Child deaths in wars: Iraq: 3,100 in 14 years Syria: 12,000 in 11 years Yemen: 3,700 in 7 years Ukraine: 520 in 21 months Palestine: ~12,000 in 2 months. Does the world condemn the killing of children or is it complicated when it is Middle Eastern children?

Brian Cox reads If I Must Die, by beloved Palestinian poet, teacher and martyr Refaat Alareer. Refaat was killed on December 7th by an Israeli airstrike. This was the last poem he published.

My hero وائل الدحدوح Wael Al dahdouh. If he wasn’t Palestinian, he’d be the most famous face in the world decorating the covers of every magazine as person of the year. A man who has almost lost his life multiple times, yet never lost the will to keep covering the crimes against his people. When

Less than a week to go until Omid Djalili is in Dubai. Last time I saw him was Bahrain 2009 when he walked on, wound up the Kuwaitis in the audience and sent everyone else howling!!! #comedymaster

The Ministry of Silly Walks would like to remind you that today is #InternationalSillyWalksDay. Public displays of Silly Walking are strongly encouraged. Post your #SillyWalks for grant consideration and beware of any walks that are not particularly silly. 🎩 🧐

All the way from Renfrew to Ras Al Khor, Dubai. I think this bottle may last far longer than its contents will! Glaswegin

🚨🇮🇱 The countries supporting South Africa's claims of GENOCIDE against ISRAEL: 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇲🇻 The Maldives 🇻🇪 Venezuela 🇳🇦 Namibia, 🇦🇫 Afghanistan 🇦🇱 Albania 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan 🇧🇭 Bahrain 🇧🇩 Bangladesh 🇧🇯 Benin 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 🇧🇳 Brunei 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso 🇩🇿

The names of some of the 13,022 Palestinian children killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7th. 13,022 children. In just 111 days. And the list here doesn’t even begin to cover it. This is not war; it’s genocide.

If anyone’s planning on attending the EmiratesLitFest, pass by the panel talk I’m part of on Feb 1st ‘What’s happening in the UAE comics scene’, part of the LitFest After Hours programme. Details – litfesttickets.emirateslitfest.com/addtocart/litf…

📢 International Collaboration Grants are back! 👉 Apply for up to £75k to develop an arts project in collaboration with a UK partner organisation. 🔗 bit.ly/3S8a3mN 📅 Deadline: 30 April #CollaborationGrants

The inordinately talented Joyce Grenfell was born 114 years ago today, which means I am duty bound to post this.

The phenomenal voice of Pretty Yende in recital at #ADF2024 tonight @NYUADArtsCenter 👏👏👏

Tony Benn, Legend. Where have Politicians like this gone?

Congratulations Nujoom Al Ghanem, recipient of America Abroad Media Media Award 2024 (spot the yours truly vocal cameo 😉) youtu.be/hyh-d3ZEIpk?si… via YouTube

Your are but 15 short seconds away from your first smile of the day. Good morning.

Ian was the rarest of men. A driving force behind so many world class institutions (Live Music Now, EUYO, World Orchestra for Peace), his no-nonsense approach and sardonic humour (!) helped forge an incredible music legacy. He is sadly missed. rwcmd.ac.uk/news/in-memory…

Flying Dubai to Venice and an old school pal pops up on my screen. Loved #nextgoalwins, iain morris