(Reuters) - Highlights for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday:
NORTH KOREA
North Korean state media warns of a "super-mighty pre-emptive strike" after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States is looking at ways to bring pressure to bear on North Korea over its nuclear program.
U.S. STEEL
Trump launches an investigation to determine whether Chinese and other foreign-made steel threatens U.S. national security, raising the possibility of new tariffs and triggering a rally in U.S. steel stocks.
IRAN
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the United States should meet its own obligations agreed in a landmark nuclear deal in 2015 rather than making accusations against the Islamic Republic.
RUSSIA
Russia dismisses as false a Reuters report that said a government think tank controlled by President Vladimir Putin developed a plan to swing the 2016 U.S. presidential election in Trump's favor.
U.S. ECONOMY
American economic growth will not achieve the new administration's 3 percent goal this year or next, even if some fiscal stimulus and changes to tax laws are implemented, according to economists in a Reuters poll.
TRADE WITH JAPAN
Japan has less room to compromise with the United States under a bilateral trade deal than under a multilateral agreement like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, its deputy prime minister says, taking a swipe at U.S. attempts to directly pressure Tokyo into opening up heavily protected markets like agriculture.
DAIRY TRADE
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brushes off an attack by Trump on Canada's system of dairy protections, saying every country defends its agricultural industries.
IMF, WORLD BANK MEETING
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde says she believes the IMF can work successfully with the Trump administration to improve the global trading system, but adds that open trade must be preserved as a growth engine.
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says he is "encouraged" by the Trump administration's interest so far in the multilateral lender's mission and its plans to harness more private capital for development finance.
PENCE IN INDONESIA
Trump will attend three summits in Asia in November, Vice President Mike Pence says in Jakarta during a visit to the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
EGYPT
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he is optimistic about improving military ties with Egypt after talks in Cairo with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, following a period of strain under the Obama administration.