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The Lead: A Bold Re‑imagining of Garland’s Final YearsThe Guardian’s review opens by noting that Drag Race star Jinkx Monsoon brings her celebrated Judy Garland impersonation to a new narrative context—a love triangle set in 1960s London. The revival of Peter Quilter’s 2005 play shifts focus from Garland’s early exploitation to her later struggles with addiction and a fraught personal life.The Production’s Narrative Twist: Love, Addiction, and Queer IconographyMonsoon’s Garland is caught between steadfast pianist Anthony (Adam Filipe) and opportunistic suitor Mickey (Jacob Dudman).The script juxtaposes private hotel scenes with public performances at Talk of the Town, highlighting the clash between fame and personal decay.Queer themes surface through Anthony’s admiration and Mickey’s homophobic contempt, underscoring Garland’s status as a queer icon.Musical Direction and Visual Design: Orchestrating EmotionMusic direction by Nick Barstow and arrangements by Leo Munby anchor the drama, with Garland’s torch songs—"Just in Time" and "You Made Me Love You"—serving as emotional pivots.Designer Jasmine Swan creates a stark white‑curtain stage, while lighting designer Prema Mehta introduces a Technicolor‑inspired transition that mirrors Garland’s cinematic legacy.Critical Reception: Performance Nuances and Structural FlawsMonsoon’s vocal performance is praised for its dynamic range, capturing both triumph and fragility.The review notes repetitive hotel scenes that, while authentic to addiction’s grind, can feel grindingly static.Supporting characters are deemed functional, serving more as narrative devices than fully fleshed personalities.Future Outlook: Potential for a One‑Woman ShowcaseThe critic suggests that Monsoon’s talent hints at a possible solo rendition of Garland’s story, which could amplify the intimate connection she already establishes with the audience. The show runs at Soho Theatre Walthamstow until 21 June, offering theatre‑goers a chance to experience this layered homage before any further developments.

The LeadA friend of mine was recently left in tears after filling up the car she relies on to drive to work. Thanks to the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, prices at the pumps have soared. She wasn't sure how her family was going to make it to the next paycheck.It is a personal story and a distressing one, but the big picture is truly obscene. Fossil fuel companies are raking in monstrous, unearned war profits taken from the pockets of people like you, me, my friend, and any of us who fills up a vehicle or pays an energy bill.The War-Profits Bonanza$30m an hour: that's the pure, unearned profits banked by the world's top 100 oil and gas companies in the first month of the conflict in Iran, purely due to the spike in the oil price. Now the first numbers are in, and that $30m may have been a major underestimate.Shell's profit for the first three months of 2026 more than doubled to $6.9bn, as did BP's, to $3.2bn. TotalEnergies profits also surged by more than 50%, up to $5.8bn. Even in the Gulf itself, where the flow of oil through the strait of Hormuz has been heavily restricted, some companies have still flourished. Aramco, the state oil company of Saudi Arabia, saw its profits soar by 26% to $33.6bn in the first quarter.The Financial Impact on ConsumersThose four companies alone, benefiting not just from the oil price hike but also bumper oil-trading profits, made $23m an hour for the whole of January, February and March. And the Iran conflict only started on 28 February.To get some idea of the scale of this, imagine I gave you $6,200. What would you do? Pay off a loan? Book a fancy holiday? A second later, I give you another $6,200; then again, for hours, weeks and months. That is the rate of profit of just those four companies.There is plenty more to come for the industry. Oil and gas supplies will take months to return to prewar levels, and reserves are getting dangerously low. Even if the oil price remains at today's level of about $100 a barrel, those 100 companies will make $234bn by the end of the year. Remember, the companies, and petrostates such as Russia, have done no extra work for this, just ridden a soaring oil price. Also remember, you are paying for this. Where I live in the UK, household energy bills are about to jump by £209 ($280) a year for the average home.The Industry's Climate ObstructionThe profits are extreme, but not new: big oil and gas has been wildly profitable for decades. It has made an average $1tn a year in pure profit for about 50 years. The fossil fuel sector also benefits from explicit subsidies that totalled $1.3tn in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund.These riches have funded the lobbying and campaigns that block climate action and have done so for years, long after the science became crystal clear. As an example of the consequences, the UK's official climate advisers said on Tuesday that all care homes and hospitals will need air conditioning within the coming 10 years, to stop the heat killing people.The Green Transition AccelerationBut here's that silver lining I promised: these peak profits contain the seeds of their own downfall. Sky-high fossil fuel prices are pushing people, companies and nations to supercharge their rush towards green power for the simple reason that it is now cheaper and more reliable. Solar power does not need to transit through the strait of Hormuz, as Bill McKibben has observed.The numbers on the surge in renewable energy deployment, already exponential, are not yet in, but they will almost certainly be huge. Green funds are already attracting billions of dollars in new investments and one consultancy estimates that an oil price of $100 a barrel will drive $4tn of extra green investment by 2030.Big oil remains a formidable political force but, on the ground, people are already voting with their feet. Sales of new electric cars in the UK leapt by 59% in April, for example. The pain and anger of today's energy crisis may yet become a critical turning point in confronting the climate crisis.

Meta has reached a confidential settlement with Breathitt County Schools in Kentucky, ending a lawsuit that alleged the company’s social networks are engineered to be addictive and cause mental‑health harm to students.Meta Settles Kentucky School District Lawsuit Over Alleged Addiction DesignThe settlement was announced less than three weeks before the case was set to go to trial in federal court in California. While the exact terms were not disclosed, Meta emphasized its ongoing work on safety tools such as Teen Accounts and parental controls.Financial Stakes and Settlement LandscapeThe Kentucky district originally sought more than $60 million to cover mental‑health services and a 15‑year remediation program.Meta’s settlement follows similar agreements by TikTok and Snap with the same group of roughly 1,200 school districts.Recent jury verdicts ordered Meta and YouTube to pay $6 million in damages and Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties for related claims.Implications for Social Media Regulation and Child SafetyThe case adds pressure on the industry to redesign features such as infinite scrolling and autoplay video, which plaintiffs argue are deliberately addictive. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are citing these lawsuits as evidence that existing self‑regulation is insufficient, potentially accelerating federal or state legislation aimed at protecting minors online.Future Legal Battles and Industry OutlookAttorneys for the remaining school districts say they will continue pursuing justice, with another 1,200 districts still in litigation. Upcoming trials include an individual case in California and a Tennessee attorney‑general suit slated for July, while a federal case by the Tucson Unified School District is scheduled for January 2027. The outcomes of these cases will likely shape the next wave of social‑media liability and could force broader industry changes.

Police Expand Probe into Prince Andrew's Alleged MisconductThames Valley Police (TVP) announced that their “unprecedented investigation” into Prince Andrew, 66 now covers a wide range of possible offences – from sexual misconduct to fraud and the illegal sharing of confidential information. The force is urging witnesses to contact them via the official online portal with any relevant details. Scope, Timeline and Key Evidence GapsFebruary 2026 – Prince Andrew arrested and questioned under criminal caution on suspicion of misconduct in public office (MIPO) linked to his role as a British trade envoy.Investigators are seeking original US Department of Justice documents that reference alleged information sharing with Jeffrey Epstein. Only printed extracts have been obtained so far.TVP is reviewing a claim from a US‑based woman who says she was taken to Windsor in 2010 for sexual purposes; the police have contacted her lawyer but have not opened a full criminal investigation.Three other UK forces are conducting separate criminal inquiries stemming from the same Epstein files, while the Metropolitan Police declined to open its own probe. Potential Political and Institutional RepercussionsThe investigation touches several sensitive arenas: the credibility of the royal household, the legal definition of MIPO for a trade envoy, and the UK’s cooperation with US authorities on high‑profile financial crimes. If evidence confirms that the prince used his diplomatic position to pass confidential information, it could trigger a constitutional debate over the limits of royal privilege and the Crown’s role in public office. What the Next Months May Hold for the InquiryPolice expect the probe to extend well into 2027, contingent on obtaining the original Epstein documents and completing forensic analysis of seized material from the prince’s Norfolk and Windsor residences. Formal discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service are already underway, suggesting that charges could be considered once the evidentiary threshold is met. Meanwhile, the appeal for public tips aims to fill information gaps that could accelerate the timeline.

The Scale of Government WasteCancelled government projects cost taxpayers a staggering £6.6 billion in the past year alone, with money written off that achieved no intended objectives or created any value for the public, according to parliament's spending watchdog. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) described successive governments' tendency to abandon projects after spending significant sums as a "particularly egregious" example of poor value for public money.Key Failed InitiativesAmong the most prominent cancelled projects were the Conservative government's Rwanda deportation scheme, which cost £290 million before being scrapped by the new Labour administration, and the planned A303 road tunnel under Stonehenge, which contributed to a £472 million loss for the Department for Transport. The Ministry of Defence emerged as one of the most wasteful departments, incurring a £1.6 billion loss through project cancellations in the 2024-25 tax year.Financial Impact AnalysisThe cross-party committee analyzed spending across 17 main government departments and identified several factors behind the financial losses:Write-offs and debts no longer being pursuedDepartments cancelling or retiring assetsFraud, particularly in the Department for Work and PensionsCompensation schemes reaching £73.4 billion by the end of the last financial yearThe Department for Work and Pensions reported £9.3 billion in overpayments due to fraud and errors that have persisted for 36 years.Governance and Accountability ConcernsThe PAC deputy chair, Labour MP Clive Betts, characterized the high costs as a sign of government "complacency," stating that hard-working taxpayers should be "rightly aggravated" by the figure. The committee rejected the argument that high levels of fraud and waste are simply "the cost of doing business in the public sector," instead labeling them "the cost of complacency." James Bowler, the Treasury's permanent secretary, acknowledged that write-offs could occur with changes in government and differing objectives, suggesting a "value for money trade-off" in project completion decisions.Future Outlook on Government SpendingThe report calls for urgent action to reduce fraud and improve value for money in government programs. The Treasury has stated it "will never tolerate fraud, error or waste" and emphasized that the government ended the Rwanda scheme and cancelled unaffordable road projects to "protect the public finances." With public finances under increasing scrutiny, the findings are likely to intensify demands for greater accountability and more rigorous project planning before major initiatives receive approval and funding.

The LeadThe Guardian's Politics Weekly podcast has brought attention to allegations of a new financial arrangement involving former President Donald Trump, which critics are calling a "slush fund" designed to benefit his associates and allies.The Financial Arrangement DetailsThe podcast examines the structure and purpose of this fund, which has emerged as a subject of political controversy. While specific details about the fund's operations remain limited, the discussion centers on how such arrangements might influence political processes and donor relationships.The Political Impact AnalysisThis development comes at a time when political financing and ethics are under increased scrutiny. The alleged slush fund could potentially reshape perceptions of Trump's political operation and influence fundraising strategies for upcoming elections.The Future OutlookPolitical observers are watching closely to see how this story develops and whether it will have any lasting impact on Trump's political standing or the broader conversation about campaign finance reform in the United States.Listen to the full episode on Politics Weekly YouTube channelCheck out The Guardian's US podcast: Stateside with Kai and CarterSend questions and feedback to [email protected] The Guardian at theguardian.com/politicspodus

The Lead The Royal Exchange's 50th anniversary season production, 'Even These Things', is a bold attempt to encapsulate the complex history of Manchester. The play explores themes of identity, community, and belonging through three seemingly unrelated scenes. MAPPING MANCHESTER'S HISTORY The play is built from three scenes, each set in a different time period. The first scene is set in 1846 and features a heavily pregnant Irish immigrant, Annie Donovan, who brushes shoulders with Friedrich Engels on her way to a fist fight. The second scene is set in 1996 and describes the city-centre life of an ordinary Saturday, with a community cast playing out whimsical vignettes. The final scene takes place after the IRA bomb outside the Arndale Centre and features a tender exchange between two strangers of Irish heritage. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY The play's cumulative meaning may be tricky to grasp, but as the scenes rub up against each other, what emerges is a thoughtful, rich and complex picture of home. The connections between the scenes are elliptical, but they ultimately reveal a city with a shared history and a strong sense of community. THE FUTURE OF MANCHESTER The play suggests that, however difficult, a future is possible. The final scene's chat about miscarriage and childbirth between two strangers of Irish heritage meeting in the park some months after the attack on an Ariana Grande concert brought the city together, implies that the city can heal and move forward. CONCLUSION 'Even These Things' is a bold and ambitious production that successfully maps Manchester's complex history. The play's themes of identity, community, and belonging are timely and thought-provoking, making it a must-see for anyone interested in theatre and the city of Manchester.

A candid kitchen conversation with Sir Derek Jacobi The Guardian’s interview captures a warm, unguarded moment as Jacobi and his husband, director Richard Clifford, share coffee and stories in their London home. Jacobi, 80, jokes about his looks, admits he never felt “movie‑star material,” and confides that he would love to reach his centenary. Career milestones and personal anecdotes 1970s breakthrough as the stammering Emperor in I, Claudius. Acclaimed stage work including Cyrano de Bergerac (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1980s) and Macbeth at the Barbican (1993). Recent TV roles in Vicious and Last Tango in Halifax. Early life in Leytonstone; rheumatic fever at nine sparked a shift from working‑class roots to a posh accent and ambition. No financial figures – cultural impact takes centre stage The piece contains no monetary data; its value lies in documenting the lived experience of a veteran actor whose voice and presence have shaped British drama for five decades. What Jacobi’s reflections mean for British theatre and aging performers Jacobi’s honesty about age, health (including his AIDS diagnosis) and self‑image highlights the often‑unspoken pressures on older actors. His partnership with Clifford, who directs and designs their home, underscores the importance of supportive creative collaborations in sustaining long‑term artistic careers. Looking ahead: the goal of hitting 100 Jacobi ends on a hopeful note, expressing a desire to “hit 100” and continue contributing to the arts. His story suggests that longevity in performance is as much about personal resilience and community as it is about talent.

The US Stance on Sanctions Against Francesca Albanese The United States has denied that the cancellation of sanctions against Francesca Albanese, the United Nations special rapporteur for the Palestinian territory, constitutes a change in the government’s policy. Court Ruling Leads to Sanctions Removal On Thursday, the Department of State clarified that the administration of President Donald Trump only removed Albanese from a sanctions list due to a recent court ruling. Intention to Reimpose Sanctions “The Government has appealed the court’s order,” the State Department added in its statement, before reaffirming its intention to return Albanese to the list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs). The US government intends to restore Ms Albanese’s name to the SDN List if the DC Circuit stays or overturns the court order. Background on Sanctions Against Albanese The Trump administration targeted Albanese with sanctions in July 2025, after she recommended that the International Criminal Court (ICC) issue arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Impact of Sanctions on Albanese Albanese, a human rights expert, has been outspoken in her criticism of Israeli policies towards Palestinians, and she has issued reports documenting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The Palestinian death toll in the narrow territory is estimated to exceed 75,000. Future Outlook While Albanese is Italian, her daughter is a US citizen, and she has assets in the country. In February, her family filed a civil complaint in a US federal court in Washington, DC, seeking to overturn the sanctions as a violation of Albanese’s constitutional rights, including the right to free speech.