Spotlight on French village where Khomeini plotted revolutionAyatollah Khomeini is seen in exile in the French village of Neauphle-le-Chateau in January 1979. (Photo: AFP)NEAUPHLE-LE-CHATEAU, France - It has been nearly 50 years since the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini recorded speeches calling for an Islamic revolution from a country home in an affluent village west of Paris. But the inhabitants of Neauphle-le-Chateau have still not got over their famous guest, as the US-Israeli war against Iran puts the spotlight back on the ayatollah’s legacy. But then a friend offered the house west of the capital and Neauphle-le-Chateau became internationally famous. A Neauphle-le-Chateau resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that between 150 and 200 people came each year with Iran’s ambassador “to celebrate the anniversary” of Khomeini’s return to Iran.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul speaks to reporters aftera meeting on the Mideast conflict at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday. Participants in the meeting included Thai ambassadors and senior diplomats stationed in the Middle East who attended via teleconference. The foreign ministry earlier said that overland evacuation via Turkey was possible but if more than 100 people expressed a wish to leave, a flight could be arranged. So far, less than 25% of the estimated 77,000 Thai people in the Middle East have expressed an intention to return to Thailand, Mr Anutin said. The number could rise depending on the situation, but most Thai workers in Israel were in agricultural zones which should be safe, Mr Anutin said.

Vietnam’s benchmark index ⁠gained 41% in 2025, its strongest rise in eight years, as the economy of the export-reliant nation expanded 8%. Flows of overseas capital can lift Vietnamese companies’ stocks and lower their funding costs, supporting economic growth and the currency. “Foreign investors were cautious on Vietnam heading into the Trump presidency due to concerns around potential tariffs,” said Sean Taylor, chief investment officer at the San Francisco-based asset management firm Matthews Asia. A benchmark dominated by banks and developers is being increasingly driven by a single stock, Vingroup, which rose 736% last year. “A few ⁠related stocks account for a disproportionate share of the index and exert outsized influence over market movements,” said Thu Nguyen, deputy head of Vietnamese fund VinaCapital.

A screen displays cancelled flights to Middle East destinations at Hong Kong International Airport on March 2, 2026. ⁠An economy-class ticket for a one-way flight was available for 71,190 baht ($2,265) on March 15, with prices dropping to 27,045 baht by ​March 18. Reuters’ checks of several airlines’ websites on Tuesday showed few near-term bookings ​available ‌and high prices on offer for flights from Asia to London. Mainland Chinese airlines’ websites showed fares on China-UK routes have also surged far above normal levels, with economy-class seats largely unavailable on near-term departures. A return economy-class ticket from Beijing to London typically costs under 10,000 yuan ($1,460) but Air China’s only option for Wednesday is ‌business class, with a one-way ticket priced at ⁠50,490 yuan.

Chinese call-centre scammers arrested for illegal entryPolice and immigration officers with the 14 arrested Chinese men suspected of working for a call centre scam gang in Cambodia, along with the 52 mobile phones and SIM cards found in their possession. (Photo: FM91 Trafficpro)Fourteen Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in call-centre scams in Cambodia have been arrested at a hotel in Nonthaburi after entering Thailand illegally. The suspects were aged 22-37 years and were later taken to Nonthaburi immigration for further questioning. He said police had acted on information that many Chinese men had suddenly checked into the hotel. Following interrogation, the suspects were all initially charged with illegal entry, then handed over to investigators at Rattanathibet police station for further legal action.

South Africa, India hope to advance to T20 World Cup rematchIndia have not only the expectations of a billion-plus cricket-obsessed fans on their shoulders heading into the T20 World Cup semi-finals, but the also the weight of history. (Photo: AFP)MUMBAI - Unbeaten South Africa continue their quest for a maiden World Cup title in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand in Kolkata on Wednesday, with a potential repeat of the 2024 final against India awaiting. They finally won their first global cricket trophy when they lifted the World Test Championship last year, and eight members of that side are in the T20 World Cup squad. But a dramatic mini-collapse saw them finish on 169-8 as India won by seven runs. India, the world’s top-ranked T20 team, are attempting to become the first to win back-to-back T20 World Cups and the first to lift the trophy on home soil.

Pakistanis at border describe scramble to leave IranPakistani nationals walk across the border at Taftan after returning from Iran. (Photo: AFP)TAFTAN, Pakistan - Pakistani nationals hauled suitcases across the border from neighbouring Iran, describing missiles being launched and travel chaos as they scrambled to leave the country after the US and Israel launched strikes over the weekend. AFP journalists saw a steady trickle of people passing through large metal gates at the remote border crossing between Mirjaveh in Iran and Taftan in western Balochistan province of Pakistan. “Due to the crowds, there were major transport problems.”The isolated Taftan border lies around 500 kilometres from Quetta, the capital and largest city in Balochistan. The situation was not that bad.”The 38-year-old said the strikes on Tehran on Saturday “pushed us to leave the city”.

US Congress to debate Trump's war powersThe US Congress is the only body in America that can declare warWASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - The US Congress is scheduled to vote this week on motions seeking to curb President Donald Trump as he wages war against Iran, but the Republican majority will probably shield him. "There was no imminent threat to the United States of America by the Iranians. -This issue of whether there was an imminent threat from Iran is at the heart of the debate over the war that Trump has now begun with Israel. The 1973 War Powers Act states that Trump must now obtain permission from Congress if he wants to keep fighting beyond a 60-day limit. Republican congressman Thomas Massie, one of few in Trump's party who speaks out regularly to challenge him, condemned the Iran war on Saturday.

Govt prepares evacuation planForeign Minister Sihasak PhuangketkeowForeign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said on Monday that the government is preparing an overland evacuation of Thais from Iran as tensions in the Middle East escalate, with authorities coordinating closely with Tehran to secure safety guarantees for the operation. With Iranian airspace closed, Thai nationals will be transported by road to the Turkish border, where a temporary operations centre will facilitate their onward travel. Mr Sihasak said that Thailand is seeking formal assurances from Iran to guarantee the security of evacuees along the route. No evacuation requests have been received from the more than 20,000 Thais working there. The armed forces, he said, remain on standby around the clock and are ready to support any evacuation order issued by the government.

US embassy in Riyadh attacked as Iran steps up Saudi strikesVehicles drive along a street near the Diplomatic Quarter, following drone strikes that hit the U.S. embassy compound and were intercepted by Saudi air defences, according to the Defence Ministry, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 3, 2026. REUTERSTwo drones struck near the US Embassy in Riyadh, pulling Saudi Arabia into a widening conflict among Iran, the US and Israel, and prompting President Donald Trump to vow retaliation. Riyadh also reported intercepting multiple drones heading for a US air base about 60 miles outside the capital. Trump has said the US-Israeli attack on Iran, which began after he said Tehran refused to renounce nuclear weapons, may last for weeks. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic continued to fire projectiles around the Middle East in response to the US-Israeli attack.

Hezbollah attacked Israel on Monday to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Israeli strikes on Beirut and setting the group at odds with Lebanese leaders who want the country kept out of a regional war.

Supernatural thriller "Sinners" claimed the Actor Award for best movie cast on Sunday (March 1), a victory that sets up a face-off with "One Battle After Another" for the prestigious Best Picture prize at the upcoming Oscars.

The U.S. and Israeli air war against Iran widened on Monday (March 2), with no end in sight as Israel attacked Lebanon in response to strikes by Hezbollah and Tehran kept up its missile and drone attacks on Gulf states.

The United States is not postured for ground forces in Iran at this moment but President Donald Trump has those options, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Monday (March 2), adding that the administration believes that the objective it has set can be achieved without ground forces.

U.S. Senate leaders clashed in debate Monday (March 2) over U.S. President Donald Trump ordering strikes on Iran over the weekend. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump has ‘launched America into a full-scale conflict against one of our most fervent adversaries’ and it’s ‘not what the American people want’.