All posts by She Seeks Serene

My Journey of Reimagining Life, Love and Education

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY – APRIL 10, 2026 PREVIEW

THE GUARDIAN WEEKLY: The latest issue features ‘Stress Test’ – Is Hungary on the brink of change?

An irony of Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power in Hungary is that his Fidesz movement was originally founded by pro-democracy, change-seeking young voters, even initially requiring members to be below the age of 35.

Now, in a crossroads election on 12 April, a new generation of Hungarians may be on the cusp of removing the rightwing populist prime minister, much to the dismay of his admirers in Moscow, Washington and Europe’s populist movements.

Orbán may have once described Hungary as “a petri dish for illiberalism” – as reflected by Harry Haysom’s cover art for us this week – but polls suggest his opponent Péter Magyar, a former top member of Fidesz who favours a closer relationship with the EU, could be the new change agent.

Spotlight | Was Trump conned by Netanyahu’s promise of an easy war?
Senior US officials now consider the Israel PM’s pitch to have been overblown, creating potentially far-reaching consequences for both countries, writes Peter Beaumont

Science | The 21st-century moon prospectors
Helium-3 is so rare that a palm-sized amount could be worth millions. As Artemis II flies by the moon and businesses look to the skies, is mining Earth’s satellite ethical? Oliver Holmes investigates

Feature | Can the UK’s cargo theft crisis be stopped?
It costs the UK economy £700m ($920m) a year, and criminal gangs are operating with near impunity. Every time a lorry gets robbed, raided or hijacked, it’s Mike Dawber who investigates. By Stuart McGurk

Opinion | Ten years after Brexit, Trump is pushing Britain back towards the EU
It’s the silver lining from this terrible age of Donald Trump, argues Gaby Hinsliff: his disdain and insults are fuelling the belief that the UK should renew ties with Europe

Culture | James McAvoy, from a Glasgow council estate to Hollywood stardom
In his directorial debut, the X-Men actor is challenging stereotypes about his Scottish homeland via the remarkable tale of a real-life hip-hop hoax. Libby Brooks met him

THE NEW YORK TIMES – THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

New Deadline Looms for U.S. and Iran as Truce Wavers

Fractures were already emerging in the limited cease-fire. Vice President JD Vance will lead a U.S. delegation in talks this weekend.

Israeli Strikes in Lebanon Threaten Shaky U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire

Israeli forces killed more than 200 people in strikes against Hezbollah on Wednesday. Top European diplomats called for Lebanon to be included in the cease-fire.

What to Know About the U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire

The two-week truce agreement already seems to be on shaky ground over two issues, the Strait of Hormuz and the status of Lebanon.

Once ‘Ultra MAGA’, Trump Supporters Fume About Iran on Truth Social

A growing chorus of disaffected Trump supporters is sounding off in the replies to his posts on the social media platform he founded.

Democrats Embrace a Four-Letter Word

In person, on social media and in campaign ads, Democratic politicians are swearing with glee. It is usually aimed at President Trump.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2026

Fragile Cease-Fire Takes Hold as Both Sides Claim Victory

International relief was tempered by uncertainty over what comes next. Israel declared its support for the two-week truce between the U.S. and Iran, but said it had launched the largest wave of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon since the war began.

International Relief Is Tempered by Uncertainty

Trump Finds His Offramp With Iran, but the War’s Causes Remain Unresolved

Even as They Praise Iran Cease-Fire, World Leaders Are Whipsawed by Trump

Across Europe and the globe, the war has damaged economies, roiled politics and underscored a lack of options in dealing with President Trump’s whims.

The Spectator World Magazine – April 13, 2026

Arming the dragon | The Spectator

THE SPECTATOR WORLD: The latest issue features Arming the dragon‘ – How the West is empowering China’s war machine…

Operation Epic Fury is costing Trump his coalition

As US troops flock to danger, Donald Trump seeks ways to disentangle himself from the war on Iran. “We are on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly,” he said in a 19-minute address at the start of the month. “It’s very important that we keep this conflict in perspective.”

How the West is empowering China’s war machine

The West’s technology brains and universities are arming China. A few of them are potentially breaking the law to do it, but most of them don’t need to. The front door has been open for years, and nobody in London or Washington has thought to close it.

The US currency is under attack like never before

It was, on the surface, a fairly routine proposal. Officials from the BRICS nations, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have decided to discuss, at a summit in New Delhi later this year, how to deepen trade and collaboration. No one was paying very much attention when the decision was made. And yet, according to a report in the well-informed newspaper Berliner Zeitung, a resolution was quietly suggested that might turn the global monetary system upside down. It was the start of what might be termed the “plot against the dollar.” America’s currency is likely to face its most serious challenge of the post-World War Two era.

Preview: Archaeology Magazine – MAY/JUNE 2026

Archaeology Magazine: The latest issue features ‘Exploring the World of the Odyssey.

The Unexpected World of the Odyssey

Discovering the surprising inspirations behind Homer’s great tales of the Trojan War. By The Editors

Pioneers of Lakefront  Living

Why Neolithic and Bronze Age farmers in the Alps built their villages on stilts

The Last Maya Kingdom

On the shores of a lake in Guatemala, the Itzá people defied the Spanish for nearly 200 years

Art for the Ages

A surreal style of painting endured for 4,000 years in the canyonlands of West Texas

Bridge to the Past

The Yellow River brought both prosperity and calamity to China’s dazzling medieval capital By Ling Xin

ORION MAGAZINE – WINTER 2026 – Nature & Culture

ORION MAGAZINE: The Spring 2026 issue, Working the Land: Lessons in Labor and Collective Action, explores the relationship between labor and the environment and calls for solidarity at a time when that value is under attack. Contributors address various ways that humanity has put the planet to work—by extracting resources, expanding the reaches of capitalism, or using other creatures as helpmeets. But they also venture to imagine what an alternative version of this relationship might look like; one where the channel between labor and the land is driven not by division or profit but by coalition and repair. Inside:

  • Labor journalist Kim Kelly explores what climate activism can learn from union organizing
  • Camrin Dengel photographs the practice of regenerative farming as it pushes back against big agriculture
  • Emma Pattee interviews legendary activist Sarah Schulman and labor scholar Naomi R. Williams about what true solidarity looks like
  • Daniel Naawenkangua Abukuri investigates the epidemic of stolen donkeys—an essential human workmate—in Ghana

Chloé Cooper Jones debuts as Orion’s new travel columnist.

THE NEW YORK TIMES – TUESDAY, APRIL 7, 2026

As Trump Ultimatum Looms, Iran Vows to Respond Harshly

Iran said it would respond “crushingly” if President Trump carried out his threats to strike power plants and bridges. An Israeli strike killed an Iranian intelligence chief overnight.

Trump Says Iran Proposal Isn’t Enough to Stop Attacks on Bridges and Power Plants

Newly Obtained Video of Minneapolis Shooting Undermines ICE Account

Prosecutors did not watch video of the nonfatal shooting until weeks after charging the wounded man, an official said.

Pakistan Says It Hit a Military Target. Investigations Suggest It Was a Rehab Center.

After the deadliest attack in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over, families searched among photos and remains for signs of their relatives.

Ukraine Ramps Up Attacks on Russian Oil, Aiming to Curb Iran War Windfall

As the Persian Gulf conflict boosts the oil revenue that finances Moscow’s war against Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces are striking at Russia’s ability to refine and ship its crude.

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE – APRIL 13, 2026 PREVIEW

The cover of the April 13 2026 Future Issue of The New Yorker in which a man smiles as he types on a screen attached to...

THE NEW YORKER MAGAZINE: The latest issue cover features ‘Christoph Niemann’s “New Horizons” – Technology and the future.

Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth’s Warped Vision of the Iran War

The two men might wish that they lived in a world where whoever dropped the most bombs got whatever he wanted. But the war has shown that this isn’t true. By Benjamin Wallace-Wells

Why Are People Injecting Themselves with Peptides?

Health and wellness influencers are hawking unapproved treatments on the gray market. The future of the F.D.A.—and the health of consumers—is at stake. By Dhruv Khullar

Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?

New interviews and closely guarded documents shed light on the persistent doubts about the head of OpenAI.

By Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz

THE NEW YORK TIMES – MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2026

As Trump Ultimatum Looms, Iran Vows to Respond Harshly

Iran said it would respond “crushingly” if President Trump carried out his threats to strike power plants and bridges. An Israeli strike killed an Iranian intelligence chief overnight.

Trump Keeps World Off Balance With Ever-Changing Threats

Global leaders are struggling to find a way to end the American-Israeli war with Iran, and they are spooked about what President Trump might do next.

The Islands That Give Iran Sway Over Hormuz

A U.S. invasion of islands in the world’s most vital oil corridor would come with extraordinary risks.

This Is Not China’s War, but Beijing Started Preparing for It Years Ago

China redoubled efforts to secure energy security when President Trump started raising the stakes in his first term.

THE OBSERVER MAGAZINE – SUNDAY, APRIL 5, 2026

The Observer Magazine: The latest issue features – Coverage centers on the ongoing Middle East crisis, featuring a dramatic account of a mission to rescue the crew of a downed U.S. F-15 fighter jet. Reports also detail Israeli airstrikes in Beirut and Iranian drone attacks on energy facilities in Kuwait. Also, the Economic Impact: Analysts warn that soaring energy costs triggered by the conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz could threaten the global AI boom and lead to higher taxes and mortgage rates in the UK.

A picture of home

Nasa’s moon mission has captured a view immortalised by Apollo astronauts in 1968, but its quest to beat China to the lunar surface is now under threat from Trump By Giles Whittell

White House chaos intensifies after Iran downs two US warplanes

Desperate search for missing US pilot caps a week of confusion for the president as he loses his grip on the conflict

‘Forty-eight hours before all hell will rain down’: Trump warns Iran over Hormuz

As the US president ups the ante, allies discuss using minesweepers to clear the strait and Tehran imposes new transit fees on shipping