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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.

When future generations examine television trends, they might be surprised by the glut of dramatisations about famous men caught in sex scandals. Jimmy Savile and Prince Andrew have both received multiple treatments, and now, with almost crushing inevitability, comes Channel 5's Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards.Edwards, the high-profile BBC newsreader who resigned in 2024 before being charged with three counts of making indecent images of children, remains defensive. Prior to the broadcast, he released a statement claiming the drama is unlikely to convey reality while asserting: I am repelled by the idea that some people enjoy viewing indecent images of children.The drama earns its title by portraying a powerful man utilizing a queasy power dynamic to manipulate a teenage boy into fulfilling his sexual desires. While not the pinnacle of drama, the film succeeds in capturing a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach.The main draw comes from its casting. Martin Clunes, known for roles that rely on his innate likability, creates an impressively accurate Edwards. He captures the fascinating mix of swagger and vulnerability, along with Edwards' distinctive accent and diction. Even during disturbing scenes, his performance never wavers.For much of the film, Edwards remains a figure of distant menace. Instead, this is really the story of Ryan (Osian Morgan), a teenage boy who finds himself being groomed by Edwards. The drama is constructed around first-hand interviews with Ryan (using a pseudonym to protect his identity), showing how Edwards validated his desire for connection before making the relationship transactional.Most powerfully, the film depicts the effect on Ryan's parents, as their dismay at his increasing waywardness first becomes anger directed at Edwards and then fear that they had become the bad guys.Still, the producers face challenges with a story that isn't visually interesting. Much of the relationship happened over text, meaning excessive time is spent watching people type or narrate messages. The film makes odd stylistic choices, including framing everything around the Queen's death and ending with Edwards reporting on his own charges.Edwards has promised to tell his side of the story, but as the reviewer notes, few will have the stomach to hear it when that day arrives.

Pakistan's military leadership has been playing a crucial role in attempting to broker negotiations between the US and Iran. The country's army chief, Asim Munir, recently had a call with US President Donald Trump to discuss the conflict. Diplomatic sources indicate that the US and Iran could meet for negotiations in Islamabad as early as this week to discuss an end to the war, which began almost a month ago. While Islamabad has yet to be officially confirmed as the venue, sources suggest that Tehran prefers Islamabad. Pakistani sources mention that US Vice-President JD Vance is being considered as a probable chief negotiator from the US side, rather than Trump's Middle East envoy Witkoff or Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Vance is viewed as a sceptic of the US decision to bomb Iran and has largely kept quiet on the conflict. After the phone call between Trump and Munir, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday. According to an official readout of the call, they agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation, dialogue, and diplomacy. Sources suggest that Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is likely to lead any talks from the Iranian side. However, Ghalibaf has dismissed reports of talks between the two sides as 'fake news'. An Iranian diplomatic source confirmed that talks are expected this week but expressed 'zero trust' in Washington. They stated that Iran would not accept Witkoff and Kushner as negotiators for any discussions. Negotiations between the US and Iran were ongoing when the US began its bombing campaign. The Iranian regime views these negotiations as an attempt by the Trump administration to deceive Iran into thinking it wanted a diplomatic solution while planning to attack. On Monday, Trump indicated that he would be willing to halt US strikes, claiming that 'strong talks' were being held between Iranian officials and Witkoff and Kushner. Trump told reporters that they had 'very, very strong talks' and that they had 'major points of agreement, I would say, almost all points of agreement'. The US president has given a five-day deadline to an ultimatum he gave over the weekend, threatening to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants and energy infrastructure if they did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route currently being blockaded by Iran's military. Trump's announcement of talks helped boost markets, bringing oil prices sharply down to below $100 (£75) a barrel, the lowest in days.

Ipswich Town Football Club has insisted it remains an inclusive and diverse organisation after Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, turned a tour of Portman Road into a political campaign event.During his visit on Monday, Farage filmed himself inside the home dressing room, held up a shirt with the No 10 and his name on the back, and suggested he was in the running for the manager's job at the Suffolk club in a promotional video posted online.Farage said that Ipswich, who are third in the Championship table, "are really in contention" to go back into the Premier League. "Let's hope they do it," he said, "but if they don't, I think there's the chance here, and I've had a chat with a few people, of the ­manager's job coming up next season and I'm definitely on the shortlist."The video was immediately criticised by Ipswich supporters, who described it as "shameful", "embarrassing" and "PR suicide for a family club".The club issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon distancing itself from Farage. "Ipswich Town Football Club has, over several years, hosted representatives from a range of political parties. The club remains apolitical and does not support or endorse any individual or party," the statement read."The club will continue to engage with representatives from across the political spectrum as part of its role within the community. Ipswich Town is proud to be an inclusive, diverse, and welcoming organisation that supports all members of the local and wider community. This commitment remains unchanged."It is understood that Farage was not an invited guest at the club. According to reports, the tour was booked without using Reform or Farage's name, and the printed shirt was bought from the club shop and not gifted to the 61-year-old.

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran has sparked concerns about the motivations behind Donald Trump's continued military actions. Kenneth Roth, a Guardian US columnist and former executive director of Human Rights Watch, draws a striking parallel between Trump's approach and that of Richard Nixon during the Vietnam War. Nixon's quest for 'peace with honor' in Vietnam led to years of devastation, resulting in over 20,000 American soldiers killed and a significantly higher toll among Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian civilians. Similarly, Trump's conflict with Iran appears to be driven by a desire to assert dominance and protect his political reputation, rather than a clear military objective. The article questions the rationale behind Trump's continued bombing of Iran, citing claims that Iran's ballistic missile capacity has been functionally destroyed and its nuclear program 'obliterated.' With 7,000 Iranian protesters killed in January, the Trump administration's call for regime change seems unlikely to succeed. The current fixation on Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which carries 20% of the world's oil and gas, has led to soaring petroleum prices. Trump's threat to destroy Iran's electrical infrastructure by the end of the week, unless Tehran agrees to allow the strait to reopen, raises concerns about war crimes and humanitarian consequences. Roth suggests that a de facto ceasefire, where Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu stop bombing, could be a more fruitful path to deescalation. However, Trump's desire for 'unconditional surrender' and the Iranian regime's insistence on lifting sanctions and affirming its right to nuclear enrichment complicate negotiations. The article concludes that Trump's pursuit of 'honor' and 'victory' in the conflict may come at a significant cost to the people of Iran, the global economy, and the United States itself, echoing the lessons of the Vietnam War.

The Belfast-set true-crime thriller 'No Ordinary Heist' is based on real-life events from 2004, but the film feels underpowered and apologetic, clumsily assembled and blandly directed by Colin McIvor. The two main male headliners, Eddie Marsan and Éanna Hardwicke, deliver fine performances, although Marsan's casting raises questions.Marsan does a good job nailing the Belfast accent, but his presence is recessive, making him an odd choice for the role of Richard Murray, an uptight bank manager. The bank robbers are fairly undifferentiated, apart from a skeevy character played by JB Moore. The film touches on the tension between past and future Northern Ireland, but this rich seam is not thoroughly mined.The film also explores a subplot about Murray being pressured by the bank's owners to make half the staff redundant, which is of particular interest to security chief Mags (Michelle Fairley). However, this strand is left hanging, wasting Fairley's talent. Ultimately, the film feels like the makers had neither the budget nor the vision to make the material sing, resulting in a most ordinary work.No Ordinary Heist is set to release in UK and Irish cinemas from 27 March.

The documentary 'Transforming the Beautiful Game: The Clyde Best Story' tells the uplifting story of Clyde Best, a trailblazing black footballer who played for West Ham in the early 1970s. Best's journey from Bermuda to London at 17, and his experiences with racism in the sport, are highlighted in the film.The documentary features a stellar lineup of talking heads, including Geoff Hurst, Harry Redknapp, Viv Anderson, John Barnes, Les Ferdinand, Shaka Hislop, and Garth Crooks, who discuss Best's significance and impact on the game. The film also explores Best's pioneering role as one of English elite football's first black players and his influence on succeeding generations of black footballers.Best's story is one of resilience in the face of racism, including virulent abuse from fans and players. However, he also experienced acceptance and support from teammates, such as at West Ham, where he played alongside Clive Charles and Ade Coker. The film notes that in 1972, West Ham became the first top-flight team to field three black players in the same match.After leaving West Ham in 1976, Best played for Tampa in the North American Soccer League (NASL), where he encountered a different cultural environment, free from the racism he faced in England. The documentary also touches on the NASL's attempt to establish itself as a mainstream sport in the US, although it ultimately failed.The film concludes with Best emerging with considerable dignity, reflecting on his legacy and the importance of blazing a trail for future generations. As Best himself says, 'My father taught me: 'Clyde, when you go out there and play, you're not playing for yourself, you're playing for the people coming after you.''

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders are to reunite on stage for the first time in 17 years, playing the Ugly Sisters in the London Palladium pantomime production of Cinderella. The duo, who began performing together almost 50 years ago, predicted that their performance “won’t be pretty”, but expressed their excitement at finally fulfilling their dream of playing the iconic roles.The pair have a long history of collaboration, starting with their meeting as students at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. They went on to create a hugely successful sketch comedy series for the BBC and have toured together several times, including their last tour, French and Saunders: Still Alive!, in 2008-09. In 2020, they teamed up again for a podcast, Titting About.Michael Harrison, the producer of the Palladium panto, expressed his delight at having French and Saunders on board, citing their legendary chemistry and razor-sharp humour as a guarantee of a special experience for audiences. The production will also star Dex Lee as Prince Charming, Hope Dawe as Cinderella, and several other notable actors who have previously starred in pantos at the venue.The London Palladium has a history of hosting successful pantomimes, including Clary's 2016 production of Cinderella, described by the Guardian as a “tsunami of smut”. More recently, Catherine Tate joined the cast for the 2025 panto, Sleeping Beauty, which broke records with over 137,000 theatregoers attending.French and Saunders' production of Cinderella runs from 5 December to 10 January, with tickets going on sale on 2 April.

A cooking gas crisis in India has forced a mass exodus of workers from the country's vital textile industry, according to reports. The shortage of LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) has created significant disruptions to both household needs and industrial operations.The textile sector, which employs millions of workers across India, has been particularly hard hit as workers have been compelled to leave their jobs and return to rural areas in search of alternative cooking fuel sources. This mass migration represents a serious challenge to India's manufacturing economy and could have long-term implications for the country's industrial output.While the full extent of the crisis remains unclear, industry experts warn that the prolonged energy shortage could lead to further production shutdowns and economic instability in regions heavily dependent on textile manufacturing.