Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor-Johnston.
Another round of air strikes having carried out on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
“The attack overnight hit a radar installation, according to Iraqi security sources.”
NPR's Jaina Rapp reports the strikes took place as the war in Iran enters its second
week. Witnesses heard the explosion and saw smoke rising from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's heavily guarded green zone. NPR told NPR the air strike hit a radar installation on the embassy compound. He asked for anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
The U.S. military had no immediate comment. Jaina Rapp and Pyrr News, Erbil, in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. French President Emmanuel Macron sent his smoke in with leaders in Lebanon as tensions escalate between Israel and Hezbollah. He's calling for the militant group to halt what he describes as its escalatory
actions while urging Israel to stop large-scale military operations. France's offer to mediate negotiations to help ease the growing conflict. The French President also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, and PR's Eleanor Beardsley reports Zelensky says the U.S. decision to live sanctions on Russia would only fuel Vladimir Putin's more machine.
And today, the Russian Croix-Petett received a long-size Zelensky President Emmanuel Macron said if Putin thinks the war in Iran will give him a respite, he's wrong.
Macron said France will never turn its back on Ukraine.
Zelensky said the Trump administration's lifting of sanctions on Russia would give Putin at least $10 billion to continue his war. The Ukrainian President also spoke to students at a Paris university where he appeared relaxed and full of humor. He said Ukraine would provide Middle Eastern nations with the anti-drone technology to defend themselves.
“Zelensky told the students the worst thing in a war is to be alone.”
Eleanor Beardsley and PR News Paris. President Trump signed two executive orders meant to make housing more affordable by deregulating home construction, and PR's Stephen Pissaha reports. One of the orders is all about speeding up home building, namely through deregulation. It orders different agencies to review or eliminate requirements on things like energy
efficiency for home construction, and to streamline federal approvals around wetlands and stormwater requirements to make it easier to ensure homes.
Trump's second executive order also loosens up rules around mortgages, including making
it easier for smaller banks to give out mortgages. There's also a lot of overlap with the Senate bill, both use incentives to nudge state and local governments. Changes at that level over zoning rules and building codes can have a much bigger influence
“on home construction than decisions in Washington, Stephen Pissaha and PR News.”
This is NPR News in Washington. A federal judge in Washington has blocked a subpoena tied to congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell about renovations at a Fed building. The ruling is a setback for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Janine Piero, who launched the probe.
This judge has put himself at the entrance door to the grand jury, slamming that door shut irrespective of the legal process. In his decision, Judge James Bozberg said there is no evidence the Fed Chair committed any crime, adding the only apparent offense was "displeasing President Trump." Judge O'er School in Amsterdam has been hit with an explosion.
Terry Schultz reports the attack came a day after a fire at a synagogue in nearby Rotterdam. Amsterdam mayor, Femca Halsam, is says the overnight blast is a quote cowardly act of aggression toward the Jewish community and says her city must be a place where Jews can live safely. The explosion caused minor damage to the exterior of the school. Security had already been scaled up at Jewish institutions around the Netherlands due to
the fire at a synagogue Friday in Rotterdam, and an explosion at a synagogue in Leedge Belgium on Monday. Halsam says she'll add further protection now. Videos are circulating on social media with the Islamic movement, Harakara Shab, Al-Yamini, Al-Islamia, claiming responsibility for all three incidents.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Yetton says in a social media post, "The safety of Jewish institutions has our full attention. For MPR News, I'm Terry Schultz." This is NPR News in Washington. What that means for the food weeds, listen to planet money on the NPR app or wherever
