Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Noir Ram.
The war in the Middle East is escalating with strikes on critical infrastructure.
“For the first time in the war, Israel has targeted Iranian oil storage facilities in Tehran,”
and Iran has attacked a desalination plant in Bahrain, and PR's Daniel Esther in reports from Tel Aviv. This appears to be the first time Israel has targeted a civilian oil facility in Iran. Iranian news agency reported at least four tanker drivers were killed. The Israeli military says Iran made frequent use of that oil storage facility to operate
military infrastructure. Iran's foreign minister said a US air strike damaged Iranian desalination plant for the first time. Also for the first time in the Gulf, a desalination plant in Bahrain was damaged in Iranian drone attack.
These attacks on energy and water infrastructure are a significant escalation in the war.
The region depends on desalinated sea water for drinking water, and much of the world relies on oil from the Gulf. Daniel Esther and PR News Tel Aviv.
“The State Department said today since the war in Iran started more than 32,000 American”
citizens in the region have been safely returned to the US. The Stateman said the US will ramp up charter flights and ground transportation as security conditions allow. China's foreign minister Wang Yi says the US is rarely war with Iran should not have happened, and that it does no one any good.
NPR's Jennifer Pack reports from Beijing.
Foreign minister Wang says armed conflict in the Middle East will only breed hatred.
Mike does not make right he says the law of the jungle must not return and rule the world. He called for a ceasefire. China has offered to mediate in the conflict, but it is not impartial. The Chinese are more closely aligned with Iran than with either the US or Israel. That has raised questions over whether President Donald Trump will still meet Chinese leader
Xi Jinping in a few weeks.
“The Chinese Foreign Minister did not confirm the dates, but says China is open to dialogue.”
Jennifer Pack and PR News Beijing, the US Embassy in Oslo, Norway was damaged by an explosion early this morning. Police reported no injuries and have yet to make any arrests. NPR's Rob Schmitz has more in the story. Oslo, please say the blast occurred at one in the morning local time on Sunday and caused
only minor material damage to one of the embassy's entrances. Investigators examined the scene later in the morning while dogs, drones, and helicopters were involved in the search for perpetrators. Chinese's told local Norwegian news that they heard three bangs that made the ground shake. US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military operations
in Iran, and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. Rob Schmitz, then PR News Berlin. This is NPR News in Washington. A federal judge has decided that Carrie Lakes mass layoffs at the voice of America and
other international radio networks are void that she had been elevated to have the US agency for global media without legal authority. The Boston Symphony Orchestra is partying ways with high profile music director and risked Nelson's after 13 years. NPR's Chloe Veltman reports.
In a Friday announcement shared with MPR, the Boston Symphony's board, together with President and CEO Chad Smith, informed staff and musicians of its decision not to renew and risk Nelson's contract. The statement says the orchestra and its music director were "not aligned on future vision". A representative for Nelson's shared his letter to the BSO community with NPR in which
the conductor says he did not anticipate or want the board and Smith's decision. Both sides declined to share further information about the split. Nelson's is in demand globally, he also leads the Leipzig-Gavand House Orchestra, and this weekend he's guest conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. New York Times classical music critic David Allen says he could see the rift with the
Boston Symphony coming. Nelson's is known as a traditionalist, whereas Smith is known for innovation. Chloe Veltman MP on news. "Supporters of voting rights will march across a bridge in Selma, Alabama today, reenacting the bloody Sunday March in 1965.
On that day, protesters were beaten by Alabama state fruppers on the Edmund Pettis Bridge, the violence shocked the nation, and energized the civil rights movement, leading to the passage of the Voting Rights Act. I'm Nora Ram, NPR News, in Washington.
