Jonathan Rosenthal
@journalistjon.bsky.social
International Editor at The Economist
Previously covered Africa, banking, European business & finance
Previously covered Africa, banking, European business & finance
In Europe each new generation is less likely to be married or living with a partner than previous ones at the same age (see chart). 3/
November 7, 2025 at 1:25 PM
In Europe each new generation is less likely to be married or living with a partner than previous ones at the same age (see chart). 3/
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/
Though bike lanes take up less than 2% of road space in Montreal (cars get 80% and pedestrians the balance), they are a hot issue in its mayoral election on November 2nd. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the leading opposition candidate, wants to pause new bike lanes and remove some if the cause anxiety 4/
October 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Though bike lanes take up less than 2% of road space in Montreal (cars get 80% and pedestrians the balance), they are a hot issue in its mayoral election on November 2nd. Soraya Martinez Ferrada, the leading opposition candidate, wants to pause new bike lanes and remove some if the cause anxiety 4/
In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City, the financial district, by two to one. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. 3/
October 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
In London cyclists now outnumber cars in the City, the financial district, by two to one. Paris, where they now outnumber motorists across the whole city, is catching up with Europe’s traditional bike capitals, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. 3/
Though robotaxis have notched up impressive growth, they look ploddingly pedestrian compared with e-bikes. Waymo proclaims that its cars do around 250,000 trips a week. Yet in New York alone that number of trips is made every three days using the city’s bike-share scheme. 2/
October 9, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Though robotaxis have notched up impressive growth, they look ploddingly pedestrian compared with e-bikes. Waymo proclaims that its cars do around 250,000 trips a week. Yet in New York alone that number of trips is made every three days using the city’s bike-share scheme. 2/
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/
Estonia's navy is at the frontline. It sometimes tracks dozens of shadow fleet vessels a day. But for its small fleet of MCM and patrol vessels, chasing tankers is“like smaller dogs trying to get to the big dog”, says a sailor involved in a pursuit earlier this year. 2/3
October 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Estonia's navy is at the frontline. It sometimes tracks dozens of shadow fleet vessels a day. But for its small fleet of MCM and patrol vessels, chasing tankers is“like smaller dogs trying to get to the big dog”, says a sailor involved in a pursuit earlier this year. 2/3
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.
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...
I agree. Please tell that to France
July 22, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I agree. Please tell that to France
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).
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...
2/2
Yet Russia's ability to absorb these losses should pose sobering questions for NATO: how can democracies that value the lives of individuals deter an adversary that sees its troops as expendable?
Yet Russia's ability to absorb these losses should pose sobering questions for NATO: how can democracies that value the lives of individuals deter an adversary that sees its troops as expendable?
June 3, 2025 at 8:51 AM
2/2
Yet Russia's ability to absorb these losses should pose sobering questions for NATO: how can democracies that value the lives of individuals deter an adversary that sees its troops as expendable?
Yet Russia's ability to absorb these losses should pose sobering questions for NATO: how can democracies that value the lives of individuals deter an adversary that sees its troops as expendable?
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.
And Ukraine is trying to keep its edge in AI software by encrypting the systems used on its drones 4/
March 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
And Ukraine is trying to keep its edge in AI software by encrypting the systems used on its drones 4/
AI targeting makes drones much more effective by overcoming EW and also requiring less skill from pilots to hit their targets.
"drones enabled with autonomous navigation raise the target engagement success rate from around 10 to 20 percent to around 70 to 80 percent" 3/
"drones enabled with autonomous navigation raise the target engagement success rate from around 10 to 20 percent to around 70 to 80 percent" 3/
March 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
AI targeting makes drones much more effective by overcoming EW and also requiring less skill from pilots to hit their targets.
"drones enabled with autonomous navigation raise the target engagement success rate from around 10 to 20 percent to around 70 to 80 percent" 3/
"drones enabled with autonomous navigation raise the target engagement success rate from around 10 to 20 percent to around 70 to 80 percent" 3/
By using AI in drones, Ukrainian forces are now able to lock on to targets 2km away (in optimal conditions) 2/
March 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM
By using AI in drones, Ukrainian forces are now able to lock on to targets 2km away (in optimal conditions) 2/
Fascinating insights on a new CSIS report on Ukraine using AI in drones. A short 🧵 1/
"The Ukrainian military’s objective is to remove warfighters from direct combat and replace them with autonomous unmanned systems. This goal reflects the need to conserve a limited human force"
"The Ukrainian military’s objective is to remove warfighters from direct combat and replace them with autonomous unmanned systems. This goal reflects the need to conserve a limited human force"
March 7, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Fascinating insights on a new CSIS report on Ukraine using AI in drones. A short 🧵 1/
"The Ukrainian military’s objective is to remove warfighters from direct combat and replace them with autonomous unmanned systems. This goal reflects the need to conserve a limited human force"
"The Ukrainian military’s objective is to remove warfighters from direct combat and replace them with autonomous unmanned systems. This goal reflects the need to conserve a limited human force"
Are you kidding me!
Has the WSJ's editorial board slept through the past 30 years? Do they not remember the Bush tax cuts of 2001, which overwhelmingly helped the rich, or the Trump tax cuts in 2017, which increased inequality?
Has the WSJ's editorial board slept through the past 30 years? Do they not remember the Bush tax cuts of 2001, which overwhelmingly helped the rich, or the Trump tax cuts in 2017, which increased inequality?
March 5, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Are you kidding me!
Has the WSJ's editorial board slept through the past 30 years? Do they not remember the Bush tax cuts of 2001, which overwhelmingly helped the rich, or the Trump tax cuts in 2017, which increased inequality?
Has the WSJ's editorial board slept through the past 30 years? Do they not remember the Bush tax cuts of 2001, which overwhelmingly helped the rich, or the Trump tax cuts in 2017, which increased inequality?
At what point do we decide that Elon Musk is a clear threat to European/UK security. And if he is, then what do we do about it?
Discuss.
Discuss.
March 2, 2025 at 1:07 PM
At what point do we decide that Elon Musk is a clear threat to European/UK security. And if he is, then what do we do about it?
Discuss.
Discuss.
Wait till he finds out
February 24, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Wait till he finds out
This really is becoming the sum of all our fears
www.ft.com/content/ac1d...
www.ft.com/content/ac1d...
February 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
This really is becoming the sum of all our fears
www.ft.com/content/ac1d...
www.ft.com/content/ac1d...
Well this puts my usual troubles (no milk for my morning coffee) into perspective
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
February 20, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Well this puts my usual troubles (no milk for my morning coffee) into perspective
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Almost unnoticed, over the past 18 months China has persuaded almost 70 countries to support “all” Chinese efforts to unify Taiwan, when previously many supported only peaceful efforts
February 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Almost unnoticed, over the past 18 months China has persuaded almost 70 countries to support “all” Chinese efforts to unify Taiwan, when previously many supported only peaceful efforts