Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst.
A U.S. official tells NPR that one member of a two-person crew of an F-15 fighter jet
“that was shot down over Iran has been rescued, and that the search for the second crew member”
continues. Multiple videos show what appear to be those efforts, including two helicopters and a refueling aircraft flying low over the country. As Iranians date media televised a call out asking for nomadic tribes and local villagers to target any foreign pilots in the area.
They also posted photos of wreckage from a U.S. F-15 jet. Explosions are reported in Iran as the U.S. and Israeli war continues to go on in the country, and Tehran is choking off oil shipments through the state of Hormuz. President Trump wrote online today, "With a little more time, we can easily open the Hormuz street, take the oil and make a fortune."
But he said something quite different this week, and his national address, telling NATO allies they need to take care of the street.
“And here's Jackie Northam reports, Iran's now saying, "It will start charging the ships”
to use the vital waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil and gases pass." An Iranian lawmaker says the fee for a ship to pass through the straight-of-war move could cost up to $2 million. It will involve government-to-government negotiations, getting permits, and transiting through Iranian territorial water.
The toll system is still being formalized, and currently appears at Hawke. Analysts say some ships, including those from India, Pakistan, and China have worked out deals diplomatically, Iranian-owned and flagged vessels won't be charged, and any ship with links to the U.S. or Israel will not be allowed to pass full stop. Analysts say it's unlikely a toll system similar to the Suez Canal would get regional
buy-in, and that opening the straight through diplomacy is still the best answer. Jackie Northam, in PR News.
“President Trump says there's a new White House fraud task force that will mostly focus”
on democratic-led states. The White House says it's inspired by fraud and Minnesota's state-run social service program. And here's Daniel Kurtz Laban reports, "It will focus on fraud nationwide." Trump called Vice President JD Vance, who's leading the task force the frauds are.
He added that while the task force will look for fraud nationwide, it would focus primarily in blue states, led by in Trump's words, "Crickets Democrat politicians." Trump then listed California, Illinois, Minnesota, Maine, and New York as examples. He also explicitly called out Minnesota for having a large Somali population. Trump created the task force in Min March.
He has made combating fraud a central part of his political message ahead of November's midterms. Daniel Kurtz Laban NPR News, the White House. Wall Street is closed today in observance of the Good Friday holiday. You're listening to NPR News.
Defense Secretary Pete Heggsep has fired the Army's chief of staff, General Randy George, along with two other generals, as the U.S. wages were in Iran. This is a mid-tension between Heggsep and Army leadership. General George was appointed to his job in 2023 and led the Army out of a recruiting crisis in 2024.
He's also pushed the Army to speed up acquisition of cheap drones. Heggsep also fired Army General David Haudenee, and Army Major General William Green, though no reasons have been given for those departures. Amazon has announced a fuel surcharge in response to those higher oil prices brought on by the Warren Iran.
As NPR's Andrea Shew reports, the fee will be imposed on third-party sellers who use
the company's warehouses and delivery systems. Starting April 17, Amazon third-party sellers will see a 3.5% increase to their fulfillment fees. In a message to sellers, the company said that equates to an average of 17 cents per unit. A cost sellers could pass on the customers.
Amazon said it had been absorbing increased fuel prices, but like other major carriers, it was hiking fees to recover a portion of its added costs. UPS and FedEx imposed new fuel surcharge's last month, and the U.S. Postal Services starting April 26th, it's adding an 8% surcharge to package and shipping services, including priority mail and parcel select.
First-class stamps will not be affected, and reassure and PR news.
And Amazon is a financial supporter of NPR. I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.
