Transcript
Jeanine Herst (0:01)
Live from NPR News. In Washington, I'm Jeanine Herst. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is in Lebanon today calling on the war on Iran and in the Middle east to end, saying diplomatic avenues are available. Stop the fighting, stop the bombing. There is no military solution, only diplomacy, dialogue and full implementation of the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions. He's in Beirut visiting shelters and the wounded. He says the people of Lebanon didn't choose this war. They were dragged into it. Meanwhile, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Gabriel, is condemning the deaths of several health workers in southern Lebanon as the war widens. Fourteen healthcare workers have been killed in the last 24 hours. The WHO says there have been 27 attacks on healthcare in Lebanon since March 2, resulting in 30 deaths and 35 injuries. Officials say the intensification of conflict in Lebanon and the broader Middle east increases the likelihood of casualties among health care workers. The White House is investigating the possibility of imposing tariffs on goods from 60 economies. It's the second time the administration this week said it would look at new tariffs under a statute that's meant to combat unfair trading practices. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben has more.
Danielle Kurtzleben (1:25)
The 60 economies will be investigated specifically related to forced labor, not necessarily the practice itself, but to what degree those foreign governments import goods produced with forced labor. Major trading partners, including China, the EU and Mexico, are on the investigation list. Earlier this week, the administration announced investigations into those countries and others in relation to other trading practices. The White House is exploring these new tariffs after the Supreme Court last month found many of Trump's tariffs to be unconstitutional. The investigations can take months to complete. The U.S. trade Representative will hold hearings on these new investigations in a month and a half. Danielle Kurtzleben, NPR News.
Jeanine Herst (2:04)
Stocks on Wall street fell this week as the war in Iran continues to rattle energy markets. NPR Scott Horsley reports. Investors also got new readings on inflation this week.
Scott Horsley (2:14)
Crude oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remains at a near standstill, two weeks after the US And Israel launched their war on Iran. That's pushed oil prices to around $100 a barrel. Retail gas have also jumped sharply. If pump prices remain high, shoppers may have to cut back elsewhere. The wartime spike in energy prices was not reflected in February's cost of Living index, which came out on Wednesday. It showed prices up by a relatively modest 2.4% over the last year. Given the jump in gas prices, however, the March inflation rate is likely to look worse. For the week, The Nasdaq lost 1.25%. The S&P 500 index fell 1.6%, and the Dow Jones industrial average dropped. Scott Horsley, NPR News, Washington.