simon wilson

Keeping an eye on things. Former BBC bureau chief in Washington, Jerusalem, Brussels. Now with RFE/RL in Prague.

[simon wilson @siwilso]

Thanks to @lrozen for highlighting this important part of what is happening in Iran. My colleagues at @RadioFarda_ and @RFERL have been talking to some expatriate Iranians about their concerns for loved ones back home:

https://t.co/ITyxHyenAv

[Laura Rozen @lrozen]

Some Iranian friends and contacts abroad having a very hard time contacting their loved ones in Iran for the past four, five days, because of the IRI’s comms blackout during the protests. And they are extremely worried. My empathy to everybody.

[Laura Rozen @lrozen]

Some Iranian friends and contacts abroad having a very hard time contacting their loved ones in Iran for the past four, five days, because of the IRI’s comms blackout during the protests. And they are extremely worried. My empathy to everybody.

[simon wilson @siwilso]

رادیوفردا، بار دیگر سوار بر امواج کوتاه رادیویی

Radio Farda from RFE/RL is back on shortwave in Iran. Details here for Farsi speakers

https://t.co/1rhZ8NriUD

[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty @RFERL]

You didn’t see this one coming…🎤

Unstoppable R.E.M. is dropping a never-before-heard remix — “Radio Free Europe 2025” — in tribute to RFE/RL, at a time when our future is uncertain and funding unstable.

🎧Pre-order the vinyl and help us stay loud: https://t.co/PZ1L6Jy2uD

[Mark Lowen @marklowen]

📣 Some news about me:
Yesterday (Wednesday) I was detained by police in Istanbul, held for 17 hours and then deported from Turkey to the UK. Told I was “a threat to public order”. In the country I lived in - and love.
Journalism is not a crime.
Here’s the BBC’s statement:

[Steve Capus @SteveCapus]

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a world treasure. For 75-years, this storied organization has made the world safer. Audiences view us as lifelines to the free world. Attempts to defund @RFERL would be a massive gift to America's enemies, many of whom are already celebrating

[simon wilson @siwilso]

A critical moment for the future of American public media:

[RFE/RL Pressroom @RFERLPress]

Today, @RFERL was informed that the federal grant agreement funding our global operations has been terminated.

The cancellation of @RFERL's grant agreement would be a gift to America's enemies. Read our full release.
https://t.co/NIEu8Jgt4c

[simon wilson @siwilso]

@Fortnums can you please message me directly to resolve a delivery issue with an expensive Christmas hamper. I have been in touch for more than 48 hours with your customer service team who have made zero progress and keep sending me back to talk to a bot - not acceptable.

[PlanetSKI Snow News @planetski]

EXCLUSIVE:

Val Thorens Cable Car Out of Action for Whole Season

The Cine Caron cable car crashed just ahead of the resort’s opening last month.

PlanetSKI has learnt the cabins are beyond repair & it will not open this winter.

https://t.co/gW29xQ8mo1

#valthorens

PlanetSKI

[simon wilson @siwilso]

Some wise words here for aspiring journalists from an excellent and thoroughly decent former colleague

[Mark Urban @MarkUrban01]

Having hung up my hat after 35 years at the BBC here’s 10 reflections … 🧵

[simon wilson @siwilso]

@MarkUrban01 Some very wise words Mark. Was a pleasure working with you over the years.

[Pranvera Shema Smith @pranveras]

A great fast-paced panel discussion looking at some of the big stories of 2024. Thanks to @LizSly @siwilso @ravmattu @WorldAffairsPro

📺 https://t.co/88lrEJeWGI

[Pranvera Shema Smith @pranveras]

Taiwan's 24 million people gear up for a pivotal presidential vote, which will shape the future relations between China & US.
Join @siwilso @LizSly @ravmattu @WorldAffairsPro World Briefing 2024
Live Event 11 Jan | The Conduit

🎟️https://t.co/NH7YHUBEEq

[simon wilson @siwilso]

#uksnow SO22 3/10

[jonathan charles @JCharlesLondon]

A wonderful memorial service for George Alagiah - a generous @BBC colleague, a generous in spirit human being. We all have so many stories of the good times that we spent in his company. His legacy lives on in us all.

[Downing College @downingcollege]

This week we were treated to a thought-provoking eve on the topic of ‘What makes a good #economy’, expertly guided by a panel of #DowningCollege alums: @siwilso, Ashley Alder, @JHarrisonEU, Gareth McCartney & Darren Redmayne. Thank you to everyone who came along. #DowningDebates

[Rushdi Abualouf @Rushdibbc]

It’s like an earthquake, driving through the Gaza City southern neighborhood, the scale of destruction is staggering

[simon wilson @siwilso]

@SofiaBettiza Well deserved Sofia. Good luck with it.

[simon wilson @siwilso]

Matina’s not wrong with this - industrial levels of misleading information here: both intentional and unintended.

[Matina Stevis-Gridneff @MatinaStevis]

Twitter would have been indispensable to following the situation in the Middle East.

X feels like it’s the opposite.

[simon wilson @siwilso]

Profound assessment from H’aaretz editor about the ongoing situation in Israel. Having covered this conflict for many years am inclined to agree - coming days, weeks likely to be grim in the extreme.

[Esther Solomon @EstherSolomon]

Drastic situation in Israel: Hamas, Islamic Jihad declare war, nonstop rocket barrages, infiltrations into 20+ communities, hostages taken, appalling images of civilian dead, hand-to-hand combat. Forget 1973, this is closer to 1948, if not worse | UPDATES
https://t.co/HIp5tRF6Tm