift to Santa Muerte."

You were a delight, Sofka. Thank you for doing this event with us! “Stealing Dad” is a wonderful book.

Me n my gal Anna selling STEALING DADs @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social yesterday.
Generous host Prof Gonda Van Steen.
@johnkittmer.bsky.social (former UK ambassador to Greece w/Yorkshire soul of a Greek poet) made the interview brilliant fun.
Thanks Kevin Featherstone & everyone who came. 🧡🩷🧡

This looks SO good! You can read a seductive sample on Apple Books or kindle.

Thank you, Sofka, for this dazzling and generous write-up. I’m hugely looking forward to our talk about Greece, writing and your brilliant novel, “Stealing Dad”!

I admired @johnkittmer.bsky.com even more when he gave up diplomacy to write a PhD thesis on the Communist poet Yiannis Ritsos - hear him discuss Ritsos & Theodorakis songs on my podcast Athens Unpacked (Ep. 6, Songs & Poems).

When @johnkittmer.bsky.social arrived in Athens slap bang in the thick of the appalling economic crisis in 2013, there were many challenges but he quickly became hugely popular & active, aided by his perfect modern Greek - he could sing Greek songs, quote Greek poetry & use twitter like a local.

A HUGE honour that philhellene, former UK ambassador to Greece Dr @johnkittmer.bsky.social will interview me @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social Wed 19 Nov 6.30pm to discuss my latest novel STEALING DAD & Greece. Tickets free via eventbrite.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stealing-d...

Thanks so much. We had a great time!

British School at Athens : Writing Greece: An evening with Sofka Zinovieff and Julian Hoffman In-conversation Writing Greece: An evening with Sofka Zinovieff and Julian Hoffman Neither Julian Hoffman nor Sofka Zinovieff are originally from Greece and yet they’ve both devoted a large part of […...

This should be a great seminar to attend whether is in person or by zoom. I will try not to miss it. @julianhoffman.bsky.social @sofkazinovieff.bsky.social www.bsa.ac.uk/events/writi...

Thank you!

TOMORROW!
SOLD OUT but available to join online at link below. Can’t wait to talk WRITING GREECE with the wonderful @julianhoffman.bsky.social at
@britschoolathens.bsky.social

Mary Portas & me getting in the mood for our discussion about life, books, bereavement & friendship at the magnificent @PritchardandUre Camden
7pm 17.09.25
Tickets via P&U website www.pritchardandure.com/new-events
#maryportas #books #friendship

A lovely piece in ToVima about the upcoming @Corfu Lit Fest.
Corfu Literary Festival.
Great events incl Lee Durrell & Julian Hoffman & a literary feast at the gorgeous Villa Posillipo where “THE DURRELLS” was filmed. Check website for details & tickets.

www.tovima.com/culture/corf...

My first swim at Parliament Hill Lido.
Thanks Gillian Stern & @JoannaBriscoe for knowing it would put me in a good mood. UK Lido pools with their gorgeous 1930s designs are surely amongst the best of British institutions?
And if you’re not Italian, do you say leedo or lyedo?

Branding pensioners terrorists: Podcast Episode · The New Statesman | UK politics and culture · 13/08/2025 · 22m

Such a clear & useful explanation by Sir Jonathan Porritt on New Statesman podcast of why the UK govt is lying about Palestine Action & how these young, peace-loving protestors always clearly stated they would not use violence against people.

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

Zadie Smith, Michael Rosen, Irvine Welsh and Jeanette Winterson sign letter calling for Israel boycott More than 200 writers request cessation of all trade until people of Gaza given adequate food, water and aid

Honoured and proud to have signed this letter.
We must stop the ongoing genocide and starvation of innocent civilians in Gaza.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

My brother Leo hangs a fabulous washing line.... #washing #washingline #hebrides

If you’re in Corfu, London or Athens over the next months I’d love to see you at one of these varied events involving STEALING DAD and much more.
#stealingdad @littlebrown.bsky.social

What a fabulous evening @owlbookshop.bsky.social with Reeta Chakrabarti discussing her “Finding Belle” and my “Stealing Dad” with the incomparable freelance editor and ghost writer Gillian Stern.
#Stealingdad @littlebrown.bsky.social

Ooh! Looking forward very much to this. Such a fan of Leonora Carrington’s writing and of @backlisted.bsky.social which introduces me to countless brilliant books 🙌

Tuesday 22 July, 6.30 at @owlbookshop.bsky.social
Discussion with Reeta Chakrabarti about our novels with excellent editor Gillian Stern
#StealingDad
#FindingBelle
#ReetaChakrabarti

owlbookshop.co.uk/product/sofk...

Zen and the art of…..
pigeon-fancying?

Rock dove or London pigeon, one is rarely far from a feathered friend in the company of Anna #HAWXX

Completely fascinating. More congratulations @sturdyalex.bsky.social for this phenomenal podcast.

The indifference of Greece’s 36 million tourists to ‘catastrophes and corruption’ is forgivable Greece letter: Debate about the Tempe rail tragedy represents a pervasive way of judging whether the state is inherently unstable

Delighted to find STEALING DAD @littlebrown.bsky.social , discussed & appreciated in this fascinating piece about Greece, disasters, the state & tourism in the Irish Times by Richard Pine

www.irishtimes.com/world/europe...

Take a look at this fabulous and unmissable auction (from art & clothes) to theatre tickets and meetings with actors including Juliet Stevenson . All in aid of Health Workers for Palestine.
I’ve already started bidding. Do let me know what you’re interested in.

bidaid.com/auction/pale...

Jumanah Younis | At the Pond It was 27°C in London on Friday, 20 June, and I was looking forward to cooling off with a swim at the Hampstead Heath...

‘A felt memory resurfaced of all the times when, growing up as a Muslim wearing hijab, I’d had racist abuse shouted at me in the street.’

Jumanah Younis on trans inclusivity at Hampstead Heath’s Ladies’ Pond, from the blog: www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ju...