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Les Kiss is set to take over the Wallabies in July, inheriting a side desperate to climb back to the top of world rugby. He faces a tight schedule – 14 months and 19 Tests – before the 2027 Rugby World Cup that Australia will host. Describing his mandate, Kiss stresses that he is not aiming for a radical overhaul. "It's not a revolution, it's evolution," he told the Guardian. "Core values like discipline, accountability and strategic planning stay firmly in place." What makes Kiss an outlier is his background: a former rugby league international who never played union at senior level. He says this forced him to "earn his stripes" in the union code, learning that culture and standards in the locker room drive performance on the field. His personal story is rooted in a family that escaped the Hungarian Revolution and settled in Bundaberg, and a playing career that saw him sprint down the wing before a knee injury sidelined him for four years. Those experiences, he believes, forged the resilience he now brings to coaching. After a stint in marketing and junior coaching, Kiss transitioned to union coaching, first as a defence coach for the Springboks (2001‑02), then as an assistant with Ireland (2009‑15), director of Ulster Rugby, and finally a three‑year spell with London Irish in the Premiership. Returning to Australia in 2024 to lead the Queensland Reds, he guided the franchise to its most prolific try‑scoring season in three decades, back‑to‑back quarter‑final appearances and record crowd numbers. The Reds sit 4‑2 in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season and are eyeing a top‑four finish. Kiss’s coaching philosophy centres on connection. "Coaching is about rapport and building something strong together," he says, adding that he is fully invested and treats every team like family. His transition to the Wallabies will be smoothed by a close partnership with current head coach Joe Schmidt. The two have shared roughly 40 Tests, developing a strong rapport that Kiss believes will help him "understand the breakdown" and set the right structures for success. The emerging "Kiss army" already includes former All Blacks staffer Scott McLeod as defence coach, analyst Eoin Toolan, set‑piece specialist Tom Donnelly, scrum guru Mike Cron, and consultant Laurie Fisher. Skills coach Mick Byrne and U20s boss Chris Whitaker also remain on board. While his new responsibilities grow, Kiss assures fans he remains 100% committed to the Reds, vowing not to let the franchise down despite his expanding duties. On the player front, Kiss highlights a blend of seasoned talent and fresh faces that could power Australia’s World Cup campaign. The likes of Mark Nawaqanitawase, Max Jorgensen, former winger Dylan Pietsch, and NRL convert Zac Lomax are poised to add dynamism, while 18‑year‑old prodigy Treyvan Pritachard offers a glimpse of the future. Ultimately, Kiss believes the Wallabies embody a uniquely Australian style – inventive, physical, and expressive – forged in backyard games and a culture of resilience. "The Australian way isn’t formulaic; it’s about solving problems on the field in our own special way," he concludes.

NASA's Artemis II space mission has successfully launched from Florida, embarking on a historic journey around the moon with four astronauts on board. This mission marks a significant milestone in the United States space agency's plan to return humans to the moon and eventually send astronauts to Mars.The 32-storey rocket rose from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, where tens of thousands gathered to witness the liftoff. The Artemis II crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are set for a nearly 10-day journey around the moon and back.“On this historic mission, you take with you the heart of this Artemis team, the daring spirit of the American people and our partners across the globe, and the hopes and dreams of a new generation,” said Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the launch director. “Good luck, Godspeed Artemis II. Let’s go.”During the mission, the astronauts will spend the first one to two days in high Earth orbit carrying out extensive systems checks. They will then perform a critical engine burn known as translunar injection, which will send the spacecraft out of Earth's orbit and onto a trajectory towards the moon.The journey will take several days, during which the crew will continue monitoring spacecraft systems as they travel farther from Earth. Orion will then fly behind the moon on a free-return trajectory, a path that naturally swings the spacecraft back towards Earth using the gravity of both the moon and Earth, with minimal fuel required.After the lunar flyby, the crew will spend several days traveling back to Earth while carrying out additional deep-space tests on power systems, thermal controls, and crew operations. As Orion approaches Earth, the capsule will re-enter the atmosphere at speeds of about 40,233km per hour (25,000 miles per hour), before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean, where recovery teams will retrieve the crew.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake erupted in the Northern Molucca Sea off the coast of Ternate, Indonesia, resulting in at least one fatality and an initial tsunami alert that was later rescinded.The United States Geological Survey (USGS) clarified that the tremor, first reported as magnitude 7.8, actually occurred at a depth of 35 km, deeper than the early estimate of 10 km. Apart from the confirmed death, no other immediate injuries were reported.The quake’s epicentre lay roughly 120 km (75 mi) from Ternate in the North Maluku province, prompting local authorities in Ternate and nearby Tidore to ready evacuation plans. Metro TV broadcast footage of damaged structures across the area.In Manado, North Sulawesi, a building collapse buried a resident, leading to the sole confirmed death; a rescue official added that another person sustained a leg injury.The Hawaii‑based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) warned of potentially hazardous waves within a 1,000‑km radius, affecting coastlines of Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia.Within thirty minutes, Indonesia’s BMKG agency recorded wave heights of up to 75 cm in North Minahasa and 20 cm in Bitung, both on Sulawesi’s northern shore, with an additional 30 cm rise in North Maluku.Just over two hours after the event, the PTWC lifted the tsunami warning, declaring that the threat had passed.Indonesia’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it especially vulnerable to such seismic activity, underscoring the importance of rapid monitoring and public‑safety measures.

NASA's Artemis II mission has successfully launched, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The mission, which launched on Wednesday, is the first crewed mission to the moon's vicinity since the Apollo program ended in 1972.The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket lifted off at 6:35pm ET (22:35 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending the Orion crew capsule on a 10-day journey around the moon and back to Earth.The crew, consisting of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will follow a 'free-return' trajectory that swings around the moon to prove the spacecraft can sustain a crew on future missions.The mission plan includes high Earth orbit checks, a translunar injection to propel the spacecraft towards the moon, and a lunar flyby on April 6. The spacecraft will reach its closest approach to the moon, approximately 4,000-6,000 miles (6,450-9,650km) above the lunar surface.After the flyby, the crew will conduct deep-space science and medical monitoring before re-entering Earth's atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on April 10.NASA's next mission, Artemis III, is currently planned for 2027 and will involve the Orion spacecraft docking with a lunar lander in Earth orbit.

The Champions Cup’s single‑leg knockout stage has historically favoured hosts – only two of the 24 matches since the format’s introduction three years ago have seen the home side lose. This weekend’s fixtures threaten to upend that trend.Defending champions Bordeaux Bègles have been quoted at 1‑100 odds to defeat a severely weakened Leicester Tigers on Sunday – a price more suited to a two‑horse race. The Tigers will be without key internationals Ollie Chessum, Joe Heyes and Nicky Smith, all ruled out for the match.Coach Geoff Parling has elected to rest his forward trio to preserve a top‑four finish in the domestic league, a decision that underscores the growing difficulty English clubs face in juggling league ambitions with European knockout demands.Parling’s dilemma echoes a similar scenario a year ago when Saracens rested their stars and suffered a crushing 72‑point defeat to Toulon. Alongside Saracens, Harlequins, Leicester and Sale collectively conceded 215 points and exited the competition without a whisper of a fight. Only Bath Rugby has managed to maintain sufficient squad depth to compete on both fronts.The competition’s structure is locked in until 2030, with a 2028 twist that will see the eight quarter‑finalists face seven Super Rugby Pacific teams and one Japanese side, aiming to crown a true world club champion every four years. Yet the packed calendar – culminating in the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Six Nations – raises serious questions about player availability.“I just don’t know how you fit everything in,” Parling admitted. “The game is very physical now. We all want the best versus the best, but it is what it is.”Knockout success now demands back‑to‑back weekend victories. For example, if Northampton Saints overcome Castres on Friday night, they will face a fully‑strengthened Bath the following week, unless Saracens can engineer a dramatic turnaround after their recent 62‑15 Premiership loss at the Rec.Other clubs face similar uphill battles: Harlequins could earn a Dublin trip after beating Sale, only to recall their heavy 62‑0 defeat to Leinster in April; Bristol might pull off a miracle in Toulouse but would likely meet Bordeaux in the last eight.South African provinces are gathering momentum, with the Stormers and Bulls arguably better placed to silence home crowds in Glasgow and Toulon than earlier in the season. Stormers coach John Dobson quipped, “What will it take us to win? Venus to align with Uranus and Saturn.”Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors have become notoriously difficult to beat at Scotstoun. If any of the traditional powerhouses – Northampton, Bath, Toulon, Glasgow, Toulouse, Harlequins, Bordeaux or Leinster – fail to reach the quarter‑finals, their conquerors will have defied the odds.

The United States is expanding its military footprint in the Gulf as the US‑Israel war with Iran enters its second month. Since the Feb. 28 launch of Operation Epic Fury, a joint air campaign targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites, more than four weeks of strikes have resulted in thousands of casualties.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of a third aircraft carrier, the USS George HW Bush, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is currently conducting daily combat sorties from the Arabian Sea, and the USS Gerald Ford, now under maintenance in Croatia.These carrier groups carry thousands of sailors, Marines and specialised support personnel, forming the core of the US’s power projection in the region.Carrier Strike Group (CSG) refers to an aircraft carrier plus its escort ships and support units that together function as a floating base. A typical CSG includes:An aircraft carrier60‑75 fighter jets and helicopters2‑4 Arleigh Burke‑class destroyersA guided‑missile cruiserA submarine for underwater protectionSupply shipsAs of April 1, the USS Abraham Lincoln remains the only carrier launching daily combat missions against Iranian targets, while the USS George HW Bush is en route and expected to eventually replace the Gerald Ford in the Mediterranean.Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) operates as a mini‑carrier, carrying US Marines and equipment for sea‑to‑land invasions. The USS Tripoli ARG arrived in the Middle East on March 27, and the USS Boxer ARG is expected to join the theater by mid‑April. An ARG typically comprises:Three specialised ships~2,200 Marines (a Marine Expeditionary Unit)Short‑takeoff aircraftLanding craft for beach assaultsThe key distinction: ARGs are built to land troops on shore, whereas CSGs are designed to project air power and conduct major naval warfare.A Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) is a rapid‑response, self‑contained force of 2,200‑2,500 Marine Corps personnel capable of combat and humanitarian missions. On Friday, US Central Command confirmed that 2,200 Marines from the 31st MEU arrived in Middle Eastern waters after departing Sasebo, Japan, on March 13. A second unit, the 11th MEU with roughly 2,500 Marines, is inbound after leaving San Diego on March 18.The Pentagon has also ordered about 2,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to move to the region, adding to the approximately 50,000 US troops already stationed in the Middle East.An MEU is organized into four elements:Command Element – ~200 personnel for planning and command‑and‑control.Ground Combat Element – ~1,200 troops centered on an infantry battalion with artillery and armoured vehicles.Aviation Combat Element – ~500 personnel operating transport helicopters, attack aircraft and Osprey tilt‑rotors.Logistics Combat Element – ~300 personnel providing up to 15 days of self‑sustainment, including medical, engineering and maintenance support.MEUs are typically deployed aboard a three‑ship ARG, which serves as a floating base. The ships include:Landing Helicopter Assault/Dock – a small carrier carrying short‑takeoff aircraft such as F‑35Bs and attack helicopters.Amphibious Transport Dock – a mid‑size vessel transporting troops and heavy vehicles.Dock Landing Ship – primarily for cargo and heavy equipment.MEUs can execute sea‑to‑land assaults, raids, evacuations, humanitarian aid and disaster‑relief operations, and they are often the first forces on the ground in emerging conflicts.The US Marine Corps maintains seven active MEUs; the 31st (Asia‑Pacific) and 11th (West Coast) are currently assigned to the Iran war. The other units are distributed as follows:East Coast: 22nd, 24th, 26th MEUWest Coast: 11th, 13th, 15th MEUAsia‑Pacific: 31st MEUTypically, three MEUs are forward‑positioned at any time, rotating through deployments in the Mediterranean, Gulf and Asia‑Pacific regions.Historically, MEUs have played pivotal roles in US operations: during the 2001 Afghanistan invasion, the 15th and 26th MEUs conducted one of the longest amphibious vertical insertions; in 2003‑2004 they helped secure Iraqi ports and fought in Fallujah; and in 2024 they provided sea‑based support for the attempted abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The Iran war has triggered a massive energy shortfall in Asia, forcing governments to ramp up their use of coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel. Countries across the region, including South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, India, and Bangladesh, are trying to compensate for a drop-off in imported energy, much of which comes from the Middle East.Climate experts have warned that the increased use of coal will have a devastating environmental impact, and that the energy crisis should be a wake-up call for governments to invest in renewables. The crisis has highlighted the importance of renewable energy for energy security in Asia.The global market has flipped within four weeks from a healthy supply surplus to a severe deficit, leading to price spikes and fuel shortages. Almost 30bn cubic meters of LNG has been removed from global supply chains, with over 80% of this loss affecting the Indo-Pacific region.Experts warn that it will take years to recover LNG supplies and that the crisis will have a lasting impact on the energy landscape in Asia. Governments are racing to overcome shortfalls, with some countries introducing measures to reduce energy consumption, such as four-day workweeks and remote work arrangements.

LeBron James had a stellar performance with 21 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a convincing 120-101 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.The victory marked James's 1,228th career win, including the playoffs, tying him with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most in NBA history. This achievement underscores James's enduring impact on the sport.Austin Reaves contributed significantly with 19 points and nine assists, while Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes each added 19 points off the bench. The Lakers' strong performance was highlighted by an 11-0 run in the second quarter, which gave them a lead they maintained throughout the game.The Wizards, struggling with 19 losses in 20 games, were led by Will Riley with 20 points and Justin Champagnie with 18 points. Despite an initial lead, they were unable to recover from the Lakers' surge.This win brings the Lakers closer to securing a playoff berth and the Pacific Division title, although a Phoenix loss was also needed to clinch it. The Lakers have now won 12 of their last 13 games, showcasing their strong form.

A devastating boat sinking incident has occurred off the coast of Djibouti, claiming the lives of at least nine people and leaving 45 others missing. The boat, carrying over 300 migrants and refugees, sank near Guehere in the north of the country on Tuesday.The Djiboutian coastguard launched an emergency operation, rescuing 266 survivors, all of whom were identified as Ethiopian nationals. They are currently receiving support at the International Organization for Migration's (IOM) Migrant Response Centre in Obock.The incident is a grim reminder of the risks faced by migrants attempting to cross the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a notorious migration route that separates Djibouti and Yemen. Tens of thousands of people from the Horn of Africa region attempt to make this perilous journey each year, often facing arbitrary arrest, trafficking, violence, and detention.According to IOM data, 506,000 people moved along this route in 2025, an 18% increase from the previous year. The agency also reported that 922 people died or went missing on this route in 2025, nearly double the number recorded the year before.The IOM has expressed concern that the hot season in Djibouti, which brings rougher seas and strong winds, will place migrants at even greater risk. The agency's chief of mission in Djibouti, Tanja Pacifico, warned that this tragic shipwreck may sadly mark the first of many incidents this year.