Jonathan Rosenthal
@journalistjon.bsky.social
International Editor at The Economist
Previously covered Africa, banking, European business & finance
Previously covered Africa, banking, European business & finance
Pinned
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
For this week's issue of @economist.com I got to think hard about something I've not had to think about for more than 20 years: the world of dating and singles. What I found shocked me. Rates of singlehood (singledom) have been rising for decades, but have suddenly accelerated in recent years. 1/
November 7, 2025 at 1:23 PM
For this week's issue of @economist.com I got to think hard about something I've not had to think about for more than 20 years: the world of dating and singles. What I found shocked me. Rates of singlehood (singledom) have been rising for decades, but have suddenly accelerated in recent years. 1/
Yikes
Quite a world when a federal judge has to call in a federal official to specifically tell him he can't use tear gas on children in Halloween costumes
October 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Yikes
Reposted by Jonathan Rosenthal
Great piece. The only thing I worry about is that cycling (esp ebike hires) replace bus/ metro journeys, not car trips, and thereby worsen the economics of public transport without changing streets much. But hopefully I am wrong @dlknowles.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Great piece. The only thing I worry about is that cycling (esp ebike hires) replace bus/ metro journeys, not car trips, and thereby worsen the economics of public transport without changing streets much. But hopefully I am wrong @dlknowles.bsky.social
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
October 9, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
This week we have a change of pace in the International pages of @economist.com we have a great piece by @dlknowles.bsky.social where he takes a look at how pedal power is booming around the world, but also spinning up a new culture war. 1/
Reposted by Jonathan Rosenthal
By me this week - the happiest thing I've got to report of late, with a glorious trip over the summer to Montreal
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport
Pedal power is booming, spinning up a new culture war
www.economist.com
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
By me this week - the happiest thing I've got to report of late, with a glorious trip over the summer to Montreal
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
"Forget EVs. Cycling is revolutionising transport."
www.economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Jonathan Rosenthal
The stuff in the Baltic isn't really getting the traction over here it might. We're currently doing seabed surveys off Gdansk in Poland but have lost well over a week now to GPS jamming and spoofing originating in Kaliningrad making the vessel's systems show it as being off Sweden.
Russia's grey-zone conflict against the West is escalating at sea as well as in the air, as evident in drone incursions in Denmark and a the boarding of Boracay by France
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
October 6, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The stuff in the Baltic isn't really getting the traction over here it might. We're currently doing seabed surveys off Gdansk in Poland but have lost well over a week now to GPS jamming and spoofing originating in Kaliningrad making the vessel's systems show it as being off Sweden.
Russia's grey-zone conflict against the West is escalating at sea as well as in the air, as evident in drone incursions in Denmark and a the boarding of Boracay by France
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
October 6, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Russia's grey-zone conflict against the West is escalating at sea as well as in the air, as evident in drone incursions in Denmark and a the boarding of Boracay by France
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
This week in @economist.com we look at the threat posed by Russia's shadow fleet, and NATO efforts to counter it. A short 🧵 1/3
Come on @crisisgroup.org You have chosen to hold a discussion on the New Middle Eastern order on the one day in the year (Yom Kippur) that pretty much all Jews will be unable to attend. I don’t believe you deliberately intended to exclude Jews, but that’s what you’ve done.
September 19, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Come on @crisisgroup.org You have chosen to hold a discussion on the New Middle Eastern order on the one day in the year (Yom Kippur) that pretty much all Jews will be unable to attend. I don’t believe you deliberately intended to exclude Jews, but that’s what you’ve done.
America’s new plan to fight a war with China
economist.com/internationa...
This week’s International section in The Economist.
economist.com/internationa...
This week’s International section in The Economist.
America’s new plan to fight a war with China
Readying for a rumble in the jungle
economist.com
August 17, 2025 at 4:44 PM
America’s new plan to fight a war with China
economist.com/internationa...
This week’s International section in The Economist.
economist.com/internationa...
This week’s International section in The Economist.
"Worse than showing indifference, many Israelis deny the clear realities: that Gaza is in chaos and teetering on the edge of widespread starvation, and that Israel has played a major role in bringing about this terrible state."
This is worth reading
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/o...
This is worth reading
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/o...
Opinion | The Reasons Israelis Have Closed Their Eyes to Gaza
www.nytimes.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM
"Worse than showing indifference, many Israelis deny the clear realities: that Gaza is in chaos and teetering on the edge of widespread starvation, and that Israel has played a major role in bringing about this terrible state."
This is worth reading
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/o...
This is worth reading
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/o...
I'm writing this week on the crisis in international law and have just come across the most spectacular example of judicial activism (in an ICJ case), where in two paragraphs a judge explains that he voted for something, even though he thinks it has no basis in law.
www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
August 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I'm writing this week on the crisis in international law and have just come across the most spectacular example of judicial activism (in an ICJ case), where in two paragraphs a judge explains that he voted for something, even though he thinks it has no basis in law.
www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
www.icj-cij.org/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Jonathan Rosenthal
Horrifying milestone of 150,000 deaths in Africa linked to jihadists groups over the past 10 years.
africacenter.org/spotlight/en...
africacenter.org/spotlight/en...
Africa Surpasses 150,000 Deaths Linked to Militant Islamist Groups in Past Decade – Africa Center
Fatalities linked to militant Islamist violence in Africa have surged by nearly 60% since 2021.
africacenter.org
July 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Horrifying milestone of 150,000 deaths in Africa linked to jihadists groups over the past 10 years.
africacenter.org/spotlight/en...
africacenter.org/spotlight/en...
I’m completely in favour of closer EU defence co-operation and procurement, but if France wants to insist that the UK pay a % on all contracts to UK companies, then we should start charging the EU a fee for our contribution to collective security (and France for fishing our waters).
July 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I’m completely in favour of closer EU defence co-operation and procurement, but if France wants to insist that the UK pay a % on all contracts to UK companies, then we should start charging the EU a fee for our contribution to collective security (and France for fishing our waters).
Lessons from Ukraine
"Innovation does play a role…but quantity has a quality of its own. Mass is not going anywhere. We need to adopt and adapt faster than our adversaries, but that does not replace the need for us to outproduce them on ammunition: Benedetta Berti, Director, Policy Planning, NATO
"Innovation does play a role…but quantity has a quality of its own. Mass is not going anywhere. We need to adopt and adapt faster than our adversaries, but that does not replace the need for us to outproduce them on ammunition: Benedetta Berti, Director, Policy Planning, NATO
June 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Lessons from Ukraine
"Innovation does play a role…but quantity has a quality of its own. Mass is not going anywhere. We need to adopt and adapt faster than our adversaries, but that does not replace the need for us to outproduce them on ammunition: Benedetta Berti, Director, Policy Planning, NATO
"Innovation does play a role…but quantity has a quality of its own. Mass is not going anywhere. We need to adopt and adapt faster than our adversaries, but that does not replace the need for us to outproduce them on ammunition: Benedetta Berti, Director, Policy Planning, NATO
Very punchy comments by General Ben Hodges
at Chatham House conference #CHLondon on European NATO defence spending:
"Europe is itself a super power. It should quit whining and act like a superpower." Also thanks for the shoutout to @economist.com 1/
at Chatham House conference #CHLondon on European NATO defence spending:
"Europe is itself a super power. It should quit whining and act like a superpower." Also thanks for the shoutout to @economist.com 1/
June 19, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Very punchy comments by General Ben Hodges
at Chatham House conference #CHLondon on European NATO defence spending:
"Europe is itself a super power. It should quit whining and act like a superpower." Also thanks for the shoutout to @economist.com 1/
at Chatham House conference #CHLondon on European NATO defence spending:
"Europe is itself a super power. It should quit whining and act like a superpower." Also thanks for the shoutout to @economist.com 1/
Speaking in London at a Chatham House event, Sir John Sawers (former head of MI6) thinks it likely that America will intervene in Iran and bomb nuclear facilities.
Argues it should get on with it, as delays give Iran time to move material out. Argues UK should stay out. #CHLondon
Argues it should get on with it, as delays give Iran time to move material out. Argues UK should stay out. #CHLondon
June 19, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Speaking in London at a Chatham House event, Sir John Sawers (former head of MI6) thinks it likely that America will intervene in Iran and bomb nuclear facilities.
Argues it should get on with it, as delays give Iran time to move material out. Argues UK should stay out. #CHLondon
Argues it should get on with it, as delays give Iran time to move material out. Argues UK should stay out. #CHLondon
Surprising line by John Sawyers (former head of MI6) that "Israel is achieving its goals" in Iran, considering it has barely touched the deeply-buried enrichment sites at Fordow and Natanz (as far as we know).
www.ft.com/content/45bf...
www.ft.com/content/45bf...
June 16, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Surprising line by John Sawyers (former head of MI6) that "Israel is achieving its goals" in Iran, considering it has barely touched the deeply-buried enrichment sites at Fordow and Natanz (as far as we know).
www.ft.com/content/45bf...
www.ft.com/content/45bf...
This week in the International pages of @economist.com
we point out that on current trends Russian casualties in Ukraine will pass the 1m mark in the next few weeks. 1/2
www.economist.com/internationa...
we point out that on current trends Russian casualties in Ukraine will pass the 1m mark in the next few weeks. 1/2
www.economist.com/internationa...
Putin’s sickening statistic: 1m Russian casualties in Ukraine
His regime uses payouts to salve Russian families’ grief
www.economist.com
June 3, 2025 at 8:47 AM
This week in the International pages of @economist.com
we point out that on current trends Russian casualties in Ukraine will pass the 1m mark in the next few weeks. 1/2
www.economist.com/internationa...
we point out that on current trends Russian casualties in Ukraine will pass the 1m mark in the next few weeks. 1/2
www.economist.com/internationa...
This is a masterclass is trolling - whether it is true or not, you will now have FSB agents across Russia smashing down the doors of their neighbours.
June 1, 2025 at 9:13 PM
This is a masterclass is trolling - whether it is true or not, you will now have FSB agents across Russia smashing down the doors of their neighbours.
When I started reading this I thought it was satire. Sadly not.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | The Signal chat’s big takeaway? Trump has built an effective team.
Americans got a fly-on-the-wall view of a group working together to execute the president’s policy.
www.washingtonpost.com
April 3, 2025 at 11:25 AM
When I started reading this I thought it was satire. Sadly not.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
And wrapping up this week's International Section in
@economist.com is the always-brilliant
@dsorennie.bsky.social with a nuanced look at the history of the refugee convention, and why judgments about who deserves protection have always been subjective. www.economist.com/internationa...
@economist.com is the always-brilliant
@dsorennie.bsky.social with a nuanced look at the history of the refugee convention, and why judgments about who deserves protection have always been subjective. www.economist.com/internationa...
The right way to fight nativists
A revealing new history of the cold-war crisis that inspired modern refugee law
www.economist.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:46 PM
And wrapping up this week's International Section in
@economist.com is the always-brilliant
@dsorennie.bsky.social with a nuanced look at the history of the refugee convention, and why judgments about who deserves protection have always been subjective. www.economist.com/internationa...
@economist.com is the always-brilliant
@dsorennie.bsky.social with a nuanced look at the history of the refugee convention, and why judgments about who deserves protection have always been subjective. www.economist.com/internationa...
Also in my pages at @economist.com is an excellent piece @antonlaguardia.bsky.social on why the shutdown of VOA, RFE/RL and other broadcasters weakens America and supporters of democracy.
Donald Trump shoots his own mouthpiece. My. take on the abrupt elimination of @VOANews, @RFERL, @RadioFreeAsia and more. Once again admin is choosing destruction over reform. America's foes are gloating at this latest retreat from the global war of ideas. www.economist.com/internationa...
Donald Trump shoots his own global mouthpiece
The shutdown of VOA, RFE/RL and other broadcasters weakens America and supporters of democracy
www.economist.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Also in my pages at @economist.com is an excellent piece @antonlaguardia.bsky.social on why the shutdown of VOA, RFE/RL and other broadcasters weakens America and supporters of democracy.
The Five Eyes spy pact is the world's most successful SIGINT (or signals intelligence) alliance in history. Is Donald Trump putting it at risk?
This week in the International pages of @economist.com we have a crunchy look at how it works by @shashj.bsky.social
www.economist.com/internationa...
This week in the International pages of @economist.com we have a crunchy look at how it works by @shashj.bsky.social
www.economist.com/internationa...
Donald Trump v the spies of Five Eyes
Will America’s president damage the world’s most powerful intelligence pact?
www.economist.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:41 PM
The Five Eyes spy pact is the world's most successful SIGINT (or signals intelligence) alliance in history. Is Donald Trump putting it at risk?
This week in the International pages of @economist.com we have a crunchy look at how it works by @shashj.bsky.social
www.economist.com/internationa...
This week in the International pages of @economist.com we have a crunchy look at how it works by @shashj.bsky.social
www.economist.com/internationa...
Reposted by Jonathan Rosenthal
'Across the vast network of U.S. spy agencies, from the CIA’s human operatives to the National Security Agency’s codebreakers, job cuts and ... conflicting instructions to the workforce have deeply unsettled tens of thousands of intelligence personnel' www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Inside U.S. spy agencies, workers fear a cataclysmic Trump cull
Firings and mass disruptions at the CIA could harm intelligence collection on foreign threats and future recruiting, current and former officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 7, 2025 at 4:53 PM
'Across the vast network of U.S. spy agencies, from the CIA’s human operatives to the National Security Agency’s codebreakers, job cuts and ... conflicting instructions to the workforce have deeply unsettled tens of thousands of intelligence personnel' www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...