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Riki Lindhome's 'Dead Inside' is a refreshing and emotionally involving comedy that chronicles her journey to become a mother. The show is a beautifully judged hour of entertainment, tackling topics such as pregnancy loss, IVF, and surrogacy with humor and sensitivity.Lindhome's modesty and unassuming approach make the show feel less like a typical autobiographical performance. She signs off most of her songs with a demure 'that's it,' and the production values are similarly understated. The show features witty and bittersweet numbers, including a parody of Disney princesses and a song asking 'will you be my bio-dad?'The show also touches on awareness-raising dimensions, including the challenges of surrogacy and the importance of transparency in the process. Lindhome's performance is compelling and persuasive, engaging the audience's heart, head, and funny bone.'Dead Inside' is a must-see comedy that will leave you entertained and moved. It is currently running at Soho theatre, London until 18 April.

Gout Gout, an 18‑year‑old sprint prodigy, delivered a historic performance at the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney, finishing the 200 m in 19.67 seconds. The time not only secured his victory but also established a new world Under‑20 record, surpassing the previous mark held by Erriyon Knighton. The achievement marks the first occasion an Australian has legally broken the 20‑second barrier in the 200 m, with a permissible tailwind of +1.7 m/s. Gout’s run also eclipses the age‑grade benchmark set by Usain Bolt, who recorded 19.93 seconds at 19 years old in 2004. Fellow countryman Aidan Murphy finished second, posting 19.88 seconds, making the two performances the fastest of the year. Both athletes benefited from the same legal wind assistance, underscoring a surge in Australian sprinting depth. Speaking at the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, Gout emphasized the competitive environment: "Competing with world‑class athletes in Australia pushes us to new limits. Having two Australians under 20 seconds is extraordinary." The record also improves on Gout’s own national best of 20.02 seconds set the previous season, and it is his first sub‑20‑second run under legal wind conditions. Last year he had recorded 19.84 seconds with a wind‑assisted tailwind. Gout’s rise began in 2024 when he ran 20.04 seconds at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships, breaking Peter Norman’s long‑standing national record of 20.06 seconds from the 1968 Olympics. His rapid progression has drawn international attention, with analysts comparing his explosive style to that of Bolt. On the final day of the meet, Gout’s main rival, Lachlan Kennedy, withdrew from the 200 m to manage his workload, though he later claimed the 100 m title with a 9.96‑second dash, becoming the first Australian to break ten seconds on home soil. Born to South Sudanese immigrants, Gout’s background adds a compelling narrative to his athletic success, highlighting the multicultural fabric of Australian sport. With the world record now in his hands, Gout expressed confidence about his future: "Running this time legally lifts a huge weight off my shoulders. I’m ready for the next challenges."

Renowned actor Sam Neill, known for his role in the Jurassic Park movie franchise, has joined the fight against a proposed goldmine near his vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. The mine, backed by Australian company Santana Minerals, could potentially damage the region's pristine environment and threaten up to 650,000 native lizards.The proposed Bendigo-Ophir goldmine, located in an area legally enshrined as 'outstanding natural landscape,' has sparked fierce division between communities. While proponents claim it will create 357 jobs and boost the economy, critics argue it will dampen tourism and harm the environment.Neill, who has grown wine under his Two Paddocks label in the region for 30 years, emphasizes his connection to the land, stating, 'If this mine goes ahead... everything that you see [there] is under a claim [by the mining company]. And there will be mining all around us, and that'll be the end.'The mining industry has a history of environmental disasters, particularly with tailings dams storing toxic waste. Ian Taylor, a prominent Māori businessman, worries about the 600km-long alpine fault running down the South Island, which could lead to seismic risks.Santana Minerals claims the dam has been designed to withstand a one-in-10,000-year earthquake and denies that the mine will negatively affect tourism. A decision on the Bendigo-Ophir mine is expected by the end of the year.

Some American cities shortlisted to host the 2031 Women's World Cup are contemplating withdrawal due to concerns related to Fifa's management of this summer's World Cup. The cities are exploring alternative options, such as focusing on hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup instead.There are 40 stadiums on the US Soccer Federation's longlist for potential 2031 Women's World Cup venues, while World Rugby has received expressions of interest from 27 cities featuring 33 stadiums, with 20 stadiums appearing on both lists. Cities like Chicago and Pittsburgh have already declined to enter the running for Women's World Cup hosting rights, reportedly due to concerns about Fifa's financial demands.A source working with one of the cities in question noted that World Rugby is offering greater commercial freedom and has fewer demands regarding access to stadiums. Another source indicated that the Rugby World Cup is likely to be more profitable due to the demographic profile of rugby supporters and their expected spending on match attendance.Fifa delayed confirmation of the 2031 World Cup hosts from the end of this month to an unspecified date this year. The joint proposal from the US, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica is currently the only bid on the table. Additionally, there are concerns about the US government not providing Fifa with mandatory guarantees regarding obligations on visas, tax, safety, and security.The experience of dealing with Fifa for the upcoming men's World Cup has not been uniformly positive for all cities, with issues such as safety and security costs and public transport problems. World Rugby has announced that it will finance its event and share profits or losses with USA Rugby, rather than requiring hosts to underwrite the tournament.

Lachlan Kennedy made history at the Sydney Olympic Park national championships by becoming the first Australian 100m sprinter to break the 10-second barrier on home soil, clocking a time of 9.96sec with a modest tailwind of +0.2.The 22-year-old Queenslander stormed out of the blocks and surged through the finish line, lowering his personal best by two hundredths of a second. This achievement is significant as it's the first time a local has run under 10 seconds for 100 metres in an event in Australia.Kennedy expressed his excitement, stating, 'Honestly, I didn’t really even expect it. I was just super relaxed, super – not cruisey, I was definitely pushing it – but it just felt easy.' He believes he has potential to go under 9.9sec as soon as this year.In other events, Cam Myers came close to a new national record in the 1500m, running 3:29.85, less than half a second off the 2023 mark set by Olli Hoare.The women’s 1500m final was marred by drama when Jess Hull tumbled over on the final straight after being clipped by rival Claudia Hollingsworth. The incident sparked two protests and an appeal to be heard on Saturday.Hull, visibly deflated, finished at the back of the pack. Her father and coach, Simon, voiced his displeasure, claiming his daughter was 'robbed.' The result remains in limbo pending the appeal.

Mom’s mantra – “don’t borrow trouble” – became the compass that steadied Feimster during the uncertain early years of her comedy career. She says the simple advice helped her shift focus from endless worry to actually performing. Growing up, Feimster was captivated by Carol Burnett’s slapstick brilliance, a love sparked by her grandmother’s nightly reruns. The legendary comedian’s on‑ and off‑screen silliness shaped Feimster’s own comedic sensibility. When she was cast as the beaver Nibbles in the upcoming Zootropolis 2, the process was anything but typical. “The script was top‑secret,” she recalls, noting that she entered the recording booth with only a brief scene description from director Jared Bush, never knowing how pivotal her character would become. Feimster also laughs about a nightmare charity gig in a Virginia biker bar, where the stage was literally a wooden crate, the lighting resembled a construction site, and a karaoke machine served as the sound system. “Nobody, including me, enjoyed the show,” she admits. Unlike many performers, she has no elaborate pre‑show rituals. She arrives minutes before the curtain rises, chats with the audience, and treats each performance like a regular day, much to the amusement of co‑host Tom Papa. The relentless travel schedule is a double‑edged sword. Feimster describes the constant touring as exhausting, with the added pressure of having to write fresh material after every special. “You finish one project and must start from scratch,” she says, highlighting the creative churn that fuels her growth. On set with Arnold Schwarzenegger for the film Fubar, Feimster found the experience inspiring. She notes that the legendary actor’s varied career – from bodybuilding champion to governor – made every day on set feel like a master class. Looking ahead, Feimster has wrapped two Netflix comedies: one starring Will Ferrell as a washed‑up pro golfer where she plays his caddie, and another ensemble with Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser and Brenda Song. She hints at a future shift toward a more serious, less self‑referential role. Meanwhile, her current stand‑up show “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” continues its North American and European leg, with a stop at London’s Hackney Empire on 3 June and the tour running through 9 August.

Meta announced the launch of Muse Spark, the debut artificial‑intelligence model from the company’s ambitious "superintelligence" squad that was assembled last year with a multi‑billion‑dollar budget. The team, spearheaded by former Scale AI chief Alex Wang—brought on board in a $14.3 bn acquisition—has been offered compensation packages running into the hundreds of millions to attract top talent. Muse Spark is the first installment of the internally codenamed "Avocado" series. For now, the model is accessible only through Meta’s AI app and website, but Meta says it will soon supplant the existing Llama models that power chatbots on WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and the firm’s smart‑glasses lineup. Unlike earlier open releases of Llama, Meta has kept Muse Spark’s architecture details under wraps, offering a private preview to a select group of unnamed partners. In a blog post, Meta described the system as "small and fast by design, yet capable enough to reason through complex questions in science, math and health," positioning it as a solid foundation for future, larger versions. Independent testing shows Muse Spark narrowing the gap with leading models from Google, OpenAI and Anthropic in language and visual comprehension, though it still trails in coding and abstract reasoning tasks. The model placed tied for fourth on a comprehensive AI benchmark compiled by Artificial Analysis. CEO Mark Zuckerberg had previously cautioned investors that early releases would be modest but would demonstrate a "rapid trajectory." Wang echoed this sentiment on social media, acknowledging "rough edges" that will be refined over time and confirming that bigger variants are already in development, with some slated for open release. Beyond performance metrics, Meta hinted at commercial ambitions, embedding shopping suggestions directly into its AI chatbot to guide users toward purchasable items. With over 3.5 billion active users across its platforms, the company hopes AI‑driven personal tasks will boost engagement and create a competitive edge over rivals with smaller user bases. Practical use‑cases highlighted include estimating meal calories from a photo, virtually placing a mug on a shelf via augmented reality, and a new "Contemplating Mode" that runs multiple agents simultaneously—mirroring advanced reasoning features seen in Google’s Gemini Deep Think and OpenAI’s GPT‑Pro. Meta says this mode could, for example, help a family plan a vacation by having one agent draft an itinerary while another scouts kid‑friendly activities.

Ecuador has escalated tensions with Colombia by recalling its ambassador, Arturo Felix Wong, from Bogota. This move comes in response to criticisms from Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding the case of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for corruption.Glas, a left-wing figure, has been at the center of a high-profile criminal case that has stirred tensions across Latin America. He was arrested in a controversial police raid on the Mexican embassy in Quito two years ago, where he had sought asylum. The raid was authorized by the right-wing government of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, who has denounced criticisms of the Glas case as a violation of his country's sovereignty.President Petro has referred to Glas as a 'political prisoner' and has called for his transfer to Colombian custody after granting him citizenship last September. Petro has also raised concerns about Glas's health and wellbeing, stating that he is suffering from severe malnutrition and muscle mass loss due to his imprisonment.The diplomatic row between Ecuador and Colombia is part of a long-running spat between the two leaders. Since March, Noboa has imposed 50-percent tariffs on Colombian imports, accusing Colombia of being too lax in its fight against drug trafficking. Petro, in turn, has accused Noboa of carrying out a bombing campaign near the Colombian border, resulting in the recovery of 27 charred bodies.Ecuador's Foreign Minister, Gabriela Sommerfeld, confirmed the recall of the ambassador, stating that the criticisms of the Glas case were 'uncalled for and a provocation'. The move is seen as a further escalation of tensions between the two countries, which have been experiencing strained relations since the Mexican embassy raid in 2024.

Footage captured on the streets of Tehran shows small groups of citizens gathering around Enghelab Square – a historic rally point for pro‑regime supporters – some waving Iranian flags, others draped over their backs. The atmosphere is far from uniform; debates and arguments erupted shortly after the ceasefire announcement, reflecting a spectrum of emotions from shock to tentative hope.The video, posted by Majid Nouri – son of former prison official Hamid Nouri – includes his running commentary. He notes that the discussions began around 3 a.m. and continued into the morning, with participants expressing both anger and disbelief. "In no way do we trust America," Nouri declared, echoing a sentiment he says is shared by virtually every Iranian.Pro‑government demonstrators were heard chanting "Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!" and burning U.S. and Israeli flags, according to the Associated Press. The chants persisted despite attempts by organizers to calm the crowd, underscoring the depth of anti‑Western feeling among hardliners.While the ceasefire halted active hostilities, the war has already claimed at least 1,900 lives in Iran. With internet services largely blacked out, gauging the broader public mood is challenging, but pockets of Tehran reported subdued celebrations in the early hours of Wednesday.Local resident Ali, a 31‑year‑old, summed up the prevailing uncertainty: "Most people here don’t trust the US and still don’t know exactly what is going to happen, so they are unsure whether they should be happy or worried." He warned that the ceasefire’s two‑week duration offers no guarantee of lasting peace.Business owners are beginning to test the waters. Hamid, a 43‑year‑old shopkeeper whose grocery and cleaning‑supplies store closed after the February bombings, said, "Today feels like there is no war," and he has reopened his shop, hoping to recover lost income for his family.Iranian officials are framing the pause as a diplomatic victory. Former foreign minister Ali Akbar Velayati posted on X that the conflict has reshaped the global power balance, positioning Iran within a new multipolar order. President Masoud Pezeshkian praised the ceasefire as the fruit of the blood of Iran’s “great martyred leader” and the collective will of the people.Strategically, the ceasefire highlights Tehran’s ability to disrupt the vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments. Analysts note that this leverage could bolster Iran’s negotiating stance, even as former U.S. President Donald Trump previously warned that a full‑scale clash would threaten "a whole civilisation." As sunrise illuminated the capital, daily life resumed with shops reopening and traffic returning to the streets, yet the prevailing mood remains a blend of exhaustion, cautious optimism, and lingering mistrust of the United States.