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Justin Rose secured a joint‑third place at the 2026 Masters, ending the tournament two shots behind defending champion Rory McIlroy. The result marked Rose’s third top‑six finish in his last eight major appearances. After a heartbreaking playoff loss to McIlroy at Augusta in 2025, Rose entered Sunday’s final round with the lead on the back‑nine but ultimately carded a final‑round 70 following a stumble at the famed Amen Corner. Reflecting on his performance, Rose said, "In the last two years I’ve really re‑kicked and re‑energised my career. I now have a lot of belief that there’s plenty of runway ahead." The 45‑year‑old, who claimed a PGA Tour victory in February, believes his recent form positions him to compete for future major titles. Rose emphasized that the majors are the events that drive his preparation: "These are the tournaments I focus on, the ones that make me put in that extra mile to show up and stay in these great arenas." His record at Augusta is notable, with eight top‑10 finishes and two runner‑up finishes, underscoring his affinity for the course. Rose cited veterans such as Freddie Couples and Bernhard Langer as inspirations, noting that the layout of Augusta rewards deep course knowledge and a personal playing style. Englishman Tyrrell Hatton also made headlines, posting a spectacular final‑round 66 that included six birdies and an eagle, propelling him to a joint‑third finish – his best performance in a major to date. Hatton explained his approach: "I try not to treat majors any differently – I go out every day, every round, every shot, and give it my best. I’m looking at ways to fine‑tune my preparation, perhaps more putting early in the week, to feel even more ready." Now in his tenth Masters, Hatton highlighted his steady improvement, citing recent top‑10 finishes at the U.S. Open and a rise from a tied‑fourteenth to a tied‑ninth in the last three years at Augusta.

Rory McIlroy has made history by winning his second Masters title, holding off a strong challenge from world No 1 Scottie Scheffler to claim a one-shot victory at Augusta.This impressive win cements McIlroy's status as one of golf's all-time greats, making him only the fourth player in the tournament's 90-year history to win successive titles at Augusta. McIlroy's sixth major puts him level with Nick Faldo and one beyond the great Spaniard Seve Ballesteros, who won five.Donald Trump, the former US President who has played golf with McIlroy in the past, was quick to congratulate the Northern Irishman on his achievement. Using his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: 'Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another Great Championship, The Masters! He performed tremendously under intense pressure, something which few people would be able to even think about doing. With each year, Rory is becoming more and more a LEGEND!'Trump also expressed his excitement for McIlroy's next appearance at the Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral in Miami later this month, praising the quality of professional golfers today.

Scientists at London's Institute of Cancer Research and the RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Dublin have announced a new AI-driven approach to identify how patients with advanced bowel cancer will respond to bevacizumab, a drug recently introduced by the NHS. The method uses PhenMap, an AI tool that integrates complex data on the genetic makeup of tumors, allowing researchers to track patterns of how different patients react to the drug. This development aims to spare potentially thousands of patients from being given drugs that would be ineffective in fighting their cancers. In the UK alone, nearly 10,000 cases of advanced bowel cancer are identified every year, with young adults seeing a particular rise in diagnoses. Bowel cancer has the second-highest mortality rate of any cancer, behind only lung cancer. While survival rates can be as high as 98% when caught early, the five-year survival rate for advanced bowel cancer can be as low as 10%. The study tracked 117 European bowel cancer patients who had been treated with chemotherapy and bevacizumab. Researchers identified a group of patients who all had the same gene mutation and were at a high risk of having negative reactions. The scientists behind the tests now hope to expand the number of patient samples and see if the results can be used in treatments for other types of cancer. Anguraj Sadanandam, a professor in stratification and precision medicine at the ICR, said: “Once bowel cancer spreads to other parts of the body, there are very few treatment options available for patients. It is therefore positive that patients can now access the targeted drug bevacizumab on the NHS. However, we know that the majority of patients won’t benefit from the drug, meaning thousands of people in England could be facing unpleasant side effects unnecessarily.” Sadanandam added that while the findings were encouraging, the tool would need to be tested on a larger cohort to be validated. “In future, I hope this approach will lead to a test that can be used by clinicians, to ensure patients receive personalised care that has the highest chance of working against their cancer.”

Rolls-Royce has secured a significant investment of up to £599m from the UK's national wealth fund to develop the country's first small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The funding will support Rolls-Royce's design of SMRs at Wylfa on the island of Anglesey, Wales. The investment is expected to create around 1,000 jobs at Rolls-Royce and contribute to the UK's goal of generating electricity without carbon dioxide emissions. The project also offers the potential for a large new export industry in SMRs. The UK government has embraced nuclear energy as a key component of its clean energy strategy, and this investment marks a significant milestone in the development of SMR technology. SMRs aim to produce nuclear power stations in factories, driving down costs and speeding up installation. The Wylfa site has a history of nuclear power generation, having operated from 1971 until 2015. Hitachi had previously attempted to build a new nuclear power station at the site but abandoned its plans in 2020 due to funding issues. The site was later acquired by the state-owned Great British Energy – Nuclear (GBE-N) in 2024. The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, highlighted the importance of the investment, stating that it will strengthen energy security, create skilled jobs, and help build a new generation of homegrown nuclear technology that will power the UK's economy for decades to come. Tufan Erginbilgiç, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, described the investment as a critical milestone for the business and for the UK, marking the beginning of a golden age of new nuclear. The company owns the majority of Rolls-Royce SMR, alongside Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, France's BNF Resources, and the Czech utility CEZ.

The economic consequences of an Iran war could have devastating effects on global poverty, with 32 million people at risk of being pushed into poverty worldwide. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that developing countries will bear the brunt of this impact. In a report released amid concerns over a fragile ceasefire, the UNDP highlights a 'triple shock' affecting energy, food, and economic growth. This conflict is reversing international development gains, with uneven regional impacts expected. Alexander De Croo, UNDP administrator and former Belgian prime minister, emphasizes that even if the war ends, its impact will persist, especially in poorer countries where people may be pushed back into poverty. He notes that those who had previously escaped poverty are now at risk of falling back into it. The report outlines three scenarios for the war's impact. In the worst-case scenario, involving six weeks of major disruption to oil and gas production and eight months of higher costs, 32.5 million people globally could fall into poverty. The UNDP uses the upper-middle-income poverty line, an international standard defined as income below $8.30 per person per day, calculated by the World Bank. To mitigate these effects, the UNDP suggests targeted and temporary cash transfers to protect vulnerable households in developing nations, estimating a cost of about $6 billion to neutralize the shocks for those falling below the poverty line. The agency also recommends interventions like temporary subsidies or vouchers for essential services. The news comes as Western governments face criticism for cutting aid spending amid economic pressures and increased defense spending. The UNDP and other international agencies stress the importance of maintaining or increasing development aid to support countries hardest hit by the economic fallout.

The highly anticipated third and final season of Euphoria premieres on Monday at 9pm on Sky Atlantic. The series, created by Sam Levinson, follows the lives of a group of high school students as they navigate love, friendship, and identity.The new season stars Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney, who have all become major Hollywood stars since the show's debut. The story picks up five years after high school, with the characters now in their early 20s. Previews are scarce, but it's known that Cassie and Nate are married, Jules is in art school and is a 'sugar baby', and Rue is involved in some shady business in Mexico.Other TV shows airing tonight include Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me on BBC Two, Great Japanese Railway Journeys on BBC Two, Missed Call on Channel 5, Charmain and the Prophet on BBC Two, and DTF St Louis on Sky Atlantic.

The US has announced plans to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which about 20% of global oil passes. This move comes after ceasefire talks with Iran ended without an agreement over the weekend. The blockade, threatened by President Donald Trump, aims to pressure Iran into reopening the strait, which has been effectively closed since February 28. Trump's announcement on social media stated that the US Navy will begin the process of blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. He accused Iran of 'WORLD EXTORTION' and threatened that any person who attacked US vessels would be 'BLOWN TO HELL!' However, the blockade's scope appears to have been scaled down, with US Central Command (Centcom) stating it would be confined to vessels transiting through Iranian ports, permitting passage of ships headed to ports belonging to America's Gulf allies. The blockade is set to come into effect at 10am ET (2pm GMT). The UK will not be involved in any blockade of the strait, and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that his country was not asked to participate. Oil prices have surged following Trump's announcement, with US crude increasing 8% to $104.24 a barrel and Brent crude oil rising 7% to $102.29. Experts warn that the blockade could lead to higher oil prices, but much depends on its 'scope and implementation.' The managing director of research at ClearView Energy Partners, Kevin Book, noted that leaner volumes generally mean tighter markets and higher prices. Iranian and/or Houthi reprisals against Gulf producers' alternative routes could drive prices still higher. The blockade could cut off one of the Iranian regime's major sources of funding but might also have a short-term negative effect on global prices. About 100 tankers have transited the strait since the US and Israel started bombing Iran, most carrying Iranian oil products bound for China and India. Iran's Revolutionary Guards have stated that any warships approaching the strait to enforce a blockade would be considered in breach of the current ceasefire and would be dealt with strongly. Trump floated the possibility of a resumption of US strikes inside Iran, citing missile factories as one possible target.

The ongoing conflict in Iran has created a perilous situation where the threat of nuclear war and climate disruption have converged into a single, catastrophic crisis. This crisis will persist long after the war subsides, emphasizing the need for immediate and decisive action. For over a decade, climate change has been recognized not just as an environmental issue but as a fundamental threat to national and global security. The current situation demands that governments conduct thorough risk assessments and treat climate change with the same urgency as military threats. The war on Iran has several alarming features: Unilateral action: The US and Israel launched a large-scale war against a sovereign nation without consulting major allies, creating a diplomatically isolated conflict with no clear exit strategy. Escalation threats: There are credible threats of escalation from both sides, with Donald Trump issuing ultimatums and Iran threatening to target critical infrastructure. Catastrophic miscalculation: The conditions for miscalculation are ripe, with erratic leadership, intelligence failures, and extreme pressure on decision-makers. The conflict has significant implications: Global energy shock: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused an acute global energy shock, with higher oil prices likely to accelerate inflation and economic instability. Climate impact: The war is consuming military resources and political attention, with no climate dividend, and may pressure countries to extend fossil fuel use. Australia, as a regional power and signatory to the NPT, has responsibilities to the international order. The author, Admiral Chris Barrie, calls on the Australian government to take four key steps: Conduct and release a nuclear escalation risk assessment. Use diplomatic channels to counsel restraint. Refuse any form of complicity in nuclear use. Champion de-escalation at the NPT review conference. Australia can play a crucial role in addressing these threats by acting on evidence, speaking plainly about risks, and leading rather than following events.

Rory McIlroy has joined an elite club by defending his Masters crown at Augusta National, becoming just the fourth golfer ever to win the tournament back‑to‑back. The Northern Irish star edged out world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a single shot, marking his sixth major championship and cementing his place in golf history. Speaking after the victory, McIlroy emphasized that the win is a stepping stone, not a final destination. “I just won my sixth major and I feel like I’m in a really good spot with my game and my body,” he said. “I still have things I want to achieve and I want to enjoy the journey.” His parents, Rosie and Gerry, who missed the 2025 ceremony, were present this year, adding a personal dimension to the triumph. “It’s amazing to have them here,” McIlroy remarked, noting that their presence reinforced his motivation and gratitude. Despite the celebratory mood, McIlroy’s performance was far from flawless. He hit only 55% of fairways and recorded 48 of 72 greens in regulation over four rounds. A six‑shot lead after 36 holes evaporated by the 54‑hole mark, and a wayward drive into the trees on the final tee underscored the pressure he faced. Reflecting on the difficulty of the feat, McIlroy admitted, “I don’t make it easy. I used to win by eight shots in my early 20s. This year I realised it’s just really difficult to win the Masters.” He described the moment of uncertainty on the 18th tee as “the greatest stress,” highlighting the thin margin between victory and defeat. Looking ahead, McIlroy signaled that his ambitions extend beyond the Masters. While he plans to take a brief break, he dismissed the notion of a post‑victory lull, stating, “I don’t think I’ll go through that lull of motivation… I still want to enjoy it as well.” With his back‑to‑back Masters titles now secured, the golfer’s next targets remain speculative, but his confidence suggests a continued push for further major victories and possibly a career Grand Slam.