The first day of the #Somme has become synonymous with incompetent leadership during the #FirstWorldWar. The true picture of the battle – and the role played by General Haig – is more complex. ⌛️ Last chance to read this archive article for free www.historytoday.com/archive/feat...

My first ever visit to the County Ground, Hove on Friday evening. Always interesting to see a new ground. The cooler temperature at the coast was a bonus, as was a deserved seven wicket win for Surrey #T20.

On the anniversary of the day Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, two books on the terrible siege of Leningrad that followed

On the anniversary of the Battle of #Waterloo, a piece I wrote in 2015 on the experience of my ancestor (he was in the charge in the picture), and on how military triumphs and disasters are remembered. theconversation.com/why-we-are-s...

The Battle of Waterloo was fought #OTD, 18 June, 1815. Walter Scott visited the battlefield shortly after; his 1816 book PAUL’S LETTERS TO HIS KINSFOLK contains one of the earliest accounts of the aftermath, & is an important early example of war journalism #C19 theconversation.com/walter-scott...

On the anniversary of the Battle of #Waterloo, a piece I wrote in 2015 on the experience of my ancestor (he was in the charge in the picture), and on how military triumphs and disasters are remembered. theconversation.com/why-we-are-s...

*Newsroom CPR (Covering Populism Right)* @panievsky.bsky.social @michaelhauser.bsky.social 📆 23 June 2026 ✏️ shorturl.at/jyaOd

On the breaking story of a Russian frigate reportedly firing warning shots in the Channel: some instant analysis for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/news/world/r...

'Putin’s political future, and even his legacy, will be determined by how the war ends. He will be desperately looking for yet another way to wrongfoot the West.' My latest for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/opinion/puti...

After a big Saturday night, Scotland's sleeping in, perhaps dreaming

When the English and German football teams met for the first time on British soil in 1935, the game was not the headline. 🔓 This archive article is free for the #WorldCup buff.ly/AaQApCZ

Thirty-five years ago today, Boris Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Federation, then still part of the USSR. It was my first international assignment. Re-sharing today a piece I wrote in 2021 about reporting the huge changes that followed. jamesrodgersauthor.com/reporting-th...

Latest Daily on Monocle Radio. @jmacrodgers.bsky.social and Anastasia Piliavsky on Iran, what we're not hearing about Ukraine and the day's other stuff, and our On This Day historical series reflects on another Middle Eastern war which deviated from the plans of one side. monocle.com/radio/shows/...

Can research tell us how to better cover Trump, Netanyahu, Milei, Modi or Farage? Join us for the hybrid launch of *Newsroom CPR* (Covering Populism Right): a new, practical guide for journalists who wish to cover populists more responsibly. 📆 Tue, 23 June, 6pm ✏️ Free register: shorturl.at/NccEg

More drone strikes reported on Saint Petersburg on the final day of this year's Economic Forum. I wrote for this weekend's iPaper about the attacks on the day the forum opened.

'What the smoke has revealed is a war built on lies.' My latest for @theipaper.com is on the week that a Ukrainian drone strike 'paid a visit' to the St Petersburg Economic Forum inews.co.uk/news/world/s...

Thanks everyone who came to Derby Book Festival on Thurs 28, especially to @alentop.bsky.social for chairing. Great audience questions. It was a pleasure to chat afterwards while signing copies of 'The Return of Russia' @yalebooks.bsky.social and proudly wearing my @kyivindependent.com t-shirt.

Tonight at Derby BookFestival, where I will be talking to @alentop.bsky.social

Tomorrow evening, Thursday 28 May, I'll be at the Derby Book festival talking about The Return of Russia my new book from @yalebooks.bsky.social. Still some tickets left. Details on the link below. Please come along if you can! www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/events/james...

Tomorrow evening, Thursday 28 May, I'll be at the Derby Book festival talking about The Return of Russia my new book from @yalebooks.bsky.social. Still some tickets left. Details on the link below. Please come along if you can! www.derbybookfestival.co.uk/events/james...

'By targeting the UK Defence Secretary’s plane, Russian forces are warning Western governments that there is still much they can do to menace, and disrupt.' My latest for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/news/world/p...

'By targeting the UK Defence Secretary’s plane, Russian forces are warning Western governments that there is still much they can do to menace, and disrupt.' My latest for @theipaper.com inews.co.uk/news/world/p...

A visit to Nyborg and the Great Belt, Denmark

Today, the Kyiv Independent is launching the biggest membership campaign in our history. Our goal: 4,000 new members worldwide — including 2,000 in the United States — to help fund independent journalism from Ukraine: kyivindependent.com/membership/?...

New on my website: details of upcoming live events for my latest book, The Return of Russia, (@yalebooks.bsky.social) beginning at the Derby book festival on Thursday 28 May. Please come along if you can! jamesrodgersauthor.com/new-book-the...

New on my website: details of upcoming live events for my latest book, The Return of Russia, (@yalebooks.bsky.social) beginning at the Derby book festival on Thursday 28 May. Please come along if you can! jamesrodgersauthor.com/new-book-the...

Interesting and timely piece from @economist.com on jobs and AI--but it's a reflection of how worried some people are that even capitalism's great cheerleader is using terms like 'partial nationalisation' and 'some public ownership' among its proposed solutions www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

CPJ is working to ensure that all journalists can report on the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup freely and safely. That’s why we’ve compiled safety resources to help journalists minimize risks and protect themselves against potential threats while covering the World Cup⤵️ cpj.org/issue/world-...

'The intentional destruction or degradation of such structures undermines a people’s ability to survive, leading to a slower and more tortuous form of annihilation.' On the demolition of Gaza All they will find is sand www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Latest Monocle Daily. @daniellapeled.bsky.social and @jmacrodgers.bsky.social on the Gulf's predicament, a turning tide in Ukraine and the day's other stuff, plus Monocle's Hassan Anderson meets Monocle regular Julie Norman to discuss the play of her book about Gaza. monocle.com/radio/shows/...

Just home after a long day that meant leaving at 6.15 this morning, and still some domestic financial stuff to take care of. Very grateful to have such a reliable secretary to make sure nothing's overlooked.

'In recent years, Victory Day has increasingly been about making a statement on contemporary politics: trying to boost patriotic pride at home and send a warning to the West.' My piece in today's @theipaper.com about Russia's downsized May 9 parade. inews.co.uk/news/world/r...

'In recent years, Victory Day has increasingly been about making a statement on contemporary politics: trying to boost patriotic pride at home and send a warning to the West.' My piece in today's @theipaper.com about Russia's downsized May 9 parade. inews.co.uk/news/world/r...

'I first witnessed the parade in 1995, in a different Europe and a different world.' In my latest for @theipaper.com, I reflect on this year's Victory Day parade in Moscow, and what it tells us about the war on Ukraine--and Putin's likely place in history inews.co.uk/news/world/r...

"The news that Russia is to scale down its victory parade is a disaster for Vladimir Putin." Ahead of the parade that remembers the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany, I spoke to @newsweek.com about what this year's commemoration tells us about the war in Ukraine. www.newsweek.com/putin-zelens...

“If his health holds out, I think Putin would be very content to rule for life." I am quoted by Marc Bennetts in his piece for today's @thetimes.com on how long Putin might lead Russia. www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

“If his health holds out, I think Putin would be very content to rule for life." I am quoted by Marc Bennetts in his piece for today's @thetimes.com on how long Putin might lead Russia. www.thetimes.com/world/russia...

For the first time since school holidays in Manchester in the 1980s, I have watched at least part of every day of a county championship match, Surrey vs Sussex @kiaoval.com. Changing fortunes (and weather). Surrey won by eight wickets in the final session. Great advertisement for red ball #cricket

As the world marks Press Freedom Week, more than two dozen media leaders call on Israel to lift its ban on foreign press from entering Gaza. “Freedom of the press is a basic value in any open society. It is time for the delays to end.” Read more in @lemonde.fr⤵️

After work yesterday, I made it to @kiaoval.com to see the end of the day's play. Perfect cricket weather--maybe too hot for one spectator, who had a traditional solution. Surrey didn't make the most of an early advantage--hopefully a good day with the bat ahead today.

A visit to Aalborg, Denmark

Find out what else is inside the new issue of History Today and order it directly from our store at buff.ly/sJvh2Fi

The new issue of History Today is in UK stores from today. Featuring: the 1926 #GeneralStrike, the #RifWar, #JamesII and the Exclusion Crisis, 15th-century Iceland, and more. Find out what else is inside and order it directly from our shop at buff.ly/sJvh2Fi

The Medieval World is a carefully curated, comprehensive selection of the best History Today articles on one of history’s most captivating periods. Limited new stock is now available. Order yours for only £12.99 plus postage, while stock lasts. www.historytoday.com/medieval-wor...

A weekend in Manchester, the city where I spent my schooldays, was a chance to sign copies of 'The Return of Russia', new from @yalebooks.bsky.social, in Waterstones, Deansgate.

After the match, going back along the canal

Spring has arrived on the Thames in west London, and the parakeets are enjoying the new season

China plans to move its British embassy to a controversial new London site. It will carry 150 years of history with it. 🔓 Oliver Yule-Smith’s new Behind the Times is free for 7 days www.historytoday.com/archive/behi...

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Chiswick Media Club on April 15 to hear me talk about 'The Return of Russia'. Great questions from the audience; the event expertly chaired by Nanette van der Laan of Channel 4 News. My next event is Derby Book Festival on May 28. Details of book below.

Tonight--and still some tickets left. If you are in London, please come along.