Trump administration launches new forced labor investigations into dozens of countries as it fights to restore tariffs

The Trump administration’s top trade official launched investigations Thursday into dozens of countries accused of failing to crack down on forced labor, flexing a law that lets the federal government impose tariffs and other trade restrictions as President Trump grapples with a Supreme Court ruling that struck down many of his tariffs. The investigations are …

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Taiwan Parliament Authorises Government to Sign Stalled US Arms Deals

TAIPEI, March 13 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s parliament on Friday ⁠authorised ⁠the government to sign U.S. ⁠agreements for four arms sales packages, after officials warned ​that Taipei would go to the back of the line if it missed the ‌deadline. The back and forth on ‌Taiwan’s defence spending has provoked concern in the United States, as …

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Trump Says He Thinks Iran’s New Supreme Leader Is Alive but ‘Damaged’

WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) – ⁠President ⁠Donald Trump said that ⁠he thinks new Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, ​whose father, the former supreme leader, was killed on the ‌first day of the ‌U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran, is alive but “damaged.” Khamenei ⁠has ⁠not been seen by Iranians since his selection on ​Sunday by …

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Pakistan Bombs Fuel Depot of Private Airline Near Kandahar Airport, Afghan Taliban Says

KABUL, March ⁠13 (Reuters) – ⁠Pakistan ⁠has bombed the ​fuel ‌depot of private ‌airline ⁠company ⁠Kam Air near Afghanistan’s ​Kandahar airport, the ​Afghan Taliban spokesperson ⁠said on ⁠Friday, ⁠as the ​South Asian neighbours’ ​worst ⁠conflict in years ⁠flared up again. Pakistan’s military did not ⁠respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar …

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Experts, reports on the Strait of Hormuz and gas prices

Ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was mostly stopped amid the war in Iran on Thursday, which contributed to rising oil prices. The waterway typically carries around 20% of the world’s supply of oil. On Wednesday, President Trump ordered the release of 172 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves. In a statement attributed …

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Trump administration allows purchase of Russian oil already at sea

The U.S. is temporarily greenlighting the purchase of Russian oil that’s already at sea, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday, in the Trump administration’s latest move to loosen the wartime sanctions that restrict Russia’s oil industry as the world grapples with high oil prices. The authorization will last one month, and applies to petroleum products …

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Nepal Ex-Rapper’s Party Wins Election in Landslide After Gen Z Protests

KATHMANDU, March 13 (Reuters) – A three-year-old party won ⁠Nepal’s ⁠general elections by a landslide, ⁠authorities said, positioning its candidate Balendra Shah to become the next prime ​minister, with a mandate for the rapper-turned-politician to restore political stability. The March 5 election was the Himalayan ‌nation’s first vote since demonstrations against ‌corruption last September led …

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A 5.5 Quake Jolts Central Turkey, Sending Residents Into the Cold Streets

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A moderately strong earthquake struck central Turkey on Friday, Turkey’s emergency response said. The tremor sent some residents rushing into the streets but no damage has been reported. The magnitude 5.5 quake was centered in the town of Niksar in Tokat province, at a depth of 6.4 kilometers (4 miles), according …

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