So sad to hear of Paul Conroy’s passing. A big hearted human, humanitarian and consummate photographer and journalist. He never lost sight that the story was never about him, but rather the people at the other end of his lens he so bravely gave voice to.

The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture The sounds of Afghan history are being erased to prevent music’s ‘moral corruption’ of the Afghan people. We can help keep Afghanistan’s music alive. Plus, Eliane Radigue’s deep listening, and the brilliance of Sinners’s score

The Taliban are burning musical instruments in the name of morality. It is an assault on all culture

Larry the Cat - the real star of Downing Street - celebrates 15 years in post today 🎂 He’s served under six Prime Ministers…but hasn’t let it go to his head…still happy to pop across the street to hangout with the press corps…

Afghan memory: the British medics facing life and death For 13 years, British medics treated soldiers in Afghanistan. Channel 4 News cameraman Stuart Webb captured their journey as operations end. This footage contains images some may find distressing.

www.channel4.com/news/british...
I made many trips to cover the war in Afghanistan & was ambushed on combat patrols with British, Dutch & US forces. In one ambush an Estonian NATO soldier next to me was shot - all on the frontline… This is a snapshot from one of those trips…

Sunset after the storm…

The current state of Storm Goretti off Cornwall…

Thanks to Hypnotoad on the Bellingcat Discord server for noting the spike in Pentagon pizza trackers
www.pizzint.watch

Early morning in Downing Street and it’s just me and Larry…😽

Israeli settlers attack villages in West Bank as violent incidents increase President condemns ‘shocking’ incident in rare comment as settlers injure four Palestinians and attack Israeli soldiers Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, injuring four Palestinians and attacking Israeli soldiers in the latest incident of rising settler violence. The settlers attacked the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, setting vehicles on fire and damaging property belonging to a Bedouin community, with charred remains of cars left behind the next day. Continue reading...

Israeli settlers attack villages in West Bank as violent incidents increase

8 year old Mohamed had his leg blown off by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza 4 months ago. We met him today, recovering at a hospital in Jordan, and still dreaming of playing football.

@sturdyalex.bsky.social

It made the NY Times

West Bank settler attacks happen on ‘daily basis’ – Israeli columnist We spoke to Gideon Levy, a columnist for the liberal Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

West Bank settler attacks happen on ‘daily basis’ – Israeli columnist

www.channel4.com/news/west-ba...

Anas al-Sharif ‘killed brutally because he was fighting for freedom’ – Palestinian journalist We spoke to Palestinian journalist Yara Eid who is from Gaza.

"Anas is like anyone here in the UK. He had a wife, children, dreams he wanted to fight for."

Palestinian journalist Yara Eid spoke to @krishgm.bsky.social about her friend, Anas al-Sharif, who was killed in a targeted attack by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Read + watch
www.channel4.com/news/anas-al...

Prominent Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza Anas al-Sharif was killed while inside a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City A prominent Al Jazeera journalist who had raised concerns about being killed has died in an Israeli airstrike. Anas al-Sharif, known for documenting the release of hostages and for removing his body armour after a ceasefire, was killed while inside a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City along with three colleagues. Continue reading...

Prominent Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli airstrike on Gaza

A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky The Guardian joins a Jordanian military airdrop for a rare chance to observe a landscape devastated by Israel’s offensive Seen from the air, Gaza looks like the ruins of an ancient civilisation, brought to light after centuries of darkness. A patchwork of concrete shapes and shattered walls, neighbourhoods scattered with craters, rubble and roads that lead nowhere. The remnants of cities wiped out. But here, there has been no natural disaster and no slow passage of time. Members of Jordan’s military stand among pallets of aid about to be dropped on Gaza. Continue reading...

A wasteland of rubble, dust and graves: how Gaza looks from the sky

The scene from our balcony in Tel Aviv last night as incoming Iranian missiles were intercepted.

Preparations for the Pope’s funeral have switched into high gear here in Rome…even the Civil Protection sausage dog has been pressed into action…

‘If I die, I want a loud death’: Gaza photojournalist killed by Israeli airstrike Fatima Hassouna, who had been documenting war in Gaza for 18 months and was subject of new documentary, killed along with 10 members of her family As a young photojournalist living in Gaza, Fatima Hassouna knew that death was always at her doorstep. As she spent the past 18 months of war documenting airstrikes, the demolition of her home, the endless displacement and the killing of 11 family members, all she demanded was that she not be allowed to go quietly. “If I die, I want a loud death,” Hassouna wrote on social media. “I don’t want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group, I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place.” Continue reading...

‘If I die, I want a loud death’: Gaza photojournalist killed by Israeli airstrike

Allies at War by Tim Bouverie review – a revelatory study of second world war alliances In focusing on the multilateral bonds that were forged to defeat Hitler, this entertaining account offers fresh disclosures about the course of the war

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/a...

Near the White House a street stall sells Donald Trump souvenir keyrings - made in China…

Ukrainian soldier praised for saving life of stabbing victim in Venice Twenty minutes after arriving on holiday in Italian city, Yanis Tereshchenko drew on experience of war to intervene A Ukrainian soldier who insists on always carrying a first-aid kit – even while on holiday – has been praised for saving the life of a…

Ukrainian soldier praised for saving life of stabbing victim in Venice

Save The Prince Charles Cinema The iconic Prince Charles Cinema in London’s West End future is under serious threat! We are beyond disappointed that our landlords Zedwell LSQ Ltd and their ultimate parent company Criterion Capital...

#SaveThePCC

Some of you may have read about the situation regarding our new landlord wishing to add a new redevelopment break clause, with only 6 months notice to our lease.

For now, we're simply asking you all to share & sign the petition below;

you.38degrees.org.uk/p/princechar...

Greenland from a trip in 2019 - the first time President Trump talked of wanting control of the world’s largest island..

Elvis the peacock popping into our garden this morning - bringing some welcome colour to brighten up the doom loop of grey weather we seem to be stuck in…

Trump and allies are waging campaign against media to stifle dissent – experts Lawsuits against Iowa paper and settlement with ABC signal beginning of aggressive legal action to silence critics Donald Trump and his allies have started to wage a campaign against media organisations in the US that are critical of the president-elect…

Trump and allies are waging campaign against media to stifle dissent – experts

The eye of Storm Darragh over Britain early this morning - via Earth Nullschool.

Farmers bring their protest against inheritance tax changes to the centre of London today - tractors outside Downing Street & next to the Cenotaph.

A nice calming sky for my first post on Bluesky…