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The Lead: This Week's Entertainment HighlightsThis week's entertainment landscape offers a diverse array of critically acclaimed shows and films, from hilarious comedies to chilling horror. Channel 4's "Make That Movie" stands out as one of the funniest shows of the year, while Netflix's "The Four Seasons" returns with a brilliant second season. Horror fans can explore the disturbing world of "Backrooms," while Marvel offers a stylish take with "Spider-Noir."TV Comedy Gold: Make That MovieChannel 4Summed up in a sentence Last One Laughing finalist delivers one of the funniest shows of the year, with this mockumentary about a director who makes awful films.What our reviewer said "So ostentatiously silly that it deserves to be paraded around the streets." Stuart HeritageRead the full reviewFurther reading "People are like: you're a crackpot": how Sam Campbell became comedy's oddball superstarNetflix Triumph: The Four Seasons ReturnsNetflixSummed up in a sentence Tina Fey triumphs again with the return of this comedy about a group of middle-aged friends who reunite during holidays throughout the year.What our reviewer said "Even more perspicacious, poignant and hilarious than the first." Chitra RamaswamyRead the full reviewMarvel's Stylish Take: Spider-NoirPrime VideoSummed up in a sentence In Marvel's witty homage to the hard-boiled films and fictions of the 40s – which can be watched in colour or black-and-white – Nicolas Cage plays Ben Reilly, who gave up being superhero "the Spider" five years ago.What our reviewer said "Everything is shot with style and confidence." Lucy ManganRead the full reviewFurther reading The life of PIs: the strange case of 2026's resurgence of hard-boiled detectivesHidden Gem: PoniesNow/Sky AtlanticSummed up in a sentence Emilia Clarke and Haley Lu Richardson have heaps of fun as two widows who become cold war spies in this espionage comedy-drama.What our reviewer said "It's a mashup of genres and tropes, but it is its own thing too – and an unexpected treat at that." Lucy ManganRead the full reviewHorror Innovation: BackroomsIn cinemas nowSummed up in a sentence A debut from 20-year-old director Kane Parsons that examines memory, reality and fear in an icily disturbing horror, in which Chiwetel Ejiofor accesses an infinite series of hidden rooms that all feel creepily askew.What our reviewer said "Backrooms progressively raises its game towards the big finish with jump scares, squirm scares and tiny shiver scares. There is real fascination in exploring this vast, invisible city state of fear." Peter BradshawRead the full reviewFurther reading Are you sitting uncomfortably? How Backrooms upended the horror movieMusic and Bromance: Power BalladIn cinemas nowSummed up in a sentence Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd star in a comedy of bromance and betrayal from Irish writer-director John Carney that brilliantly brings together Rudd's washed-up wedding singer and Jonas's insecure ex-boyband superstar.What our reviewer said "Power Ballad is about making it and dreaming big, about every busker never giving up on hopes of one day being mega. But as so often with Carney, it's about something else, usually left unacknowledged in movies about music or any sort of show business: the terrible binary of success and failure." Peter BradshawRead the full reviewUnexpected Pairing: TunerIn cinemas nowSummed up in a sentence Playing a piano tuner with super-sensitive hearing, Leo Woodall's relationship with Dustin Hoffman is a tender highlight in this safe-cracking thriller.What our reviewer said "What a pair they are; they are a real pleasure to watch in an easy, unforced drama that mixes romcom moments with a relaxed crime thriller. It's like the Safdie brothers in chill-out mode." Cath Clarke

A Historic Comeback at Roland GarrosJoão Fonseca, the 19‑year‑old Brazilian prodigy, delivered a career‑defining victory over 39‑year‑old Novak Djokovic at the French Open, winning 4‑6, 4‑6, 6‑3, 7‑5, 7‑5 after 4 hr 53 min.Fonseca Overturns Two‑Set Deficit to Defeat DjokovicAfter falling behind 4‑6, 4‑6, Fonseca rallied with precise serving and powerful forehands, seizing control in the third set and maintaining momentum through the fourth and fifth sets.First two sets: Djokovic leads 4‑6, 4‑6.Third set: Fonseca wins 6‑3.Fourth set: Fonseca wins 7‑5.Fifth set: Fonseca clinches 7‑5.Match duration: 4 hr 53 min.Match Statistics Highlight Endurance and UpsetKey figures from the match underscore the physical toll on Djokovic and the resilience of Fonseca:Age gap: 20 years.Grand Slam titles for Djokovic: 24.Only second time Djokovic lost after leading by two sets; first was 2010 French Open quarter‑final vs Jürgen Melzer.Fonseca served multiple aces in the final game to close the match.Implications for Brazilian Tennis and the ATP LandscapeThe win fuels Brazil’s hopes of a new champion following the legacy of three‑time Roland Garros winner Gustavo Kuerten and energises a passionate fanbase that filled the stadium in Brazilian colors.Increased media attention on Fonseca’s “nuclear forehand”.Potential rise in sponsorship and endorsement opportunities for the young Brazilian.Signals a possible shift in the ATP hierarchy as veteran players face emerging talent.What Lies Ahead for Fonseca and DjokovicAnalysts anticipate Fonseca will carry momentum into the next rounds, while Djokovic will need to assess his physical condition after the grueling match and consider adjustments for the remainder of the season.

Lead: Veteran Coach Makes a Glasgow Comeback as Curaçao Prepares for World Cup Debut Dick Advocaat, aged 78, returned to Scotland for a pre‑World Cup friendly, guiding the Caribbean minnows Curaçao toward a historic appearance in the 2026 tournament. The meeting with host nation Scotland serves as both a nostalgic trip for the Dutch tactician and a strategic warm‑up before Curaçao face Germany on 14 June. Advocaat’s Glasgow Return Highlights Curaçao’s World Cup Journey During an 11‑minute press stop, Advocaat reflected on his past triumph at Hampden Park with Rangers in 1999 and outlined the challenges ahead for his side. He emphasized the amateur status of his squad, the need for sharpness, and the pride of representing a nation ranked 82nd globally. Key Numbers Shaping the Narrative Age of coach: 78 – oldest manager ever at a World Cup. World ranking: Curaçao sits at 82 in the FIFA table. Match date: 14 June 2026 – Curaçao vs Germany. Friendly venue: Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland manager contract: extended to 2030 World Cup. Impact on Caribbean Football and Scottish Aspirations The qualification of a Caribbean nation for the World Cup underscores the growing competitiveness of smaller footballing regions. For Scotland, the friendly offers a benchmark against a technically disciplined side and a reminder of the nation’s own quest to return to the World Cup after a 28‑year hiatus. Looking Ahead: What the 2026 Tournament Could Mean for Both Teams Should Curaçao hold their own against Germany, they could inspire a new wave of investment and talent development across the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Scotland’s extended contract for Steve Clarke signals a long‑term plan to secure regular World Cup qualifications, with the 2026 edition serving as a pivotal test of his squad’s depth and tactical evolution.

The Netherlands' World Cup Quest: Breaking the Final Jinx The Netherlands enter the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a talented squad that has been unbeaten in qualifying, yet carries the weight of history as three-time runners-up who have never lifted the trophy. Coach Ronald Koeman returns for his second stint at the helm, hoping to guide this more cohesive Dutch side beyond the final hurdle that has eluded previous golden generations. Reijnders: The Midfield Engine Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders has emerged as the Netherlands' midfield heartbeat, establishing himself as one of Europe's finest midfielders. After two outstanding years at AC Milan where he was named Serie A Best Midfielder, he has adapted well to life under Pep Guardiola. While his five goals and two assists in 28 Premier League appearances don't tell the full story, his all-action style—linking defense and attack, breaking up opponents' play, and providing a classy presence on the ball—makes him indispensable for the Netherlands. When he performs well, the team typically follows suit. A Solid Foundation with Injury Concerns The Dutch boast a formidable defensive core led by Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk, complemented by Micky van de Ven, Jurrien Timber, and Jan Paul van Hecke. In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch provides both defensive stability and attacking threat, while Cody Gakpo offers significant danger out wide and in front of goal. However, the squad faces significant injury concerns, with playmaker Xavi Simons ruled out for the tournament after an ACL rupture, Memphis Depay struggling with a hamstring injury, and Jurrien Timber sidelined with a groin issue. These absences could severely impact the team's balance and creativity. Koeman's Challenge: Managing Talent and Egos Returning to the national team for a second stint, Ronald Koeman faces the delicate task of balancing world-class talent with a squad that has inconsistencies. After previous Dutch sides were undermined by fractious egos and strong personalities, this current squad appears more cohesive. Koeman's experience as both a player and manager, coupled with his popularity with the players, positions him well to navigate these challenges. His ability to integrate the returning Depay while managing the fitness concerns of key players could determine the Netherlands' fate in the tournament. Group Stage: A Path to the Knockouts Drawn in Group F alongside Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia, the Netherlands should have a relatively comfortable path to the last 32. The opener against Japan presents the toughest challenge, as the Japanese side is considered a dark horse after defeating England at Wembley. Sweden, despite a poor qualifying campaign, possesses dangerous players like Victor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga. The final match against Tunisia should be more straightforward, though the North Africans have a reputation for being obdurate opponents in major tournaments. World Cup Prediction: Last 16 Hurdle While the Netherlands boast undeniable talent, Al Jazeera predicts they will fall at the last 16 stage. The squad lacks the elite quality and cohesion to become a team greater than the sum of its parts. Historical patterns suggest the Dutch often underperform in major tournaments despite their star players, and the current injury concerns further diminish their chances of finally breaking their final curse and lifting the trophy. Netherlands' Group Stage Fixtures June 14: Netherlands vs Japan (Dallas, United States), 4pm ET (20:00 GMT) June 20: Netherlands vs Sweden (Houston, United States), 1pm ET (17:00 GMT) June 24: Tunisia vs Netherlands (Kansas City, United States), 7pm ET (23:00 GMT) Squad to Watch Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen) Defenders: Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton) Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Guus Til (PSV Eindhoven), Mats Wieffer (Brighton) Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)

Researchers from Stanford, Oxford and UC San Diego have demonstrated a proof‑of‑concept wearable ultrasound patch that can monitor a baby’s heart rate and blood flow continuously, aiming to reduce false alarms and missed complications in pregnancy.A Patch That Turns Ultrasound Into a Wearable SensorThe device, dubbed UPatch, adheres to the abdomen and remains operational for hours, capturing real‑time images of the foetus and umbilical cord. Unlike intermittent hospital scans, the patch records a continuous stream of data, allowing clinicians to establish a personal baseline for each pregnancy and spot deviations instantly.Trial Results Show Near‑Parity With Conventional ScansIn a study published in Nature Biotechnology, the team evaluated the patch in two cohorts:62 pregnant participants – single‑time‑point blood‑flow measurements from UPatch matched those from standard handheld ultrasound.52 women – continuous monitoring revealed dynamic fluctuations in fetal blood flow that brief scans would miss.A pre‑eclamptic case where UPatch detected severe intra‑uterine growth restriction, prompting a timely caesarean delivery and preventing stillbirth.Lead author Tom Park highlighted that the technology captures transient changes without over‑diagnosing, addressing a key limitation of current intermittent methods.Potential Shift in Prenatal Care and Global HealthSenior author Prof Sheng Xu emphasized that continuous monitoring could become a routine part of prenatal visits, especially in low‑resource settings where access to skilled sonographers is limited. Dr Antoniya Georgieva noted the broader impact: reducing stillbirth rates, providing richer data for research, and enabling earlier interventions for conditions like pre‑eclampsia.Roadmap Toward a Fully Wireless Home‑Use SystemThe current prototype is tethered to external electronics for placement, but the team is already engineering a wireless version that patients could wear during daily activities and at home. Their long‑term vision is a seamless, battery‑efficient system that integrates with tele‑health platforms, delivering real‑time alerts to clinicians wherever the mother is.

The Remix of a Classic Words, words, words. Can Hamlet retain its tragic force without using most of them? This hour-long dance-theatre remix by the late South African choreographer Dada Masilo preserves few speeches and its opening is not auspicious, crashing straight into “To be, or not to be” shorn of context and characterisation. The Dance of Ophelia and Hamlet There follows, as is customary, a meeting between the prince and Ophelia, but Masilo replaces the usual cruel encounter with stolen moments amid a ceremony, as if they are meeting anew like Romeo and Juliet at the Capulet ball. Matching each other’s movements, amid clapped hands, thrusting shoulders and rippling chests, they grow closer with a hint of tango footwork. From this flashback, Masilo practically fast-forwards their choreography with a sense of doom. The Emotional Depth of Gertrude Letting the pair share a tender duet reinforces their romance but also heightens the violence of the nunnery scene where they are traditionally first seen together. Masilo adds another new scene to show Gertrude’s despair upon receiving news of Old Hamlet’s death rather than introducing her as sanguinely remarried to his brother. We see her seek strength amid grief, supported by courtiers whose pulsing, grounded movement is a message of persistence. This is dancing felt in the gut. The Impact of Movement and Music Wooed offstage, Gertrude returns for a convivial ceremony where a young couple are ticked off for getting too raunchy on the dancefloor. Movement styles across generations and cultures are blended by Masilo, who drew attention for remoulding ballet’s classics. Her ensemble is often an industrious force, driven by relentless percussion, as each scene breaks like a wave against Thuthuka Sibisi’s compositions. The Tragic Conclusion The latter stages lose focus but the choreography’s omnipresent sense of returning to the earth foreshadows a climax where all are struck down by the kingdom’s collective sickness, stressed by the lighting of Suzette le Sueur (who also provides some of the elegant costumes). It’s a collection of often piercing scenes that never quite establish full collective power – a tragedy out of joint. At Sadler’s Wells, London, until 26 May

The Lead 'Fairyland' offers a glorious wallow in nostalgia for those familiar with the Bay Area in the 1970s and 80s, with grainy archive footage of San Francisco Gay Freedom parades and sushi at a book launch. But at its core, the film tells the story of a new kind of family. Queer Parenting in 1970s San Francisco The film centers around Steve (Scoot McNairy), a gay father raising his young daughter Alysia (Nessa Dougherty, then Coda's Emilia Jones as a teen) in San Francisco. After his wife, Alysia's mother, is killed in a car accident, Steve is faced with the challenge of parenting alone. He turns down an offer from his ultra-straight mother-in-law (Geena Davis) to raise the little girl. Parenting Techniques and Resilience Steve's parenting techniques are sometimes selfish and neglectful, but he loves Alysia deeply. He encourages her independence, teaching her to navigate the city and take care of herself. The film draws comparisons to Marielle Heller's adaptation of The Diary of a Teenage Girl, but Alysia turns out to be more resilient and independent. The Impact of the AIDS Epidemic The film's second half covers the later 80s, as the AIDS epidemic takes a devastating toll on the community. The cast, including McNairy and Jones, deliver excellent performances. Writer-director Andrew Durham adapts Alysia Abbott's memoir with sensitivity and discretion. The Future of Queer Representation 'Fairyland' is a significant contribution to queer representation in film. With its release in UK cinemas on May 29, it promises to resonate with audiences and spark important conversations about family, love, and identity.

The Lead: Magnier's Historic Triple VictoryPaul Magnier of Soudal Quick-Step completed a hat-trick of victories in this Giro d'Italia by winning a bunch sprint on stage 18 in Pieve di Soligo. The 22-year-old French rider secured his third stage win of the race, adding to his victories in the first and third stages in Bulgaria.The Event Details: Perfectly Executed Sprint FinishThe undulating 171km stage from Fai della Paganella in Trentino concluded with a high-speed sprint finish. Magnier was perfectly set up by his teammate Jasper Stuyven in the final few turns, allowing him to power to the line with an impressive display of sprinting prowess. His victory demonstrates the strength and coordination of the Soudal Quick-Step team in sprint scenarios.The Classification Impact: Points Lead SecuredVictory for Magnier means he takes the lead in the points classification, a significant achievement in the race for the green jersey. The Frenchman's consistent performance across multiple sprint stages has established him as the premier sprinter in this year's Giro d'Italia. His three stage victories place him in elite company among the race's most successful sprinters.The Race Dynamics: Vingegaard's Calculated CautionJonas Vingegaard, the overall race leader, demonstrated strategic awareness by attacking on the day's short sharp final climb inside the final 10km. However, the Danish rider eventually settled for a place in the main bunch to preserve his substantial lead in the general classification. This approach indicates Vingegaard's focus remains on the overall victory rather than stage wins.The Future Outlook: Final Stages ApproachWith just a few stages remaining, Magnier will look to consolidate his position in the points classification while Vingegaard maintains his grip on the pink jersey. The race is entering its critical phase where tactical decisions will determine not only the stage outcomes but potentially the final podium positions. The remaining parcours features challenging stages that could see significant shifts in the general classification standings.

Immediate Fallout: Children Killed as Eid Joy Turns to FearOn the day of Eid al-Fitr, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip led to the deaths of several children, according to local reports. The strikes, which coincided with the Muslim holiday, have transformed what should have been a time of celebration into a period of collective grief and heightened anxiety for families across the enclave.Details of the Recent Gaza StrikesThe attacks were part of a broader Israeli campaign aimed at targeting militant infrastructure. While the official Israeli statement emphasized the pursuit of security objectives, eyewitness accounts from Gaza describe residential areas being hit, resulting in civilian casualties, including minors.Available Data on Casualties and DamageCurrent public information confirms the loss of child lives but does not provide a comprehensive casualty count for the day's operations. Health officials in Gaza have called for independent verification of the figures, highlighting the difficulty of obtaining accurate data amid ongoing hostilities.Broader Implications for the Gaza Humanitarian SituationThe incident underscores the fragile humanitarian environment in Gaza, where civilian populations already face severe shortages of water, electricity, and medical supplies. The timing of the strikes during a major religious holiday amplifies the psychological trauma and may influence international diplomatic pressure on the parties involved.Potential Trajectory: International Response and Future Ceasefire ProspectsIn the wake of the child fatalities, calls for an immediate de‑escalation have intensified from United Nations bodies, regional actors, and human‑rights organizations. The incident could serve as a catalyst for renewed ceasefire negotiations, though the path forward remains uncertain given the entrenched positions on both sides.