Roy Hodgson said there was much he missed about football after coming out of retirement to return to the dugout as caretaker manager of Bristol City.

The 78-year-old accepted the role at the Championship club until the end of the season following the sacking of Gerhard Struber on Friday.

The former England manager has not worked since leaving Crystal Palace in 2024 and confirmed he will only be in the position for City’s seven remaining games, insisting he was “too old” for a long-term position.

“You don’t work at top-level football at my age really very often,” Hodgson said.

“I’d come to terms with that quite well then something like this happens and you realise that there’s a lot I do miss.

“Having this opportunity to get a feel for that again, and have a chance to work with a good group of players – it seems from what I saw this morning – and to relive being on the grass and doing the coaching, which I’ve always been really keen to do, and with a group of players without necessarily having all the drawbacks.”

Hodgson returns to the club where he began his career in 1982, spending four months as Bristol City manager during a turbulent financial time when the club nearly went out of business.

“I’ve been perfectly happy in my retirement period – a little bit bored from time to time – but a challenge like this was hard to turn down,” Hodgson said.

“Plus the fact it is Bristol which is a lovely city and I do have fond memories of my time here, despite the fact I shouldn’t have fond memories – I should be having nightmares.”

In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlines Washington’s position on Iran, saying US objectives will be achieved ‘within weeks, not months’. Rubio says talks are taking place between parties inside Iran and the United States, mainly through intermediaries, while warning that the Strait of Hormuz ‘will be opened one way or another’ after the military operation ends. He also says Iran must take concrete steps to abandon any ambition to acquire nuclear weapons.

As a prominent labour organiser, Chavez helped lead a major strike against Delano grape growers in the 1960s, which sparked boycotts across the country, in order to gain better wages and conditions for workers. His mantra, “si, se puede” – which means “yes, we can” in Spanish – has been adopted by activists and politicians who came after him, and was even used by Barack Obama’s presidential campaign during his first run for office.

Actor James Tolkan, known for his role as the Hill Valley High principal in “Back to the Future” and the no-nonsense commanding officer in “Top Gun” has died. He was 94.

Tolkan died Thursday in Lake Placid, N.Y., where he lived, his booking agent, John Alcantar, told the Associated Press on Saturday.

In “Back to the Future,” Tolkan portrayed Vice Principal Gerald Strickland, who surveyed the school’s halls with a whistle around his neck and a tardy slip burning a hole in his pocket.

“You got a real attitude problem, McFly,” Tolkan’s character snaps at Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, in the cult classic 1985 film. “You’re a slacker. You remind me of your father when he went here. He was a slacker, too.”

The line became one of Tolkan’s most famous, and mega-fans would flock to Comic-Cons around the country to ask the star to call them a slacker, requests he typically obliged.

The actor had a number of film and television gigs through the 1960s and ’70s, but he was doing David Mement’s Broadway play “Glengarry Glen Ross” when he got the offer to play Strickland in “Back to the Future.”

“I always said, ‘I’m never going to Hollywood until they send for me,’ ” he told T.C. Restani during a 2015 interview. “And I said, OK, this is my chance. And of course, nobody realized that it was going to be such an important picture. But it was. It was one of those marvelous events where all the planets were aligned and ‘Back to the Future’ became this shooting star of a movie.”

Tolkan was also well known for drilling Maverick and Goose with swift reprimands and tough love between puffs of his cigar as their commanding officer, Tom “Stinger” Jardian, in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.”

“That was very special, because when you make a movie you never know, but in ‘Top Gun,’ everybody felt like it was going to be a success,” Tolkan told Bob McCarthy during a 2016 Comic-Con interview. “ They just felt it, knew it right from the first day.”

Born June 20, 1931, in Calumet, Mich., Tolkan was the son of a cattle dealer — Ralph M. Tolkan. He moved around in his adolescence, spending time in Chicago and landing in Arizona after his parents’ divorce. It was there that his athletic skills got him noticed by the Eastern Arizona College football coach. Tolkan landed a scholarship to the college, but his academic career was short-lived, and he left to enlist in the U.S. Navy.

After a year of service during the Korean War, he was discharged due to a heart ailment, and with $75 to his name he set out for the Big Apple to try his hand at acting. In New York, Tolkan studied under Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg at the famed Actors Studio and started landing stage roles before working his way to the big screen.

Although his experience in the military informed the types of roles Tolkan would play — Army office, Air Force commander, police lieutenant, attorney — his work as an actor was his passion. “If you choose to be an actor, you have to choose to be an actor, and you have to stick with it through thick and thin,” he told a FanX audience member during a 2023 panel at the Salt Lake City pop-culture convention. “When things get tough, you can’t think about doing something else. You’ve got to say to yourself, ‘I’m gonna do this.’ ”

Other notable acting projects of Tolkan’s include the 1973 film “Serpico,” starring Al Pacino; the 1981 movie “Prince of the City”; the role of Napolean in Woody Allen’s 1975 film, “Love and Death”; and the 1983 film “WarGames,” in which he acted alongside Matthew Broderick.

Tolkan is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee Welles.

Thousands of voters who got Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters’ “official sample ballots” this week might have wondered at her recommendations for president.

One version of the fliers, which are made to look like ballots, have bright red circles around the names of Green Party candidate Ralph Nader and his running mate, Winona LaDuke. In another version, the names of Libertarian candidate Harry Browne and running mate Art Olivier are circled.

On Thursday, the Waters camp was scrambling to correct the mistake; the congresswoman from Los Angeles’ 35th District firmly supports the Al Gore/Joseph I. Lieberman ticket.

“It was a printing error,” explained Karen Waters, the congresswoman’s daughter and spokeswoman for campaign activities. “It has been corrected, and voters will receive a letter of apology.”

Nader campaign officials, of course, said no apology was necessary.

“All we can say is, thank you, thank you, great campaign karmic gods,” said Ross Mirkarimi, state director of the Nader 2000 effort.

Political consultant Parke Skelton said he thinks “it’s funny.”

“But I also think it will cost Gore some votes. Not enough to put the state in danger, of course. But Waters definitely has a following, and some people may follow the recommendations,” Mirkarimi said.

That would be particularly fortuitous for Nader, he added, “who has not been polling well in African American communities.”

But Joyce Marshall, a designer of political direct mail, disagreed that the error is funny. “This is not a small error. It’s totally serious.” Marshall and others have long been critical of Waters’ phony sample ballots, which are adorned with the same flag, seal and layout as the real thing.

Robert Stern, a former chief counsel for the state Fair Political Practices Commission, has decried the mailers as “really outrageous.”

Waters’ mailer does contain a disclaimer on each page, as well as asterisks next to the names of the candidates who paid to be listed among those backed by the influential Democratic legislator and chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Waters first mailed a version of the mock ballot in 1992. So far, the mailer has survived state scrutiny.

In years past, candidates have invested heavily in the tactic. In 1998, the Checci for Governor campaign spent $50,000 to be included; the campaign to elect Bill Lockyer attorney general paid $15,000.

“This strategy has been done in the past,” the congresswoman’s daughter said, “and we think voters look forward to receiving them.”

Maxine Waters said 10,000 to 15,000 voters saw the boo-boo.

“It was small enough to have a rerun and have the mailers back out in the mail by [Thursday]. At the same time, a coordinating campaign did telephone calls into all those homes Wednesday night,” she said, “so the damage control was quick and effective.”

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is on Real Madrid’s shortlist, Juventus are eyeing Manchester United‘s Manuel Ugarte, while Newcastle receive a boost in their bid to keep hold of Sandro Tonali.

Real Madrid will look to sign Chelsea‘s 25-year-old Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez or Crystal Palace‘s 22-year-old England midfielder Adam Wharton if they fail to acquire Spain midfielder Rodri, 29, from Manchester City this summer. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

It will take a bid of about £50m from Real Madrid to tempt Manchester City into selling Rodri. (Football Insider), external

Juventus are keeping an eye on Manchester United‘s Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte during the international break and might move for the 24-year-old this summer. (Gazzetta – in Italian), external

Newcastle have been given a boost in their bid to keep hold of Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer with Serie A clubs unlikely to be able to afford the 25-year-old. (Talksport), external

Newcastle have agreed a deal in principle to sign Independiente del Valle’s 16-year-old Ecuadorian winger Johan Martinez. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester City‘s 31-year-old Netherlands defender Nathan Ake might be eyeing a move back to former club Chelsea. (Sun), external

Manchester United and Arsenal are among clubs keen on signing Barcelona’s 26-year-old Spain forward Ferran Torres this summer. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Chelsea and Liverpool are leading the race to sign 22-year-old Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara from Monaco. (Caught Offside), external

Bologna are eyeing a summer move for Nottingham Forest‘s 25-year-old Italy striker Lorenzo Lucca, who is loan from Napoli until the end of the season. (Gazzetta – in Italian), external

Newcastle‘s contract talks have stalled with England defender Tino Livramento, opening the door for a summer exit for the 23-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Liverpool will face strong competition from Bayern Munich for the signing of 25-year-old France defender Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace. (Teamtalk), external

Barcelona’s top transfer target this summer is Atletico Madrid’s 26-year-old Argentina forward Julian Alvarez. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

March 30 (UPI) — The chancellor of Germany and president of Syria on Monday said that their goal is for 80% of Syrian refugees who have fled there to return home in the next three years.

With few details offered, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Ahmed al-Sharaa set an ambitious goal for the majority of the roughly one million people there who sought asylum from the bloody civil war in Syria, The BBC reported.

Merz and Sharaa met Monday to discuss the return of Syrian refugees, while noting they have been a boon to Germany and are not being kicked out.

“Looking ahead over the next three years — as Sharaa has expressed his hope — around 80% of Syrians currently residing in Germany are expected to return to their home country,” Merz said during a press conference.

Sharaa thanked Merz and the country for welcoming Syrians during the civil war and said the country is “proud that Syrians have learned very quickly how to contribute to society.”

He said that his government is working with the German government to “establish a ‘circular’ migration model” that would allow Syrians to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria without abandoning the lives they have build in Germany.

Sharaa led forces that pushed former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assd to flee the country in late 2024 after they captured Damascus. His administration is now working to reconstruct and unify the country after 14 years of civil war there.

At the press conference, Merz and Sharaa said that overall conditions in Syria have “fundamentally improved,” a point which German politicians have been debating since the new Syrian president took over, Deutche Weille reported.

Witnesses have captured intense US-Israeli attacks on Isfahan, a city in Iran with a population of 2.3M, and home to the Badr military airbase. Huge explosions and fires have lit up the night sky.

COMIC Russell Brand’s rape trial has been delayed by four months and is expected to last eight weeks — up from five — due to “numerous” and expanded charges.

The screen star, 50, faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one indecent assault against six women from 1999 to 2009.

Brand — who denies all the charges in full — was facing trial at Southwark crown court on June 12.

But Mr Justice Joel Bennathan KC put it back until October 12.

He noted an eight-week trial in June would run into August — with potential summer holiday and travel interruptions.

Brand, of Hambleden, Bucks, didn’t attend court today.

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Brand had appeared in court last month and denied charges of rape and sexual assault against two women in 2009.

Before the hearing, Brand took out a copy of the bible and began reading it but it was confiscated by the dock officer until the case was done.

The Met Police launched a probe into the TV presenter in September 2023 after The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches published an investigation into allegations over his treatment of women.

Following the charge, Brand told his 11.3million X followers that he was “never a rapist”.

He added: “I’ve always told you guys that when I was young and single, before I had a wife and family… I was a fool, man.

“I was a fool before I lived in the light of the Lord… I have never engaged in non consensual activity, I pray you can see that by looking in my eyes.”

Brand, who was previously married to pop star Katy Perry, shares three children with his wife, Laura Gallacher, 37.

All passengers without EU passports will be required to have their fingerprints registered and their pictures taken under new rules, and this is likely to cause bottlenecks

Brits travelling to Europe over Easter face long delays — up to two hours at times — at border control as strict new entry rules come into effect.

Bottlenecks are expected due to the EU’s new entry/exit system (EES), airports and airlines are warning. Under the rules, all passengers without EU passports will be required to have their fingerprints registered and their pictures taken. These will be captured on first entry into the Schengen zone and then checked at every subsequent entry and exit.

The system, which comes into effect today, requires all non-EU arrivals to undergo the checks. Until now, only 50 per cent of passengers had to be processed at each border point.

Airports Council International (ACI), a trade body, said the latest data from across Europe “shows a continued deterioration in waiting times at border crossing points”. It said waiting times were “regularly reaching up to two hours at peak traffic times, with some airports reporting even longer queues”.

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Data released last week showed at least 4,000 holidaymakers have been caught out by the new rule since it was soft-launched in October, after successive delays. During this six-month period, the number of passengers required to undergo checks increased in stages and EU members were able to suspend the system in the event of “operational pressures”.

But now the transition period is ending and passenger processing times is set to increase at border crossings. At larger airports, passengers are directed to kiosks to have their picture and fingerprints taken, although at smaller airports the process is done by an officer.

Speaking to The Times, Olivier Jankovec, the directorgeneral of ACI, and Ourania Georgoutsakou, the managing director of Airlines for Europe, said: “Passengers entering the Schengen area are likely to wait even longer at border control during Easter due to the persisting operational challenges around the EES rollout.

“We reiterate our call on the European Commission and member states to extend the possibility to fully or partially suspend EES —where operationally necessary — during the entirety of the 2026 summer season.

“This flexibility has proven vital in preventing catastrophic operational disruptions during the progressive rollout of the system. If the technical and operational issues with EES are not resolved, this flexibility should remain available during future peak travel periods, such as winter 2026-27.”

EasyJet, the UK’s biggest airline, is planning for its busiest Easter on record, handling more than a quarter more travellers than last year’s Easter weekend. It expects to operate 16,000 flights from the UK over the school holidays, with 5,000 departing during the Easter weekend.

Last week ministers warned that the introduction of EES would present a “significant change for Brits travelling this Easter”. Alex Norris, the minister for border security, said “extra time may be needed, both for your return to the UK and travelling to the EU” and advised passengers to check with their carrier.

City Councilmember Nithya Raman came out ahead of incumbent Karen Bass in a new poll on the Los Angeles mayor’s race, though the poll’s director cautioned that it did not give the whole picture.

Raman had a commanding lead in a field of five major candidates, with 33% of voters supporting her, while Bass trailed at 17%, according to the poll by the Loyola Marymount University Center for the Study of Los Angeles.

Leftist Rae Huang came in just behind Bass at nearly 17%, while tech executive Adam Miller had 13% and conservative reality TV star Spencer Pratt had 12%.

Other polls have shown Bass in first place.

She was at 20% in an Emerson College Polling/Inside California Politics poll, with Raman at just over 9%. In a UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll, co-sponsored by The Times, Bass was at 25% and Raman at 17%.

In the Loyola Marymount poll, unlike the other polls, respondents were given brief descriptions of the candidates, including their occupations and political priorities.

Raman was labeled a “progressive LA City Councilmember focused on housing affordability, homelessness and systemic reform,” while Bass was “incumbent mayor of Los Angeles, veteran legislator, focused on homelessness.”

One of Raman’s challenges, as a councilmember representing Los Feliz and Silver Lake as well as parts of the San Fernando Valley, is to spread her name recognition citywide, with the June 2 primary election about two months away. She entered the race to challenge Bass, her one-time ally, at the last minute, hours before the early February filing deadline.

The Loyola Marymount poll of 370 registered Los Angeles voters was conducted from Feb. 11 to March 16. It did not include a choice for “undecided,” while the other two polls showed that significant percentages of voters hadn’t made up their minds.

“This poll shows if only positive descriptors are used and context is provided, Raman is ahead,” said Fernando Guerra, director of Loyola Marymount’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles, who directed the poll.

Guerra said he believes Bass is the front-runner, taking the previous polls into account.

Bass’ campaign took issue with the Loyola Marymount poll.

“In 2022, this same LMU poll had Karen Bass at 16% — she ended up winning the primary with 43%. The only thing more ridiculous than this poll is Spencer Pratt’s performance on The Hills,” said Alex Stack, a spokesperson for the Bass campaign, referencing Pratt’s reality show.

Raman’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In a post on X citing the poll, Raman wrote, “OUR CAMPAIGN IS SURGING … Angelenos are ready for a city that actually works.”

Paul Mitchell, vice president of the bipartisan voter data firm Political Data Inc., said the poll’s sample size was too small to draw conclusions and that the poll was less reliable because it was conducted over the course of more than a month.

He also noted that with many of the candidates relatively unknown, including the descriptors could have a major effect.

“I’m sure Nithya Raman doesn’t have citywide name recognition, but that description is really great,” Mitchell said.

Guerra said he didn’t include an “undecided” option because he wanted to “force” respondents to give an answer, similar to when they actually vote.

In the Emerson poll, more than 50% of voters were undecided on who to support for mayor. The Berkeley IGS poll showed about a quarter of voters were undecided.

In LMU’s mayoral poll from 2022, released in early March of that year, 42% of respondents chose “undecided/someone else” for mayor.

After Bass, who had 16% support, then-City Councilmember Kevin de Léon was second at 12% in the 2022 poll. Rick Caruso, the billionaire developer, who ended up making the runoff election against Bass, received 6% support.

In that year’s June primary, Bass got 43% of the vote, Caruso nearly 36% and De Léon about 8%.

This year’s LMU poll also asked L.A. voters what kind of candidate they would prefer for mayor.

Nearly 50% said they prefer a Democratic Socialist, while 25% said they want a moderate Democrat, 19% said a conservative and just 8% said an establishment Democrat.

“Los Angeles is much more progressive than its elected leadership. This poll captures that,” Guerra said.

Some disagreed.

Mike Trujillo, a consultant for moderate Democrats who is not representing anyone in the mayoral race, said polling he has done across the city shows that the Democratic Socialists of America’s popularity is much lower.

Raman is a dues-paying member of the Los Angeles chapter of DSA, which endorsed her in her two successful City Council campaigns.

“If you believe this poll, I have bridges to sell you on 1st Street, 6th Street, and Alameda Street — and there’s no bridge on Alameda,” he said. “The poll was basically A to Z in Nithya Raman’s contact list.”

This year’s LMU poll also asked L.A. County voters about the governor’s race. Former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter led at about 16%, followed by Republican Steve Hilton at 13% and billionaire Tom Steyer at 12%.

The Berkeley IGS poll showed two Republicans — Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and Hilton — leading the crowded field of gubernatorial candidates by slim margins among voters statewide, with Democratic support split among multiple candidates in a left-leaning state.

In its 36-page report titled ‘Humanity Must Win: Defending rights, tackling repression at the 2026 FIFA World Cup’,, external Amnesty calls on the host countries’ governments to “meet their obligations under international human rights law, while Fifa, national FAs and sponsors all have clear responsibilities to respect human rights…”

“The US government has deported more than 500,000 people from the USA in 2025, more than six times as many people than will watch the World Cup final in the MetLife Stadium”, said Amnesty’s head of economic and social justice Steve Cockburn.

“…It’s a deeply troubling time in the US, which will certainly extend to fans who want to take part in World Cup celebrations.”

Last month, the acting head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that the agency is “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup”, vowing it was “dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event”.

Earlier this year, ICE agents shot and killed two American citizens as part of US president Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

Trump has sent federal agents, as well as the National Guard, to major US cities over the past year to make good on his campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration. They have been met with protests and legal challenges in Democrat-led cities like Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago.

“Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither Fifa nor the US authorities have provided any guarantees that fans and local communities will be safe from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detention and deportation,” said Cockburn.

“Only four of the 16 host cities have so far published their human rights plans, and none of those that have done so to date say anything about protection from abusive immigration enforcement.

“This World Cup is no longer the ‘medium risk’ tournament that Fifa once judged it to be – whether it is to protect people from ICE, guarantee the right to protest or prevent homelessness, urgent action is needed to make sure the reality of this World Cup matches its original promise.”

Amnesty says that ICE and other agencies “pose a chilling threat to people living in the US, those traveling to see a game, and players themselves”.

It added: “Fans face intrusive surveillance, with proposals to force visitors to make their social media accounts available for vetting, and screening for “anti-Americanism”.

In January, fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) told BBC Sport it was “extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US” before the World Cup”.

At the time, Fifa said the safety and security of fans and participants was its “top priority”, adding it works closely with local authorities “to plan, co-ordinate and deliver comprehensive security measures for the tournament”.

The White House’s World Cup Task Force said that the tournament will be “the largest, safest, and most welcoming sporting event in history” and that it was working to deliver an event “that highlights America’s hospitality, commitment to security, and spirit of excellence”. It promised that fans “can look forward to a smooth, secure, and truly unforgettable tournament”.

Amnesty highlights Mexico’s response to high levels of drug cartel violence, which it says is “raising risks for people protesting”. Earlier this month the World Cup co-host announced plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel to protect fans at this summer’s tournament.

And the campaign group also claims that in Canada, a growing housing crisis has “raised fears that people experiencing homelessness will again be displaced and pushed further to the margins”.

Fifa has been approached for comment.

March 30 (UPI) — NASA officials on Monday started the two-day countdown to the Artemis II mission launch, which will send a crew of four around the moon as they test the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

After canceling a launch attempt in February because of a helium valve concern, officials said that the only thing they are worried about ahead of Wednesday’s launch is the weather — and the forecast offers an 80% chance for the right conditions.

The 10-day mission, which will take the crew farther from Earth than any human before, is the next step in the agency’s goal of returning humans to the surface of the moon and establishing a permanent presence there.

With mission engineers starting the clock, the crew — Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Commander Reid Wiseman and Pilot Victor Glover — are getting some rest and spending time with their families before starting their own pre-launch activities, officials said.

“The team concluded that everything continues to look good and there are no issues preventing us from pressing ahead,” NASA’s Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said during a media briefing from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“At this point, as we enter the pre-launch phase, we are in a strong posture and the mission remains on track,” he said.

Countdown to launch

The Artemis II launch window starts at 6:24 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, giving NASA two hours if the cumulus cloud cover is too heavy, which mission engineers said is the only thing about the weather forecast they are worried about.

The SLS and Orion was initially rolled out to the launch pad in February but engineers discovered an issue with a helium valve during a wet dress rehearsal and decided to bring the rock back to the Vehicle Assembly Building to check it out.

After replacing the valve, and checking on other systems, the rocket was rolled back out on March 19.

Monday’s mission management team meeting is similar to the flight readiness review but is a faster rundown than that comprehensive effort as each group updates others on their pre-launch progress.

Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, launch director for the mission, said the launch countdown officially started at 4:44 p.m. EDT on Monday, which corresponds with NASA starting to configure ground facilities at the launch pad.

She noted that, while most people are familiar with a 30-minute or 10-minute countdown, launch countdowns are generally linked to the preparation needed for launch — shuttle countdowns started three days before launch, while commercial launches may often need a countdown of one day or less.

Crew awaits launch

The Artemis crew arrived in Cape Canaveral “on Friday, getting an opportunity for some rest before we work them very hard,” Emily Nelson, the mission’s chief flight director, said of the foursome, which has been in quarantine already for a couple of weeks.

Like many crews of astronauts before them, the Artemis crew has been staying at The Astronaut Beach House, which NASA has owned since 1963 and where space mission crews have spent time ahead of launches for decades.

Before the start of their final meetings and prep for launch, the crew was expected to eat dinner and spend time with their families, all of whom also have been required to comply with some sort of quarantine before getting there.

On launch day, after fuel tanking and last-minute items by a closeout crew around 1:00 p.m. EDT, the crew will board the Orion at 2:00 p.m. EDT to conduct communication system checks, configure the crew module and run the countdown to a 10-minute hold for about 30 minutes, Blackwell-Thompson said.

During that 30-minute hold, mission engineers will run through one more system-by-system before starting the final countdown to NASA’s first crewed mission to the moon in more than 50 years.

At a time when Ukraine’s air defense expertise is being sought by Arab nations under fire from Iranian missiles and drones, Kyiv announced its new experimental concept for battling Russian drones is having some positive results. The system relies on the private sector to provide its own air defenses by using Ukrainian interceptor drones and other short-range air defense weapons, under the command and control of the military.

Whether this would be applicable beyond Ukraine is debatable, but officials in Kyiv see private sector air defense as an important move to help spread its burden of defending the skies against ceaseless Russian barrages. Russia has been taking particular aim at Ukraine’s remaining industrial capacity, especially defense-related firms that make drones, missiles and other weapons systems. The constant attacks are a large reason why the country has tried to decentralize production, but not everything can be built in a distributed fashion.

The goal of the program is to take advantage of Ukraine’s large production of counter-Shahed interceptor drones as well as its indigenous automated anti-drone machine gun turrets. By having volunteers operate these systems, it reduces the need to pull troops from the frontlines, officials say. 

“The experimental project launched by the Government to involve the private sector in the air defense system is already being implemented and yielding initial results,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated on Telegram Monday morning. “One of the companies participating in the project has already prepared its own air defense group. As of today, several enemy drones have been shot down in the Kharkiv region, including Shahed and Zala models.”

Fedorov did not identify the company, but said another 13 are in various states of gearing up to take part.

“As of now, all groups are at different stages of preparation,” Fedorov wrote. “Some are already performing combat tasks, others are undergoing training, and the rest are completing their preparations and will soon strengthen the country’s air defense.”

Private air defense systems “are integrated into a single management system of the Armed Forces Air Force and are already operating within it – protecting objects and participating in the interception of Shaheds,” Fedorov explained. “This is a systemic solution that allows for quickly scaling air defense capabilities without additional burden on frontline units.”

Fedorov did not say which weapons are being used by the private companies, but a video he posted on X of claimed successful engagements shows the use of the Sky Sentinel automated air-defense turrets, equipped with a heavy machine gun and capable of 360° rotation. An official contacted by The War Zone said the Wild Hornet Sting interceptors are being used as well.

The creation of the private sector air defense program was announced earlier this month by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. In a media release, she explained that critical infrastructure enterprises, regardless of whether publicly or privately owned, can create air defense groups.

These groups must undergo training and certification by the MoD and will use weapons and ammunition temporarily transferred from the ministry.

“This concerns weapons that are not currently used by combat units,” Svyrydenko noted. “In the event of the use of ammunition, replenishment will be carried out according to a simplified procedure based on an act of actual expenses.”

Ukraine has been developing these weapons and programs because Russia’s launching of thousands of Shaheds and other drones and missiles has depleted its stocks of high-end interceptors like those fired by Patriot and other systems. This has not been lost on leaders of nations now under fire by Iranian drones and missiles.

Fedorov’s announcement about the private sector air defense program comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wrapped up a tour of the Middle East. While there, the Ukrainian leader said he inked defense cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar, and had discussions with Jordan.

Zelensky did not announce specific commercial drone sales, “but said talks touched on financial support from Gulf nations that could help Ukraine bridge a delay in European funding after Hungary blocked a 90 billion euro loan package,” The New York Times noted. In addition, Zelensky told reporters that he had also discussed future Ukrainian purchases of energy from the Middle East as Ukraine’s own natural gas industry had been battered by Russian strikes.

“The agreement includes collaboration in technological fields, development of joint investments and the exchange of expertise in countering missiles and unmanned aerial systems,” Qatar’s defense ministry said in a statement during Zelensky’s visit.

When it comes to interceptor drones like Sting, Ukraine has enough to spare should its government sign off on providing them.

Ukraine could export about $2 billion worth of weapons as a whole this year, excluding ​joint production ventures with allies, suggested Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, a manufacturers’ association.

Ukraine produced 40,000 interceptor drones in January, according to the government, which has made it clear the country will not export any weapons it needs ‌to defend itself, as we noted in a story on Ukrainian laws preventing direct exports of interceptors and other weapons.

“Zelensky says that provided enough financing, Ukraine has the capacity to up its production to 2,000 interceptor drones a day and would only need 1,000 for itself, leaving plenty for export,” Reuters noted.

Відео 100 збиттів шахедів перехоплювачем #STING #wildhornets #дикішершні #fpv

It is unknown whether the concept of private sector air defenses came up in Zelensky’s talks in the Middle East. However, countries in that region are facing threats similar to Ukraine, with energy infrastructure, data centers and other non-military facilities that likely have limited, if any air defenses, protecting them.

“The Ukrainian model does not surprise me,” retired Army Col. David Shank, who served as Commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, told us. “Other countries have private security forces, some which possess hand-held [counter-drone] capabilities. The U.S. State Department has private security that also possesses capability (up to Stinger I am told).”

The challenge, said Shank, “is system management and command and control of all sensors and shooters.

It is possible the Gulf states could execute a system where companies provide their own air defenses, however, “it would still require strict adherence to authorities.”

Still, Shank sees several downsides, including fratricide, wasted ammunition and a lack of unity of effort from decentralized execution.

Retired Army Gen. Joseph Votel, who commanded U.S. Central Command, raised another concern.

“While it would be up to Arab nations to decide for themselves if this is a good idea, I do think it will complicate integration with partners, including the U.S,” he told us.

Regardless, the Ukrainian program is in its infancy. There is still a long way to go before it establishes its value as a valid means of protecting factories, electric generation plants and refineries against Russian drones. It could turn out to be more destructive than helpful.

However, given Ukraine’s history of battlefield innovation, there will likely be many parties looking to see how it all works out.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

JACK Whitehall partied the night away as he enjoyed a star-studded stag do.

He was joined by plenty of famous faces for a very boozy night out.

The comedian and actor is preparing to tie the knot to model Roxy Horner but made sure to make the most of life pre-marriage on his big night out – which included visiting an X-rated nightclub.

Among his fellow celebs with Jamie Redknapp and James Corden as well as ex-rugby star, Lawrence Dagglio.

Jack and his pals partied for more than six hours on the London pub crawl.

Things got underway around 3pm when Jack and the lads sank pints at The Devonshire pub.

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Spirits seemed merry within moments of things kicking off for Jack and his friends.

By 5pm, they had moved onto racy London nightclub, The Box.

The ominous venue, a favourite amongst celebrities, is traditionally only open late into the night and the early hours.

It is believed the venue put on a private show for Jack as part of his stag-do.

The Box has a reputation for its outrageous, raucous, and highly sexualized late-night performances.

By 8:30pm, Jack and his pals had moved onto mini-golf hotspot, Swingers.

The group then ended the night with drinks at the Soho Hotel bar – with speculation that Jack could have been staying at the high-end hotel overnight.

James Corden went missing for a few hours during the evening before eventually making his way back to the group for the final moments.

Jack became engaged to model Roxy at the end of 2024 and is due to marry in a matter of weeks.

The couple met while Jack was on a trip to Australia in 2020 and they ended up isolating together in London during the coronavirus pandemic.

They welcomed their first child Elsie in September last year.

At the time, Jack announced the news online and said: “In awe of my partner who has been amazing throughout this journey and is going to be the greatest mum ever.”

At the time of The Sun revealing Jack and Roxy’s engagement, a pal said: “Jack and Roxy are going into Christmas as an engaged couple.

“He asked Roxy to marry him earlier this month and she said yes straight away.

“They could not be happier together and are looking forward to planning their wedding.”

Roxy, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2021, has previously praised Jack for his support.

LAS VEGAS — The Super Bowl will return to Las Vegas in 2029 for the second time after NFL owners voted Monday to award the nation’s gambling and entertainment capital the big game.

Las Vegas getting the Super Bowl back seemed only like a matter of time after Kansas City defeated San Francisco 25-22 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium in February 2024.

Commissioner Roger Goodell all but gave the return his blessing after the first Super Bowl in a city the league long shunned because of concerns about legalized sports betting.

“We’re excited to bring the Super Bowl back to Las Vegas and provide our fans another incredible experience in one of America’s greatest sport and entertainment destinations,” Goodell said in a statement.

“Super Bowl LVIII demonstrated the scale, energy and hospitality the city brings to global events, and we look forward to working alongside the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Raiders and the community to deliver an even greater experience this time around.”

The game will be broadcast by Fox.

Next year’s Super Bowl will be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Santa Clara was the site of this year’s game in which Seattle beat New England 29-13.

Atlanta will host the 2028 game.

March 30 (Asia Today) — South Korea’s agriculture ministry said Monday it will urgently import 15 million broiler hatching eggs in an effort to curb rising chicken prices.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said retail prices for broiler chicken have climbed sharply in recent days, increasing by about 300 won (about $0.22) per kilogram over the past 10 days.

According to the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation’s price system, the average price rose from 6,252 won ($4.60) per kilogram on March 19 to 6,534 won ($4.80) on March 28. Peak prices rose from 7,182 won ($5.30) to 7,980 won ($5.90) over the same period.

Officials warned that rising chicken costs could lead to higher prices for fried chicken, a widely consumed food in South Korea, potentially pushing up overall dining-out inflation.

The ministry said it is in talks with the Netherlands over quarantine procedures for importing the eggs and is also considering Belgium as an alternative supplier if negotiations stall.

If talks are successful, imports could begin as early as early April. Combined with 778,000 eggs already imported from Spain in March, total imports would reach about 23 million eggs.

However, officials acknowledged that the measure may not provide immediate relief. It is expected to take about two months for the imported eggs to be hatched, raised and processed into chicken products available in stores.

The ministry is also reviewing measures to ask major poultry producers to refrain from raising prices during the period.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260330010009113

Sunday evenings are usually a beehive of commercial activity at Angwan Rukuba Junction, but it turned deadly on March 29, at around 7:45 p.m., when assailants opened fire on people at random in the area, located in Jos North Local Government Area (LGA), Plateau State, in North Central Nigeria.

Eyewitnesses gave differing accounts of the attackers’ arrival, with some saying they came in a red Sharon van, while others reported they arrived on motorcycles. They were described as dressed in black camouflage, with their faces covered, and armed with guns and cutlasses. The motive and identity of the assailants remain unknown, and no group has claimed responsibility.

At least 27 people were killed, including a pregnant woman, while others were injured, according to Dalyop Mwantiri, President of the Berom Youth Moulders Association.

Sunday Akintola, a resident, said the high number of casualties was due to people being caught unawares, as residents initially assumed the gunshots were stray bullets from officers of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, which “usually come to harass young men in the area”. “Once people stepped in, they were shot at close range, while others were chased and struck with machetes,” he noted.

Although there is a police station at the junction where the incident occurred, residents said the response was slow, alleging that some officers on duty fled when the attack began, before reinforcements later arrived from the state headquarters.

Alfred Alabo, the spokesperson of the Plateau Police Command, says they “are currently combing the nearby bushes to ensure that the suspects are arrested or dislodged”.

Angwan Rukuba is located just 10 minutes from both the Jos Main Market and University of Jos facilities, including the Senior Staff Quarters, Main Campus, and Permanent Site, as well as private housing for university staff and students. It also borders a large stretch of hills, including the popular Gog and Magog.

Notably, it is not a rural farming settlement or a mining community, but a densely populated, urban residential area with a diverse mix of residents, including students, civil servants, and traders. As such, the incident does not fit the typical pattern of farmer–herder clashes often reported in Plateau State.

“This is right inside Jos. It is a mixed community; it is really a melting pot because everybody is here, and an injury to one is an injury to all,” said Julie Sanda, Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA). “It was an unprovoked attack.”

Violence in Plateau State is multidimensional, involving terror attacks, conflict between farmers and herders in rural communities, and ethno-religious tensions that have rocked the city since 2001. However, one thing is common about these incidents in the Jos–Bukuru metropolis: they often lead to revenge attacks among ethno-religious groups, driven by deep-seated mistrust, which has in turn contributed to polarised settlements.

“If you know anything about Jos, if this incident had happened ten years ago, I don’t think we would be here today. It shows the resilience of the people and their courage,” Julie said.

Shortly after the attack on Sunday, the Plateau State Government imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Jos North LGA until Wednesday, April 1. However, residents took to the streets in protest, displaying the bodies of the deceased. Additionally, the University of Jos has rescheduled its ongoing semester examinations. Caleb Mutfwang, the state governor, also visited the community on Monday, March 30.

“I assure you that those responsible for this evil act will not go unpunished,” he said.

The state government has also reiterated its ban on commercial motorcycles in the Jos–Bukuru metropolis, which covers Jos North and Jos South LGAs. “Meanwhile, the hours of operation for tricycle riders (keke) still remain 6:00 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” according to Davou Gyang Jatua, the state Commissioner of Transport.

Residents who spoke to HumAngle said that, in recent months, unfamiliar motorcyclists — some of whom do not know locations within the metropolis — have been moving around. “Whenever I see keke and okada (motorcycles) out very late, I know there’s a risk of evil acts being perpetrated using them,” said Zoe Machunga, a Jos resident.

In the weeks leading up to the attack, some social media accounts had posted videos inciting violence in Jos, although it remains unclear whether such messaging contributed to the incident. The governor said the social media users responsible for the posts have been apprehended, a claim confirmed by Alfred, the police spokesperson, during a radio interview on Monday.

“Injustice has made healing difficult in Plateau State,” said Joseph Lengmang, a peace and security expert and former Director General of PPBA. “Peacebuilding efforts remain incomplete, and some underlying issues still need to be addressed.”