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Arsenal's 0-0 draw against Sporting Lisbon was enough to secure their place in the Champions League semi-finals, but the performance was far from convincing. Manager Mikel Arteta was seen pulling his jumper up over his eyes to obscure the spectacle in front of him, highlighting the team's struggles.The match was marked by Arsenal's possession-based football, which often felt like a slow-burn attempt to win by default. The team's lack of creativity in the final third was evident, with passes that were just the wrong weight or line, and early crosses eschewed.Sporting Lisbon were well-drilled and physically robust, with Morten Hjulmand dominating the midfield for a while. The Portuguese team's Victor Gyökeres had a close-range chance but nudged at it weakly with his right foot, highlighting the limitations of being one-footed.Despite the uncomfortable nature of the match, Arsenal's fans stayed with the team, generating noise and finding elements to cheer. The Emirates Stadium crowd played along with I Feel For You at half-time, which felt apt given the team's performance.Arsenal's progression to the semi-finals sets up a potential clash with Atlético Madrid, with one other team standing between them and their first Champions League title. While the result was good, the performance was not, leaving fans to wonder if this is just how you win things.

Becoming a parent reshapes every facet of daily life—the late‑night outings fade, responsibility expands, and the role shifts from being cared for to becoming a caretaker. This profound transition forms the emotional core of Jess Brodie’s new play, Gush. The playwright deliberately zeroes in on the moments before birth, a period she describes as a “still point” where reflection and anticipation collide. Rather than dramatizing labor itself, Brodie explores the inner landscape of a woman on the brink of motherhood. At the centre of the piece is Ally, a pregnant woman whose bulging belly becomes a visual reminder of her mounting anxieties. She grapples with sleepless nights, dietary restrictions, and the looming deadline of maternity leave, while also confronting an unfinished personal identity that must now accommodate the role of “mum”. Beyond the familiar pressures of pregnancy, the monologue delves into Ally’s quest for self‑realisation. The impending birth is portrayed as a ticking time‑bomb, intensifying her doubts about a middle‑class existence shared with a neurotic, controlling partner. The narrative questions whether she should finally honour the sexual desires she has long suppressed. Critics may note the play’s narrow focus—its politics are largely self‑absorbed, and its feminist themes risk sounding solipsistic. Nevertheless, Brodie’s script is laced with wit and unexpected turns, keeping the audience firmly engaged. In Becky Hope‑Palmer’s meticulously crafted production, the set—half stark white surface, half inviting cushion pool—mirrors the tension between alienation and comfort. It is Jessica Hardwick’s performance that elevates the piece. Her voice, both resonant and precise, navigates Brodie’s rapid tonal shifts—from irony to panic, embarrassment to eroticism, fury to humor—with remarkable sensitivity. Hardwick’s portrayal makes Gush a must‑see, even for those who might otherwise overlook the play’s limited thematic scope. The production runs at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh until 25 April.

The Fallen by Louise Brangan offers a meticulously researched portrait of the Magdalene laundries, the most notorious component of Ireland’s 20th‑century network of correctional institutions. The review notes that, at their peak in 1951, the country held 70 women per 100,000 in these laundries compared with 27 men per 100,000 in prisons, underscoring the laundries as the primary carceral system for females. Although established under state authority, the facilities were operated by Catholic nuns. Girls as young as nine and women into their eighties were compelled to work six days a week, without wages, on arduous, often hand‑operated machinery. Discipline was severe, and any minor infraction could trigger harsh punishment. The book illustrates how women were funneled into the system with little justification. Brangan recounts the case of a 15‑year‑old named Eileen, who vanished in February 1954 after being approached by members of the Legion of Mary—a lay group tasked with policing Ireland’s moral standards. She was taken to a gated house marked “Saint Mary Magdalen’s Asylum,” stripped of her identity, and assigned the number “60.” The narrative emphasizes that many detainees were simply “wayward or unwanted”—homeless, abused, or otherwise marginalized—rather than having committed any serious crime. Brangan draws a stark parallel between the Catholic Church’s grip on Irish society and the Communist Party’s control in Eastern Europe before 1989, suggesting both operated as pervasive, authoritarian forces. The laundries, though conspicuously situated among ordinary businesses, were largely ignored by a public that chose not to confront the “tall, locked iron gates” and the suffering behind them. The review situates the laundries within a broader context of institutional abuse, referencing the mother‑and‑baby homes that saw an estimated 56,000 women and girls pass through, with roughly 57,000 babies born, most notably at the Bon Secours home in Tuam. Investigations by Catherine Corless uncovered a mass grave of nearly 800 infants, highlighting the systemic nature of the tragedy. Financial redress has been slow. To date, the Irish government has disbursed more than €33 million to survivors of the laundries, while most religious orders have refused to contribute. A survivor’s testimony, quoted by Brangan, captures the lingering impact: “There’s always something in my life that will remind me of my past… I’ll never heal.” The review concludes by noting that the book, published by Bodley Head at £22, serves both as a harrowing testament and a call to remember a dark chapter of Irish history that continues to shape the lives of those who endured it.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined the AA £4.2m and ordered the company to make payments to more than 80,000 learner drivers. The fine was imposed for not showing the full price of lessons at the time of booking, a practice known as 'drip pricing'.The CMA found that learner drivers were not shown the total price upfront when booking lessons online, which is required under UK consumer law. Instead, the driving schools were introducing a mandatory fee later in the process.Sarah Cardell, the chief executive of the CMA, stated: 'If a fee is mandatory, the law is clear: it must be included in the price from the very start – not added at checkout – so consumers always know what they need to pay.' The regulator said that the amount repaid to individual customers will vary depending on how many lessons they bought, but the average payout is expected to be about £9. The AA has cooperated with the CMA and admitted to breaking the law, which reduced the potential financial penalty by 40%.This is the first financial penalty the CMA has imposed for a breach of consumer law since being granted new powers to enable it to decide whether to take action rather than having to go through the courts.

The British foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, will urge Sudan's warring parties to 'cease bloodshed' during a major conference on Wednesday, which analysts believe is unlikely to deliver a significant step towards peace.The talks in Berlin – held on the third anniversary of the start of Sudan's ruinous war – are expected to help address a catastrophic funding shortfall that is compounding the world's worst humanitarian crisis.Overall, just 16% of the humanitarian funding needed for Sudan this year has been provided by the international community as the crisis in Iran continues to dominate diplomatic channels.Britain is among the countries attending the conference that are set to announce new funding for Sudan. Cooper will unveil a doubling of UK aid to £15m for Sudanese frontline responders such as the grassroots volunteer network known as Emergency Response Rooms.With the war now entering its fourth year, and with no sign of hostilities abating between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army, latest assessments indicate more than 19 million people face acute hunger as a result of the fighting, while some areas are at risk of famine.The latest assessment from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) found 'emergency' levels of hunger across much of North Kordofan, West Kordofan, South Kordofan and North Darfur, while levels in some communities remained 'catastrophic'.It added that emergency levels of hunger were expected to spread over the coming months and that the number of people needing humanitarian aid was expected to reach 22-23 million.Despite the scale of the suffering, Cooper hopes that an end to the fighting is achievable. 'Today, in Berlin, I will call for the international community to join in a shared resolve: to secure a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution, to stop the suffering, and allow the people of Sudan to determine their own peaceful future,' she said.

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic U.S. Representative from California, announced his resignation from Congress after a fifth woman accused him of unwanted sexual contact, alleging he drugged and raped her during a 2018 encounter. The claim was made public on Tuesday, intensifying a series of allegations that have already derailed his bid for the California governorship. Swalwell had suspended his gubernatorial campaign earlier in the week, a race in which polls had shown him as the front‑runner to replace Governor Gavin Newsom. The campaign collapsed after the San Francisco Chronicle and CNN reported multiple accusations, including a 2024 rape allegation by a former staffer in a New York City hotel that left the victim bleeding and bruised. Additional allegations surfaced that three other women received inappropriate Snapchat messages from Swalwell, a platform that automatically deletes interactions, complicating verification. In response, Lonna Drewes—one of the accusers—stated at a Los Angeles press conference that her hesitation to act earlier was driven by fear of Swalwell’s political power, not doubt about the allegations. Drewes’s attorney, Lisa Bloom, announced that a police report would be filed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office. The backlash was swift: supporters withdrew endorsements, and a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers called for an immediate vote to expel Swalwell from the House. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office also confirmed it is investigating the sexual assault claims. Swalwell issued an apology to his family, staff, and constituents, describing his actions as “mistakes in judgment.” He emphasized his intent to fight what he called “serious, false allegations” and criticized the prospect of an expulsion vote without due process, stating, “Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong.” Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna said she would withdraw her motion to expel Swalwell once his resignation became effective, confirming that his resignation letter had been submitted “effective immediately.” Meanwhile, Republican Representative Tony Gonzales announced his own retirement from Congress amid similar calls for expulsion over unrelated sexual misconduct allegations. Swalwell’s departure marks a dramatic end to a campaign that once positioned him as a leading contender for California’s top executive office, underscoring how personal misconduct allegations can swiftly upend political trajectories and trigger extensive legal scrutiny.

Atletico Madrid has sent 10-man Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League, securing a spot in the semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory despite a 2-1 quarterfinal second leg defeat.Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres fired visitors Barca ahead inside 24 minutes on Tuesday, but Ademola Lookman's strike gave Atletico the edge in the gripping all-Spanish tie once again after their 2-0 win in the first leg.Diego Simeone's side returned to the semifinals for the first time since 2017 by holding on against the La Liga champions in a compelling and bloody battle. Barcelona ended the game with 10 men as Eric Garcia was sent off for bringing down Alexander Sorloth as he ran in on goal, hampering their chance of finding a third goal to force extra time.Atletico, who have never won the competition and lost the 2014 and 2016 finals with Simeone at the helm, will face Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon in the semifinals.Barcelona coach Hansi Flick benched forwards Marcus Rashford and Robert Lewandowski for workhorses Torres and Gavi, looking to press Atletico relentlessly in the sixth match between these sides this season.Lamine Yamal fired the visitors ahead after just four minutes when he harried Clement Lenglet into giving the ball away. Torres nudged it back to Yamal, who slipped a low shot through Musso's legs to hush the home fans and ignite Barca's attempted comeback bid.Barcelona doubled their lead in the 24th minute to level the tie on aggregate when Torres left Lenglet trailing, reached Olmo's pass and fired across Musso into the top corner.Atletico pulled their way back into the game in the 31st minute after Barca switched off defensively for the first time. Marcos Llorente charged down the right behind the Catalans' high defensive line and crossed for Lookman to convert.The game spun away from Barca when Eric Garcia was sent off for clipping Sorloth's heels as he ran through on goal, similar to Pau Cubarsi's red card in the first leg.Flick threw centre-back Ronald Araujo up front for the final stages, but there was no way back, and Atletico gritted their teeth through eight minutes of stoppage time before the celebrations could begin.

Swiss ice‑hockey head coach Patrick Fischer has publicly acknowledged that he travelled to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics using a fabricated COVID‑19 vaccination certificate. In a statement, Fischer described the act as a “serious mistake” and expressed regret for disappointing fans and officials. Fischer explained that he was caught in a personal dilemma, refusing vaccination yet unwilling to let his team miss the Games. "I was in an extraordinary personal crisis because I didn’t want to be vaccinated," he said, adding that he did not want to let his squad down. Swiss public broadcaster SRF presented evidence that Fischer had been fined nearly 39,000 Swiss francs (about $50,000) in 2023 for document forgery after purchasing the counterfeit certificate on social media. The coach disclosed his admission shortly after SRF’s confrontation. Despite the controversy, Fischer remains at the helm of the Swiss national team until after the World Championship scheduled next month, after which he is set to step down. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has stated that it considers the matter closed. Fischer, who has led the team since 2015, is among Switzerland’s most successful hockey coaches, guiding the squad to three Olympic appearances and securing three silver medals at the World Championships. Under his leadership, Switzerland reached the quarterfinals at the 2022 Olympics, a tournament that required strict COVID‑19 testing and saw the NHL abstain due to pandemic concerns. China imposed some of the world’s toughest COVID‑19 protocols for the Beijing Games, mandating vaccination or a three‑week quarantine for all athletes—a rule that Swiss snowboarder Patrizia Kummer chose to follow. The International Olympic Committee has not yet commented on the incident.

Why does the war in Sudan persist three years after it began? According to the latest episode of Al Jazeera’s podcast The Take, the answer lies in the network of external actors that continue to fund and arm the warring factions – the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The episode, hosted by journalist Malika Bilal and featuring political analyst Dallia Abdelmoniem, explores how regional and global rivalries have turned Sudan into a proxy battleground. With the United States and Israel engaged in a broader confrontation with Iran, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz inflating oil prices, the cost of fuel and food in Sudan has surged, worsening an already dire famine situation. Key insights from the discussion include: Foreign financing and arms supplies keep both the SAF and RSF operational, preventing a decisive military outcome. US‑Israel‑Iran dynamics divert international attention and resources, allowing the Sudanese conflict to fester. Rising global fuel prices driven by Strait of Hormuz instability increase transport costs, making humanitarian aid more expensive and less accessible. Food price spikes exacerbate famine risk for millions of displaced Sudanese, deepening the humanitarian crisis. The podcast also notes that without a coordinated diplomatic push to address the external backers and the broader geopolitical tensions, a sustainable cease‑fire remains unlikely. Production credits go to Tamara Khandaker (producer), with contributions from Noor Wazwaz, Sari el‑Khalili, Spencer Cline, Chloe K Li, and Tuleen Barakat. Editing was handled by Alexandra Locke, while Alex Roldan provided sound design and Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al‑Melhem managed video editing. Listeners can follow the conversation and future episodes on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.