CP 
HONG KONG, March 18 (Reuters) – A Chinese university is urging students to “enjoy the flowers, fall in love” during their mid-term break, an unusual directive in a nation obsessed with getting good grades, as authorities seek new ways to spur marriages and domestic consumption. “See the flowers and enjoy romance” is the theme for …
DUBAI, March 18 (Reuters) – Iran’s stance against the development of nuclear weapons won’t significantly change, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Al Jazeera in remarks relayed by Iranian media on Wednesday, cautioning that the new supreme leader is yet to publicly express his view on the matter. Former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was …
GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make his first pitching appearance in spring training on Wednesday for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Francisco Giants. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also said Tuesday that Ohtani will be the designated hitter in Friday’s game against the San Diego Padres, as the two-way Japanese …
LAS VEGAS (AP) — When Becky O’Brien dangles herring over a tank of over a dozen swimming sharks, it only takes seconds for a zebra shark to snatch the fish from her tongs. The lead aquarist said she always knew she wanted to work with marine life; she just didn’t think she’d be a shark …
HONG KONG (AP) — About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outset of the war with Iran and it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when the waterway has been effectively closed, according to maritime and trade data platforms. Many of the vessels …
BANGKOK, March 18 (Reuters) – Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday accepted for consideration a petition challenging the legality of election ballots used in last month’s polls. The Election Commission has been given 15 days to provide clarification, the court said in a statement. It did not specify any other orders, meaning Thursday’s planned vote by the …
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A new trade pact between Indonesia and the United States has recast their economic ties, binding Jakarta’s resource wealth and energy future more closely to Washington’s strategic needs. Indonesia agreed to widen access for U.S. investors in critical minerals, boost its purchases of U.S. crude and liquefied petroleum gas, back the …
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran and Russia both allege a projectile struck the grounds of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the Islamic Republic, raising the specter of a radiological incident as Tehran’s war with Israel and the United States rages. Neither Iran nor Russia say there was any release of nuclear material …
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran lashed out following the killing of one of its top leaders in an airstrike with attacks on its Gulf neighbors and Israel on Wednesday, using some of its latest missiles to evade air defenses and killing two near Tel Aviv as the war in the Middle East showed …
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Trump administration national security officials facing back-to-back congressional hearings starting Wednesday are expected to be pressed on the war in Iran, including a deadly strike on a school, as well as the FBI’s capacity to prevent terror attacks inside the United States. The annual worldwide threats hearings involving the government’s senior-most …