Kylian Mbappe, who has only just returned to action after a knee injury, will lead the France squad into friendly matches this month against Brazil and Colombia in the United States.
A pro-democracy research group said Wednesday that freedom in the United States has declined to its lowest level since it started assessments, as President Donald Trump aggressively wields executive authority.
Four teams out of six eliminated, with a total of 28 goals conceded over the two legs -- it has been a chastening week for most of England's representatives in the Champions League knockout phase.
- What we know about the UK's deadly meningitis outbreak
- Karl handed Germany debut as Musiala misses out with injury
Economy
Just a trickle of cargo ships and tankers -- most of them Iranian -- have made it through the Strait of Hormuz since Iranian forces blocked the crucial trade route in the Middle East war.
March 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Tokyo's meteorologists declared the start of the much-loved cherry blossom season in the Japanese capital on Thursday, as residents prepare to host outdoor picnics under dazzling floral displays.
March 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Energy prices soared Thursday and stocks sank as Iran attacked several Gulf energy facilities and warned of more in retaliation for a strike on one of its key gas fields.
March 19, 2026
Qatar reported "extensive" damage on Thursday to the site of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility following Iranian strikes, sparking fears for global energy supplies and fresh threats from Donald Trump against Iran.
March 19, 2026
Clutching a monkey plushie, Eliete Ikeda screamed "Punch!" as she caught sight of the underdog baby macaque still drawing crowds of photo-hungry visitors to a Japanese zoo weeks after he shot to stardom.
March 19, 2026
Economy
China's snaggle-toothed Labubu dolls will soon come alive on the big screen after flying off the toy shelves, with maker Pop Mart announcing a collaboration with Sony Pictures.
March 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Oil surged more than five percent Thursday and stocks sank as Iran attacked several Gulf energy facilities and warned of more in retaliation for a strike on one of its key gas fields.
BTS, the world's biggest boy band, reunites on stage on Saturday in a K-pop extravaganza watched by hundreds of thousands of fans in downtown Seoul and by millions around the planet online.
In the back of a 4X4, a nurse cleaned a gash in a boy's arm, picked up from living rough on the streets of Kinshasa, the capital of one of the world's poorest countries.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is the scion of a construction dynasty and a hobbyist jet pilot, but championed Thailand's decriminalisation of cannabis and styles himself as a man of the people.
March 19, 2026
Politics
Thailand's new parliament on Thursday elected Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister, according to an AFP tally of the vote, keeping the conservative in the top office after his party routed its election rivals.
March 19, 2026
RECENT NEWS
Through months of winter protests in support of South Korean democracy, professor Lee Ji-young clutched her K-pop glowstick -- a small but telling sign of her love for K-pop megastars BTS.
Almost all life-saving fire safety measures failed on the day a devastating blaze tore through a Hong Kong housing complex last year, killing 168 people, a public hearing was told on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump threatened to "massively blow up" a vast Iranian gas field unless Tehran stops striking Qatari energy facilities, which sustained extensive damage Thursday.
Luka Doncic scored 40 points and LeBron James added 30 on Wednesday to spark the Los Angeles Lakers over Houston 124-116, stretching their NBA win streak to seven games.
March 19, 2026
- Inter continue Serie A title hunt ahead of Italy's date with World Cup destiny
- Strait of Hormuz blockage drives up Gulf food bills
- Ahead of election, Danish city mirrors country's challenges
- Wild possum shelters with plush toys in Australian airport shop
- Iran missile fire kills 3 Palestinians in West Bank, foreign worker in Israel
- Asian Games cruise ship and wooden huts will be 'unique experience'
- Key Middle East energy sites under fire
- Pacific nations fear fuel shortages as Middle East war sends oil prices soaring