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Brendan Gleeson has been named best actor at the Critics' Circle theatre awards for his West End debut in Conor McPherson's pub drama The Weir. He beat fellow nominees including Bryan Cranston and Paapa Essiedu, both recognised for All My Sons, and James Hameed and Arti Shah, the duo who together portray Paddington in the new musical about Michael Bond's bear.The Weir, directed by McPherson, was entirely omitted from the nominations for this year's Olivier awards and is being turned into a film with Gleeson and the rest of the West End cast.All My Sons, a critically adored production of Arthur Miller's 1946 classic at Wyndham's theatre, won in two categories at the Critics' Circle awards: best revival of a play or musical and best director for Ivo van Hove. A new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods, directed by Jordan Fein at the Bridge theatre, also won two prizes – best designer (Tom Scutt) and the inaugural award for best ensemble or cast.The winners, voted for by professional theatre critics, were revealed at a ceremony at the National Theatre in London on Thursday. Paddington: The Musical, with music and lyrics by Tom Fletcher and book by Jessica Swale, won best new musical. James Graham's Punch, based on the real story of a fatal blow, received the Michael Billington award for best new play (named in 2019 in honour of the Guardian's theatre critic after he stepped down from reviewing). Ava Pickett won most promising playwright for her Tudor drama 1536, which was staged at the Almeida theatre in London in 2025, transfers to the West End in May and is being turned into a BBC drama series.Rosamund Pike saw off competition from Kate Fleetwood (Into the Woods), Marianne Jean-Baptiste (All My Sons) and Rachel Zegler (Evita) to win best actress for her acclaimed performance as a judge in Suzie Miller's Inter Alia. Ruby Ashbourne Serkis was named most promising newcomer for her performance in a revival of Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink which opened at Hampstead theatre days after the revered playwright's death. The award for best Shakespearean performance went to Hayley Atwell for her Beatrice (alongside Tom Hiddleston, nominated for the same prize, as Benedick) in Much Ado About Nothing at Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Everton is considering a legal challenge against the Premier League for their handling of Chelsea's undisclosed payments sanction. The club feels aggrieved as they were docked eight points during the 2023-24 season for profit and sustainability regulations breaches, whereas Chelsea did not face sporting sanctions.Chelsea were fined £10.75m and given a suspended transfer ban by the Premier League last week after reporting £47.5m of hidden payments to agents and players made over a seven-year period. This punishment has been regarded as lenient by other top-flight clubs.Everton and Nottingham Forest are unhappy with the Chelsea sanction and are taking legal advice. They claim the Premier League has been inconsistent in applying its own rulebook. Everton could still receive a further punishment as a result of their PSR breaches.The Premier League is believed to have explained Chelsea's punishment on the grounds that they felt they would have been unable to secure a conviction without their co-operation, so negotiated from the outset. Chelsea's current ownership of Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly reported the offences, which they discovered during the negotiations to buy the club from Roman Abramovich four years ago.

Amazon's cloud computing unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has confirmed that its region in Bahrain was disrupted due to drone activity. This incident marks the second time in a month that the company's operations have been affected by the war in the Middle East.An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the disruption, stating that the company is helping customers migrate to alternate AWS regions while it recovers from the incident. However, the company did not provide additional details on the extent of the damage or the expected duration of the disruption.The disruption comes after Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to attack 'economic centres and banks' related to US and Israeli entities in the region. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency released a list of offices and infrastructure run by top US companies with Israeli links, including Google, Microsoft, and Oracle, which have branches in multiple Israeli cities and Gulf countries.AWS is critical for the operation of many well-known websites and government operations and is Amazon's main driver of profits. Earlier this month, AWS reported that facilities in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had lost power, and the company was working to transfer computing workloads to other regions.These attacks come after Iran claimed it is targeting US assets across the Gulf Arab states in retaliation for the joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel that began on February 28. Gulf states have accused Tehran of targeting civilian infrastructure, such as airports and energy facilities.

Dario Fo, born 100 years ago, was a multifaceted genius who seamlessly blended politics and comedy in his works. As a dramatist, actor, director, and designer, he brought satire to the masses, achieving a global reach with plays like Accidental Death of an Anarchist and Can't Pay? Won't Pay!, which justly earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1997.Fo's background was marked by his involvement in wartime resistance against the Nazis in northern Italy, where he helped smuggle Allied soldiers across the border to Switzerland. His career in entertainment began with a weekly TV variety show that attracted huge audiences, but was abruptly ended due to his refusal to accept censorship.Fo's theatre company, Nuova Scena, gave the first performance of Mistero Buffo, his one-man show that satirized the Catholic Church. The show was condemned by the Vatican as 'the most blasphemous show in the history of television.'Fo's plays injected new life into political theatre, with Accidental Death of an Anarchist being a notable example. The play derived from a real-life case of a railway worker falsely accused of planting bombs and who 'fell' out of a police HQ window. The play's 2023 revival at the Sheffield Crucible, which transferred to the West End, showcased its timeless relevance, with Daniel Rigby's performance being 'breathlessly funny.'Fo's works provided actors with memorable roles, such as Griff Rhys Jones' virtuoso performance in Trumpets and Raspberries. His approach to comedy was rooted in tragedy, using laughter as a means to make audiences confront problems like cruelty, injustice, and oppression.Throughout his career, Fo faced significant harassment, including 45 prosecutions from the Italian police, and physical intimidation from both the Catholic Church and the Communist Party. Despite this, his legacy as a master of merging politics and comedy endures.

Orlando City SC has officially signed Antoine Griezmann, the renowned French attacker from Atlético Madrid, in a landmark deal that marks a significant moment for the club, the city, and Major League Soccer (MLS). The 35-year-old Griezmann has agreed to a contract that runs from July 2026 through the 2027-28 season, with an option for the 2028-29 season. While financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Griezmann's arrival is seen as a major coup for Orlando City, reflecting the club's ambition and commitment to building a championship-caliber roster. Mark Wilf, team owner and chair of Orlando City, expressed his excitement about Griezmann's signing, highlighting his status as one of the most gifted and influential players of his generation. Wilf emphasized that Griezmann's decision to join Orlando City underscores the club's mission and culture, as well as its focus on consistently competing at a high level. Griezmann will join Orlando City as a designated player when the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July, pending medical clearance and the receipt of his international paperwork. He will be part of a team that has had a challenging start to the 2026 season, with four losses in their first five games, leading to the sacking of head coach Óscar Pareja in March. The French attacker expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career, citing the strong ambition and clear vision of Orlando City. Griezmann, who has 211 goals across all competitions for Atlético Madrid, is the club's all-time leading scorer. He has also had a distinguished career with 298 goals and 132 assists in 792 professional appearances in Spain. Griezmann's move to Orlando City sets him up for a new challenge in MLS, where he will be part of a growing rivalry with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. His addition is expected to bring leadership, creativity, and a winning mentality to the team, making this a statement signing for the club and its ownership group.

The Magic Faraway Tree, a film adapted by Simon Farnaby from Enid Blyton's late 1930s and 40s books, is a thoroughly likable and sweet-natured family fantasy film perfect for the Easter holidays. The movie distills the spirit of adventure and outdoorsy fun from the original stories and transfers it to a new world where all generations are longing to escape electronic devices and AI.The film features a talented cast, including Claire Foy as Polly, a brilliant electronics engineer, and Andrew Garfield as Tim, her househusband. The story follows their family as they move to the countryside and discover a magical tree that leads to a world of wonder and enchantment. The cast delivers black-belt character turns and grade-A gags, making the film a delightful treat for audiences of all ages.The film's eccentric quirkiness and innocent jollity are reminiscent of classic tales like Narnia and the Shire. With its love of sweets and silly contraptions, the movie also pays homage to Ian Fleming's Caractacus Pott in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and BBC TV's The Goodies and the Beanstalk. Overall, The Magic Faraway Tree is a charming and adventurous tale that is sure to delight families and fans of fantasy films alike.

A new and disturbing trend in scams, known as 'friendship fraud,' is on the rise, specifically targeting older people who are lonely or bereaved. This type of scam involves criminals using social media platforms to build relationships with potential victims, often over a long period, before requesting money for various reasons. The scam typically begins with a connection on social media, where the fraudster will research and tailor their initial messages to appear as though they share common interests with the victim. Once a level of trust is established, the scammer will begin to make requests for money, often for small amounts or seemingly urgent needs. According to TSB, the average amount lost by victims of friendship fraud is £3,100. In some cases, victims have lost as much as £4,000 or more over several years. The fraudsters often request payments through bank transfers or gift cards, making it difficult for victims to recover their losses. Experts warn that older people who are lonely or bereaved are particularly vulnerable to these scams, as they may be more desperate for human connection and more likely to trust someone who appears to share their interests. Caroline Abrahams of Age UK describes the fraud as 'especially horrible and insidious,' noting that it can have devastating consequences for victims, including financial loss, health issues, and a breakdown in trust. To avoid falling victim to friendship fraud, experts advise severing contact immediately if someone you met online requests money. If you suspect you or someone you know has been targeted, report it to Report Fraud and discuss it with your bank. Documenting all interactions with the scammer can also help in efforts to recover losses or prosecute the fraudster.