Compared to the discomfort he experienced a year ago, Augusta National chairman Billy Payne looked a picture of relaxation as he answered questions from the media this week following his annual State of the Masters address.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged “difficult going” fighting a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, but insisted that the world cannot afford to pull out now.

The chairman of the US Congressional intelligence committee has given National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice strong backing in the face of Democratic criticism.