Paul Evans

Don McCullin, 89, returns to Palmyra: ‘This time will be my last’

Anthony Loyd took the legendary photographer back to Syria last month. What began as an attempt to chronicle the destruction of Palmyra by Islamic State soon became a reflection on war, loss, friendship — and a remarkable career

The best start today, with a pancakes and maple syrup breakfast at @canadianuk.bsky.social: the closest of friends and forever allies.

Enjoyed taking my children to the match, with the bonus of building their character through endurance of adverse weather conditions.

If you want to live in a decent society, you have to get stuck in. You can’t just play the consumer; disappointed with that state of your community, political parties, democracy itself. They’re aggregations of us. You can either participate, or be an impotent observer and let malign forces prevail.

For 10 years, the Global Coalition has stood strong: supporting partners to defeat Daesh on the battlefield, restoring communities, and holding terrorists to account. As Daesh evolves, we continue to work towards its enduring defeat.

#ADecadeOfProgress #Coalition10 #CounterTerrorism #ISIS #Daesh

After returning from a candlelit Nine Lessons and Carols, now knocking back a very spicy Bloody Mary, to chase away the residual hangover of last night.

The scale of the Assad regime’s depravity is almost unfathomable. ‘Burning Country’ by Leila Al-Shami and Robin Yassin-Kassab remains indispensable on the barbarity with which it met the Syrian people’s demands for dignity. If ever the phrase “national trauma” were appropriate, it is in Syria.

“There is no growth without security - and no security without alliances. So to fix the foundations we must meet this dangerous age with an age of deeper alliances”. Could not agree more.

Post you from a different era?
Backpacking on a diet of fags and Rani Float, aged 25.