English sides seek redemption from Champions League reality checkManchester City trail Real Madrid 3-0 after the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. (Photo: AFP)MANCHESTER - Kings of the league phase, England's six Champions League sides were made to look like paupers in the first legs of the last 16 as they failed to muster a win between them. But after unprecedented domination of the early stages of the competition, AFP Sport looks at the reasons behind a reality check for the Premier League's best. Only three of the last 13 Champions League winners have come from England. Guardiola has responded to the fashion for a more physical Premier League by beefing up his City side.

War in the Middle East: Latest developmentsSmoke rises from a fire at Dubai International Airport. (Photo: AFP)PARIS — Here are the latest events in the Middle East war:Blasts in TehranExplosions hit the Iranian capital on Monday, an Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist reported, hours after Israel said it conducted large-scale overnight strikes. The blasts were heard in central Tehran as air defence systems were activated, the journalist said. United States President Donald Trump is pressuring world powers to help reopen the vital oil transport conduit, which has effectively been shut by Iran. UAE oil zone attackedA drone attack on oil infrastructure on the Fujairah oil industry zone on the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) east coast sparked a large fire, authorities said.

Parliament to choose next prime minister on ThursdaySophon Zaram of the Bhumjaithai Party (centre) is congratulated by other MPs after being elected Speaker by the House of Representatives on Sunday. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu)The House of Representatives will meet on Thursday to vote for a new prime minister, House Speaker Sophon Zaram said on Monday. Mr Sophon announced the date after he and his two deputies attended a ceremony conferring royal endorsement of their appointments. Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul, currently caretaker premier, is certain to be elected prime minister again after his party's convincing victory at the polls. The new prime minister needs a majority of the 500 seats in the lower house.

Google has announced plans to introduce 30-second non-skippable advertisements on YouTube for smart TVs, a move aimed at helping brands reach audiences watching the platform on internet-connected televisions. Google said its artificial intelligence systems will help organise advertisements into three formats: six-second bumper ads, standard 15-second ads and 30-second non-skippable advertisements created specifically for internet-connected televisions. The change comes as viewing on television screens continues to grow rapidly, making smart TVs one of the most valuable platforms for advertisers seeking longer engagement from audiences. As a result, analysts believe some viewers may consider upgrading to YouTube Premium or YouTube Premium Lite to avoid the increasing volume and length of advertisements. It remains to be seen whether the introduction of 30-second non-skippable ads on smart TVs will lead to a noticeable rise in subscriptions to YouTube’s paid services.

Myanmar parliament convenes as army prepares for new era of ruleMyanmar's junta chief Gen Min Aung Hlaing stands outside a polling station during the second phase of a general election in Yangon on Jan 11, 2026. The gathering of the new parliament comes after a recent phased election dominated by the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) amid low voter turnout and no viable opposition. USDP chairman and retired brigadier-general Khin ​Yi was elected lower house speaker on ⁠Monday. "It is merely a manoeuvre by the military leadership to shift power from their left hand to ⁠their right hand," he said. A commentary in Monday's state-run Global New Light of Myanmar on the formation of parliament said the entire country was hoping for the best political conditions where the national interest is ‌prioritised.

European tourists abandon South, head to eastern attractionsCoastal Koh Chang in Trat. The island is becoming more popular with European tourists. (Photo: Jakkrit Waewkhlaihong)European tourists' interest has shifted from southern Thailand to eastern attractions less affected by the Middle East war, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Pichaya Thachai-adisap, president of the Trat Tourism and Hotel Association, said tourism businesses in the South told her the number of European visitors had fallen significantly. European visitors to the East usually flew into Bangkok and their flights did not go through the Middle East, she said.

2 monks brawl during temple ceremony in Hong Kong, leaving 1 injuredChuk Lam Sim Yuen in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. (Photo: Google Maps via South China Morning Post)Two monks have clashed during a religious ceremony at a historical Buddhist monastery in Hong Kong, leaving one injured and the other in police custody. Police officers were called to Chuk Lam Sim Yuen in Tsuen Wan at around 9.40am on Saturday after a report about a fight involving two monks, a force spokesman said. The 57-year-old victim was reportedly struck twice in the face and taken to Yan Chai Hospital in Tsuen Wan for treatment. Chuk Lam Sim Yuen, meaning "bamboo grove monastery", is a Buddhist temple in Fu Yung Shan, in Tsuen Wan.

'Rein in your heart': I.Coast women trapped by divorce tabooIvory Coast has a low divorce rate, with the fear of social disapproval weighing on many women. Yet she cannot bring herself to divorce him for fear of social disapproval in Ivory Coast. Like other countries in Africa, Ivory Coast has a low divorce rate, with only 1,835 divorce petitions for 30,912 marriages in 2024, according to official figures. As long as a woman's "life is not in danger", women rarely divorce and "prefer to stay... just to keep up appearances", she said. Women don't have confidence in themselves... it's this lack of confidence that makes people afraid of divorce," she said.

Motorists warned of free or discount fuel scamsA commuter boat refuels at a floating pump outlet on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Police have warned motorists to beware of fraudulent SMS messages or other advertising offering free or discounted fuel coupons at petrol stations. They often appear as SMS messages or targeted advertisements on social media platforms, falsely claiming to be major oil companies and promoting fake campaigns, such as free fuel coupons or special discount privileges. Many people had already fallen victim to this scam pattern and suffered significant financial losses, Pol Maj Gen Siriwat said. Scammers commonly send messages designed to provoke greed or fear, such as “Claim your free 1,000‑baht fuel credit now!”, to pressure victims into making quick decisions.

In this environment, Learning and Development (L&D) is no longer a support function. From my perspective as an executive coach, four major shifts will define learning and development in 2026. Many L&D teams already use AI to personalise content, recommend learning in real time and simplify complex materials. And that is the true purpose of Learning and Development. Executives and organisations looking to collaborate or learn more about leadership development, talent development, succession planning and organisational transformation can contact her directly at arinya.talerngsri@bts.com or visit her LinkedIn profile

HOLLYWOOD - Hollywood's best and brightest stars on Sunday hit the red carpet for the 98th Academy Awards, the movie industry's biggest night. Here are some of the top looks:Spring huesPops of spring colour were a welcome sight on the red carpet. Chase Infiniti, who plays Leonardo DiCaprio's daughter in One Battle After Another is not a Oscar nominee - but she has definitely arrived on the red carpet. Hockey stars, real and fictionalShane Hollander has made it to the Academy Awards. Hilary Knight and Hannah Bilka, two of the stars of Team USA's gold medal winning women's ice hockey squad, were ready for their closeup on the Oscars red carpet.

Three members of the Iranian women's soccer team who had been granted asylum in Australia have instead decided to return home to Iran, Australia's government said on Sunday (March 15). The players had sought asylum saying they feared persecution after they failed to sing the national anthem at a Women's Asian Cup match.

Executives of Precious Shipping Plc welcome the Thai crew members at Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday morning. (Photo supplied)Twenty Thai crew members of the Bangkok-registered cargo ship Mayuree Naree attacked near the Strait of Hormuz last Wednesday arrived back home through Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday morning. On Sunday Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow phoned his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and asked him to support the rescue of the three Thai crew members. The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the three missing crew were trapped on the ship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on MOnday the 20 crew members arrived from Muscat International Airport in Oman.

Israel launches fresh strike on south BeirutAn Israeli airstrike damaged the third storey on an apartment building in the Lebanese city of Sidon, reportedly killing one person. (Photo: AFP)BEIRUT - Israel launched a fresh strike on Beirut's southern suburbs late Sunday as Israel's military said it was striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the city following earlier raids mainly in the country's south. The midnight strike, heard by AFP correspondents in the capital, came after a morning Israel army evacuation warning for Beirut's southern suburbs, which Israel has repeatedly struck in the past fortnight. The statement came a day after a Lebanese official said Beirut was preparing a delegation to negotiate with Israel. The NNA reported Israeli strikes on the country's south and east on Sunday, while Hezbollah claimed a series of attacks on sites in Israel and on Israeli troops in south Lebanon.

Thailand steps up screening of ‘suspicious’ foreignersPeople entering Thailand under the visa-free scheme will be scrutinised more closely for travel plans, accommodation and return itineraries, says Thai Immigration Bureau spokesman Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee. (Photo: Immigration Bureau)The Thai Immigration Bureau has denied entry to more than 30 foreigners deemed suspicious after using increased screening measures during the conflict in the Middle East. A total of 870 foreigners have been interviewed over the past 13 days, the bureau said on Saturday. Those entering under the visa-free scheme must undergo stricter screening, including checks on travel plans, accommodation and return itineraries. In 2025, 3,249 visas were revoked for foreigners who committed crimes or caused unrest, particularly in tourist areas such as Pattaya, Phuket, Samui and Phangan.