Kenan Malik
@kenanmalik.bsky.social
Writer & Observer columnist. Latest book: Not So Black and White (Hurst). “Unsettles the pieties of contemporary race-talk” - Paul Gilroy. “A work of immense scholarship” – Jon Bloomfield. Website: https://kenanmalik.com/
Quite a tweet from the head of Jordan's FA x.com/AliBinAlHuss...
Ali Al Hussein (@AliBinAlHussein) on X
There is no shortage of issues regarding FIFA. Let me start by clarifying what some of these are from an FA perspective, in particular that of Jordan going into a World Cup for the first time. We are...
x.com
“Sam Altman… said we’d ultimately be happier if we keep our heads down and keep grinding.” “Somehow we never get the promise of the four-hour work week at mass scale in society... And I don’t expect AI to change that.” futurism.com/artificial-i...?
Sam Altman Says Even the Power of AI Will Never Lead to a Shorter Work Week
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has some bad news: AI will never lead to a shorter work week — despite having already ushered in the singularity.
futurism.com
“Ceuta’s border is so thoroughly militarised that it puts even Trump’s barrier-building – let alone that of Greece, Poland or Finland – to shame. The paradox… was that this militarisation had involved ceding control”: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The right’s exploitation of the Ceuta migrant ‘crisis’ almost guarantees that it will happen again | Ruben Andersson
The EU’s panic and the lack of solidarity emboldens smugglers and the far right – and makes Spain even more vulnerable, says Ruben Andersson, professor of social anthropology
theguardian.com
“What should not be acceptable is for leftwing parties to blunt their principles or to diminish hostility to one form of bigotry in the name of confronting another.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
In its refusal to confront Islamist bigotry, the left has...
The right seized on the ethnicity of the Berlin Pride attacker to demonise Muslims, but liberals have been hamstrung for fear of appearing illiberal
observer.co.uk
Not been on social media for a while, so a bit slow on the Jason Arday debate. Seems to me the key line is Arday’s response to @theguardian.com questioning one of his claims: “To be honest with you, I thought you’d just believe me”. This is as much about the culture and the institutions… 1/
“What should not be acceptable is for leftwing parties to blunt their principles or to diminish hostility to one form of bigotry in the name of confronting another.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
In its refusal to confront Islamist bigotry, the left has...
The right seized on the ethnicity of the Berlin Pride attacker to demonise Muslims, but liberals have been hamstrung for fear of appearing illiberal
observer.co.uk
“Foreignness is being asked to do more than describe legal status. Legal status may affect legal consequences. But why should it alter the moral weight of the act?” Anye-Nkwenti Nyamnjoh in @africasacountry.bsky.social africasacountry.com/2026/06/the-...
The right to belong imperfectly
In South Africa, one of xenophobia’s quieter moral mechanisms is the way foreign wrongdoing is made to carry more meaning than citizen wrongdoing.
africasacountry.com
Being obnoxious, even hoping that someone had died painfully, is not, or should not be, a crime www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Aberdeen University worker charged over Ann Widdecombe death comments
Police Scotland had initially said there was no criminality but have now confirmed a 50-year-old has been arrested and charged.
bbc.co.uk
Wouldn't it be good to have an England manager that had faith in the team rather than deciding simply to park the bus once England take the lead...
“South Africa reveals in the starkest form what happens when the anger created by the betrayal of working-class hopes is exploited by sections of the elite to deflect from their own role in that betrayal.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
South Africa’s xenophobic violence is a warning for a wor...
Anti-migrant sentiment is being exploited by elites to deflect from their own role in economic hardship
observer.co.uk
“South Africa reveals in the starkest form what happens when the anger created by the betrayal of working-class hopes is exploited by sections of the elite to deflect from their own role in that betrayal.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
South Africa’s xenophobic violence is a warning for a wor...
Anti-migrant sentiment is being exploited by elites to deflect from their own role in economic hardship
observer.co.uk
When even Sepp Blatter thinks he's able to take the moral high ground... x.com/SeppBlatter/...
Joseph S Blatter (@SeppBlatter) on X
Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies. If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly ...
x.com
“Much of this debate reflects a yearning for simple notions of belonging. Identities, though, are always messy, elastic and contradictory, because human societies and relationships are, too.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
This World Cup shows how contradictory and messy it is to...
With 99 players born in France but just 23 playing for Les Bleus, the tournament highlights how lines of nationality are blurred
observer.co.uk
I guess one of the privileges of being the first recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize is being able to decide who gets a red card on the pitch.
Ben Jacobs@jacobsben.bsky.social · last mo.🚨 Exclusive: The White House made a direct call to FIFA to ask Gianni Infantino to review Folarin Balogun’s red card. FIFA approached for comment and referred to the findings of its independent committee.
“Much of this debate reflects a yearning for simple notions of belonging. Identities, though, are always messy, elastic and contradictory, because human societies and relationships are, too.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
This World Cup shows how contradictory and messy it is to...
With 99 players born in France but just 23 playing for Les Bleus, the tournament highlights how lines of nationality are blurred
observer.co.uk
“The fear of the far right exploiting the issue has only made it easier for the far right to do exactly that, and to shape the narrative.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/politic...
From anti-racists to racists, the grooming gangs debate h...
If the official inquiry into these horrific crimes is to offer justice and answers, it must navigate a path through distortion and bigotry
observer.co.uk
Though it hasn’t become a national issue, there have in recent weeks been arson attacks of mosques, street attacks on those perceived to be Muslim, and now this. An issue that needs to be taken seriously. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Man charged after suspected anti-Muslim attacks in Edinburgh
Two people were injured close to a mosque and a man was later seen battering the door of a pizzeria as members of the public run away.
bbc.co.uk
“It is a tragedy of today’s politics that, for too many, working-class defiance finds its outlet in racist organisations and reactionary parties, and that the left’s neglect of class politics… has left it with little moral standing to challenge that”: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
An abandoned working class has found its voice. Tragicall...
After decades of economic exploitation, political disdain and social abandonment, people turn to anyone who will listen
observer.co.uk
Today marks the ninth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire. And still no accountability. x.com/Grenfellnext...
GRENFELLNEXTOFKIN (@Grenfellnextkin) on X
We look forward to the day we do not have to make these badges anymore. We were set up to wait in vain. NO JUSTICE. NO PEACE. @MHCLG @Keir_Starmer @AngelaRayner @AndyBurnhamGM @DawnButlerBrent ...
x.com
“The wider issues thrown up by the case should concern even those who oppose the activities of Palestine Action.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/opinion...
Sentencing the Palestine activists for terrorism places c...
The judge’s ruling in arms factory case raises spectre of what the defence barrister Rajiv Menon describes as ‘creeping authoritarianism’
observer.co.uk
This is very good, from Kenan Malik, on the perverse nonsense pedalled by the right since the murder of Henry Nowak — but that doesn’t shy away from criticising liberal identity politics either.
Kenan Malik@kenanmalik.bsky.social · 2mo ago“Politicians who have been vocal in criticising “victim culture” are now at the forefront of promoting white victimhood.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/politic...
“Politicians who have been vocal in criticising “victim culture” are now at the forefront of promoting white victimhood.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/politic...
In weaponising Henry Nowak’s tragic death, the right has ...
The language around antiracism has degraded notions of equality to the point that it has been adopted by extremists to portray white victimhood
observer.co.uk
“The paradox of a nation that is far less racist but in which discussions of ideas and policies once confined to the far-right fringes have become mainstream.” My @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
Forget Restore Britain – the problem is mainstream politi...
Despite Britons becoming more liberal, extremist ideas such as those espoused by Rupert Lowe’s party have been normalised
observer.co.uk
“The legitimacy of our society depends on ordinary people believing justice is possible. We are no longer sure it is.” Kimia Zabihyan of the Grenfell Next of Kin group in my @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
A tale of two tower block fires: in Milan, nine convicted...
The Metropolitan police has more than 70 files on the 2017 London disaster, but the Crown Prosecution Service won’t even see them until September
observer.co.uk
So, farewell Sonny Rollins, “Saxophone Colossus” as his album title put it www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4DT...
Sonny Rollins - St. Thomas
YouTube video by BluesBeboper
youtube.com
Just caught up with last week’s In Our Time on the Levellers. A good listen. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
In Our Time - The Levellers - BBC Sounds
The political movement during the English Civil War committed to a new idea of equality.
bbc.co.uk
“The legitimacy of our society depends on ordinary people believing justice is possible. We are no longer sure it is.” Kimia Zabihyan of the Grenfell Next of Kin group in my @theobserveruk.bsky.social column: observer.co.uk/news/columni...
A tale of two tower block fires: in Milan, nine convicted...
The Metropolitan police has more than 70 files on the 2017 London disaster, but the Crown Prosecution Service won’t even see them until September
observer.co.uk
