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Rory McIlroy secured his second straight Masters title on Sunday, finishing at 12‑under 276 and becoming only the fourth player in history to win Augusta National in back‑to‑back years.The Northern Irish star rallied from a three‑shot deficit on the front nine, carding a 71 (one under par) in the final round to edge out Scottie Scheffler by a single stroke."I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row," McIlroy said in the Butler Cabin, emphasizing the perseverance that finally paid off.His victory marks a sixth major championship, tying Nick Faldo for the most majors by a European in the modern era and placing them both at 12th on the all‑time list.Trailing McIlroy were Cameron Young, Russell Henley, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Rose, each finishing one shot back at 10‑under.McIlroy began the final round tied for the 54‑hole lead at 11‑under, slipped to 9‑under after two early bogeys, then surged with birdies on holes 7, 8, 12 and 13 to build a two‑shot cushion heading into the iconic "Amen Corner."When the pressure mounted on the 18th, a well‑placed drive into the trees allowed him to reach a greenside bunker, set up a two‑putt bogey and preserve the lead, confirming his place among the Masters’ elite.Beyond the personal milestone, McIlroy’s back‑to‑back triumph underscores the rarity of defending the Masters—an achievement previously accomplished only by Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods—and highlights the growing prominence of European players on golf’s biggest stage.

The National Gallery of Art's latest exhibition, 'Dear America: Artists Explore the American Experience', is a thought-provoking collection of over 100 works by 95 artists. This 'open letter to the nation' offers a multifaceted exploration of the American experience, delving into themes of land, community, and freedom.Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are immediately struck by the unconventional representations of iconic American symbols. The Statue of Liberty, for instance, is reimagined through the lens of South African photographer Zanele Muholi and a geometric screenprint by Roy Lichtenstein.The exhibition's curatorial approach is to create 'provocative conversations across centuries, disciplines and demographics.' E Carmen Ramos, the gallery's chief curatorial and conservation officer, notes that the show was 'years in the making' and showcases an 'embarrassment of riches' from the gallery's permanent collection of over 160,000 works.Structured around three core themes – land, community, and freedom – the exhibition presents a diverse array of works. These include Thomas Moran's idyllic watercolours of the American West juxtaposed with Thomas Hart Johnson's photographs of a landscape ravaged by coal mining and railroads. The exhibition also features poignant pieces such as Carrie Mae Weems's haunting silhouette and Gordon Parks's indelible 'American Gothic.'The show's second section, 'Community,' features Richard Avedon's massive 1976 commission 'The Family,' which comprises 69 stark, uniform portraits of the bicentennial era's political, media, and corporate elite. This is contrasted with John Wilson's tender sketches of his teenage children and their friends.The final act of the exhibition turns its lens to 'Freedom,' showcasing historical portraits of figures such as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and George Washington, alongside powerful works by Kara Walker, Martha Rosler, and Faith Ringgold. As visitors exit, they are met with Robert Indiana's boldly coloured screenprint 'Liberty '76,' created for the 1976 bicentennial.Ramos reflects on the exhibition's significance, stating that it 'explores how artists in the United States have explored the American experience across different moments in time.' The exhibition will be on view in the National Gallery's West Building until 20 September.

Relentless drama unfolded at Aintree on Saturday as I Am Maximus clinched a second Grand National win, joining an exclusive club that includes the legendary Red Rum. The race saw all 34 runners finish without serious injury, underscoring the event’s safety despite its reputation for chaos.The victory marks I Am Maximus as only the third horse since the mid‑1930s to win the National twice, and the first to achieve the feat in non‑consecutive years since Red Rum’s 1974 triumph. Having finished a close second in 2025, the gelding now sits second only to Red Rum in the all‑time Aintree hierarchy.Trainer Willie Mullins admitted the horse’s temperament could spark a bar‑room brawl, recalling a “lairy” incident at a village parade two years ago. “He’d eat you without salt,” Mullins joked, suggesting future photo‑ops may be limited if the horse’s spirit remains untamed.Owner JP McManus, who celebrated a record fourth National win on the day, is expected to aim the champion at next year’s race. If I Am Maximus stays sound, a 2027 return could become one of the season’s marquee storylines.Betting markets reflected the horse’s popularity: a widely reported £100,000 wager at 8‑1 odds was placed before the race, and the gelding entered as the 9‑2 favourite, positioning him among the shortest‑priced favourites in National history. The only cheaper price on record belongs to Poethlyn, who opened at 11‑4 in 1919.Age also played a role. I Am Maximus’s win makes him the first horse older than nine to win since Pineau De Re’s 2014 victory. By comparison, Red Rum captured his third National at age 12 in 1977, but modern course changes have generally favoured younger runners.Unlike Tiger Roll, whose third attempt was thwarted by owner Michael O’Leary’s weight objections, I Am Maximus has already carried top weight to victory, demonstrating a robustness that may appeal to McManus for future campaigns.With the horse’s celebrity status soaring, the racing calendar now enjoys a twelve‑month window to capitalise on his fame, building anticipation for what could be a historic third National appearance.

Jorginho, the Flamengo footballer, has clarified his comments on last month's incident between his 11-year-old stepdaughter and a security guard in Brazil, calling his previous claims against Chappell Roan “a misunderstanding”.“I made my initial statement in the heat of the moment, after hearing that my child and wife had been approached by an adult male security guard in an intimidating way,” Jorginho wrote on Instagram. “I reacted as any father would. My priority is, and always will be, protecting my family, and that is exactly what I did.”Chappell Roan was in Brazil to perform at Lollapalooza festival, two years after reportedly drawing one of the biggest crowds in the festival’s history.“At the time, we acted on the information that was available to us,” Jorginho said. “Since then, I have become aware of new information that has changed my understanding of parts of what happened. Chappell Roan made a public statement, reached out privately to [my wife] Catherine, and our teams also spoke directly. It became clear that she had no knowledge of what took place at breakfast and had not asked anyone to approach them. She was understanding and sympathetic to what had happened to our child.”Previously, the ex-Chelsea player had said that his stepdaughter was “extremely shaken and cried a lot” after Roan’s security spoke “in an extremely aggressive manner” to her and his wife when they saw the singer at a São Paulo hotel. Roan denied that the security guard was part of her team, saying: “No one came up to me, no one bothered me, I was just sitting at breakfast at my hotel.”Following Roan’s response, security guard Pascal Duvier spoke up about the events, saying: “I take full responsibility for the interactions on March 21st. I was at the hotel on behalf of another individual, and I was not part of the personal security team of Chappell Roan.”Noting Duvier’s comments, Jorginho said: “While we still do not know what prompted him to approach them, and do not believe an 11-year-old at breakfast could reasonably be seen as any kind of security threat, it is now clear that he was not acting on behalf of Chappell.“It was, ultimately, a misunderstanding in that respect, and I am glad to set the record straight. It’s important to me that this is clarified fairly and accurately. I regret the impact this situation has had on Chappell Roan, Catherine Ada, and our family.”Jorginho ended his statement by drawing a line under the incident. “As far as I am concerned, this matter is closed.”

Rockstar Games, the renowned studio behind the Grand Theft Auto series, has fallen victim to a cyberattack by the hacker group ShinyHunters. The group is demanding a ransom in exchange for not releasing stolen company data, including potentially sensitive information about the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI.The attack, which was first reported on April 13, 2026, involves ShinyHunters threatening to leak data stolen from Rockstar Games' servers operated by a third-party vendor. The group initially set a deadline of April 14, 2026, for the company to enter negotiations.In a chilling message, ShinyHunters warned Rockstar: “Rockstar Games. Your … data was compromised … Pay or leak.” The group has a history of targeting major companies, including Microsoft, Cisco, and Ticketmaster.Rockstar Games has downplayed the impact of the hack, stating that only a “limited amount of non-material company information” was accessed and that there was no impact on players. However, given the high stakes surrounding Grand Theft Auto VI, which has been in development for nearly a decade and is expected to be one of the biggest releases in gaming history, any breach is a serious concern.The ShinyHunters group is linked to The Com, a loose network of cybercriminals, primarily English-speaking individuals aged 16 to 25. This group has been involved in previous high-profile hacks, including the Pornhub breach last year.This incident follows a previous major breach in 2022 when a teenager from the Lapsus$ hacking collective leaked 90 minutes of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay footage. The hacker, Arion Kurtaj, was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in 2023. Rockstar reportedly spent $5 million and thousands of hours recovering from that incident.The development costs for Grand Theft Auto VI are estimated to be close to $2 billion, and the game’s tight secrecy makes any data breach particularly damaging. Originally slated for Autumn 2025, the game has been delayed to November 19, 2026.

Marie‑Louise Eta will take the touchline for Union Berlin’s upcoming Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg, becoming the first woman to coach a men’s team in one of Europe’s top‑five leagues. The 34‑year‑old was promoted on an interim basis after the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart, who was sacked following a 3‑1 defeat to bottom‑placed Heidenheim.Union sit seven points clear of the relegation‑playoff zone with five games remaining, but a dismal run of two wins in 14 matches has left the club teetering near the drop‑zone. Club officials turned to Eta, citing her continuity and proven tactical acumen, to halt the slide.Eta’s appointment is the latest milestone in a rapid rise through Union’s ranks. In the 2023‑24 season she became the Bundesliga’s first female assistant manager under Nenad Bjelica, and earlier in 2024 she briefly commanded the men’s side, overseeing a win, a draw and a loss while Bjelica served a suspension. Her prior success with Union’s under‑19 men’s squad further cemented her reputation as a forward‑thinking coach.Speaking in a 2023 interview, Eta emphasized that she wants to “convince with quality and substance” rather than rely on tokenism. Former England women’s manager Sarina Wiegman hailed her as a “trailblazer”, noting that such progress reflects football’s broader societal shift toward gender equality.Germany is already seeing more women in senior coaching roles: Sabrina Wittmann leads third‑tier side FC Ingolstadt, while Corinne Diacre previously managed Ligue 2 club Clermont Foot in France. In England, Hannah Dingley made history as caretaker of Forest Green Rovers before moving to Manchester City’s academy.Eta’s current stint with the men’s team is expected to be short‑lived. She has already signed a contract to become head coach of Union Berlin’s women’s side next season, where she will continue to develop talent in the Frauen‑Bundesliga. Nonetheless, her presence on the technical area this weekend offers a powerful visual for aspiring female coaches worldwide.Social media reactions have been mixed. While a minority of users resorted to sexist trolling, Union’s official X account defended Eta vigorously, dubbing her a “football goddess” and firing back at detractors. Eta, a former Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam, said she draws motivation from messages sent by young women and girls she has inspired.The upcoming match will not only test Union Berlin’s fight against relegation but also serve as a symbolic moment in the ongoing effort to break the “grass ceiling” in professional football.

On the closing night of Coachella’s opening weekend, Karol G broke new ground as the festival’s first Latina headliner. Introducing herself in English, the Colombian artist announced, “I am Carolina Giraldo from Medellín, Colombia, and today I am the first Latina woman to headline Coachella,” to a roar of cheers from a crowd waving flags from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Colombia and beyond.The moment echoed Beyoncé’s 2018 ‘Beychella’ debut, reminding fans that representation on this stage can reshape cultural narratives. Karol G’s 90‑minute performance combined dazzling costume changes, high‑energy choreography and a stage that seemed to rise two stories above the desert floor, creating a spectacle that felt both meticulously crafted and effortlessly vibrant.From the opening number “Latina Foreva,” where she strutted in a glittering gold bikini, to the cave‑like rave set that highlighted the “primordial wildness of women,” the show never lost its momentum. Even a half‑hour delay for lighting adjustments was quickly forgiven as the music surged forward, blending hard‑hitting tracks from her 2025 album Tropicoqueta with hits from 2023’s Mañana Será Bonito.Musically, the set was a tour of Latin genres. After a brief interlude, Karol G returned wearing a Carnival‑style feathered headdress for the mambo‑infused “Tropicoqueta.” She then invited an all‑female Mexican mariachi band for “Ese Hombre Es Malo,” followed by a duet with Becky G that mixed Spanish‑language celebration of Mexico and Colombia with a pointed nod to the United States’ immigration debate.Speaking amid the roar of the crowd, the 35‑year‑old artist said, “This is not just about me, this is about the Latina community, the love of my people,” acknowledging the delicate balance of celebrating Latin pride while the U.S. government tightens immigration policies. Her remarks highlighted the symbolic weight of performing such a vibrant, unapologetic Latin set on a stage that reaches millions worldwide.The finale reinforced the message of unity. After a soulful cover of Gloria Estefan’s “Mi Tierra,” Karol G launched into an EDM‑styled version of “Provenza,” complete with rainbow lasers, strobe lights, fireworks and a cascade of confetti. Three false‑ending beat drops and a megawatt smile underscored her point: the victory belongs to the entire Latin community, not just the performer.

Only one team has ever overcome a 2-0 defeat at home to go through in the history of the Champions League, but a Barcelona player was involved in a notable exception: Marcus Rashford scored the winner as Manchester United knocked out PSG in the round of 16 in March 2019. However, Atlético Madrid have never lost in 20 knockout stage games at the Metropolitano and their former home at the Vicente Calderón.

The world is gripped by a sense of unease and fear, reminiscent of the early days of the Covid pandemic. However, this time, the threat is more complex and multifaceted. The US president's recent statements and actions have contributed to this anxiety, leaving many to wonder if the world is on the brink of chaos. People are waking up in the middle of the night, checking their phones for updates on social media and news websites, fearing the worst about potential conflicts and their impact on the global economy. The sensation of living through a highly dynamic time in history is overwhelming, with many feeling like they're being swung about by time's paw. The possibility of war is a major concern, with the US president's promise to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that carries 20% of the world's oil and up to 30% of internationally traded fertilisers. This has significant implications for the global economy, with many people worried about the potential for sharp price rises in fuel, building materials, groceries, and other essential items. The article's author, Brigid Delaney, notes that the current crisis feels different from previous ones, with the potential for world war three looming large. The economic effects of the war have already been felt by billions of people around the world, particularly the poorest, whose governments can't afford to pay a premium to buy fuel in other markets. The humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is also a major concern, with civilians being killed and injured in large numbers. The article highlights the need for attention to be paid to these issues, as they have significant implications for global stability and security. In conclusion, the world is facing a complex and uncertain future, with many people experiencing a sense of dread and anxiety about what is to come. It is essential to stay informed and engaged with these issues, as they have significant implications for our collective well-being.