Simon Cullen
@simoncullen.bsky.social
Twitter exile
Now: comms at Asian Development Bank.
Past: journo at CNN, BBC, ABC Australia.
(All views my own... unless you want them too)
Now: comms at Asian Development Bank.
Past: journo at CNN, BBC, ABC Australia.
(All views my own... unless you want them too)
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
Manila is approx where the little green circle is.
This is the second major typhoon in less than a week.
#typhoonfungwong
November 9, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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
Manila is approx where the little green circle is.
This is the second major typhoon in less than a week.
#typhoonfungwong
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.
Strong wind gusts here in Manila, but a long way away from the worst of it.
September 22, 2025 at 9:26 AM
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.
Strong wind gusts here in Manila, but a long way away from the worst of it.
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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-...
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.
theconversation.com
September 6, 2025 at 3:22 AM
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-...
Reposted by Simon Cullen
"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.
Nigel Farage is about to give evidence to the US Congress on threats to free speech in the UK.
So here's one for him: Reform UK has just banned me (and @thenewworldmag.bsky.social) from attending its party conference this weekend. www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-w...
So here's one for him: Reform UK has just banned me (and @thenewworldmag.bsky.social) from attending its party conference this weekend. www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-w...
Chicken Farage bans The New World
It claims to be the party of free speech, but this last-minute decision to stop me attending tells a very different story
www.thenewworld.co.uk
September 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"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.
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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.
Solar power output has broken records for the last five months in a row, @ember-energy.org found.
August 28, 2025 at 8:33 AM
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.
Solar power output has broken records for the last five months in a row, @ember-energy.org found.
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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.
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.
June 18, 2025 at 10:56 AM
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.
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.
"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...
www.ft.com/content/c2eb...
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
www.ft.com
April 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
"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...
www.ft.com/content/c2eb...
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.
- 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.
March 27, 2025 at 12:22 PM
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.
- 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.
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...
Musk, a self-proclaimed protector of free speech, said he acquired X to restore free speech on the platform.
www.politico.eu/article/musk...
Musk’s X suspends opposition accounts in Turkey amid civil unrest
Suspensions affect accounts spreading information about the widespread demonstrations.
www.politico.eu
March 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
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...
Musk, a self-proclaimed protector of free speech, said he acquired X to restore free speech on the platform.
www.politico.eu/article/musk...
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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.
March 3, 2025 at 2:54 AM
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.
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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...
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: +48
Donald Trump: -51
Vladimir Putin: -85
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
February 18, 2025 at 11:58 AM
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...
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: +48
Donald Trump: -51
Vladimir Putin: -85
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Maybe even Norway, with its colossal sovereign wealth fund, could pitch in?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
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
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Maybe even Norway, with its colossal sovereign wealth fund, could pitch in?
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
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...
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...
February 11, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
edition.cnn.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:05 AM
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...
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...
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...
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...
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
soundcloud.com
February 10, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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...
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...
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...
The company registered only 1,277 new cars in January, its lowest monthly total since July 2021.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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.
www.bloomberg.com
February 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
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...
The company registered only 1,277 new cars in January, its lowest monthly total since July 2021.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
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.
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.
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%
🇫🇷: 🔽63.4%
🇳🇴: 🔽37.9%
🇸🇪: 🔽44.3%
🇳🇱: 🔽42.4%
🇪🇸: 🔽75.5%
February 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
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.
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.
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%
🇫🇷: 🔽63.4%
🇳🇴: 🔽37.9%
🇸🇪: 🔽44.3%
🇳🇱: 🔽42.4%
🇪🇸: 🔽75.5%
February 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
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%
🇫🇷: 🔽63.4%
🇳🇴: 🔽37.9%
🇸🇪: 🔽44.3%
🇳🇱: 🔽42.4%
🇪🇸: 🔽75.5%
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...
Take a listen to the latest @iied.bsky.social podcast.
on.soundcloud.com/cyxzANvHYuPX...
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
on.soundcloud.com
January 31, 2025 at 4:13 PM
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...
Take a listen to the latest @iied.bsky.social podcast.
on.soundcloud.com/cyxzANvHYuPX...
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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...
% 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...
January 31, 2025 at 8:27 AM
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...
% 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...
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).
So, we're at 6 now.
(5 if you remove the United States... which submitted its target under Joe Biden).
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
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
January 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
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).
So, we're at 6 now.
(5 if you remove the United States... which submitted its target under Joe Biden).
Reposted by Simon Cullen
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
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
January 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
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
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
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.
I’ve definitely limited my intake of news over the past couple of years. But we still need to be informed.
January 24, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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.
I’ve definitely limited my intake of news over the past couple of years. But we still need to be informed.