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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 musical adaptation of Heathers, based on the 1989 black comedy film, has premiered in Melbourne. The show features a young cast, including Emma Caporaso as Veronica Sawyer, and Conor Beaumont as Jason 'JD' Dean. The musical tackles serious issues like suicide, bullying, and rape culture, but its approach has been updated for modern audiences.The show's aesthetic and tone are more akin to its millennial successors, with a high-octane blast of colour and a bombastic pop-rock score by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy. The cast shines, particularly Emma Caporaso, who brings a warmer and more likable take on Veronica Sawyer.The musical covers serious issues, from suicide and bullying to eating disorders, rape culture and homophobia. However, some changes, such as the removal of the controversial song 'Blue', have been made to update the approach to these topics. The show's tonal chaos is the embodiment of the whiplash in one of Slater's chilling lines from the film: 'Our love is God. Let's go get a slushie.'Despite some missteps, including unsubtle moralising in newer songs, the show is good, hammy fun, and the cast and audience alike are clearly having a ball. The show will tour to various cities in Australia, including Melbourne, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Canberra, Sydney, and Perth.

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.

JD Vance, the US Vice-President, has embarked on a high-stakes mission to Islamabad to negotiate a peace deal with Iran, a task that has been likened to a 'poisoned chalice.' Vance's challenge is to secure a durable peace between a rhetorical ceasefire and the resumption of hostilities.Vance, a vocal critic of US wars in the Middle East, now finds himself at the forefront of efforts to end the conflict. His presence at the talks, the highest-level meeting since the Iranian revolution of 1979, underscores the significance of this diplomatic push. However, Iran's negotiators feel emboldened by their recent successes, including control of the strategic Hormuz strait and their resilience in the face of a massive US-Israeli onslaught.The path to negotiations is fraught with hurdles. Iran has set conditions for talks, including the release of its blocked assets, a demand the US has not publicly agreed to. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliamentary speaker, emphasized that these conditions must be met before negotiations can begin. This stance could complicate Vance's efforts to initiate meaningful dialogue.Vance's mission could have far-reaching implications for his potential presidential run in 2028. His credentials as a MAGA supporter have been questioned due to his less-than-enthusiastic approach to the war in Iran. The outcome of these talks could either bolster or undermine his political standing.Tehran's negotiators are known for their tireless and relentless bargaining style, which could put Vance under significant pressure. The US, while able to walk away from the negotiating table, cannot guarantee the free flow of marine traffic from the Persian Gulf, giving Iran key leverage over the White House. This dynamic could have profound implications for the global economy, particularly in terms of fuel shortages and supply chain disruptions.Before departing for Islamabad, Vance indicated that his team had received clear instructions from Donald Trump regarding the negotiations. He expressed a willingness to engage in good faith with Iran but warned against attempts to 'play' the US. The success of these talks remains uncertain, but their impact on global stability and Vance's political future is undeniable.

Despite a three‑game winless run that has seen Liverpool knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City and trailing Paris Saint‑Germain 2‑0 in the Champions League quarter‑final, manager Arne Slot insists he feels "complete support" from both the club’s hierarchy and its supporters. Slot told reporters that sporting director Richard Hughes and chief executive Michael Edwards stand firmly behind him. He added that, surprisingly, the fans have also shown solidarity, chanting "We love Liverpool" even after the 4‑0 defeat to City. With Liverpool perched in fifth place in the Premier League – the final Champions League qualification slot – and Chelsea just one point behind, the upcoming home fixture against Fulham carries heightened importance for the club’s European ambitions. Off the pitch, a faction of supporters is organising a protest at Anfield over the owners’ plan to raise ticket prices. The movement recalls a 2016 demonstration when roughly 10,000 fans exited a match to oppose a similar price hike, eventually forcing the American owners to retreat. Slot expressed hope that the iconic Anfield atmosphere will remain intact, stating, "Anfield has always shown its importance in both good and tough times, and I trust the fans will continue to be a positive force, even during protest." In related news, Slot paid tribute to Andy Robertson, who will depart after a nine‑year spell at the club. The Scotland captain, now out of contract, has seen his role diminish following the arrival of left‑back Milos Kerkez. Slot described Robertson as a "great player and a great person" who has served Liverpool loyally for nearly a decade. Overall, Slot’s message underscores a belief that the club’s internal cohesion and the unwavering passion of its fanbase can help navigate the current challenges on and off the field.

Ecuador's government, led by President Daniel Noboa, has imposed 100% tariffs on imports from Colombia, effective May 1. This decision comes as a response to what Ecuador sees as Colombia's inadequate efforts to combat drug trafficking and improve border security.The move is the latest escalation in a months-long feud between the right-wing Noboa and his left-wing counterpart in Colombia, Gustavo Petro. Ecuador's Ministry of Production justified the tariff hike as a necessary measure to confront drug trafficking on the border and protect its citizens and territory.This is not the first tariff imposed by Ecuador on Colombian goods. Previously, Ecuador had slapped 50% tariffs on Colombian exports as of March, which was a spike from a 30% tariff rate announced in January. Colombia has responded by suspending cross-border energy sales and imposing retaliatory tariffs on certain Ecuadorian products.The tensions between Ecuador and Colombia are further complicated by Petro's 'Total Peace' policy, which involves negotiations with rebel groups and criminal networks. This approach has been met with criticism from right-wing leaders like Noboa and US President Donald Trump, who have accused Petro of not doing enough to tackle drug trafficking.The situation has also been influenced by US-Colombia relations, with the Trump administration decertifying Colombia as an ally in its 'war on drugs' and sanctioning Petro and his family. Noboa has echoed Trump's stance on several foreign policy issues, including pressure on left-wing governments in the region.

The United States team landed in Islamabad on Friday, gearing up for Saturday’s planned cease‑fire talks with Iran aimed at pausing the ongoing US‑Israel‑Iran conflict.New friction erupted on Friday when senior officials from both sides exchanged conflicting accounts of a 10‑point Iranian proposal that underpinned Tuesday’s temporary pause in hostilities.Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on X that two critical measures—a cease‑fire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets—remain unfulfilled, insisting they must be addressed before negotiations can proceed.Ghalibaf, who is slated to attend the summit alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, echoed the Iranian military’s joint command warning that its “fingers are on the trigger” after what it described as repeated “breaches of trust” by the United States and Israel.Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump escalated rhetoric, telling the New York Post that the U.S. is loading ships with the “best weapons ever made” and will employ them “very effectively” if a deal is not reached. In subsequent Truth Social posts, he dismissed Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz as a “short‑term extortion” and claimed the Iranians are “alive today only to negotiate.”The Trump administration credits Tuesday’s cease‑fire agreement with averting a larger U.S. escalation, yet it has not disclosed the exact framework agreed upon, noting it differs from Iran’s published 10‑point plan.Analysts point to substantial gaps between the parties on several fronts: Iran’s future control of the Strait of Hormuz, the status of frozen Iranian assets, the trajectory of Iran’s nuclear program, and Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon.U.S. and Israeli officials assert that a Lebanese cease‑fire was never part of the deal, contradicting Iran and Pakistan’s position. Nonetheless, President Trump told an Israeli reporter that he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make Israeli operations against Hezbollah “more low‑key” ahead of the talks.Israeli strikes continued, killing at least 300 people nationwide on Wednesday—the deadliest day of the offensive—while Al Jazeera’s correspondent reported no slowdown in southern Lebanon’s fighting. Kuwait also reported intercepting seven drones launched from Iran into its airspace within 24 hours.Despite the heightened rhetoric, U.S. Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism, stating he expects a “positive” outcome from the negotiations and that he has received “pretty clear guidelines” from President Trump. Vance emphasized that the United States is ready to extend an “open hand” to Iran if it negotiates in good faith, but warned that any attempt to “play us” would meet a “non‑receptive” negotiating team.Vance’s leadership reflects a non‑interventionist strand of the Trump administration, stepping in as Iran’s trust in special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son‑in‑law Jared Kushner has eroded. Witkoff and Kushner previously headed two rounds of indirect talks on Iran’s nuclear program, both of which collapsed—first after Israel launched a 12‑day war on Iran in June 2025, and again after the latest war erupted on February 28.

The US Court of International Trade is hearing oral arguments in a case aimed at overturning President Donald Trump's global import tariffs. The tariffs, which were imposed in February, have been met with opposition from several US states and small businesses.The plaintiffs, including 24 mostly Democratic-led states and two small businesses, argue that the 10% global import tax sidesteps a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated most of Trump's previous tariffs. They claim that the tariffs are based on archaic authority meant to protect the US dollar from sudden depreciation in the 1970s, not to address routine trade deficits.Oregon's lawyer, Brian Marshall, told the judges that they should block the tariffs rather than let them expire on the normal 150-day timeline, to prevent Trump from invoking laws to keep them indefinitely. "[If] we have a successive series where there's always tariffs in place, that's a problem," Marshall said.The Trump administration has argued that the global tariffs are a legal and appropriate response to a persistent trade deficit caused by the fact that the US imports more goods than it exports. "President Trump is lawfully using the executive powers granted to him by Congress to address our country's balance of payments crisis," White House spokesperson Kush Desai said.The case is significant as it challenges Trump's use of Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which authorises duties of up to 15% for up to 150 days on imports during "large and serious United States balance-of-payments deficits" or to prevent imminent depreciation of the dollar.

JD Vance, the United States vice‑president, issued a stark warning to Tehran as he boarded Air Force Two for Pakistan: Iran must not attempt to "play" the United States at the peace talks scheduled for Saturday in Islamabad. The talks, mediated by Pakistan, could determine whether the fragile ceasefire in the region holds or if hostilities resume, with significant repercussions for the global economy, especially oil markets. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi have conditioned their participation on two unmet measures: a full ceasefire in Lebanon and the release of Iran’s blocked assets. Ghalibaf posted on X that "Two of the measures mutually agreed upon between the parties have yet to be implemented." Uncertainty lingered on Friday night about whether the Iranian delegation would even travel to Islamabad. Earlier reports indicated that Israel had removed the Iranian officials from its bombing target list at Washington’s request. Meanwhile, Donald Trump amplified the tension, telling the New York Post that U.S. forces were "loading up the ships with the best ammunition" and would use them if negotiations failed. He later posted that Iran "has no cards" except short‑term extortion of international waterways. The backdrop to the talks is a worsening Lebanon‑Israel confrontation. More than 300 Lebanese civilians have been killed since the ceasefire began, and 13 Lebanese security personnel died in an Israeli strike on a government building in Nabatieh. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dispute whether the April 7 ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran includes Lebanon, and Israel continues bombing Hezbollah‑linked targets despite Netanyahu’s earlier statements about opening negotiations with the Lebanese government. Oil markets have felt the shock. The February 28 U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz—shutting off roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas—triggered a sharp price spike, adding political pressure ahead of the November U.S. congressional elections. Vance, however, expressed optimism as he departed for Islamabad: "We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s going to be positive. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand." He added, "If they’re going to try and play us, then they’ll find the negotiating team is not that receptive." The U.S. delegation also includes senior adviser Steve Witkoff and former senior adviser Jared Kushner, both of whom participated in earlier talks on Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes before the February attack. Negotiations are expected to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the future of Iran’s nuclear program, potential sanctions relief, reparations for war damage, and the release of Americans detained in Iran, according to the Washington Post. Advance teams from the United States and Iran have already taken up rooms at Islamabad’s five‑star Serena hotel, with Pakistani officials acting as intermediaries. Security forces have established a two‑mile perimeter around the hotel, declared a public holiday, and locked down the city centre to ensure a safe environment for the high‑stakes mediation. Hezbollah, while not commenting directly on the Lebanese‑Israeli negotiations, issued a statement urging the Lebanese government to stop "making gratuitous concessions" and vowed to continue fighting to "expel the occupier." The Lebanese army has reinforced its presence in Beirut following an Israeli strike that killed at least 303 people. Fighting persists in southern Lebanon, with Hezbollah claiming to have struck Israeli soldiers near Bint Jbeil—a town symbolic of resistance from the 2006 war—and launching rockets into Israel throughout Friday. Israel’s airstrikes across Lebanon have intensified, culminating in the Nabatieh attack that killed the highest number of Lebanese security forces to date.