Kim Willsher

An expat in Dubai has a startling revelation: the Stephen Collins cartoon Reality check …

An expat in Dubai has a startling revelation: the Stephen Collins cartoon

Quote of the day.

if I were being paid to disrupt this site I would build and promote block lists. they're a terrible idea with no thought towards their potential for abuse.

block lists are a cancer

Too lazy to be a guide dog: how Marcus found his calling as a therapy animal – video Marcus has found a new career as a therapy dog, for which he is perfectly suited on account of being affectionate, friendly and polite

Too lazy to be a guide dog: how Marcus found his calling as a therapy animal – video

‘Half of Dubai is booking’: expats drive to Oman and Saudi Arabia to find flights out Charter operators vie to secure slots in Muscat as airports in UAE and Qatar remain closed

‘Half of Dubai is booking’: expats drive to Oman and Saudi Arabia to find flights out ft.trib.al/C1YxnDW

Honestly the collective national level of disdain for Brits living in Dubai on all my social media platforms today really is bringing the UK together as one in a way that's hard to achieve in the modern era.

The Guardian’s positive action work experience is open for applications! There are (paid) schemes for disabled, BAME, and working class wannabe journalists.

Because the media needs more people like us.

Info here: workwithus.theguardian.com/entry-level-...

Still half asleep...thinking of something else...don't know! 🤪

Putin says the killing of Khamenei is 'cynical' murder Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family was "cynical" murder that violated all the norms of human mo...

Trump won’t be happy at his friend Putin’s stance here, Putin also says this breaches international law which is off the scale ironic from a wanted war criminal !

www.reuters.com/world/middle...

‘It still rankles’: the French town living in the shadow of being an ayatollah’s refuge Annual remembrance in Neauphle-le-Château revives memories of short exile that reshaped Iran, but which locals would rather forget

A sleepy Sunday morning lapse...thanks to all those who pointed it out!
When the French supported Ayatollah Khomeini.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

Tagged, trolled and trending: My accidental BAFTAs storm | rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads Get more from rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads on Patreon

Followed the storm this week. It was mad and deeply disturbing. How Australian rugby reporter John Davidson was mistaken for Scottish Tourettes Syndrome suffer John Davidson.
www.patreon.com/posts/151785...

Three French men stand trial for Elysée palace tableware theft The former silverware keeper of the French presidency, his partner and an agent from the Louvre are on trial for the theft of hundreds of pieces of precious crockery from the Élysée Palace.

The former silverware keeper of the French presidency, his partner and an agent from the Louvre are on trial for the theft of hundreds of pieces of precious crockery from the Élysée Palace.

A slur was shouted at the Baftas – but what followed was ... The BBC Tourette syndrome furore shows that the stigma exposed by the I Swear film is ongoing

Excellent piece.
observer.co.uk/news/columni...

Agree. In the UK, I often heard "we don't discuss politics at the table".
Arrived in France to find politics discussed all the time, especially at the table. They discuss, debate, argue, thump the table, storm off, come back for round two. Rare is the gathering where politics is NOT discussed!

I get the moral argument, but most people now know how X works and who's paying so it mitigates the harm.
Get labelled a "bigot" on X and everyone shrugs. Here you're put on a ton of sinister blocklists you don't even know about and your reputation is shot. No thank you.

Not necessarily nice, just a more civilised place to have a reasoned and reasonable discourse. And that it most certainly isn't.
If reasonable people feel they must self-censor on certain issues or not post because it will spark a vicious pile-on then it doesn't work except as an echo chamber.

Btw, I reposted the same article with the exactly the same comment on X. Result = zero abuse.
This is a statement of fact not a defence of the owner!

I do, but don't tell anyone!

Indeed. It was relatively tame as abuse goes - I've had worse readers' letters! - but it felt like a load of blokes getting off on bullying. Wonder if they'd have responded that way if I were male.

BS feels like some posh private school where the nastiness is calculated, smug and middle class. No debate just "I'm right, you're wrong".
X feels like a comprehensive where someone shouts "bundle" in the playground and everyone piles in with a whole range of opinions!
Considering dumping both.

My experience of abuse has been vastly more unpleasant here where I have far fewer followers than on X but maybe I've been lucky over there. Also find BS's secret mass blocklists sinister and miss being able to remove followers.
Can also block on X.
That said, 100% agree with your view of owner!

No need for you to apologise but thank you.
Was perhaps naively unsettled by the hectoring and bullying. Thought it was supposed to be more civilised here than on X but clearly not !

Reposted an article critical of cyclists yesterday sparking insults, abuse, patronising remarks and mansplaining from cyclists who felt above criticism. Now blocked by other cyclists with no interaction. So much for changing hearts and minds!
You too can block blockers via @listifications.app

the fact the president of the united states is even thinking about asserting emergency powers to disrupt an election - just a few years after he incited an armed coup attempt - should be the top issue. but the media mostly shrugs and the opposition doesnt focus on it.

French court finds Iranian national guilty of glorifying terrorism A French court on Thursday convicted an Iranian national of glorifying terrorism in social media posts.

French court finds Iranian national guilty of glorifying terrorism reut.rs/4kXSVxV

That’s brave!

Norway’s all-conquering Winter Olympians have a message for us all – and it’s not what you think | Cath Bishop How did a small Nordic country dominate the Games? By making sport fun and not something for kids to suffer

Norway’s all-conquering Winter Olympians have a message for us all – and it’s not what you think | Cath Bishop

We helped to build the barriers (apart from a few details). We were inside the barriers, then put ourselves outside. If we still fail to understand those simple facts, we'll get nowhere.

ITA Airways to allow large dogs in cabin on domestic flights in Italy Italy's flagship carrier ITA Airway has confirmed the launch of its 'Large Pet Friendly' service, after approval from the Italian Civil Aviation Authority.

Starting this summer, Italy’s flagship carrier ITA Airways will allow dogs weighing up to 30 kg in the cabin on domestic flights.

UK business secretary urges EU to stop ‘putting up barriers’ Comments by Peter Kyle come on Brussels trip aimed at securing British access to ‘Made in Europe’ scheme

🚨🚨 Major irony warning:

The UK decision to depart from the EU in the "hard" way opting for the TCA was the most severe barrier to EU trade that could be imposed.

Now live with it or renegotiate the basic terms of this framework. #brexit

www.ft.com/content/05e0...