Charles Fonge

Some of the stories from the Bishops' Transcripts & the Wills from the Prerogative and Exchequer Court of York recently released in the partnership between the University of York & Ancestry. 👇 16 million historic records from Yorkshire available online bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

New out: Universities and the Purpose of Higher Education, which includes a York case study based on our archives. It’s a timely look at how the ‘New Universities’ navigated post‑war expectations and the enduring question of what universities are for. tinyurl.com/2bd2zxcj

Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole. We have consistently underlined our shared transatlantic interest in peace and security in the Arctic, including through NATO. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise, conducted with allies, responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone. The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US. Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. Europe will remain united, coordinated, and committed to upholding its sovereignty.

Sol Plaatje was 27 years old when he appeared before South African Native Affairs Commission (SANAC) in September 1904 at Mafeking [Mahikeng]. Plaatje is recognised as the first black South African to write a novel in English, Mhudi, published in 1930 but first written in 1919. As a journalist, described as a ‘native editor’ in his SANAC testimony, Plaatje edited the Setswana-English weekly newspaper Kuranta ya Becoana (Bechuana Gazette) and was involved in the running of a number of other vernacular newspapers. He is also known for translating some of the major works of William Shakespeare into Tswana. Images from the frontispiece to Sol Plaatje’s publication ‘Native life in South Africa’ (1916), with dedication to Harriette Colenso (Rosenthal.d.91.23). Source: Sally Kent

🤥 One of the biggest lies about Brexit is that it’s failed bc it was handled badly. BUT Patrick Minford - one of the very few economists to back Brexit - openly admitted that leaving the EU would mostly eliminate UK manufacturing. Not as an accident. By design. He argued it would be in Britain’s interest to run manufacturing down, just as we ran down coal and steel 👉that cheaper imports and “adjustment” would compensate. That wasn’t Project Fear. It was the Brexit economic model. So what we’re living through now 👉collapsing food exports, hollowed-out industry, dependency on imports, foreign takeovers - isn’t Brexit “going wrong”. 👉It’s Brexit doing exactly what some of its architects intended. You don’t gain sovereignty by dismantling your productive base. You lose it because bigger powers then manage your decline. Planned deindustrialisation isn’t patriotism. Its surrender dressed up as freedom.

why is this STILL not front page and headline news in major media? Dereliction of duty. @nyt website still leading with stock gains!! @wapo with Kennedy Center @BBCNews with NY eve celebrations.. - what the hell IS " Breaking news" if not this historic moment ?

France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures. These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty. The European Union’s digital regulations were adopted following a democratic and sovereign process by the European Parliament and the Council. They apply within Europe to ensure fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country, and to ensure that what is illegal offline is also illegal online. The rules governing the European Union’s digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe. Together with the European Commission and our European partners, we will continue to defend our digital sovereignty and our regulatory autonomy.

This is insane. UNC is permanently shutting down all 6 of its area studies research centers, plus 8 other centers, affecting hundreds of faculty and grad students, just to get "$3 million in near-term savings," which is a tiny rounding error in the university's annual budget.

Lucy Lloyd was the first woman in South Africa to be awarded an honorary doctorate. She was awarded an honorary doctorate at the age of 78, a year before her death. She was the creator, along with Wilhelm Bleek, of the 19th-century archive of ǀXam and !Kung texts. Image Source: © Special Collections / University of Cape Town Libraries

60 Years of Derwent and Langwith Colleges: An Archival Exhibition On now in the Norman Rae Gallery on campus, curated by an amazing team of students, and rich with rarely seen archives, this exhibition celebrates college pride, legacy, student life, creativity and connection

Oof, this hits hard.

It was a real thrill to be asked to speak at the 60th anniversary of Langwith & Derwent College last night. Huge thanks to the current Langwith JCRC for inviting me. York looked amazing, so did Ron Clayton & it was great to represent the Old Gold & Black one last time.

Excited for this year’s Canterbury and York Society Annual Lecture. Join us in the amazing @ParkerLibCCCC to hear Professor Chris Given-Wilson on ‘𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹, 1353-1414’ 5 November 2025, 3:30pm

Fountains Abbey 🍁

BREAKING: The earth has reached its first catastrophic tipping point linked to greenhouse gas emissions, with warm water coral reefs now facing a long-term decline and risking the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, according to a new report. The report from scientists and conservationists warns the world is also “on the brink” of reaching other tipping points, including the dieback of the Amazon, the collapse of major ocean currents and the loss of ice sheets. theguardian.com/environment/20…

If true, suggestions that Number 10 has blocked this vital report because they don’t want to admit, and face, the UK’s vulnerability to the growing climate & nature crises would be unforgivable. Risks don’t go away if you ignore them. They get worse. theguardian.com/environment/20…

Day 1 | #AUSS-SA Keynote 🎤 Prof. Shose Kessi spoke on “The Role of African Universities in Advancing Social Justice." “Universities must be spaces of resistance, healing, and co-created knowledge that amplifies African voices.” #AfricanPeacebuilding

The stories of six South African women who travelled to fight for workers and for women’s rights, and risked it all. theconversation.com/travel-as-acti… 💻 Janet Remmington, @UniOfYork #ArtsCultureAndSociety

There are so many unprecedented actions happening right now. But this feels like another hugely significant turning point. Finding & publishing ‘unauthorised information’ is the very definition of journalism. And banning it is the first step towards an ever deepening darkness

The unknown Manchester lady who funded a Hogwarts-style library - BBC News share.google/Wvr2LyIFtrk4FW…