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Rory McIlroy has taken a commanding lead at the Masters, surging six shots clear of his nearest rivals with a breathtaking second-round 65. The 36-year-old McIlroy, seeking to become the fourth man to win back-to-back Masters titles, carded an eagle and 10 birdies to post 12 under par. McIlroy's closest challengers are Patrick Reed and Sam Burns, both on six under, while Justin Rose, Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are a further stroke back on five under. McIlroy's stunning chip-in at the 18th hole capped a dominant display, setting up a tantalizing prospect of a second Green Jacket. Tyrrell Hatton moved to four under with a 66, while Brooks Koepka recovered from pre-tournament criticism to card a 68 and make the cut. The halfway cut eliminated several notable players, including Bryson DeChambeau after a chaotic 18th hole.

Ipswich Town reignited their push for automatic promotion by edging out rivals Norwich City 2‑0 at Carrow Road, a win that propels them into the top two with at least a game in hand.The first goal came in the 11th minute after a contentious penalty: Anis Ben Slimane appeared to clash with Norwich defender Jack Taylor, prompting referee Anthony Backhouse to point to the spot. Jaden Philogene slotted the penalty, albeit sending goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic the wrong way.Just before halftime, a long throw from Darnell Furlong was flicked on, allowing George Hirst to volley home and double Ipswich’s lead. The victory marks Ipswich’s first win at Carrow Road since 2006 and their first derby double since the 1992‑93 season.Despite dominating possession, Norwich were unable to create clear‑cut chances, and the defeat extinguishes any lingering playoff hopes, though a top‑10 finish remains a remarkable turnaround from their early‑year position near the bottom of the table.In the same round, Millwall saw their automatic‑promotion bid dented by a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion. The Lions generated the better chances, with Josh Coburn missing a close‑range volley and Mihailo Ivanovic striking the bar, but they were unable to find the net.Coventry City were also left waiting after a 0‑0 stalemate at home against relegated Sheffield Wednesday. A win would have lifted them into the promotion places, but the draw leaves them dependent on other results, notably Middlesbrough’s clash with Portsmouth later in the day.The draw gave Sheffield Wednesday their third point of 2026 and extended their record‑breaking run of 37 games without a win across all competitions.Elsewhere, Queens Park Rangers and Bristol City maintained unbeaten runs with a 0‑0 draw at Loftus Road. While both sides have avoided defeat, the result does little to advance their outside‑the‑playoffs ambitions.Later fixtures include Middlesbrough hosting Portsmouth, a match with implications at both ends of the table, and crucial battles for Oxford United against Watford and Leicester City versus Swansea City.

Sabrina Carpenter took the stage at Coachella, fulfilling a promise she made two years prior to headline the festival. Her set, dubbed 'Sabchella' by fans, was a maximalist production that rivaled Lady Gaga's iconic 2025 performance. The show featured a Hollywood Hills-style set, complete with big block letters in 4K vision, and a dizzying array of costume changes and performance elements. Carpenter's setlist included hits like 'Espresso' and 'Taste,' as well as new material, all delivered with her signature blend of humor and relentless energy. The production incorporated pre-filmed chapter breaks, complex choreography, and guest appearances by Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon, and Samuel L. Jackson. While the show was sometimes overwhelming, Carpenter's live vocals shone, and her ability to slip into different characters and personas was on full display. Despite some technical issues and a few moments of overkill, Carpenter's performance was a triumph, showcasing her growth as a performer and entertainer. Her set was a testament to her dedication and creativity, with seven months of work reportedly going into the production. As she drove offstage in a vintage car, Carpenter had gloriously kept her promises to deliver a memorable Coachella performance.

When wages have been stagnant for almost two decades and a simple tube of toothpaste now costs nearly £7 at a major supermarket, the claim that “money can’t buy happiness” feels increasingly dismissive. The argument rests on a narrow view of what money can achieve. Spending cash solely on material goods yields only short‑lived pleasure. In contrast, the ability to afford time, experiences and mental‑health support expands one’s sense of freedom and purpose. Even basic needs such as leisure have become commodified; more disposable income simply translates into more opportunities to pursue what matters. As someone diagnosed with ADHD, I have learned—through personal trial rather than formal neuroscience—how to secure a steady supply of dopamine. The cheapest route is not a quick thrill, but activities that provide lasting satisfaction, such as novel experiences and moments of awe. One vivid example came during a winter trip to rural France, where two feet of snow turned the landscape into a scene straight out of Narnia. The awe‑inspiring view was a reminder that nature’s restorative power is often accessible only to those who can afford the travel, in my case a budget flight with Ryanair. Research supports the intuition that higher income correlates with greater happiness. A 2023 study by psychologists at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania found that people with higher earnings report higher life satisfaction, though money cannot resolve non‑financial sources of unhappiness. Even the world’s richest are not immune to the paradox. Earlier this year, Elon Musk—on track to become the first trillionaire—tweeted that anyone who says “money can’t buy happiness” must be missing something. While Musk’s wealth may not guarantee personal joy, the same resources could provide a foundation for happiness for billions facing financial strain. Nevertheless, hoarding wealth like a dragon does not equate to fulfillment. The column suggests that redirecting a portion of vast fortunes toward travel, cultural enrichment, and shared experiences could transform isolated wealth into collective well‑being. In short, financial stability reduces stress and broadens horizons. It allows individuals to invest in the intangible assets—time, relationships, awe‑inducing experiences—that truly enrich life.

The Artemis II crew has just returned from a ten‑day journey that looped around the Moon, marking only the second launch of the Artemis system and the first with humans aboard. NASA admits that the limited data from this mission makes risk assessment difficult.To date, the Artemis programme has consumed almost $100 billion (≈£75 billion). The U.S. Congress’s 2025 "one big beautiful bill" earmarked $9.9 billion for the upcoming Artemis IV and V flights, with even larger sums projected for a permanent lunar base.The scientific case for lunar exploration remains compelling: studying the Moon can illuminate the Solar System’s formation and provide a pristine platform for telescopes, especially on the far side where radio interference is minimal.However, the article questions whether human presence is essential. While astronauts still offer unique capabilities, the author suggests that within a decade robots—already proven on Mars by Curiosity and Perseverance—will outperform humans in cost, endurance, and operational flexibility.China’s lunar ambitions underscore the geopolitical stakes. After successful robotic orbiters and landers, Beijing retrieved the first far‑side soil samples in 2024 and plans a 2025 mission to the south pole with an orbiter, lander, and "mini‑hopper". By 2028, China aims to test equipment for a lunar base, potentially mirroring the U.S. push for crewed landings.Advances in AI, sensor technology, and autonomous navigation could soon enable robots to conduct near‑self‑directed scientific surveys and even construct infrastructure, diminishing the practical advantage of astronauts.Historical examples, such as the Hubble Space Telescope’s on‑orbit repairs, are revisited. The article cites Riccardo Giacconi’s view that, without the human element, multiple Hubble‑class telescopes could have been launched for the same budget, illustrating how crewed interventions may no longer be cost‑effective.The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope in 2021—operating far beyond the reach of routine astronaut servicing—demonstrates that complex, high‑value missions can succeed without crewed support, reinforcing the argument that human spaceflight now serves more as a prestige project than a scientific necessity.In conclusion, while the awe of viewing Earth from lunar orbit endures, the article contends that the future of space exploration will be defined by robots and private sponsorship, not by the costly and risky deployment of astronauts to the Moon or beyond.

Rory McIlroy says the intensive scouting trips he made to Augusta National in the weeks before the Masters were pivotal to his dominant performance. His second‑round 65, which featured six birdies in the final seven holes, set a new tournament record and made him the first defending champion to lead by six strokes at the halfway mark. Rather than using his three‑week break from the PGA Tour to rest, McIlroy leveraged his private jet to maximize time on the course. He described a routine of dropping his daughter Poppy at school, flying to Augusta, playing a round, then returning home for dinner with his wife Erica. He believes this blend of family time and focused practice was more valuable than a traditional tournament warm‑up in Houston or San Antonio. “I’ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks,” McIlroy explained. He spent the period honing his chipping and putting, playing a single ball to explore the course’s nuances, and locating “weird places” that most players never encounter. He credits this immersion as a major factor in his record‑setting round. Looking ahead, McIlroy says the size of his lead will not dictate his mindset for round three. He will be joined by Sam Burns on Saturday, with Patrick Reed and Justin Rose slated for the penultimate group. “I’ve built up a nice cushion,” he noted, adding that his focus remains on “playing two good rounds again” and keeping his “foot on the gas.” McIlroy also dismissed any notion that he is trying to intimidate his rivals. “Golf is the most amazing game because it’s you, your ball and the course,” he said, emphasizing that external pressure should not affect a player’s performance.

A 20‑year‑old male was taken into custody by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) after a Molotov cocktail was hurled at the North Beach residence of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman in the early hours of Friday, around 4 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT). The incendiary device ignited part of an exterior gate before the suspect fled on foot.Police confirmed that the suspect was located about an hour later, approximately 4.8 kilometres (three miles) from the scene, near OpenAI’s headquarters, where he allegedly threatened to set the building ablaze. No injuries were reported.OpenAI released a statement thanking the SFPD for its rapid response and emphasizing that the company is fully cooperating with investigators. “Thankfully, no one was hurt,” the spokesperson said, adding that the incident highlights the need for continued vigilance in protecting employees.The attack arrives amid a wave of security concerns targeting OpenAI’s facilities. In November, a separate threat prompted a temporary lockdown of the company’s San Francisco office, and activists have increasingly singled out Altman and OpenAI for the perceived risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence.Critics also point to OpenAI’s recent partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, arguing that the collaboration intensifies scrutiny of the firm’s role in military technology. Public sentiment toward AI remains divided; a recent NBC News poll indicated that AI is viewed less favorably than the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.Despite the controversy, OpenAI’s growth trajectory remains robust. The company announced a valuation of $852 billion following a funding round that raised $122 billion. Its flagship product, ChatGPT, continues to dominate the consumer AI market with over 900 million weekly active users and roughly 50 million subscribers. Usage of OpenAI’s search features has also tripled over the past year.While the motive behind the Molotov attack remains unclear, the incident underscores the escalating security challenges faced by leading AI firms operating at the intersection of technology, public policy, and national defense.

Djibouti's voters are heading to the polls to choose their next president, with incumbent leader Ismail Omar Guelleh expected to easily secure a sixth term. Guelleh, 78, has been in power since 1999 and won re-election in 2021 with 98 per cent of the vote.Guelleh's only opponent is Mohamed Farah Samatar, the leader of the Unified Democratic Centre (CDU), a party with no seats in parliament. The election comes after politicians scrapped presidential age limits last year, paving the way for Guelleh to extend his 27-year rule.Human rights groups have accused authorities of abuses and repressing freedom of political activity, while the government has denied the allegations. Two main opposition parties have boycotted elections since 2016.The election is being observed by several international organisations, including the African Union (AU), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States. Guelleh has governed the small nation in the Horn of Africa since 1999, when he succeeded Hassan Gouled Aptidon, the founding president of the country with about a million people.Djibouti hosts important military bases for the United States, France, China and other powers, earning it a reputation as the country with the most foreign military bases. It is also an important port hub for landlocked neighbours such as Ethiopia.

During the Jewish festival of Passover, thousands of Israeli settlers converged on natural springs in the occupied West Bank, areas that were previously used by Palestinian communities. Videos circulating on settler chat groups show settlers wading and splashing in the same natural pools where Palestinian children once swam. Their parents barbecued nearby, expressing elation and crediting the 'hilltop youth' – young settlers carrying out systematic violence against Palestinians – for making this possible.The celebrations come as 1,727 Palestinians from 36 communities in the West Bank were displaced in the first three months of 2026 due to settler violence and access restrictions, according to the United Nations' Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). This already exceeds the highest annual figure recorded in any of the previous three years.For Palestinians like Haitham al-Zayed, 24, who was forcibly displaced from Shallal al-Auja by Jewish settlers, watching the videos was 'very hard to see' but unsurprising. He described the escalating violence and intimidation his community faced, including armed settlers on all-terrain vehicles funded by the Israeli government, chasing livestock and children, and raiding homes to interrogate or detain residents.Allegra Pacheco, chief of party of the West Bank Protection Consortium, described the videos as more than provocation, potentially evidence of the celebration of the intentional use of violence by Israeli settlers to forcibly displace Palestinians – a serious violation of international law. 'The praising of ethnic cleansing carried out by these settler youth,' she said, 'it’s really showing both the impunity and the lack of accountability we are seeing right now.'The displacement and violence have left many Palestinians, like Muhammad from Hammam al-Maleh, refusing to leave their homes despite the danger. 'I was born here. I was raised here. I am not willing to leave. Even if I die here – I will die happy, because I stayed on my land,' he said.