Fifa offering $12 tickets to World Cup play-off tournament
WASHINGTON — Tickets ​for this ⁠month's ⁠World Cup Play-Off ​Tournament matches in Mexico, which will determine ​two of the ‌final six vacant spots in this summer's historic 48-team tournament, went on sale Tuesday.

Chicken pox outbreak forces Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, to shift classes online
Undergraduate students of the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus were asked to switch to online learning from March 3-6 due to an outbreak of chicken pox among student groups in the university grounds. 

Two rescued from hot air balloon stuck over 900 feet in the air
Dramatic drone video captured emergency crews rescuing people aboard a hot air balloon that had hit a cell phone tower in Longview, Texas on Saturday (February 28). Emergency crews were deployed to bring the two people on board the balloon to safety. - REUTERS

UK Rapper Ghetts jailed for 12 years over hit-and-run
British rapper Ghetts was jailed for 12 years on Tuesday (March 3) for killing a Nepali student in a hit-and-run while driving dangerously and over the drink-drive limit. - REUTERS

Gold advances as dip-buyers enter market despite dollar strength
SINGAPORE — Gold rose, erasing some of the losses in the previous session, as dip-buyers entered a market fraught with risk on the fifth day of war in the Middle East.

US sanctions Rwanda as Congo accuses rebel group of massacres
The United States imposed sanctions on Monday (March 2) on Rwanda's military forces over its role in supporting the AFC/M23 rebel group in the ongoing conflict in east Congo. It came as Congolese authorities accused the rebels of massacring citizens, after finding mass graves in the eastern city of Uvira. Rwanda and the rebel group separately deny the accusations. - REUTERS

Asia-Europe airfares soar after Gulf airport closures
The price of flights between Asia and Europe has soared after the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs due to the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, with airline websites showing tickets on many popular routes booked out for days. - REUTERS

War, politics clouding World Cup on 100-day countdown
WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - Donald Trump's brutal immigration crackdown, polarised politics and a war unleashed on Iran have tarnished the global image of the United States just under 100 days before millions of fans are expected to visit for the World Cup.

Trump orders oil tanker insurance support, says Navy could escort ships in Gulf
WASHINGTON: The U.S. Navy could begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary, ‌President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, adding he had ordered the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade in the Gulf.

Beirut explosion, Qatar busts spy cells: Latest developments in Mideast war
WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) - An explosion rocked the Lebanese capital and Israel said it was launching a new overnight wave of strikes on Iran, as the war engulfing the Middle East continued into Wednesday.