China urges US to 'immediately correct erroneous' trade practices

INTRO: Beijing says it's urged Washington to correct its actions following the United States launching new trade probes last week and to address differences through dialogue.

Top economics officials from both countries are meeting in Paris, which could pave the way for a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

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Tehran denies seeking U.S. ceasefire after Trump says Iran was “decimated”

Iran's Foreign Minister is rebuffing any suggestion his government has asked the United States for a ceasefire, as the conflict in the Middle East enters its third week.

It follows President Trump posting on social media at the weekend that Iran was beaten and completely decimated militarily, economically, and in every other way.

Mitch McCann reports:

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President Trump tells China, the UK and others to send ships to Strait of Hormuz

Donald Trump has called on countries including China and the UK to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz to keep the crucial trade waterway open.

Iran has mostly closed it off to commercial shipping unless the US and Israel end the war.

Jagruti Dave has more from Washington.


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Hegseth says "don't worry" about Strait of Hormuz

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Friday will see the most U-S strikes on Iranian targets since the war began nearly two weeks ago with the US military laser-focused on hitting Iran's military industrial complex. In a briefing with reporters, he also implied Iran's new Supreme Leader hasn't been seen in public because he was "disfigured" during the initial strikes that killed his father. Toni Waterman has more.

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RADIO: DRC HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

INTRO: 

The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office has released a report documenting more than 6,000 human rights violations committed against 18,000 victims across the Democratic Republic of Congo last year. The violations include torture, sexual violence and arbitrary detention. Chris Ocamringa has more from Kinshasa...

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US, Russia share same interests in stabilizing energy markets - Kremlin

The Kremlin welcomed the United States decision to issue a temporary waiver allowing the sale of Russian oil at sea. The short-term exemption could cover up to 100 million barrels of Russian crude already in transit. The decision comes amid recent fluctuations in global oil prices caused by instability in the Middle East. Daria Bondarchuk reports from Moscow.

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France confirms death of soldier in Iraq after Iranian drone strikes on military base

France has confirmed the death of soldier in Iraq after Iranian drone strikes on a military base.

The President Emmanuel Macron condemned the drone attack and said the troops were in Iraq as part of the fight against terrorism.

He added that "The war in Iran cannot justify such attacks".

Ross Cullen reports.

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China slams US trade probe ahead of Paris talks

INTRO: China's top economic official will meet with his US counterpart in France over the weekend, less than three weeks before US President Donald Trump's expected summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

It comes as the United States announced new trade investigations into alleged overcapacity targeting China and other key partners, drawing criticism from Beijing. Laura Westbrook reports.

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India among countries to be impacted by US "unfair trade" probe

Intro:

India finds itself in the middle of Washington's sweeping trade investigations - one over alleged unfair manufacturing practices and another over forced labour imports.

The probes come just weeks after New Delhi and Washington struck an interim trade deal and analysts say it raises fresh concerns over India-US ties.

Ishan Garg tells us more from New Delhi.

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US Military rules out offensive or friendly fire as refueling plane crashes in Iraq

Intro:

A US military refueling plane crashed in western Iraq but the US Central Command says it has ruled out hostile or friendly fire.

  

The US military says the incident involved another aircraft as well. 

 
This comes as the U.S. has been increasing its aerial presence in West Asia for operations against Iran.

Olly Barrat tells us more from Erbil in Iraq.

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Iraq plan to get oil flowing

As the War in Iran continues to disrupt global oil flows, Iraq is trying to strike a deal that would allow its oil to flow through the autonomous Kurdistan Region. But as FSN's Olly Barratt explains from the region's capital Erbil - Iraqi Kurds want something in return.

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US launches probes into trade partners as it tries to reconstruct tariff wall

The White House has launched probes into some of its largest trading partners - including the EU and China - as it tries to revive Trump's tariffs. The Supreme Court struck down the President's so-called Liberation Day levies in a landmark decision last month. Toni Waterman has more from Washington.

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Pakistani travelers are facing higher airfares as airlines impose fuel surcharges

Intro:

Airline fuel surcharges and flight cancellations are pushing up airfares for Pakistani travelers as jet fuel prices surge amid Middle East tensions.

The crisis has sent shockwaves through global markets, with energy prices soaring following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route.

Hira Mustafa has more.

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UK PM Faces Scrutiny Over Mandelson Appointment

The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing increasing scrutiny over the decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the British ambassador to Washington.

The first set of documents concerning the vetting process for his appointment were released on Wednesday.

They revealed Starmer was warned of a "reputational risk" over Mandelson's links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The government is also facing criticism over the reported $100,000 severance payment to Mandelson, who denies any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. 

Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds admits that due diligence fell short:

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EU's oil group holds meeting as crude prices surge again

The European Commission's oil coordination group is set to meet on Thursday to discuss the impact of the Iran war on oil supplies.

It comes after the International Energy Agency's unprecedented move to release 400 million barrels of oil to try to ease energy price concerns - but the historic decision did not have a major impact on oil markets.

Ross Cullen reports.

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Two ships off the coast of Iraq attacked


Two tankers are on fire off Iraq's coast following an attack by Iran.

Officials in Iraq have now paused all port operations, as Olly Barratt reports from Erbil in northern Iraq.

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Asian shares fall, oil surges above $100 a barrel as Iran attacks Gulf shipping

INTRO Shares in Asia fell as oil prices leapt above $100 a barrel on reports of more ships hit in Gulf waters and the closure of oil terminals.

It comes as dozens of countries, including the US and the UK, announced they would release record amounts of emergency reserves. Laura Westbrook reports from Hong Kong.

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Indian government reduces natural gas supply to industry as supply crunch continues

Intro:

India is reducing the supply of natural gas to industries as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting the country's energy imports.

New Delhi is among the world's biggest importers of natural gas. 

Officials say there isn't an energy crisis, but they are prioritizing supply to households, while increasing production and imports from non-Middle Eastern countries. 

Ishan Garg tells us more. 

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US inflation held steady in February but doesn't include Iran war impact

Inflation in the US rose in February at a relatively subdued 2.4 percent annual pace, the same as in January, according to the latest government consumer price index report.

It's still slightly above the Federal Reserve's inflation target of 2 per cent and analysts say the war in Iran threatens to push inflation higher as the conflict causes oil prices to soar.

Kate fisher reports from Washington

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IEA greenlights record release of 400m barrels from emergency reserves

The International Energy Agency has greenlit the release of a record 400m barrels of oil from emergency reserves in a bid to curb rising prices sparked by the war in Iran. Instability around the Strait of Hormuz - a key oil shipping route off Iran's coast- has brought tanker traffic to halt. Toni Waterman has more from Washington.

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