Great news: in England it is #NationalTeaDay Meaning it's time for Pieter van Roestraten, a Dutch painter working in England. And, by a wonderful coincidence, he was born on this day in 1630.

The Fallen by Louise Brangan review – an enraging account of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries The horrifying story of the Catholic-run institutions that incarcerated thousands of women and girls

The Fallen by Louise Brangan review – an enraging account of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries

Les faits sont têtus. Quand la vérité de la violence des colons dérange, Israel recourt à la vieille méthode : shoot the messenger. Avec en prime un amalgame scandaleux entre critique d'Israël et antisémitisme.

Les faits sont têtus. Quand la vérité de la violence des colons dérange, Israel recourt à la vieille méthode : shoot the messenger. Avec en prime un amalgame scandaleux entre critique d'Israël et antisémitisme.

Fed will need to explain why current inflation jump differs from 2022 surge When surging U.S. inflation peaked in June of 2022, driven by rising prices for energy but also for food, shelter, vehicles, and a host of other items, Federal Reserve officials assured the public in stern tones ​that they were on top of the situation and would follow through with steep interest rate hikes to cool the economy.

Fed will need to explain why current inflation jump differs from 2022 surge reut.rs/3Qd456H

2/2 The eyes. Looking right at you.

Side-eying her eyes: Saint Lucy, painted by Francesco del Cossa of Ferrara. Today is his day.

Temptation of Saint Anthony w/ self-portrait as giant hell-mouth spewing demons. Plus an artist in his brain (of course!). By Joos van Craesbeeck, whose day is today.

3/3 Some excellent demons having fun w/ Saint Anthony’s pig.

Netanyahu-ism has achieved nothing for Israelis – and come at a monstrously high price | Jonathan Freedland It is the voting public in Israel that will settle their PM’s fate later this year. But all they have heard are promises of ‘total victory’ that prove to be hollow, says Guardian columnist Jonathan Freedland

Netanyahu-ism has achieved nothing for Israelis – and come at a monstrously high price | Jonathan Freedland

Russian investigative journalist is placed in pre-trial detention A Russian court on Friday ordered the detention of Oleg Roldugin, an investigative journalist for independent ​newspaper Novaya Gazeta, following his arrest a day earlier.

Russian investigative journalist is placed in pre-trial detention reut.rs/4t79HOD

This admonition in Ha'aretz is true, and it applies with even more force to the United States. www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026...

Fascinating stuff. India. Vultures near extinction. Health.

500,000 Indians died between 2000 and 2005 alone because of the loss of vultures’ scavenging services.

How do you replace 40 million dead vultures?
www.economist.com/1843/2026/04...

Retired US General Mark Hertling confirms military commanders are actively preparing to defy Donald Trump.

“They are bound by the Constitution to disobey unlawful orders to bomb Iranian civilians.”

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😎

Retired 4-Star Navy Admiral and former Navy SEAL William McRaven on Donald Trump: "Through your actions, you have embarrassed us in the eyes of our children, humiliated us on the world stage and, worst of all, divided us as a nation."

US payments group with $20bn market value aims to boost UK truck electrification Corpay is partnering with Voltempo in building UK’s largest charging network for electric lorries

US payments group with $20bn market value aims to boost UK truck electrification - www.ft.com/content/58d6... via @FT

Interview | Orlando Reade in Conversation by Marina Scholtz - The London Magazine Orlando Reade discusses the many readers of John Milton's Paradise Lost as set out in his new book, What in Me Is Dark.

Marina Scholtz kicked off the week by speaking to Orlando Reade who has managed to squeeze a comprehensive book on Milton and his readers (Jordan Peterson surprisingly included) into a neat two hundred and twelve pages long.

You can read the interview here: thelondonmagazine.org/interview-or...

Spectacled Caiman and a False Coral Snake by artist-naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, born on this day in 1647.

Lessons for the world from tiny Hungary A regime loved by MAGA may soon lose power. That matters

"Hungary is a textbook example of how unconstrained power—the goal of populists everywhere—is a recipe for plunder; but also of how such plunder ultimately repels voters."

Lessons for the world from tiny Hungary
www.economist.com/leaders/2026...

Recapture of Bahia: Spanish/Portuguese forces overcome the Dutch in Brazil, 1625. Here, aftermath of siege, plus people rejoicing to see a portrait of Philip IV. Of course. Painted by Juan Bautista Maino.

Very corporeal angels indeed!
Suggestive rendition of spheric and palpable mamal clouds!! Wondering if this was commissioned for a church or the private salon of a hot cardinal. 🔥

How China hopes to win from the war Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake

Advantage China: This week's Economist contains a trenchant series of interviews with diplomats, foreign relations scholars and national security experts who have formed a remarkably consistent view. Iran as a grave American strategic error which has benefitted Russia and China—especially the latter

RUBIO: “Imagine if Iran spent billions on its people instead of weapons... They’d have a much different country.”🤔😕

Unreal. @marcorubio Do you even hear yourselves? Your shameless hypocrisy is killing us

2/2 The Duke of Wellington, looking v. fine if a bit startled in his portrait by Francisco de Goya, 1813.

Truth rescued by time, as witnessed by history. We can still hope. Painted 1814 by Francisco Goya, whose birthday was today.

Francisco de Goya: Self-portrait being treated by Dr. Arrieto, 1820. Just in case he didn’t survive (but he did!). Today has been his day.

Orwell: 2+2=5 - DMovies George Orwell's musings on authoritarianism and state manipulation are juxtaposed against flashing cards, film clips and historical footage from the past 100 years - Raoul Peck's extraordinary new doc...

George Orwell's musings on authoritarianism and state manipulation are juxtaposed against flashing cards, film clips and historical footage from the past 100 years

Raoul Peck's extraordinary new doc is in cinemas tonight:

dmovies.org/2025/05/18/o...

Looking right at you from 1536: scholar Guillaume Budé, painted by Jean Clouet, whose day is today.

Author, patron, & princess: Marguerite de Navarre, sister of Francis I, in 1527. She's got a parrot too! Painted by Jean Clouet, whose day is today.

What to Know About Electric Cars When Gas Prices Are Surging

www.nytimes.com/2026/03/21/b...