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Simon Cullen

@simoncullen.bsky.social
195 followers 245 following 64 posts

Twitter exile Now: comms at Asian Development Bank. Past: journo at CNN, BBC, ABC Australia. (All views my own... unless you want them too)

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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
This is a wind map of the Philippines right now (Sunday, 7:45pm local time) Manila is approx where the little green circle is. This is the second major typhoon in less than a week. #typhoonfungwong
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Super Typhoon Ragasa has crossed the coast of northern Philippines. Strong wind gusts here in Manila, but a long way away from the worst of it.
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David Pocock @davidpocock.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Worth a read if you are interested in transparency in Government, FOI and what Labor is cooking up. theconversation.com/yes-freedom-...
theconversation.com
Yes, freedom of information laws need updating, but not like the government is proposing
The Albanese government’s proposed FOI reforms attempt to update decades-old laws. Some of it is needed, but other parts severely threaten government transparency.
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 03/09/2025
"You can say what you like, I don’t care, because that’s what free speech is," Nigel Farage has just told the House Judiciary Committee, about three hours after his party banned me from covering its conference this weekend.
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
The UK has experienced a “solar surge” this year as a run of sunny days and new panels on rooftops generated record amounts of electricity. Solar power output has broken records for the last five months in a row, @ember-energy.org found.
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Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 18/06/2025
As we seem to, yet again, be talking about the hot UK summer of 1976, a reminder that the UK is not the world. Yes, it was hot that summer over our small region, but the bigger picture tells a different story. And, we've had hotter UK summers since.
Comparing temperature anomalies in summer 1976 and summer 2024
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 26/05/2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
BBC returns to Gaza baby left hungry by Israeli blockade
Malnourished five-month-old baby Siwar is now out of hospital in Gaza - but as we found, she and her family are struggling.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 08/05/2025
We have a new Pope! edition.cnn.com/world/live-n...
edition.cnn.com
Live updates: Conclave elects new Pope | CNN
White smoke has risen above the Sistine Chapel, the signal that cardinals have chosen a new pope on the second day of the conclave. Follow here for the latest.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
"In the global game of trade poker, Trump inherited a weakening hand and is playing it extremely badly," writes @alanbeattie.bsky.social in today's @financialtimes.com www.ft.com/content/c2eb...
ft.com
Trump discovers the US is no longer indispensable
America cannot offer enough aid, green technology or new market access to mould the world trading system
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
At a time when the Trump administration wants to scrap FEMA, the data shows an undeniable reality: climate change is already affecting the United States and the government needs to help people adapt. edition.cnn.com/2025/03/24/c...
edition.cnn.com
As Trump works to cut FEMA, data shows there was a major disaster declaration every four days in 2024 | CNN
There were 90 declarations of “major disasters” in 2024, making it one of the worst years for disasters declarations in the last three decades.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
The International Institute for Environment and Development @iied.bsky.social crunched 30 years of FEMA data, and cross referenced it with census estimates for each affected county. Read more here: www.iied.org/major-disast...
iied.org
Major disaster in the US declared every four days in 2024, IIED analysis shows
The United States experienced a near record number of climate-related disasters last year, prompting FEMA to declare 90 major disasters - nearly double the annual average.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 27/03/2025
What do 30 years of FEMA stats show us about climate-driven disasters in the United States? - 2024 was the second highest number of Major Disasters in a year. That's one every four days. - 41% (137m people) of population lived under a Major Disaster or Emergency Declaration at some point in 2024.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
Elon Musk's social media platform X has suspended several accounts belonging to opposition figures in Turkey amid widespread civil unrest in the country. Musk, a self-proclaimed protector of free speech, said he acquired X to restore free speech on the platform. www.politico.eu/article/musk...
politico.eu
Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest
Suspensions affect accounts spreading information about the widespread demonstrations.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
interesting data Hannah. What do you mean by 'development awareness' spending?
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Eric Columbus @ericcolumbus.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
We should worry about migrant rape gangs, says the man who just pressured Romania to free the Tate brothers so they could return to the U.S.
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YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 18/02/2025
The British public has a very positive opinion of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and very negative opinions of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin Volodymyr Zelenskyy: +48 Donald Trump: -51 Vladimir Putin: -85 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
Maybe even Norway, with its colossal sovereign wealth fund, could pitch in? www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
theguardian.com
Danes offer to buy California to spite Trump’s Greenland aims: ‘We’ll bring hygge to Hollywood’
Satirical petition from Denmark, which owns Greenland, racks up 200,000 signatures as Trump eyes Arctic island
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
Only 13 countries met the Feb 10 deadline for updated climate targets. And one of those is the United States (which has since announced it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement). Some big names still missing: The European Union, China, India, Australia, etc, etc. www.iied.org/only-13-coun...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
The number of new marriages recorded in China fell to a record low last year. Some 6.1 million couples registered their marriages in 2024, a plunge of 20.5% from the previous year. edition.cnn.com/2025/02/10/c...
edition.cnn.com
Fewer people than ever before are marrying in China. But divorces are up | CNN
The number of new marriages recorded in China fell to a record low last year, despite sweeping government efforts to encourage young people to tie the knot and have babies to halt demographic decline ...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 10/02/2025
With Donald Trump back in the White House, where does that leave climate action globally? Take a listen to the latest episode of the Make Change Happen podcast with Subhi Barakat from the @iied.bsky.social #climatechange #ParisAgreement #DonaldTrump soundcloud.com/theiied/30-t...
soundcloud.com
30. Trump 2.0 and the future of global climate action
In this episode, IIED’s head of global climate governance, Subhi Barakat, and IIED’s senior press and PR manager, Simon Cullen, discuss what Donald Trump’s recent return to the White House means for i
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Tesla's sales plummeted 59% last month in Germany, where Elon Musk asserted himself in national politics like never before. The company registered only 1,277 new cars in January, its lowest monthly total since July 2021. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
Tesla Sales Plunge 59% in Germany to Lowest Level in Years
Tesla Inc.’s sales plummeted 59% last month in Germany, where Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk asserted himself in national politics like never before.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
UK monthly sales stats out today: Tesla's car sales in January 🔽 by 7.78% in January 2025, compared with Jan 2024. That's despite a 41.6% 🔼 in electric car sales for the same time frame.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Tesla car sales plummeted across parts of Europe in January 2025, compared with same month last year. 🇫🇷: 🔽63.4% 🇳🇴: 🔽37.9% 🇸🇪: 🔽44.3% 🇳🇱: 🔽42.4% 🇪🇸: 🔽75.5%
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Trump 2.0: what does it mean for the future of climate action? Take a listen to the latest @iied.bsky.social podcast. on.soundcloud.com/cyxzANvHYuPX...
on.soundcloud.com
30. Trump 2.0 and the future of global climate action
In this episode, IIED’s head of global climate governance, Subhi Barakat, and IIED’s senior press and PR manager, Simon Cullen, discuss what Donald Trump’s recent return to the White House means for i
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YouGov @yougov.co.uk · 31/01/2025
Five years on, few Britons think Brexit has been good for anything % saying Brexit has had a positive impact on... Control the UK has over its laws: 31% UK's ability to respond to COVID-19: 23% UK's level of international trade: 11% NHS: 6% Full list in chart 👇 yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
In the past 2 days, Switzerland and the UK have submitted their climate targets. So, we're at 6 now. (5 if you remove the United States... which submitted its target under Joe Biden).
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Adam Vaughan @adamvaughan.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Just 4 countries have submitted a new national climate plan a fortnight before a UN deadline The UK has announced its plan, so will likely submit before 10 Feb, making 5 The plans are for emissions cuts by 2035: they're a v important part of Paris Agreement process Graphic by @iied.bsky.social
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
I like this line: ‘In a democracy, ignorance is never the right answer’ I’ve definitely limited my intake of news over the past couple of years. But we still need to be informed.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
So, when Elon posts these kinds of tributes... remember that the killer watched a stabbing video on X moments before he murdered the girls.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
Remember when Elon Musk accused Australian authorities of trying to censor the internet? (They had asked 'X' to remove a Sydney stabbing video from the platform). Well, that's the exact video that a UK killer watched minutes before murdering 3 young girls. on.ft.com/4gcyYiQ
on.ft.com
X refuses to remove stabbing video watched by Southport killer
Axel Rudakubana was able to view Australian clip before murdering three young children despite pleas from authorities
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 24/01/2025
UK currently generating 40% of its electricity from wind power. #StormEowyn
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Jeremy Dicker @dicker-jj.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
diplomacy career paths (expanded edition)
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
hahah, surely close though ;)
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
One of the people who served jail time for taking part in the US Capitol riot four years ago has refused a pardon from President Donald Trump, saying: "We were wrong that day." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Convicted US Capitol rioter Pam Hemphill turns down Trump pardon
Former
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Here's a copy of Murdoch's News Group Newspapers' apology:
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. tabloids made a rare apology to Prince Harry in settling his privacy invasion lawsuit and will pay him a substantial sum, his lawyer announced Wednesday. apnews.com/article/prin...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
This seems like a good time to finally become a financial supporter of @theguardian.com. Sure, no outlet is perfect. But we need non-billionaire owned media more than ever right now.
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Dave Jones @cleanpowerdave.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
This is George Monbiot's "X" leaving speech, and wow ❤️ @georgemonbiot.bsky.social
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
There have been two major spikes in Google searches for 'what is the Paris agreement' during the past 5 years - both times coinciding with Inauguration Day in the US.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
The White House website reflects the new administration
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Here's the White House statement re pre-emptive pardons for Fauci, Milley, and others: www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-roo...
whitehouse.gov
Statement from President Joe Biden | The White House
Our nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy. Yet alarmingly, public servants have been
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
US President Joe Biden has issued pre-emptive pardons for several figures "threatened with criminal prosecutions", including Dr Anthony Fauci and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce...
bbc.co.uk
Trump inauguration live updates: Crowds brave freezing cold as Washington gears up for Trump inauguration
Supporters are queuing outside the Capital One Arena ahead of Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th president.
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
The 100 wealthiest Americans got more than $1.5 trillion richer over the last four years... www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
American ‘Oligarchy’ Decried by Biden Gained $1.5 Trillion in His Term
The very richest Americans are among the biggest winners from President Joe Biden’s time in office, despite his farewell address warning of an “oligarchy” and a “tech industrial complex” that threaten...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Elon Musk's attempts to meddle in European politics is not going well, in the UK at least. yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Steve Bannon: “I will have Elon Musk run out of here by inauguration day. He will not have full access to the White House. He will be like any other person.” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Steve Bannon condemns Elon Musk as ‘racist’ and ‘truly evil’
Ex-Trump adviser denounces tech CEO’s embrace of some forms of immigration and vows to ‘take this guy down’
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Ed Hawkins @edhawkins.org · 10/01/2025
2024 was also a record for the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere. Water vapour is a powerful greenhouse gas and a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, amplifying the CO₂ induced warming. The increased levels of water in the atmosphere mean that heavy rainfall events become more severe.
Timeseries of atmospheric water vapour content, showing a record 2024
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Sam Burgess @oceanterra.org · 10/01/2025
2024 @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social #climate data out today: 📈 2024 - first year more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial; for ERA5 it was 1.6ºC 🌡️ the past 10 years were the 10 warmest years on record 📈 2024 was warmest year for all continental regions, except Antarctica and Australasia 🌍🌡️🧪⚒️🌊
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
The same location, exactly four years apart. Via @axios.com (Photos: Jon Cherry and Jemal Countess/AFP via Getty Images)
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Simon Cullen @simoncullen.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
It's been quite something to watch how Elon Musk has been radicalised by his own social media platform's algorithm.
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