Arifa Akbar

Arifa Akbar is deputy literary editor and arts writer at The Independent. She has been at the paper since 2001, and has previously worked as a news reporter and arts correspondent.

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First Night: Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour, O2 Arena, London

At last, Jackson appears at the O2 (but this off the wall tribute is no thriller)

Here Comes Trouble, By Michael Moore

Michael Moore begins his life story on Oscar night, March 2003, when he made an anti-Iraq war speech which led to widespread hate and which, tellingly, inspired him to make Farenheit 9/11, his anti-Iraq war documentary.

Reflecting: Terry Pratchett, whose new novel 'Dodger' has just been published

Terry Pratchett: 'What keeps me going is the fight'

Terry Pratchett, beloved creator of the Discworld fantasy series, hasn't let the diagnosis of a rare form of Alzheimer's slow him down. He talks to Arifa Akbar about his newest novel and his plans for the future.

The Weekend's Viewing: Arena: Magical Mystery Tour Revisited, Sat, BBC2
The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour, Sat, BBC2

When the British public sat down to watch the latest Beatles film on Boxing Day in 1967, they might have expected similar fare to A Hard Day's Night and Help!, released a few years earlier, or maybe even something a bit more festive.

The End of Men and the Rise of Women By Hanna Rosin Viking

An unconvincing economics-led theory that predicts female supremacy and male demise

In Other World: SF and the Human Imagination By Margaret Atwood

Atwood has long been accused of literary elitism for refusing to align herself with the SF brigade.

She can do anything: Juliette Binoche

Juliette Binoche: A most eccentric career trajectory

Juliette Binoche has gone from Hollywood hits to obscure arthouse movies to radical dance. Is there nowhere this courageous, curious French actress won't go?

A Monster Calls, By Patrick Ness

Ness had not met the late author, Siobhan Dowd, who died of breast cancer, when he decided to write a book loosely based around her.

Thursday’s release of JK Rowling’s new book is set to be the biggest publishing event of the year

Life after Harry Potter: Can JK Rowling cast her spell over grown-ups too?

With pre-orders for her new novel topping one million, the author is set for another bestseller

Loathing like love: Khaled Khalifa

In Praise of Hatred, By Khaled Khalifa, trans. Leri Price

This novel of repression and subversion in Syria explores the lure of fanaticism

Day In a Page

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

Watch out Watford: Here comes the secretive Bilderberg Group

A meeting of global power brokers in a Hertfordshire hotel is exciting conspiracy theorists, but what are they really about?
'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system': Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console

'The ultimate all-in-one home entertainment system'

Microsoft finally unveils its Xbox ONE console
Plenty of Fish dating site founder pulls 'Intimate Encounters' option to ward off sleazy men

Plenty of sleaze

Dating website pulls intimate 'hook-up' section to curb harassment
Inferno author Dan Brown 'honoured' to be invited to join the Freemasons

The Freemasons’ Code

Dan Brown reveals the message that told him door to the lodge is open
Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Not secure any more: G4S boss heads for exit at last

Nick Buckles survived the Olympics débâcle and a £5bn bid fiasco but a profit warning finally triggered his downfall
How to say ‘I’m a sellout’: Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar

How to say ‘I’m a sellout’

Tumblr’s David Karp’s message of reassurance to his staff sounded very familiar
Why clubs are keen to take a stand

Why clubs are keen to take a stand

There's a real desire around the grounds for safe standing. But will the authorities listen?
In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

In the end the fans decided Tony Pulis had made a pig's ear of the job at Stoke City

Disillusion with a siege mentality and negative playing style made change inevitable
James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

James Lawton: The James Hunt I knew is the subject of a new F1 movie

British driver was fascinating man whose epic duel with Niki Lauda in 1976 was typical of an era of glamour and glory – but also the ever-present threat of death
Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Stuart Hogg: Ready to climb his own Everest

Lions' cub, 20, joins long line of players from Scottish borders club Hawick given opportunity to make his mark at highest level
Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch

Steve Bunce on Boxing

Carl Froch handed rare chance of revenge with dream rematch against Mikel Kessler
'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'

Masculinity in crisis?

'There is a battle going on inside us that is never discussed'
Have US shock jocks gone too far?

Have US shock jocks gone too far?

An incendiary remark from Rush Limbaugh may be the beginning of the end for outspoken right-wing US broadcasters
The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey pays more income tax than big cities of the North

The ‘Beverly Hills’ of Surrey

Elmbridge pays more income tax than big cities of the North
Heavenly Bodies

Heavenly Bodies

Michael Landy's artistic marriage made in heaven... and hell