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Paul Mason

@paolo-mason.bsky.social
342 followers 1.3K following 45 posts

I work in heath and care evaluation with an interest in politics, history, records, cats obvs and things that make me laugh. Yorkshireman. Personal account.

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Reposted by Paul Mason
Rebecca Montacute @beckymontacute.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
A reminder for anyone new to Bluesky (or who just wants to follow more policy wonks here) that I've made a starter pack of all the think tanks I've spotted on the platform and the researchers working at them (if you're missing and want adding in let me know!) - go.bsky.app/Geu9Jd8
go.bsky.app
UK think tanks - research edition
Join the conversation
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Kathleen Bachynski @bachynski.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
“The new outbreak began in August and has sickened more than 100 people, making it the second-largest cluster of cases in the country this year. A majority of the cases are in unvaccinated people… “We certainly have not had anything like this in many, many, many years,” said Walter Ornstein”
nytimes.com
More Than 100 Cases of Measles Reported in Utah and Arizona
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Guest blog from our lead data scientist Claire Welsh on using coding tools for project management and more
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
💡 “I wish I was macho instead of just deep.” Join our huddle: 18 Sept (11–12) with Marc Farr on the realities of #AnalyticsLeadership in today’s NHS One of the most engaging speakers on data + leadership in health & care 🔗 Normal Teams link or register: bit.ly/4meLZLV #marcwfarr #apha-analysts
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Shocking
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Sending thoughts and prayers from the UK
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
"a fifth-grade kid talking about the panic of nobody knowing what to do or where to run, because they’d only drilled for an active-shooter scenario at school, not at chapel"
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 28/08/2025
The children who survived the shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on Wednesday are now part of a group that numbers nearly 400,000: America’s children who have been exposed to gun violence at school.
nyti.ms
Survivors of Minneapolis Catholic School Shooting Face Long Road Ahead
Children who survive school shootings deal with a host of complex feelings, ranging from anxiety and grief to guilt and shame.
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Greg Greene (he/him/his) @greene.haus · 28/08/2025
(1) …
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Greg Greene (he/him/his) @greene.haus · 28/08/2025
We have, as Sen. Tina Smith and Prof. Gregg Gonsalves have commented separately this morning, a cabinet of sociopaths.
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Principled www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
CDC erupts in chaos after ousted chief Susan Monarez refuses to resign
Lawyers for Monarez say she was ‘targeted’ for ‘protecting the public’ by not endorsing ‘unscientific’ orders
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Read the latest article from NHS England here: www.england.nhs.uk/2025/07/nhs-...
england.nhs.uk
NHS England » NHS publishes waiting list breakdowns to tackle health inequalities
NHS England » NHS publishes waiting list breakdowns to tackle health inequalities
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
The examples quoted for equitably managing waiting list challenges are from work by @Strategy_Unit on Inclusive Elective Care Recovery. More case studies are here 👉 www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/publications... #HealthInequalities #NHS #ElectiveCare
strategyunitwm.nhs.uk
Inclusive Elective Care Recovery
These case studies present the key features and learning from local initiatives which championed inclusive approaches to elective care recovery.
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
We’re delighted our open-source demand model - developed in collaboration with New Hospital Programme has been named the winner of the Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Health and Care Analytics 🎉 www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/news/strateg... #HealthAnalytics #OpenSource #DataSavesLives
Sarah Cumbers (RSS) presents the Florence Nightingale Award for Excellence in Health and Care Analytics to Strategy Unit members Tom Jemmet, Jac Grout, YiWen Hon and Chris Beeley
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
We’re working with LLR ICB on their GP funding formula - for work led by Health Foundation
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Ben Goldacre @bengoldacre.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Which medicines are being used the most, in which hospitals? We made OpenPrescribing.net for GP data... And now you can also use... hospitals.openprescribing.net too! Here's a blog about our first public outing www.bennett.ox.ac.uk/blog/2025/06...
bennett.ox.ac.uk
OpenPrescribing Hospitals Meets the Public | Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science
Brian MacKenna demonstrated OpenPrescribing Hospitals at the 2025 Clinical Pharmacy Congress last month. Here’s his thoughts on how it went.
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Patient and unpaid carer views of virtual wards - first national research, out now www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/news/virtual...
strategyunitwm.nhs.uk
Virtual wards: Patient and unpaid carer experiences of ‘hospital at home’ care
Our evaluation of patient and carer experiences of virtual wards found widespread benefits and highlights areas for improvements particularly in involving carers better.
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Rowan Hooper @rowhoop.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Bubble rings blown by whales in an apparent attempt to interact or communicate with humans (as just heard on Radio 4 Today) (a thread with thoughts) 1/5
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ETSC - European Transport Safety Council @etsc.eu · 03/06/2025
Study on London 20 mph limits shows: - collisions ⬇️ 35% - casualties ⬇️ 36% - fatal/serious injuries ⬇️ 34% - child casualties ⬇️ 46% - child deaths ⬇️ 75% - walkers, cyclists, motorcyclists killed/seriously injured ⬇️ 28% etsc.eu/20mph-limits...
etsc.eu
20mph limits in London linked to sharp fall in road injuries and deaths, new report finds
A new study published by Transport for London (TfL) has shown that the introduction of 20mph speed limits and zones on local authority-managed roads in London between 1989 and 2013 led to significant…
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Cold War Steve @coldwarsteve.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Wow
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 28/05/2025
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that he could bar government scientists from publishing in the world’s leading medical journals, instead proposing the creation of “in-house” publications by his agency.
washingtonpost.com
RFK Jr. says he may bar scientists from publishing in top medical journals
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took aim at reputed journals such as the Lancet and said the agency will create “in-house” publications instead.
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
NEW: Sure Start generated widespread, long-lasting benefits for children in education, health, absences, and SEND. Every £1 of up-front spending on Sure Start could generate around £2 in total benefits over the long run. THREAD on our new ‪@nuffieldfoundation.org‬-funded report: [1/11]
Chart shows the effects of Sure Start on academic achievements by age, SEN support by age, probability of hospitalisation by age and criminal behaviour up to age 16.
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Helen Buckingham @hbuckingham.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
What was that about a shift 'from hospital to community'? The 'analogue to digital' shift isn't going to make up for a change of this scale in a key community workforce.
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Advanced analytics meets public value. Our revolutionary NHP open-source demand model equips NHS analysts and planners with the tools to forecast demand, shift care to communities, and make evidence-driven decisions. Built in the NHS, for the NHS. www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/news/transfo...
strategyunitwm.nhs.uk
Transforming Hospital Planning with an Open-Source Demand and Capacity Model​
​​We are proud to announce the open-sourcing of a demand and capacity model, developed with the New Hospitals Programme, to transform NHS hospital planning with transparency, collaboration, and effici...
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
We are very fortunate to have worked with them to produce this report, which assesses the quality of analysis for decision-making. Click here to read the blog: www.health.org.uk/features-and... Check out the full report here: www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/publications...
health.org.uk
‘Rules of thumb’ when assessing the quality of analysis for decision making
Specialist analysts consider how decision makers can quickly judge the quality of research.
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The Strategy Unit @strategyunit.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
Reshaping the pattern of care - Is the left shift mission impossible? Our very own Fraser Battye, Peter Spilsbury and Jennifer Wood discuss why the 'left shift' has yet to happen and what could be done differently this time with support from NHS Confederation www.nhsconfed.org/events/watch...
nhsconfed.org
Watch: Reshaping the pattern of care - Is the left shift mission impossible?
Member webinar on why the 'left shift' has yet to happen and what could be done differently this time, with a presentation from The Strategy Unit.
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Andrew Sparrow @andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Brexit led to rise in hospital death rates because EU nurses were replaced by less qualified staff, academic study says - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
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Stephen Collins @stephencollins.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
Cartoon by Stephen Collins for The Guardian. Script as follows:

[scene is Winston Churchill in a bbc studio, giving his 'finest hour' speech]

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CHURCHILL:
The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us. 

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CHURCHILL:
Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war.

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CHURCHILL:
If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free 
and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sun-

BBC PRESENTER:
Thank you prime minister 

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BBC PRESENTER:
Mr hitler, your response?

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HITLER [in the studio]:
Vell zis is hysterical woke nonsense as usual from mr Churchill

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HITLER:
What we are proposing -

CHURCHILL:
Hang on

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HITLER:
Let me finish - what we are proposing eez a simple power-sharing arrangement -

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CHURCHILL:
What's he doing here

BBC PRESENTER:
It's important we hear both sides of the debate

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CHURCHILL:
This isn't a debate 
You don't debate fascists

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HITLER:
Oh here we go with ze Godwins law!

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HITLER:
Why must you people always compare ze things you don't like to 'fascists, Nazis, Hitler'...

CHURCHILL:
Because you are a fascist Nazi Hit-

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HITLER [standing up, saluting]:
RAUSS!

BBC PRESENTER:
*Please* Mr Churchill let him speak

[ends]
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Mike Johansen @mikejohansenmd.medsky.social · 10/04/2025
That bring us to the point; systematic reviews of complex topics are hard and require expertise and knowledge of a field. Simplicity is absolutely not the name of the game. WE DON'T NEED MORE SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS. We need better systematic reviews. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam... 3/
jamanetwork.com
Assessment of Publication Trends of Systematic Reviews and Randomized Clinical Trials, 1995 to 2017
This cross-sectional study assesses the growth in the number of systematic reviews and meta-analyses vs randomized clinical trials from 1995 to 2017.
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Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 08/04/2025
Any Labour SpAd arguing for restricting student imm should be sat down in front of a map and asked three Qs: 1. Where do you think the unis in most financial trouble are? 2. How many people rely on them for jobs and income? 3. Which party represents these seats?
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Dorian Lynskey @dorianlynskey.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
There is of course absolutely zero prospect of civil war and only someone with a brain fried by the far right internet would say something that vile and absurd
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Years since I did research with asylum seekers in appalling conditions and it gets worse
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@HSJnews @hsj.co.uk · 02/04/2025
NHS England’s new chair has “called out” the language used over NHS England’s abolition, including terms used by the prime minister and health and social care secretary. www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/do...
hsj.co.uk
Don’t call NHSE ‘the biggest quango in the world’, says new chair
NHS England's new chair has "called out" the language used over NHS England's abolition, including terms used by the prime minister and health and social care secretary.
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Jill Rutter @jillongovt.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
if you are interested in government, this is the best internship going... apply or RT
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Fenit Nirappil @fenitn.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
The Trump administration has started a purge of federal health agencies, placing some leaders on leave and offering reassignments to remote locations in Alaska, Montana and Oklahoma. Updating story from my colleagues www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
washingtonpost.com
Massive layoffs, purge of leadership underway at U.S. health agencies
The move comes after Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement of a sweeping reduction of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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The Health Foundation @healthfoundation.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Analysis from our response to Treasury’s Spending Review estimates if adult social care funding were to keep pace with projected demand and access to care packages was expanded by 10%, additional £7.6bn would be needed by 2028/29, an annual increase of 4.8% from 2021/22. Read more⬇️ buff.ly/qxQKUS3
Line chart of potential funding pressures for adult social care, England, 2021/22 to 2028/29.
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Nolan Hicks @ndhapple.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
"What Was the Plan Behind This Fake CDC Website? 'Real CDC,' which falsely claimed a link between vaccines and autism, has been traced back to Children’s Health Defense," the anti-vaccine non-profit founded by... RFK Jr.: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
What was the plan behind this fake CDC website?
“Real CDC,” which falsely claimed a link between vaccines and autism, has been traced back to Children’s Health Defense.
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Massive change and little coverage
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@HSJnews @hsj.co.uk · 10/03/2025
Julian Kelly, NHS England’s chief financial officer, is to step down in a matter of weeks as part of an overhaul to bring NHSE under closer government control, HSJ can reveal. www.hsj.co.uk/leadership/e...
hsj.co.uk
Exclusive: NHSE finance chief quits in top team overhaul
Julian Kelly, NHS England's chief financial officer, is to step down in a matter of weeks as part of an overhaul to bring NHSE under closer government control, HSJ can reveal.
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Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
OBR publishes supplementarly analysis of fiscal impact of migration. Confirms earlier analysis : - the "average migrant" [in their data] earns slightly *more* than the UK average - the "average migrant" makes a more +ve fiscal contribution than average resident obr.uk/docs/dlm_upl...
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Innsmouth Looksmaxxing @gonebabygone.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
For @teenvogue.com, I wrote about what we can learn from the kids who were brave enough to go out dancing under fascism www.teenvogue.com/story/edelwe...
teenvogue.com
During World War II, These Teens Used Music and Fashion to Resist the Nazis
Get to know the Zazous, the Swing Kids, and the Edelweiss Pirates.
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@HSJnews @hsj.co.uk · 25/02/2025
Amanda Pritchard will step down as NHS England CEO at the end of next month, with Sir Jim Mackey taking over as interim chief. www.hsj.co.uk/integrated-c...
hsj.co.uk
Pritchard to step down as NHSE chief as Streeting reorganises centre
Amanda Pritchard will step down as NHS England CEO at the end of next month, with Sir Jim Mackey taking over as interim chief.
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Ben Goldacre @bengoldacre.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
I was just on @BBCr4today talking about our OpenSAFELY platform, and how we protect the privacy of NHS GP records while supporting hundreds of researchers to do lifesaving work. You can see a 4 minute video explaining how the platform works here: Docs.OpenSAFELY.Org
docs.opensafely.org
OpenSAFELY documentation
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News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 15/02/2025
Zelenskky in Munich today: “Not once did he [Trump] mention that America needs Europe at the table. That says a lot. Ukraine will never accept deals behind our backs. The same rule should apply to all of Europe. No decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine. No decisions about Europe without Europe.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky speaking at the Munich security conference this morning. Photo credit to Johannes Simon/Getty Images
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Are there any downsides to #digitalhealth? Expert panel discussion as part of @strategyunit.bsky.social insights series www.strategyunitwm.nhs.uk/su-insights
strategyunitwm.nhs.uk
SU Insights
‘SU Insights’ is a series of events hosted by the Strategy Unit, exploring the latest analytical insights with leading experts.
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Paul Mason @paolo-mason.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
Come work with me in the best health and care evaluation team, within the #NHS
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Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency
“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST).

For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming.

Thank you for your service”
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WIRED @wired.com · 04/02/2025
NEW: Elon Musk’s attack on USAID has cut HIV/AIDS workers off from medicine and money. The Trump Administration claims it is allowing “lifesaving” foreign aid to continue, but in reality, DOGE is preventing vital work on HIV and AIDS from saving lives. Read our scoop here:
wrd.cm
Elon Musk's DOGE Is Still Blocking HIV/AIDS Relief Exempted From Foreign Aid Cuts
The Trump Administration claims it is allowing "lifesaving" foreign aid to continue, but in reality, DOGE is preventing vital work on HIV and AIDS from saving lives.
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Met4Cast @met4cast.net · 30/01/2025
The first 27 days of 2025 globally are the warmest first 27 days on record. Up to the 27th the average is 0.11C warmer than the start of 2024, the previous record. It’s now certain January 2025 will be the warmest on record globally. Yet another record warm month to add to the list.
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