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The Conservative Party has announced plans to reinstate the two-child benefit cap in order to fund a substantial increase in defence spending. According to Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, this move would support the largest peacetime programme of rearmament in the UK's history. The party aims to recruit 6,000 full-time soldiers and 14,000 reservists, marking the largest net increase in British troops since the Second World War.Badenoch criticised the current government's lack of readiness for war, citing recent global events. She emphasised the need for the UK to reassert itself as a global power and committed to increasing defence spending. The Tories claim they can raise £20bn towards this venture by reinstating the two-child benefit cap and reallocating funds earmarked for net zero projects.The announcement comes amid tensions with the US over the UK's involvement in the conflict with Iran. Badenoch expressed concern over Donald Trump's public criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, highlighting the importance of maintaining western bonds in the face of global threats.The Labour government has pledged to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027, increasing to 3% in the next parliament. However, they are under pressure to publish a defence spending plan, with reports of tensions between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury.

The proposed gold mine in Northern Ireland's Sperrins area has become a contentious issue, with environmental concerns clashing with the promise of economic benefits. The mine, valued at £21bn, is backed by US-owned Dalradian Gold and could bring hundreds of jobs and significant tax revenue to the area.Fidelma O'Kane and Cormac McAleer, a retired social worker and community worker, are leading the opposition to the mine. They argue that it would desecrate an area of outstanding natural beauty, pollute local rivers, and harm the health of their children. The couple has been rallying support from other locals, with over 50,000 letters of objection submitted to the planning process.Dalradian Gold claims the mine will be carbon neutral and support a supply chain worth £1bn. The company says it will create 1,000 jobs and contribute £3bn in taxes. However, opponents dispute these claims and point to the potential risks to local wildlife, including otters, pine martens, and freshwater pearl mussels.The public inquiry into the mine's planning application will begin on April 13, 2026, and will run until early June. The inquiry's outcome will be crucial in determining the fate of the mine and the future of the Sperrins area.

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 New York Times Company has launched an investigation into the coverage of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel by NFL reporter Dianna Russini. This move comes after photos of Russini and Vrabel together at an Arizona resort were published, raising concerns about their relationship and potential bias in reporting.Russini, who works for The Athletic, owned by The New York Times, has been temporarily sidelined while the review is ongoing. The images, published by the New York Post’s Page Six, show Russini and Vrabel together at a luxury hotel in Sedona, including by a pool, in a hot tub, and on a rooftop deck. Some photos appear to show the pair embracing and holding hands.Both Russini and Vrabel, who are married to other people, have claimed that the interaction was platonic and taken out of context. Russini stated that the photos did not reflect that they were part of a larger group gathering, while Vrabel called any suggestion of impropriety “laughable”.The Athletic initially defended Russini, with executive editor Steven Ginsberg saying the images lacked context and depicted public interactions among multiple people. However, the outlet has since expanded its review after additional reporting raised questions about Russini’s coverage of Vrabel and the nature of their relationship.Editors are now seeking to verify claims that others were present at the gathering. Notably, no stories under Russini’s by-line have been published since the photos surfaced earlier this week. The review is ongoing and expected to take time. Russini is among the highest-paid reporters at The Times Company, and her contract is set to expire later this year.

Erling Haaland of Manchester City currently leads the Premier League scoring race, having netted 22 goals this season. His prolific form puts him in a strong position to claim the coveted Golden Boot. Hot on his heels is Igor Thiago from Brentford, who has tallied 20 goals. The Brazilian forward’s consistency makes him the most serious challenger to Haaland’s lead. Other notable contributors include Antoine Semenyo (Manchester City) with 15 goals and João Pedro (Chelsea) who sits on 14. Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres and Brighton’s Danny Welbeck have each added 12 to their season totals. The list of double‑digit scorers continues with Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitiké at 11, while a group of players—including Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert‑Lewin and Fulham’s Harry Wilson—have reached the 10‑goal mark. A broader cluster of athletes sit on nine or eight goals, highlighting the depth of attacking talent across the league. Names such as Morgan Gibbs‑White (Nottingham Forest), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle United) and Richarlison (Tottenham) illustrate the competitive nature of the race. With several clubs represented among the top scorers, the Golden Boot contest remains wide open. Should Haaland maintain his scoring pace, he could secure the award early; however, the narrow gap to Thiago and the surge of mid‑table forwards suggest a thrilling finish to the 2025‑26 campaign.

Rehab did not happen to Lena Dunham; she walked into it. The writer describes the moment she entered a stone‑manor facility in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, and was immediately asked to remove her designer shoes and answer mundane questions about her diet, a surreal welcome that felt like a college orientation—except many of the fellow residents struggled with IV heroin. She notes the unsettling blend of patients and staff, all dressed in ordinary clothes, making it impossible to tell who was who. A tattooed man in a Harley‑Davidson shirt turned out to be a sober companion, while a grandmother knitting in slippers battled a severe Benadryl addiction that had once ruined her daughter’s wedding. “Never judge a drug addict by their Patagonia half‑zip fleece,” she writes. Using the pseudonym “Rose O’Neill” – after the pioneering cartoonist – Dunham reflects on feeling trapped in a cycle reminiscent of the late‑career decline of the early 20th‑century artist. It was only after she allowed staff to use her real name that she began to reclaim her identity. Her therapist, Dr. Mark, a kindly man in khakis, asked her to articulate the root causes of her admission. Dunham linked her descent to chronic physical illness, relentless stress from supporting multiple families, hormonal turmoil after a hysterectomy, and a fraught romantic relationship. She also disclosed past sexual trauma, describing the rehab experience as “a fever dream” that echoed those memories. Medication played a paradoxical role. While Klonopin eased anxiety and Percocet dulled pain, the initial IV dose produced a euphoric “shiver through the whole body, better than any orgasm.” She acknowledges the temporary relief as a “pause button” that allowed her racing thoughts to quiet, yet also recognized the danger of dependence. Group sessions revealed complex dynamics. A fellow patient, Walter, breached confidentiality, prompting staff to enforce policy and send him home. The ensuing discussion divided the group, with some defending Walter’s lapse and others demanding accountability. Dunham’s own voice was subdued, emphasizing the tension between personal safety and collective responsibility. In a values‑mapping exercise, Dunham listed ART, FAMILY, MAKING PEOPLE FEEL SEEN as her core priorities, contrasting them with the values of the people she had surrounded herself with during active addiction. This exercise highlighted the stark misalignment between her aspirations and the environment she had inhabited. Despite the strict regimen, Dunham was granted a brief leave to attend the 2018 Met Gala. The decision sparked intense debate among staff about safety, yet she ultimately walked the red carpet, feeling “wan and haunted” amid flashing cameras and champagne she could not enjoy. The experience underscored the surreal juxtaposition of celebrity life and rehab recovery. During the final week, she formally identified as an addict and faced the pivotal question from Dr. Mark: “Do you want to be sober?” The answer marked a turning point, culminating in a moment of pure joy as she ran outdoors, feeling her legs move of their own accord. She closes with a vivid scene of spotting a robin’s egg on the grass, a simple yet profound reminder of life’s unexpected beauty. The memoir Famesick, published by Fourth Estate on 14 April, expands on these revelations and invites readers into the often‑hidden world of addiction behind the celebrity façade.

Moldova is facing a severe environmental crisis after an oil spill in the Nistru river, which provides 80% of the country's drinking water. The spill was caused by Russia's attack on Ukraine's Novodnistrovsk hydropower complex on March 13. The attack has led to a significant contamination of the river, with oil slicks detected over 200 km downstream.The Moldovan government has declared an environmental alert and set up a crisis centre to monitor the spill and remove the pollutant. The government has also received support from European allies, including Romania and Poland, which have sent help to prevent the petrol from streaming downwards towards Chișinău.The oil spill has had a significant impact on local residents, with many struggling to access clean drinking water. Inflation in Moldova rose to 35% in 2022 and is currently around 5%, and the country has had to declare a state of energy emergency after Russia attacked the Isaccea–Vulcănești power line in Ukraine.The crisis has also highlighted the vulnerability of Moldova's water supply to attacks from Russia and the chaos caused by its war on Ukraine. Moldova's president, Maia Sandu, has laid the blame squarely on Moscow, saying Russia bears 'full responsibility' for the oil spill.The environmental disaster has sparked an information war between Moldova's pro-European and pro-Russian factions, with conflicting interpretations of the crisis. While Moldova's pro-European government holds Moscow responsible for the spill, pro-Russian propagandists claim the crisis was an accident caused by a Ukrainian truck.The Nistru oil spill has shown Moldova how exposed it is, and how fragile a society can become without access to clean drinking water. The war next door, combined with the climate crisis, give us little reason to think there won't be another ecological disaster like this.

A 1,500-year-old Israeli church has been damaged in a rocket attack claimed by Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. The incident underscores the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, which have been exchanging fire in recent weeks. The church, a historic site of significant cultural and religious importance, was hit by a rocket fired from Lebanon. While details about the extent of the damage are still emerging, the attack has sparked international concern over the potential for further escalation in the region. Hezbollah's actions have been a source of heightened tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, with both sides engaging in a series of exchanges that have raised fears of a broader conflict. The Lebanese militant group has been active in the region for decades, and its clashes with Israel have been a recurring theme in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Prince Harry, the youngest son of King Charles III, is facing a defamation lawsuit from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho in honor of Princess Diana. The charity claims that Harry and Mark Dyer, a former trustee, orchestrated a media campaign that caused operational disruption and reputational harm to the organization.The dispute began in 2023 over a new fundraising strategy, leading to Harry and Prince Seeiso stepping down as patrons in March 2025. Sophie Chandauka, the charity's chair, accused Harry of bullying and harassment, but a UK Charity Commission inquiry found no evidence of bullying. The commission did criticize the parties for allowing the internal dispute to become public.Harry's spokesperson has categorically rejected the libel claim, calling it offensive and damaging. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court of England and Wales, seeks the court's intervention, protection, and restitution for the harm caused to Sentebale, its leadership, and strategic partners.