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Right this moment’s prime tales
The 2-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is off to a shaky begin. Inside the first 24 hours of the deal, an oil refinery in Iran was struck and 5 Gulf Arab states reported assaults from Iranian drones and missiles. Israeli airstrikes killed greater than 250 folks throughout Lebanon, in response to authorities there. Late yesterday, President Trump stated that the U.S. forces which have been deployed to the Center East will “stay in place” till an settlement is reached with Iran and its implementation takes maintain. Excessive-level talks are slated to happen on Saturday between the U.S. and Iran in Islamabad, with the mediation of the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
First responders and residents collect on the web site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut’s Tallet al-Khayyat neighbourhood, on April 8, 2026.
Fadel Itani/AFP through Getty Photos
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Fadel Itani/AFP through Getty Photos
- 🎧 As an alternative of waking as much as the in a single day information of a ceasefire, many individuals within the Gulf heard missile alerts on their telephones, NPR’s Aya Batrawy, reporting from Dubai, tells Up First. She says that Emirati fighter jets proceed to patrol the skies because the area stays on edge and the ceasefire hangs within the steadiness. If talks happen, Batrawy expects either side to current excessive calls for. The U.S., Israel and Gulf companions need Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment, pause its ballistic missile manufacturing, cease supporting teams like Hezbollah and totally open the Strait of Hormuz. Iran desires compensation for the warfare and sanctions lifted. It additionally asserts that its missiles are a crimson line and it maintains its proper to nuclear enrichment.
- 🎧 Lebanon is observing a nationwide day of mourning at the moment, after Israel killed tons of on Wednesday. Israel attacked densely populated residential areas, together with alongside Beirut’s seaside Corniche promenade, removed from Hezbollah’s stronghold, NPR’s Lauren Frayer says. Extra assaults proceed at the moment. The continuing battle has displaced greater than one million folks. Eighteen-year-old faculty pupil Zeinab Ein, who has taken shelter within the nation’s capital, Beirut, says she hopes Iran will stick up for Lebanon. Iran says the closure of the strait was in response to the Israeli assaults in opposition to Hezbollah in Lebanon.
- 🎧 Trump met with NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte yesterday on the White Home. The leaders mentioned the U.S. exiting the alliance after some members denied Trump’s request for assist to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s rocky relationship with NATO dates again to his first time period, however the warfare with Iran has wrecked any remaining basis, NPR’s Franco Ordoñez says. The president’s rage intensified all through the battle. He has known as NATO a paper tiger and aggressively attacked some leaders by title, Ordoñez says. Some NATO members, together with Britain, Germany and France, have made a joint assertion committing to making sure the liberty of navigation of the Strait of Hormuz. Ordoñez says the assertion is not significantly particular or aggressive. Leaders expressed reluctance to become involved earlier within the warfare, fearing a broader battle. However diplomats instructed him that their posture might shift as soon as the warfare formally ends.
- ➡️ Trump aimed to finish Iran’s nuclear program, dismantle its army forces and provoke regime change with this warfare. After greater than 5 weeks of preventing, these goals stay unfulfilled. Here is what the U.S. warfare with Iran has achieved thus far.
The U.S. teenage beginning fee has fallen by 7% in 2025, persevering with a decades-long decline, in response to a report revealed by the Nationwide Heart for Well being Statistics. Practically 126,000 infants have been born to moms aged 15 to 19, in response to provisional knowledge. This age group’s beginning fee stands at 11.7 births per 1,000 females. In distinction, the teenager beginning fee in 1991 was greater at 61.8 births per 1,000. Bianca Allison, a pediatrician and professor on the College of North Carolina College of Drugs, says what’s impacting decrease beginning charges is probably going decrease charges of youngster being pregnant general, which is probably going the results of elevated contraception use, diminished sexual exercise amongst youth and continued entry to abortion care.
Invoice Gates is scheduled to testify earlier than the Home Oversight Committee in June as a part of its investigation into the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gates, who has denied having any information of Epstein’s crimes, seems quite a few occasions within the Epstein recordsdata. Showing within the recordsdata just isn’t a sign of prison wrongdoing. Gates allegedly met with Epstein quite a few occasions after the financier’s conviction in 2008 of intercourse crimes involving minors. At one level, Gates traveled on Epstein’s personal airplane. A spokesperson for Gates stated that he “welcomes the chance to seem earlier than the Committee,” including that Gates is trying ahead to supporting the committee’s vital work.
America In Pursuit
A gaggle of protesters, now generally known as the Gang of 19, stops visitors in Denver in July 1978.
Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain Information {Photograph} Assortment/WH2129-2022-280
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Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain Information {Photograph} Assortment/WH2129-2022-280
250 years in the past, the Declaration of Independence boldly heralded the beginning of america of America — a brand new nation based on the democratic promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. NPR’s collection America in Pursuit explores what that promise has meant and what it means at the moment.
On July 5, 1978, a gaggle of younger disabled folks blocked two metropolis buses at a bustling downtown Denver intersection to demand that wheelchair lifts be put in on new buses. Their protest lasted some 24 hours. On the time, incapacity wasn’t understood as a civil rights situation. Their act of civil disobedience obtained little media protection and has largely pale from U.S. historical past. However the group, now generally known as the Gang of 19, succeeded in securing wheelchair entry on Denver buses and finally helped ignite a nationwide motion for incapacity rights. Now, town of Denver is about to have fun and convey new consideration to the group’s consequential protest. Hearken to their story or learn extra about their work.
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Native fisheries on the coast of Cambodia struggled with decimated fish populations for years. Right this moment, they’re teaming with seafood, because of native ecological restoration efforts. Right here, on proper, Koh Kresna village chief Khiev Sat talks with a fisherman in regards to the day’s catch.
Ryan Kellman/NPR
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Ryan Kellman/NPR
A Cambodian group fishery wasn’t getting sufficient fish to make ends meet, till they began planting mangrove timber. In lots of components of the world, wholesome fisheries use these distinctive, semi-aquatic crops that thrive in salty waters to create important habitats for younger aquatic animals. Mangroves additionally play an important position in combating international warming by trapping carbon. However about half of all mangrove ecosystems might collapse by 2050, the United Nations warns. Mangrove timber are reduce down for aquaculture, logged for charcoal and destroyed to make room for coastal growth. Many individuals in Cambodia have devoted their careers to defending and restoring these important crops. Check out how mangroves have helped Cambodia.
3 issues to know earlier than you go
Beekeeper Mark Welsch checks on his bee hives March 9 in a group backyard in Omaha, Neb. Welsch misplaced 9 of his hives final yr throughout a widespread honeybee die-off.
Marissa Lindemann/Harvest Public Media
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Marissa Lindemann/Harvest Public Media
- Researchers from the USDA Beltsville Agricultural Analysis Heart stepped in to assist after beekeepers reported widespread honeybee die-offs final yr. Now, the Trump administration plans to shut the ability, sparking concern amongst beekeepers and scientists. (through KCUR)
- NPR’s Aya Batrawy takes readers to Downtown Cairo, generally known as Wust el-Balad, for this week’s Far-Flung Postcard. She says that solely by strolling the situation’s extensive pedestrian streets can folks totally witness the size of its neoclassical, Artwork Deco and Baroque-inspired structure.
- Accused Lengthy Island Serial Killer Rex Heuermann pleaded responsible in court docket yesterday to the murders of seven girls and admitted to an eighth. This plea marks a major growth in an investigation that started over 15 years in the past. (through WSHU)
This article was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
